| 23rd Feb 1897 Will of John Thompson Widower of Jane Henderson | From the Notary Records of Cyrille Renaud Record #1199 Transcribed from the Original Will at the Quebec Archives |
On this twenty third day of February one thousand eight hundred and ninety seven, before me Cyrille Renaud Public Notary residing in the Parish of St. Ambroise of Jeune Lorette and Alexandre Boucher, Doctor of same place, and John McCoubrey, Farmer, residing in the Parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier, witnesses for the effects of these presents, personally appeared John Thompson, Farmer, residing in the Parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier, who being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding hath requested us the aid Notary and said witnesses to write down and receive in due form of law his last will and testament which he has declared in manner and form following, that is to say:
Firstly and principally, I most willingly resign my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator in the humble hope that he will receive it to his favor through the sole merits and intercession of Jesus Christ my Saviour.
Secondly, I desire that all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses be paid by my executor herein after named as soon as possible after my death.
Thirdly, I give and bequeath to my son Frederick H. Thompson the sum of two hundred dollars to the condition that he shall renounce to his claims in the succession of his mother Jane Henderson my late wife deceased without having made previously a will, this renunciation of Frederick H. Thompson will be made in favor of John Robert Thompson my son, but if the said Frederick H. Thompson claim his part in the succession of his said mother the present sum of two hundred dollars shall go to my said son John Robert Thompson because the said Robert John Thompson shall be obliged to pay the part to Frederick Thompson in the succession of their said mother.
Fourthly, I give and bequeath to Ada Thompson, daughter of George Thompson, the sum of twenty five dollars payable at the eighteenth years of her age without interest.
Fifthly, I leave the sum of one hundred dollars for a headstone for me and my late wife and the sum of fifty dollars for my burial expenses.
Sixthly, I give and bequeath all my clothes to John Walter Thompson, son of George Thompson.
Seventhly, I give and bequeath all the balance and remainder of all my moveable and immoveable properties to my nephew John W. Thompson that I constitute my universal legatee.
Eighthly, I nominate and appoint my said nephew John W. Thompson as Executor of this my will.
Ninthly, I revoke all wills and codicils I may have heretofore made and I declare the present to be my only true last will and testament.
The present will was thus declared by the said testator to the said Notary in presence of witnesses aforesaid and by the Notary in presence of said witnesses read to the Testator who declared to understand it fully and persist therein.
Done and passed at the residence of John W. Thompson where the said Testator lives and stays under Notarial Number eleven hundred and ninety nine, and in presence of said Notary and witnesses also hereunto subscribing in his presence and in the presence of each other after due reading hereof.
John Thompson, his signature;
John McCoubrey, his signature;
Alexandre Boucher, M.D., his signature;
Cy. Renaud, N.P., his signature
(Transcribed by Gerry Neville – August, 2011)
Notes by Patricia Balkcom: This is an interesting will in that John is asking one son to give up his rights to his brother. It is not clear if this is referring to land but it implies as such. However, that would also imply that Jane Henderson owned land in her own right (but how did this succession take place if there was no will?) It is also interesting that John leaves most of his estate to his nephew, John W. Thompson, who I suspect is the son of William Thompson and Mary Abraham. (I have no proof of this, however. If it were true, it would link John – husband of Jane Henderson, and William – husband of Mary Abraham as brothers who might have come to Valcartier together.) John died about two weeks after writing this will on the 6th of March.