| 7th July 1873 Last Will of William Whillians Husband of Janet Goodfellow | From records of Notary Edward George Cannon, No. 7416 Quebec Archives Microfilm #1578 |
On the seventh day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy three, before us the undersigned Notaries Public residing in the City of Quebec personally came, appeared and was present William Whillians of the Parish of St. Gabriel de Valcartier in the County of Quebec, Farmer, which said William Whillians being apparently in good bodily health and of sound and perfect mind, memory and understanding requested us the said Notaries to receive his last Will and Testament which he instantly made, dictated in manner and form unto us word for word in manner and form following, that is to say:
I recommend my soul to Almighty God hoping for a free pardon and remission of all my sins through the intercession of Jesus Christ, My Saviour.
I wish and direct that all my just debts be fully paid and satisfied by my Executrix hereinafter named.
I give and bequeath unto my nephew, William Whillians, son of David Whillians of the said City of Quebec, Baker, my brother, my large family Bible and my silver watch and chain, after the demise of both myself and my wife Janet Goodfellow.
I give and bequeath unto my said brother the said David Whillians after my decease all my wearing apparel.
And as to the rest and residue of all my property real and personal moveable and immoveable without any exception or reserve which I may die possessed of I give and bequeath the use and usufruct thereof unto my beloved wife the said Janet Goodfellow, for and during her natural life only, on condition however that she will not marry, it being my intention and will that should my said wife marry a second time, then and in that case all my said property real and personal moveable and immoveable shall belong to my said brother the said David Whillians, from the day of her second marriage which said David Whillians I do hereby appoint in that case my universal legatee.
And I do hereby order and direct that after the death of myself and of my said wife whatever property should remain if any the same shall be divided share and share alike between the relations of my said wife and of myself.
And I do hereby appoint my said wife sole executrix of this my present last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills and codicils at any time heretofore by me made.
It was thus made, dictated and named by the said William Whillians, Testator, unto us the said Notaries on the day and year first above written, and the present last Will and testament having been read, read over and over again lu et relu au long to the said William Whillians, testator, by Mtre. E.G. Cannon, one of us the said Notaries in the presence of Mtre. Cyprien Labrèque his confrere who was present all the time during the execution hereof, the said William Whillians, declared to have perfectly heard and understood the said Will and Testament and persisted in the contents thereof.
Thus done and passed at the said City of Quebec in the office of Edward George Cannon, one of the undersigned Notaries, on the day and year first above written, under the number seven thousand four hundred and sixteen, the said William Whillians, Testator, having signed these presents twice read as aforesaid together with the said Notaries in faith and testimony of the premises.
N.B. Words struck out are null.
William Whillians, his signature;
C. Labrèque, N.P., his signature;
E.G. Cannon, N.P., his signature
[Translated and transcribed by Gerry Neville]
Notes by Patricia Balkcom: William died in 1889 at the reported age of 84. His brother predeceased him in 1888.