| 30th April 1874 Last Will of James John White | From the records of Notary Paul Picard Record Number 154 Quebec Archives Online |
On this day, the thirtieth of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy four, I the undersigned Notary Public for the Province of Quebec in the Dominion of Canada residing in the Parish of St. Ambroise de la Jeune Lorette, accompanied by the witnesses hereinafter named and subscribed,
Personally went to the residence of Mr. James White of the Parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier, farmer, in the County of Quebec, who being in weak bodily health, but of sound mind, memory, and understanding as to us appeared by his manner and conversation hath requested of us the said Notary to receive and reduce into writing this his Last Will and Testament which we the said Notary in the presence of the said witnesses have taken down as dictated to us by the said James White word for word and as follows that is to say:
I. I wish that after all my just and lawful debts shall have been paid and satisfied with which I hereby charge my Executor of this my present Last Will and Testament hereinafter named and mentioned that a sum of money shall be paid for the saying of fifteen low masses (messes basses de requiem) after my decease for the repose of my soul with a grand mass on my body the day of my funeral.
II. I do hereby give, bequeath and devise unto my two sons, John White and Charles White, issued of my marriage with Mary Maher all and every the property real and personal, moveable and immoveable (without any exception whatsoever) which I may possess of hereafter instituting them my said two children, my universal legatees.
III. I wish that after my death the Tutor of my two children be my wife, Mary Maher, and Charles White, my brother, substitute Tutor.
IV. It is my wish also that my wife Mary Maher, shall have the power of settling and disposing of the property or renting the same in any way that suits her interests so to do.
V. And for the execution of the present, my Last Will and Testament, I nominate and appoint Charles White, my brother of the Parish of Ste. Catherine, farmer, and my wife, Mary Maher, as Executors of my present Will & Testament in favor of whom I do in conformity to the law and custom of this Province hereby deseize and divest myself of all my property for the ends hereof; hereby revoking all other wills, testaments, or codicils that I may have made prior to this present will to which alone I adhere as containing my instructions and last will.
Thus done and executed and dictated word for word & published and declared by the said James White, Testator, for and as his Last Will and Testament to and in the presence of the said Notary and Mr. John Thompson of the parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier, farmer, and Mr. Mr. Pierre Stuart of the parish of St. Ambroise de la Jeune Lorette, baker, in the residence of the said James White aforesaid the day and year first above written under the number one hundred and fifty-four of the original deeds of the said Notary.
In faith and testimony whereof the said James White, Testator, hath signed these presents in the presence of the said witnesses the said, he same witnesses having also hereunto set and subscribed their names and signatures first duly read according to the law.
Three words erased are null. Three marginal notes approved are good.
James White, his signature;
John Thompson, his signature,
Peter Stuart, his signature;
P. Picard, Notary, his signature
Transcribed by Gerald Neville, May, 2011
Notes by Patricia Balkcom: James died the next day at the age of 35 years, leaving his wife and two sons, aged three and one.