18th April 1874
Last Will of Robert Ross
Husband of Mary Rea
 

From records of
Notary Charles Henry Andrews
No. 1845
Quebec Archives Online

On the eighteenth day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy four,

At the request of Mr. Robert Ross of the Parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier, Farmer, the elder, and in my office situate in the Victoria Chambers in the Lower Town of the City of Quebec, I Charles Henry Andrews, Public Notary, in the presence of John Fraser, Public Notary residing at the City of Quebec did write down his last will and testament which he dictated as follows, he being of good health and of sound and perfect mind, memory and Judgment.

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

1stly I give and bequeath the whole of my property moveable and immoveable, real and personal debts and obligations ready money or wearing apparel which I may die possessed of without any exception or reserve whatsoever unto my beloved wife, Mary Rae 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.

2ndly I do hereby will and direct that after my decease and the decease of my beloved wife that out of any and all of said estate and property then remaining I give and bequeath unto my daughter Agnes the sum of two hundred dollars, that is unless she having married previous to my decease and that of my said wife and she having received at the time of such marriage the sum of two hundred dollars.

3rdly I will and direct and give and bequeath a similar sum of two hundred dollars to my daughter Mary under similar and same conditions.

4thly I hereby will and direct that after my decease and the decease of my said wife that after paying the two aforementioned legacies the balance of my estate and property then remaining both real and personal of the cash proceeds thereof shall be divided into six equal shares or proportions and that my son, Robert, and daughters Hannah, Margaret and Agnes do each of them have and take one share and my daughter Mary do have and take two shares, the same to be over and above the legacies to the aforementioned Agnes and Mary.

And I do hereby nominate and appoint David McBain, Merchant, and Robert Ross, Farmer, both of the Parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier to be the Executors of this my last will and testament in whole hands I desire and divest myself of all my said property, moveable and immoveable giving them power to act jointly and separately and to carry and prolong the execution of this my said last will beyond the term allowed by law and until my views and intentions shall have been fully executed but whose duties shall not commence until the decease of my said wife hereby revoking all former wills and codicils at any time heretofore by me made and declaring the present to be my only true last will and testament.

It was thus made, dictated and named by the said Testator unto me the said Notary in the presence of my colleague Notary the present will having been read to the said Robert Ross, the elder, in the presence aforesaid the said Robert Ross having declared to have perfectly heard and understood the same and persisted therein declaring it contained his last will and testament.

Done and executed at the said City of Quebec at my office aforesaid on the day and year first above written and recorded in the office of Charles H. Andrews one of the undersigned Notaries under the number one thousand eight hundred and forty five the said Testator having signed.

Robert Ross, his signature

John Fraser, his signature

C.H. Andrews, Notary, his signature

Transcribed by Gerald Neville,   February, 2010

Notes by Patricia Balkcom:  Robert and his wife Mary Rea, had seven known children.  Five of the children are mentioned in the will – Robert, Hannah, Margaret, Agnes, and Mary.  John, another son, predeceased Robert, and another daughter, Janet, possibly did also, since she is not mentioned.