| 4th July 1832 Will of Ann McBride Widow of William Bethel | From records of Notary Benjamin Lelievre No. 153 Quebec Archives Film #4M01-4419 |
On this day the fourth of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, We the undersigned Notaries Public duly admitted and sworn of and for the Province of Lower Canada and residing at the City of Quebec at the request of Ann McBride, widow of the late William Bethel, in his life time of Queen’s County in the Parish [Barony] of Upperwoods in the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in that part called Ireland, went to the residence of her, the said Ann McBride situate and being at the City of Quebec aforesaid at Nicholas Street there being, we fund the said Ann McBride lying sick in bed nevertheless sound of mind, memory and understanding as appeared to us said Notaries.
And the said Ann McBride considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the hour thereof doth make, publish, declare and dictate to us the said Notaries being present her last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say:
The said Ann McBride recommends her soul to God her Creator and desires that her body be buried at the discretion of her executor hereinafter named.
The said Ann McBride doth give and bequeath all, each and every her lands, goods, merchandise, real or personal estates, sum & sums of money, otherwise without any reserve, restriction or limitation whatever and wherever the same may be whether in the Province of Lower Canada or elsewhere unto John Bethel her son of the said City of Quebec, Master shoemaker.
The said John Bethel to have, hold, use & enjoy the said lands, goods, merchandise, real or personal estates, sum and sums of money as aforesaid in full property and forever.
And the said Ann McBride doth hereby nominate and appoint as Executor of this her last will & Testament the said John Bethel, hereby annulling, cancelling, abrogating and making void all former will or wills by her the said Ann McBride heretofore made and executed.
Thus done, made and dictated word by word by the said Ann McBride to Benjamin Leliévre in the presence of his colleague Notaries at the residence of the said Ann McBride situate as before mentioned, and the said last will and testament having been read and re-read to the said Ann McBride which she declared well to understand as being her last will and meaning she the said Ann McBride persisted therein, and the said Ann McBride hereby declaring that she could not sign the said Notaries having set and subscribed our names and signatures in faith and testimony and subscribe of the premises.
Benjamin Leliévre, his signature;
C.-D. Planté, his signature
Transcribed by Gerald Neville, May, 2011
Note by Patricia Balkcom: Ann died in Quebec City on the 29th May 1835 at the reported age of 68 years and was buried in the Anglican Trinity Cathedral there.