16th April 1868
Last Will of Margaret Roach
Widow of Michael Kiley

From records of Charles Henry Andrews
No. 970
Quebec Archives Online

On the sixteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty eight, at about one of the clock in the afternoon.

Before Charles Henry Andrews, Notary Public, residing at Quebec and before William McKenna of the Parish of St. Catherine’s, Farmer, and Richard Freeman of the City of Quebec, Esquire Gentleman, both witnesses expressly requested to be present, was also present Mrs. Margaret Roach residing in the Parish of St. Catherine’s de Fossambault and District of Quebec, widow of the late Michael Kiley (Kaley) in his lifetime of the same place, Farmer, deceased, who being sick in body but of sound mind, memory, judgment, and understanding requested me the undersigned Notary in the presence of the aforenamed witnesses to receive and write down her last will and testament which she instantly made, dictated and named in manner following, that is to say:

I recommend my soul to Almighty God hoping for a free pardon and remission of my sins through the intercession of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ.

I will and direct that all my just debts be paid and satisfied as soon as possible after my decease.

I give, devise and bequeath the whole of my property moveable and immoveable, real and personal, debts, obligations, jewelry, ready money, or wearing apparel which I may die possessed of without any exception or reserve whatsoever unto my son William Kiley whom I do hereby institute my universal and residuary legatee of all my said property moveable and immoveable real and personal, to have and to hold the same after my decease in full and absolute property and I do hereby nominate and appoint the said William Kiley sole executor of this my present last will and testament in whose hands I deseize and divest myself of all my said property, hereby revoking and making null and void all former or other wills and codicils at any time by me heretofore made declaring the present to be my only true last will and testament.

It was thus made, dictated and named by the said Testatrix unto me the said Notary in the presence of the said witnesses and the present last will and testament having been read and reread by me the said Notary in presence of said witnesses the said Testatrix declared to have perfectly understood the same and persisted therein declaring hat it contained entirely her last will and testament.

Done at St. Catherine’s aforesaid at the residence of the said Testatrix in the Concession on the day and year first above written under the number nine hundred and seventy the said Testatrix having declared she could neither write nor sign her name when requested so to do these presents twice read as aforesaid.

Margaret Roach, her mark

William McKenna, his signature

Richard Freeman, his signature

C.H. Andrews, Notary, his signature

Transcribed by Gerald Neville, July 2011

Notes by Patricia Balkcom:  Margaret had six children – two predeceased her as did her husband.  William, her son mentioned in the will, was her youngest son.  Margaret died two months after writing this will at the reported age of 62.