| 12 April 1897 Last Will and Testament of Mathilda Smith Wife of James Livingston | From the Records of Edouard Antill Panet Record #5155 Transcribed from the Original at the Quebec Archives |
On this twelfth day of April one thousand eight hundred and ninety seven at the hour of ten thirty of the clock in the forenoon, at the special instance and request of Dame Mathilda Smith, wife of James Livingston of the said Parish of Saint Raymond, Farmer, I, Édouard Antill Panet the undersigned Notary Public duly commissioned and sworn in and residing and practising in the Parish of Saint Raymond, Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, accompanied by William Livingston and Jacob Smith both of the Parish of Saint Raymond, Farmers, witnesses requested by the said Dame Mathilda Smith to witness this her present last will and testament, repaired to the residence of the said Mathilda Smith in the said Parish of Saint Raymond and there finding her in good bodily health and of sound and disposing mind, memory, judgment and understanding as it appeared unto us Notary and witnesses from her words and actions, and being desirous of regulating her worldly affairs whilst yet she hath the strength left to do so, hath named, dictated and nominated unto us said Notary and witnesses her last will and testament in the manner and form following:
1º I recommend my soul to Almighty God my Creator.
2º I will and order that my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses be first paid by my Testamentary Executor hereinafter named.
3º I will and order that my body be committed to the grave to be buried in a manner suitable to my station in life, and with as little expense as possible.
4º I will, devise and bequeath to my well beloved son Alexander Livingston the whole of my property moveable and immoveable, ready money, rights and actions, and all other property of whatever kind and description I may die possessed of without exception or reserve to be by my said son Alexander used, enjoyed and disposed of in full property and ownership from and after the moment of my death hereby instituting him my universal legatee and devisee in full property and Executor of this my present last will and testament, and hereby revoking all other last wills and testaments and codicils by me heretofore made, wishing and desiring that the present alone be followed.
It was thus named, dictated and nominated by the said Testatrix of her own free will and accord to the said Notary in presence of said witnesses, in the residence of the said Testatrix in the said Parish of Saint Raymond, on the day, month, year and hour first above mentioned.
In testimony whereof the said Testatrix declaring her inability to write or sign her name hath made her usual mark of a cross in the presence of said Notary and witnesses who have each signed with and in the presence of the said Testatrix and in the presence of each other, these presents having been first duly read by the said Notary to said Testatrix in presence of said witnesses, the said Testatrix persisting herein after the reading thereof as fully to embody and contain her last will and intentions, these presents bearing the number five thousand one hundred and fifty [six] of the original deeds remaining of record in the office of the said undersigned Notary.
Martha Smith, her mark; William Livingston, his signature; Jacob Smith, his signature; E.A. Panet, N.P., his signature
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NOTE: Mathida Smith Livingston died 3 October 1899 and was buried on the 5 October 1899 (Bourg Louis Church of England). 70 years of age.James Livingston and Mathilda Smith were married on 14 May 1849. (Church Register: Portneuf Church of England).
Transcribed by Gerald Neville, December 2012