| 26th November 1880 Last Will of Jane Gainford Wife of Hugh Neil | From the records of Notary Charles Henry Andrews Record No. 2787 Quebec Archives Online |
On this twenty sixth day of November in the year one thousand eight hundred and eighty,
At the request of Jane Gainford, widow of the late Hugh Neil, in his life time of the Parish of Valcartier in the County of Quebec deceased of the undersigned Notary duly commissioned for the Province of Quebec did write her last will and testament which she dictated to me in the manner following in the presence of James Neilan, of the Parish of St. Sauveur, mechanic, & Alfred Morrissette, civil service employee, of the City of Quebec.
I will and bequeath unto two grandchildren, John and David William Neil, issue of the marriage of my son John Neil & Jane Corrigan, all my property moveable and immoveable of whatever nature or kind that I may die possessed of.
It was thus dictated and named in the presence of the said witnesses the present will and testament having been read to the said testatrix, she declaring it to be her true last will and testament.
It was done and executed at the said Parish of St. Sauveur on the day and year first above written and recorded in the office of the undersigned Notary and under the number two thousand seven hundred and eighty seven the said Testatrix having declared she could not sign her name the said witnesses and I the said Notary having signed.
Witnesses:
Alf. Morrissette, his signature
James Neilan, his signature
C.H. Andrews, Notary, his signature
Transcribed by Gerald Neville, 2011
Notes by Patricia Balkcom: Jane died 9 years after this Will was written at 100 years of age. She had first married Joseph Shea and had at least three children (Ellen, Joseph and Mary Ann) with him. He died in 1830 and she then married Hugh Neil in 1832. Her son, Joseph Shea, predeceased her. Although John, her son (by Hugh Neil), and his wife had nine known children, only two are mentioned in this will as Jane’s grandsons.