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The Will-Maker Speaks His Mind

Date:
By Ms Christine Christine Harris

The following article was originally published in 'Branch News' No. 9 Summer 1979 by the Mid-Derbyshire Family History Society.  It was subsequently picked up and included in 'Western Ancestor' Vol.1 No.4 in December 1979.  Spelling, punctuation and grammar is as per the original.

THE WILL-MAKER SPEAKS HIS MIND

Will of WILLIAM DUNLOP, contested in the Chancery Court of Huron, Canada in 1864.

In the name of God Amen.  I, William Dunlop of Gairbrain in the township of Colborne......being in sound health, and in my mind just as usual, which my friends who flatter me say is no great shakes at the best of times, do make this my last will and testament as follows: Revoking of course all former wills I leave the Property of Gairbraid and all other property I may die possessed of, to my sisters Ellen Boyle Story and Elizabeth Boyle Dunlop, the former because she is married to a minister whom (God help him) she henpecks; the latter because she is married to nobody, nor is she like to be, for she is an old maid and not market-ripe; and I also leave to them and their heirs my share of the stock and implements on the farm; provided always that the enclosure round my brother's grave be reserved, and if either die without issue then the other to inherit the whole.  I leae to my sister-in-law, Louisa Dunlop, all my share of the household and furniture and such traps with the exception hereinafter mentioned.  I leave my silver tankard to the eldest son of old John as the representative of the family.  I should have left it to old John himself, but he would melt it down to make temperance medals, and that would be sacrilege; however I leave my big horn snuff-box to him, he can only make temperance horn spoons with that.  I leave my sister Jenny my Bible formerly the property of my great, great-grandmother, Bertha Hamilton of Woodhall, and when she knows as much of the spirit of it as she does of the letter she will be better Christian than she is.  I also leave my late brother's watch to my brother Sandy exhorting him at the same time to give up Whiggery, Radicalism, and all other sins that do most easily beset him.  I leave my brother Allen my big silver snuff-box as I am information he is rather a decent Christian, with a swag belly and a jolly face.  I leave Parson Chevassie (Maggie's husband) the small box I got from the Sarnia Militia, as a small token of my gratitude for the services he has done the family in taking a sister that no man of taste would have taken.  I leave John Cadell a silver tea-pot, to the end that he may drink tea therefrom, to comform him under the affliction of a slattery wife.  I leave my books to my brother Andrew because he has been so long a jangly wolloh that he may learn to read with them.  I give my silver cup with the sovereign in it to my sister Janet Graham Dunlop because she is an old maid and pious and therefore will necessarily take to horning, and also my granny's snuff-shell as it looks decent to see an old woman taking snuff. -----

In witness thereof I have set my hand and seal the 31st day of August in the year of our Lord 1862.

W. DUNLOP

 

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