| 28th March 1867 Last Will of Sarah Duffy Widow of John Navin | From records of Notary Benjamin Lelievre No. 1440 Quebec Archives Film #4MO1-4421, Images 1224+ |
On this day the twenty eighth of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty seven, I the undersigned Notary Public duly commissioned and sworn for Lower Canada residing in the District of Quebec at the request of Sarah Duffy, widow of John Navin, residing in the Parish of Saint Gabriel of ValCartier in the County and District of Quebec and in the presence of James Flinn, farmer, situate in the Parish of Saint Gabriel aforesaid.
Where being in the presence of James Flinn and John Jack, both residing in the Parish of Saint Gabriel aforesaid, farmers, witnesses here unto required for the effect hereof and the said Sarah Duffy is in good health and sound of mind, memory, judgment and understanding as appeared to me the said Notary and to the said above named witnesses by her actions, words and discourse.
And the said Sarah Duffy considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the hour thereof, doth hereby make fullest declare and dictate to Benjamin Lelievre, the said undersigned Notary in the presence of the said above named witnesses, her last will and testament in manner and form following. That is to say, Firstly, the said Sarah Duffy, recommends her soul to God, her Creator, whereas it shall please Him to dissolve her mortal body of all her sins through the intercession of his blessed Son and Savior.
Secondly, the said Sarah Duffy doth hereby give and bequeath unto Bridget Margaret Corrigan, a minor, aged six years, issue of the marriage between James Corrigan and Ann Navin, the sum of four hundred dollars, and the interest which may happen to be due at the decease of her the said Sarah Duffy. The said Sarah Duffy doth further give and bequeath unto the said Bridget Margaret Corrigan, one silver watch, one pair gold mounted spectacles with silver case being those formerly belonging to the late John Navin also her best bedstead with the best feather bed and bedding, also all her wearing apparel.
Thirdly, the said Sarah Duffy doth hereby give and bequeath unto Mary Corrigan, also a minor, aged eight years, issue of the said herein above mentioned marriage, the sum of two hundred dollars, one feather bed and her gold mounted spectacles.
Fourthly, the s the said Sarah Duffy doth hereby give and bequeath unto Sarah Corrigan, also a minor aged three years, issue of the said marriage, the sum of two hundred dollars,
And as to the remainder of all her moveable property generally said sum and sums of money whether (?) note of lien, obligation (?) covenant or otherwise (?) of which the said Sarah Duffy may be possessed of. The said Sarah Duffy doth hereby give and bequeath the use and enjoyment of the same unto Ann Navin, wife of James Corrigan, during her lifetime at the charge by his of making an inventory of the same.
But as to the full property thereof, the said Sarah Duffy, doth hereby give and bequest the same to Jane Corrigan, aged two years, to Elizabeth Corrigan, aged six months and to such other children as many issue from the said herein above mentioned marriage.
And in the event of the said Bridget Margaret Corrigan, Mary Corrigan or Sarah Corrigan deceasing before the age of twenty one and without having legitimate heirs, then and in that case the said Sarah Duffy directs that their share or shares of such as may decease be equally divided between the said Jane Corrigan, aged two years, Elizabeth Corrigan, aged six months and such other children as may issue from the said marriage. But that the shares of such as may decease be enjoyed by the said Ann Navin during her lifetime as aforesaid.
The said Sarah Duffy directs that her body be buried in the Roman Catholic Church of ValCartier, and that one solemn grand mass be sung the day of her funeral, and that two hundred said masses of requiem be said for the repose of her soul during the two years following her decease.
The said Sarah Duffy directs that all her lawful debts be paid by her executor herein after named.
The said Sarah Duffy doth hereby nominate and appoint as Executor of this her last will and testament the person of Henry Patton, residing in the parish of Saint Gabriel aforesaid, Esquire, whom she doth hereby request to render this last act of kindness.
The said Sarah Duffy hereby annulling, cancelling, objurgating, and making void all former wills which may have been heretofore made and executed by the said Sarah Duffy.
Thus done, made and dictated word by word by the said Sarah Duffy to the said Benjamin Lelievre, the said undersigned Notary in the presence of the said above named witnesses, in this day and year, first above written, under the number one thousand four hundred and forty and after having read and re-read the present last will and testament to the said Sarah Duffy, which she declared well to understand, she hath persisted therein as being her last will and meaning and hath declared that she cannot write nor sign her name, but made her mark by a cross. The said James Flinn also declaring that he cannot write and sign his name, but made his mark by a cross, having the said John Jack signed with me the Notary in faith and testimony of the promises. Words struck out are null. Marginal notes approved are good.
Sarah Duffy, her mark
James Flinn, his mark
John Jack, his signature
Benjamin Lelievre, his signature.
Transcribed by Patricia Balkcom, 22 October 2010
Note by Patricia Balkcom: This is an interesting will. Judith leaves her main possessions to a 6 year old grand-daughter (Bridget Margaret Corrigan). In the same year as this will was written, Bridget’s parents, James Corrigan and Ann Navin, leave Valcartier and move to Wisconsin. Four years later, in the 1871 Valcartier census, Bridget is living with her grandmother, Sarah Duffy, and she is not listed in the 1870 Wisconsin census with her parents. Apparently, Bridget stayed to live with her grandmother and did not go to Wisconsin (this seems unusual for a 6 year old child). Sarah Duffy did not die 19 December 1882, fifteen years after this will was written. It appears that, her only child, Ann Navin, who is mentioned in the will, predeceased her sometime between 1880 and 1882 when James Corrigan remarried. Granddaughter, Bridget Margaret is not listed in the 1881 Valcartier census and at this time I have not found either a death or marriage certificate for her. It is possible that there Sarah might have made a later will after her daughter died.