| 26 August 1850 Last Will of Robert Goodfellow Husband of Janet Thomson | From the Notary Alex-Benjamin Sirois Duplessis Record #3814 Quebec Archives Microfilm #4M01-5752 |
On the twenty sixth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty, before us the undersigned Notaries Public duly admitted and sworn in and for the Province of Canada, residing in the City of Quebec, personally came and appeared Robert Goodfellow of the Parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier, Farmer, in the District of Quebec, who being in apparently good health of body and of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, blessed be the Almighty God for the same, hath declared unto us the said Notaries that considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time hereof wished to make his last will and testament and accordingly he did make, declare and dictate the same word for word unto us the said Notaries in manner following:
First and principally, the Testator doth recommend his soul into the hands of Almighty God, his Creator and Savior & his body he commits to the earth to be interred in a manner suitable to his condition and means at the time of his decease.
Secondly, the Testator doth will and direct that his just debts & funeral expenses be fully paid and satisfied as soon as possible after his decease by his universal legatees hereinafter named.
Thirdly, the said Testator doth give and bequeath to Janet Thomson his beloved wife an annuity or pension of twelve pounds currency per year during her life time to be paid half yearly if she requests it from the tome of my decease and also to have the milk of one cow of our own and also to be provided with sufficient firewood for her use ready for stove and also the use of the house and furniture in it during her life time also.
Fourthly, the Testator doth give and bequeath unto Janet Goodfellow, his daughter, the sum of fifty pounds currency.
Fifthly, the said Testator doth give and bequeath unto Mary Anne Goodfellow, his daughter, the sum of forty pounds currency.
Sixthly, the said Testator doth give and bequeath unto Margaret Goodfellow, his daughter, the sum of fifty pounds currency, two cows, bed and bedding and her linen and clothes as long as she remains unmarried and with her brothers.
Seventhly, the Testator doth give and bequeath unto Helen Goodfellow, his daughter, the sum of one hundred pounds currency and to have the said sum of one hundred pounds and her living as long as she remains unmarried but if she got married the said Testator doth bequeath and give over two cows and bed and bedding.
Eighthly, the said Testator doth give and bequeath unto Robert Goodfellow, his son, the sum of five pounds currency.
Ninthly, the Testator doth will and direct that the legacies made to his son and daughters as aforesaid may not be paid until his youngest son shall have attained the full age of twenty one years.
Tenthly, the said Testator doth give and bequeath unto his three other sons named William Goodfellow, John Goodfellow, and Thomas Thompson Goodfellow all and every his other properties, moveable and immoveable, household furniture, ready money, chattels and all other things belonging to him at the time of his decease of what nature and kind the same may be, to be enjoyed by them the said William, John and Thomas Goodfellow by share and share alike between them but the said Testator doth will and direct that the land upon which the said Testator hath his dwelling and living should not be sold but be put at evaluation made by the persons named by them if they can’t agree between them for such valuation, and as to the other lands the said Testator doth give power to his said three sons last named to sell the same and the price to be got from the said sales to be applied to purchase other land or real property. The said Testator appointing and naming the said William, John and Thomas Thompson Goodfellow his universal and residuary legatees.
Eleventhly, the said Testator doth hereby nominate and appoint for the execution of his last will and testament Henry Rourke and William Whillians, his son in laws of the said Parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier, Farmers, and nulling and cancelling by these presents all former wills or testaments or codicil he may have done previous to the execution of his present last will and testament.
Thus done and dictated at the said City of Quebec by the said Testator to Alexandre-Benjamin Sirois and in the office of the said Alexandre-Benjamin Sirois under the number three thousand eight hundred and fourteen in the presence of François-Xavier Vaillancourt, his colleague Notary, and the said last will having been read over and over again to the said Testator by one of the said Notaries, the other being present, the said Testator declared that he had perfectly heard and understood the same and found it contained his true will and intention therefore persisted therein and hath signed with us the said Notaries in faith and testimony of the premises.
Two marginal notes approved as good. Fifty eight words struck out are null.
Robert Goodfellow, his signature;
J.-F. Vaillancourt, N.P., his signature;
A.B. Sirois, N.P., his signature
Transcribed by Gerald Neville, January, 2012
NOTE by Patricia Balkcom: Robert Goodfellow died 31 May 1866, aged 72 years, two years after his wife died. All of his eight children are mentioned in the will, however, since this will was written 16 years before his death, there may be a later will. At least, one child, Helen, died after this will was written.