| 24th May 1884 Will of John Griffin Husband of Elizabeth Lannin | From the Notary Records of Edouard Antill Panet Record #2576 Transcribed from the Original Will at the Quebec Archives |
On this twenty fourth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty four at the hour of nine of the clock in the forenoon, at the special insistence and request of John Griffin, of the Parish of Sainte Catherine, Farmer, I, Édouard Antill Panet the undersigned Notary Public duly commissioned and sworn in and residing and practising in the Parish of Saint Raymond in the County of Portneuf and Province of Quebec, accompanied by Joseph Griffin residing in the said Parish of Sainte Catherine and Francis Donaldson at present residing in the Parish of Sainte Catherine, Labourer, but previously residing in Norton Mills in the State of Vermont, one of the Unites States of America, witnesses required by law and expressly called by the said Testator for the purposes of these presents, reported to the residence of Mr. John Griffin in the said Parish of Sainte Catherine, and there finding him ill, but dressed and sitting up in a chair and of sound and disposing mind, memory, judgment, and understanding as it appeared unto us, Notary and witnesses, from his words and actions, yet knowing and considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous of regulating his worldly affairs whilst yet he had the strength left so to do, hath, in the presence of the said witnesses named, dictated and nominated fait dicté et nommé unto the said Notary in the presence of said witnesses his last will and testament in the manner and form following:
1º I recommend 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.
2º I will and order that my body be committed to the grave to be interred in a manner suitable to my station in life and according to the rites and solemnities of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and faith of which I am a member, and that a funeral mass be sung over my remains the day of my funeral.
3º I will and order that all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses be first paid by my Executrix hereinafter named.
4º I give, devise and bequeath to my son Joseph issue of my marriage with Dame Elizabeth Lannin the following immoveable property, namely, a lot of land situate in the Parish of Sainte Catherine in the Seigniory of Fossambault being commonly known as lot number seventy five of the Sixth Range and containing about three arpents of land in front by thirty arpents in depth, or a superficial measurement of ninety arpents, with the house and other buildings thereon erected, said lot now known and distinguished upon the official plan and Book of Reference for the County of Portneuf and Parish of Sainte Catherine as lot official number four hundred and twenty seven (no. 427) to be by my said son Joseph used, enjoyed and disposed of by him in full property and ownership from and after the moment of my decease, hereby instituting him my legatee by particular title.
And lastly, as to the rest, residue and remainder of the whole of my estate and succession, moveable and immoveable property, money, regrets, actions, privilege, claims and demands, and all of the property generally whatsoever, which I may die possessed of without exception or reserve, wherever the same may be situate and to whatever amount the same may come to, I give, devise and bequeath the same to my well beloved wife, the said Elizabeth Lannin, in full property and ownership to be by her used, enjoyed and disposed of, as she may see fit and proper from and after the moment of my decease, hereby instituting her my residuary legatee and devisee, in full property and ownership and Executrix of this my present last will and testament, and revoking all other and former last wills and codicils by me heretofore made, willing and desiring that the present alone be followed after my decease.
It was thus named, dictated and nominated fait dicté et nommé, unto us said Notary in the presence of said witnesses, by the said Testator of his own free will and accord and without any suggestion or seduction on the part of any person or persons whomsoever, and was to him read over by the said Notary in the presence of the said witnesses, the said Testator persisting herein after the reading thereof as fully to embody and contain his last will and intention.
This done and passed at Saint Catherine aforesaid in the residence of the said Testator on the day, month, year and hour first above written.
In testimony whereof the said Testator hath signed these presents with and in the presence of the said undersigned Notary and witnesses who have each signed in the presence of each other and in the presence of the said Testator, these presents bearing the number of two thousand five hundred and seventy six of the original deed remaining of record in the office of the said undersigned Notary.
But the said John Griffin being unable to finish writing his name after having commenced, and declaring his incapacity of finishing writing it from extreme weakness, hath made his usual mark of a cross in the presence of the said Notary and witnesses.
The marginal note is good.
John Griffin, his mark & partial signature;
Joseph Griffin, his signature;
Frank Donaldson, his signature;
E.A. Panet, N.P., his signature
Transcribed by Gerry Neville, August, 2011
Notes by Patricia Balkcom: John died two and a half months later on August 5th. Although only one child (Joseph) is mentioned in this will, John and his wife had ten known children (at least one of whom predeceased him). Shortly after John’s death, Eliza, his wife, moved to Norton Mills, Vermont with some of her children.