| 16th January1897 Will of Michael Donovan Husband of Mary Ann Power | From records of Notary Cyrille Renaud No. 1186 Transcribed from the original at the Quebec Archives |
In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety seven, the sixteenth day of January, before me Cyrille Renaud, Public Notary, residing in the Parish of St. Ambroise and Albert Lamothe, Vicar, and Elzéar Thaddée Blanchet, Student, personally appeared Michael Donovan, Farmer, residing in the Parish of Ste. Catherine, who being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding hath requested us the said Notary and witnesses to write down and receive in due form of law his last will and testament which he has declared in manner and form following, that is to say:
Firstly, I most willingly resign my soul to Almighty God my Creator in the humble hope that he will receive the same to his favor through the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.
Secondly, I will and order that all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses be first paid by my Executor hereinafter named as soon as possible after my death.
Thirdly, I give and bequeath to the Catholic Church of Ste. Catherine the sum of twenty five dollars.
Fourthly, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary Ann Power all my moveable and immoveable properties wherever the same may be found and to whatever the same shall amount hereby instituting my said wife universal legatee.
Fifthly, I nominate, constitute and appoint my said wife Mary Ann Power as Executrix of this my last will and testament.
Sixthly, I revoke all wills and codicils that I may have heretofore made and I declare the present to be my only true last will and testament.
The present will was declared by the said Testator to the said Notary in the presence of said witnesses, read to the said Testator by the Notary in presence of said witnesses who declared to understand it fully and persist therein.
Done and passed at Ste. Catherine the day, month and year first above written under Notarial Number [eleven hundred and eighty six] and signed by the said Testator in the presence of said Notary and witnesses the said Notary and witnesses also hereunto subscribing in his presence and in the presence of each other.
Michael Donovan, his signature;
Albert Lamothe, Vre., his signature;
Elzéar Thaddée Blanchet, his signature;
Cy. Renaud, N.P., his signature
Transcribed by Gerald Neville in 2011
Notes by Patricia Balkcom: Michael died in 1931, almost 35 years later, so it’s possible there is a later will.