27th November 1871
Last Will of John Martin
Husband of Mary Corrigan
From records of Notary Jean-Baptiste Delage, No. 2624
Quebec Archives Online

On this day, the twenty-seventh of November one thousand eight hundred and seventy one, before the undersigned Notary Public for the Province of Quebec, residing in the City of Quebec, and James White and James Martin of the place called Valcartier, in the County of Quebec, farmers, witnesses to these presents personally came and appeared: John Martin, of the said place of Valcartier, said County of Quebec, farmer, who being of ill-health but of sound & disposing mind, made as follows his last will and testament.

I give, devise and bequeath to Mary Corrigan, my wife, all the property real and personal, moveable and immoveable that I may die possessed of, instituting her my universal legatee in full ownership, at the charge of lodging, clothing and feeding the children issue of our marriage until their majority.

The present last will and testament received by Jean-Baptiste Delage, the undersigned Notary, having been read to the said testator, in presence of the said witnesses, he declared well to understand the same and has persisted in the same, as containing his last intentions.

Thus done & executed at Valcartier aforesaid, dwelling of the said testator, on the day and year first above written, under the number two thousand six hundred and twenty four of the records of the said notary.

In witness whereof the said notary & witnesses have signed in the presence of one another & in the presence of the said testator who declared not to know how to write nor sign his name, after the reading done according to law.

Nine words erased are null.

John Martin, his mark; James Martin, his signature; James White, his signature, J.B. Delage, N.P., his signature

Transcribed by Gerald Neville,   April, 2011

Notes by Patricia Balkcom:  John died one month after he wrote this will (December 22) at the reported age of fifty-two.  John and Mary had nine children, two died in childhood.  The remaining children ranged in ages from seven months to twenty years when John died.