Last Will & Testament of James Stewart
1787 - 1865


In the name of God Amen.

"I, James Stewart of the Township of Esquesing and County of Halton and Province of Canada,
Yeoman,
being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory of my body
and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die,
do make and ordain this my last will and testament.
That is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul
into the hands of Almighty God that gave it,
and my body I commend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial
at the discretion of my executors,
nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection
I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God."

He goes on the say he would like his executors to pay all his debts within a year
and to erect a tombstone over his grave that will cost $150.
Below is the inscription from James' tombstone ~

He gives his wife 50 acres of Lot 11 of the 5th Concession, and $30 a year.
She is to live with "my daughter Mary Stewart
in the brick house and to have her board and clothes during her natural life.
I also give to my wife Jennet Stewart one horse, one cow, two sheep,
the single harness and the buggy and cutter."



To his daughter Mary he gives 100 acres and the obligation to pay her mother the $30 per annum,
to keep her in the brick house and give her good board and clothes as long as she lives.
"I also give to my daughter Mary Stewart one cow and two sheep."

He also gives his daughter Jennet Stewart Jr 100 acres and one cow and two sheep.

And to his wife Jennet and daughters Mary and Jennet the household furniture.

(The following are to his children from his 1st marriage to Elizabeth STEWART)
Then some more property to his daughter *Christina Ann MICHIE
with some conditions attached.
I will and bequeath to my son *Robert Stewart five dollars.
I will and bequeath to my son *James Stewart two dollars.

And on and on.

Then he had added a lengthy codicil, relating to his bequest to Christina.

And then following are pages and pages of legal stuff
indicating that his son Robert contested the will.

~ James Stewart was my great great grandfather ~

He was descended from the Stewarts of Blair Atholl and Duntanlich, Perthshire Scotland,
thereby having royal connections of the 'illegitimate ilk'....



Return to My McKechnie Direct Ancestor Line
Return to My Stewart Direct Ancestor Line

My Related STEWART ~ MacKECHNIE Pages:

A Real, Genuine Canadian Christmas Tree ~ written by Donald Campbell MacKechnie
A Pioneer's Trek Westward ~ story about the life & times of James Stewart McKechnie
James Stewart ~ 1861 Agricultural Census
Dougald McKechnie ~ 1861 Agricultural Census
Blair Atholl~ early home of my STEWART ancestors
Stewarts of Duntanlich ~ A Royal Connection of the 'Illegitimate Ilk'
Lady Marjorie Bruce ~ A Princess of Scotland & Daughter of Robert the Bruce


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