Amanuensis Monday: The Will of Alexander Mackay

Earlier this month, Find My Past released New South Wales Will Books 1800-1952 (currently offline for improvements). Seeing as my Australian side of the family is from New South Wales (NSW), I had to take a look. Of the 10 I have found so far, I definitely think the most interesting (and most detailed) one belongs to my Great Great Grandfather Alexander Mackay.

Alexander was born in 1856 at Dungog, NSW to parents Donald Mackay and Jane Gilliban Walker. In 1885, he married Elizabeth Lucilla Gill at Nambucca, NSW. After they married, the family relocated to Bowraville where Alexander was a farmer.

Elizabeth Gill & Alexander Mackay
[Source: Personal Collection]

Alexander & Elizabeth had 6 children -

1. Alice Jane Mackay (1886 - 1979, married Charles Churchill)
2. Eva Florence Mackay (1888 - 1976, married James Albert Dyer)
3. Ethel M Mackay (1890 - 1892)
4. Lottie Mabel Mackay (1894 - 1990, married David Glyde)
5. Archie Burton Mackay (1901 - 1993, married Sylvia Kelsey)
6. Elizabeth Lucilla Mackay (1905 - 1996, married Clarance Lumsden)

Elizabeth died during the birth of their youngest child who was named after her. Because of this, I was curious to see what Alexander's Will would entail and what he would leave to his children. I transcribed it as is and have not added any punctuation to it, other than what was already there. With or without punctuation, it is quite straightforward and easy to understand. Here is the transcription in italics:

[Source: Find My Past]

Mackay, Alexander (sometimes called Alexander McKay)/Late of Bowraville, Farmer.

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me ALEXANDER MACKAY (sometimes called Alexander McKay) of Bowraville in the State of New South Wales Farmer I HEREBY REVOKE all former Wills heretofore made by me AND I DECLARE this to be my last Will I APPOINT my son ARCHIE BURTON MCKAY and JAMES ALBERT DYER (hereinafter called my Trustees which expression shall be deemed to include the Trustees or trustee for the time being of this my Will) to be Executors and Trustees of this my Will AND I DECLARE that all trusts power authorities and discretions hereinafter vested in my Trustees be exercised by the survivor of them or other the Trustee or Trustees of this my will I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH to my daughters EVA DYER LOTTIE MADEL GLYDE ALICE JANE CHURCHILL and ELIZABETH LUSCELLA LUMSDEN share and share alike as tenants in common the proceeds of my life insurance policy or policies and also any money standing at my credit in the Commonwealth Savings Bank I GIVE AND DEVISE to my Trustees two allotments of land in Bowraville and the house standing on one of the said allotments IN TRUST to sell the same and to divide the proceeds between my said four daughters share and share alike I GIVE AND DEVISE to my son ARCHIE BURTON MCKAY all my other property including my other real property upon condition that the said Archie Burton McKay pay each of my four said daughters the sum of Two hundred pounds (£200) each within twelve months after my death and I charge the said real property hereinbefore devised to the said Archie Burton McKay with the payment of the said legacies I GIVE AND BEQUEATH to the said Archie Burton McKay my shares in the Bowraville Co-Operative Society Limited and in the Coastal Farmers Society AND I DECLARE that the share of the said Archie Burton McKay shall bear the costs of my funeral and testamentary expenses duties and fees and the payment of my debts including the mortgage debt on any property devised to the said Archie Burton McKay to the intent that the bequests that I have made to my said daughters shall be exonerated from payment of any part of the said expenses duties fees debts and mortgage debts AND I DECLARE that if any child or children of mine predecease me leaving a child or children surviving them such last mentioned child or children shall take (and if more than one then equally between them) the share which his or her or their parent would have taken under this my will had such child of mine survived me IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand this Ninth day of July One thousand nine hundred and thirty-six.

ALEXANDER MACKAY.

SIGNED by the Testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us both present at the same time and we at this request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses. M. Richardson, Law Clerk Bowraville. L. O’Neal, Solicitor, Bowraville.

23^rd February, 1938. PROBATE of the Will was granted to ARCHIE BURTON MCKAY and JAMES ALBERT DYER the Executors named therein. Testator died 1^st November, 1937. Estate sworn at £1814.19.7. Nett.

It seems that Alexander really cared for his children, particularly after his wife died and he was left with a newborn and young children. Before my Nanna died, she told me many times that she remembered her Grandfather Alexander Mackay and the Mackay's in general as people who worked hard for their money. She said that Alexander hoped he taught his children that, and Nanna believed that he had.
  

Alexander Mackay & his children, 1930s
L-R: Elizabeth, Alice, Alexander, Eva, Lottie & Archie
[Source: Personal Collection]

Amanuensis Monday: William Gow.

For today's Amanuensis Monday, I have transcribed the Testament of my Great Great Grandfather William Gow. William was born in 1808 in Scotland and died in 1874 in Muthill, Perthshire. In 1855 he married Jean/Jane Drummond and they had 5 children - John, Robert, Isabella, Jeannie & William.

There was no punctuation in it, however, I have attempted to insert punctuation where I think appropriate. Words in red are those that I was unsure about.

William Gow, Great Great Grandfather.
[Source: Personal Collection]

Inventory of the Personal Estate of William Gow, 1874

At Perth the twenty eighth day of December, Eighteen hundred and seventy four, In presence of James Adam Esquire Advocate Commissary of the County of Perth, Compeared Alexander George Read Solicitor in Auchterarder as Procurator for the Executor.

Executor after named and designed and gave in the Inventory of the Personal Estate of William Gow Farmer in Cairn in the Parish of Muthill (duly stamped with Twenty two pounds Sterling of duty), and oath thereon after-written desiring the same to be recorded in the Commissary Court Books of Perthshire, conform to act of Parliament which desire the said Commissary found reasonable and ordained the same to be done accordingly the tenor whereof follows:

Inventory of the Personal Estate of umqulul William Gow farmer in Cairn in the Parish of Muthill who died at Cairn on or about the twenty third day of May Eighteen hundred and seventy four.

Farm Stocking growing crop household furniture and other effects

                                                                        Forward £ 

Effects which belonged to the deceased at the time of his death conform to Inventory and Appraisement by John Sinclair Licensed Appraiser

                                                                        £ 743, 7, 6

Cash in house                                                 £ 2

Total amount of Personal Estate                   £ 745, 7, 6

Signed Jane Gow

           Jas Smitton J.P.

At Auchterarder the twenty sixth day of December Eighteen hundred and seventy four years, In presence of James Smitton Esquire, One of Her Majestys Justices of the Peace for the County of Perth, appeared Jane Drummond or Gow residing at Cairn in the Parish of Muthill Executor of the deceased William Gow farmer in Cairn foresaid who being solemnly sworn and examined Depones that the said William Gow died at Cairn on or about the twenty third day of May Eighteen Hundred and seventy four, and the Deponent has entered upon the  possession and management of the deceased's Estate as Executor qua relict:

That the Deponent knows of no Testamentary Settlement or Writing left by the deceased relative to the disposal of his personal Estate or Effects or any part thereof. 

That the foregoing Inventory signed by the Deponent and the said Justice of the Pace as relative hereto as a full and complete Inventory of the Personal Estate and Effects of the said deceased William Gow – wheresoever situated and belonging or due to him beneficially at the time of his death in so far as the same has come to the Deponents Knowledge that the Deponent does not know of any money or property belonging to the deceased liable to the duty imposed by the Acts 23 Victoria Chapter 15 and 23 & 24 Victoria Chapter 80.

That the value at this date of the said Personal Estate and Effects in the United Kingdom is Six hundred pounds Sterling and under Eight hundred pounds Sterling. All which is truth as the Deponent shall answer to God.

Signed  Jane Gow

           Jas Smitton J.P. 

[Source: ScotlandsPeople, Wills & Testaments 1513 - 1925] 

Amanuensis Monday.

Letter from Jean Gow (Auchterarder, Scotland) to her son William Gow (Sydney, Australia), 27th of September 1893.

"Dear Son,

I just received your letter this morning & always glad to hear from you. You have got the paper of your fruit you think it might have had a better it was a mistake of me but I did not see it till I saw it in the paper & I could not help it then. In deed I was so bad of myself if Uncel [Uncle] Peter had not come. I dowt [doubt] you would not seen in the paper at all you think I might kept more to my self. I was so proud of you sending them that I could not hide your thoughtfulness of sending them so far to me I will be more so if you will send me some of your Oranges & I will know better if they are good or not. You saw I did not say if they were good you know heat corn is never good. They were very pretty to look at did you get the letter that they were corn & more as the young Sadie that wrote it was so kind to me. You have sent me Robert [William’s brother] address but I think you are making a card(?) of me now when you put Esquire to it. I will send his papers to you until I hear from you again & you can send them to him. Will he be far from where he was? Missie is gone to Kinross her address is Hygh St Kinross. I sent your address to Jeannie [William’s sister] long a go but everyone is so much taken up with themselves they have not much time to think of others at least it appears so. I had a letter from John [William’s brother] a long with yours this morning. He is thinking of coming for some days only if he can get away. You might come & join his company the days he will be here. I hope this will find you will & free of toothache. I am better than I have been for a long time so I will draw to close.

I remain your affectionate mother

Jane Gow.”

There was a significant lack of punctuation in the letter so I inserted full stops where I thought appropriate.

What were the main points I got from this letter?

• Jean would like William to send some Oranges to she can judge the,
• Jean is very proud of William for doing well on the farm
• She will send Robert’s papers to him, and he will forward them on to Robert
• Jeannie is busy, everyone is taken up with themselves, therefore not much time to think of others
• John is thinking of coming to Scotland from Ireland for some days
• Jean is asking William if he might join John’s company and visit Scotland as well.
• Jean is better than she has been in the past for a long time.