Isabel Kelly als Lawson, 1756

Note: The pagination may not be correct and translated or doubtful wording may not be indicated.

1           Lonan
This is affirmed to be the last Will and Testament 
of Isabel Kelly als Lawson who departed this life 
abt the 23rd January 1750 being of perfect mind 
and memory at the making hereof. 
First she committed her soul unto God and 
her body to Christian burial.  
Itm She left to her husband James Kelly her part 
of the sheep, 
Itm she left to Anne [Mylivory] her Callimancow 
Gowne  
Itm she left sixpence legacy to any person who 
might claim any right to her goods. 
Lastly she nominated & appointed her loving brother 
Wm Lawson sole executor of all the rest of her goods 
& effects moveable & immoveable. And that her 
part of the Croft & Houses was left to Wm afforsd 
but to return to his son John Lawson after 
his death.
Witnesses
   	Jane Kinley’s X
Anne Fargher’s X

This is affirmed to be the last will and testament 
of Isabel Kelly als Lawson who departed this life 
about the 23rd January 1750 being of perfect mind 
and memory at the making hereof. 
First she committed her soul unto God and her 
body to Christian burial. 
Item – she left and bequeathed her right of the 
croft unto James Kelley her husband while he would 
live – and then after his decease to fall and 
descend into John Lawson son to William and to 
go in nature of inheritance.
Item she left both wheels a big one and a little 
one unto Jane Lawson wife to Wm Lawson – she 
left a gown of callimankoy unto Ann [Maylvure]. 
Item she left a white pladdin potty coat unto 
Juaney Kneale. 
Item she left sixpence legacy unto any person 
that might claim any right or title to her goods 
and effects hereafter.
Lastly she constituted and ordained her loveing 
husband James Kelley whole Exectr of all the 
rest of her goods moveable or immoveable of 
what kind or nature soever.
Witness
Nicholas Kelly my mark X  This will being made in October last 
Wm Harrison my mark X     1755 to the best of our memory

At a Court of Corrections holden 
in Douglas Feb 9th 1756

There being some disputes & altercations between 
Wm Lawson and James Kelly both of Kirk Lonan 
touching the last will and testament of Isabel 
Kelly als Lawson wife of sd Kelly & sister of 
sd Lawson who severally have exhibited wills 
made in their respective favours & in order to 
discover the last will of the Testatrix the 
following evidence was taken – viz -
Jane Kinley & Ann Fargher sworn & examined on 
the part of Wm Lawson depose & say viz: 
Jane Kinley deposes that ?she this Depont 
hearing that Isabel Kelly aforesd being ill, 
the Depont went to see her abt a fortnight or 
three weeks before Lamas day O:S: 
The sd Isabel being alone lying on her sickbed, 
told this Depont that she had made her will 
in favour of her husband Ja: Kelly & that 
Nichs Kelly & Wm Harrison were witnesses 
thereto & that this will was made to please 
her husband because she she had no chance to 
be alive if her husband knew she shd make 
any other will and at the same time declared 
to this Depont that sd will was contrary to 
her desire & inclinations – and taking hold 
of the Depont by the hand said, if I knew you 
wd conceal it, I wd tell you what is my desire 
& if upon the Depont promising secrecy the 
said decd told her the Depont my will & 
desire is to make my will in favour of my 
brother Wm reciting particulars to the effect 
recited in the alleged will exhibited in 
Court this day by Wm Lawson.
The Depont further declared that coming to 
see sd Isabel about three weeks after, she 
sd Isabel being a good deal better the Depont 
met her at the door of her own ?of sd Isabel’s 
house & speaking to the Depont said if I 
knew how I shd procure & get Danl Fargher’s 
wife, I wd tell you wht my will intention & 
desire is – and the Depont after going for 
Dl Fargher’s wife & returning with her to 
sd Isabel whom they met at the back of her 
garden – she the sd Isabel with sd Jane 
Kinley & Ann Fargher unanimously declared 
after hearing them “………” declared her will 
to be as set forth in their proper writing 
this day produced by them in Court & at 
the same time she sd Isabel pressingly charged 
them not to divulge the same till after her 
death – and the said Deponts declare this 
happened on or about the 9th day of August 
last past.
The sd Ann Fargher further declares that 
being to see the sd Isabel some few days 
before her death, asked her whether she had 
made any other will than that made before 
her & the other Depont some time ago – 
Sd Isabel replyed that she was in no 
thought to make any other will neither 
had she made any other.
Jane Kinley’s mark X
Ann Fargher’s mark X


Nichs Kelly & Wm Harisson sworn & examined on 
the part & behalf of James Kelly husband of 
Isabel Kelly als Lawson decl depose and say 
that on or about the month of october last 
as they best remember & the cause of their 
memory Nichs Kelly is tht he was that day, 
he was witness to sd Isab will so fishing at 
the rock, being the last day he was so fishing 
that season & Wm Harrison declares the 
cause of his memory as to the particular 
time of the Testatrix’s will making is, 
that he remembers to have Moore of B:beg & 
Kewly of [Grrat’s]–veg in shearing and 
stacking fern on the day he was witness 
to sd Isabel’s will – being asked whether 
he saw sd Moore & Kewley at that work 
that day the Depont sayth he did not see 
sd Moore but that the same day might 
serve them both – being asked how he 
knows if sd Moore & Kewley cut & stacked 
their fern on one day, the Depont said 
he heard that sd Moore was at that work 
& said Kewley.
The sd Nichs Kelly being further examined 
deposeth & sayeth that on his coming to 
the house of sd Kelly in his way home from 
the rock fishing he on going into the sd 
house asked whether any person was within 
Jas Kelly replyed, there are – upon which 
the Depont walked into the house ?& found 
sd Jas & Wm Harrison standing together at 
the table and asking sd Jas how his wife 
was, sd Jas answered she was very ill 
thereupon the Depont went down into the 
Parlor to see sd Isabel & after asking her 
how she was she replyed she was very ill 
& was desirous to make her will & asked 
this Depont whether he would stand as 
witness to her will & that he the Depont 
answered he wd if she wd get another person 
to be witness along wth him upon which 
the sd Isabel said Henry or Harrison is 
in the house, call him down, he’ll be 
witness and that he the Depont as well 
as sd Isab called sd Henry or Harrison 
down to her bedside & after his sd Henry’s 
coming she asked sd Henry or Harrison 
whether he wd be a witness to her will, 
who answered he would & thereupon the sd 
Isabel proceeded & made her will in the manner 
& form set forth by a paper writing this 
day produced to the Court by sd Kelly 
& Harrison which paper was committed to 
writing by James Scarfe on Thursday last, 
by the sole direction & instance of the 
Depont and that sd James Scarfe read the 
sd paper first in english & after at the 
request of the Depont & sd Harrison in manks.
The Depont also declares he believes sd 
Isabel was ill about a fortnight or three 
weeks before she recovered of that illness 
and that he did not hear or know of her 
being confined to her bed by any sussequent 
illness, till she took her last & death sickness. 
And Wm Harrison being also further examined 
deposeth & saith that he the Depont on coming 
to Ja: Kelly’s house, met sd Ja: Kelly in the 
house wth whom he had some conversation before 
Nichs Kelly came to the house of sd Kelly. 
But what the conversation was he does not 
remember, and that after sd Kelly came to 
the house, he the said Kelly went down to 
the Parlor to see the sd Isab and that 
this Depont was called down to where sd 
woman lay in her sick bed, after which sd 
woman said you are both, meaning Nichs Kelly 
& the Depont, well enough for witnesses in 
that thereupon the said Isab proceeded & 
made her will in the manner set forth in 
the paper writing this day exhibited in 
Court which sd will was committed to 
writing on thursday last by Jas Scarfe – 
The Depont further saith that sd Isabel made 
her will in the manner set forth by sd 
writing on the day the dumb woman was telling 
fortune in Laxey as he heard. He also saith 
he in conjunction with sd Nichs Kelly directed 
James Scarfe how & in what manner on words 
to write sd will
Nichs Kelly’s mark X
Wm Harrison’s mark X

(Side note written at an angle next to 
witnesses signatures on LHS of page.)

Wm Harrison has most strangely prevaricated 
in his evidence – 
Jas Kelly husband of Isab: aforesd acknowledges 
that his sd wife was at the said Dumb Woman at 
Laxey to get some medicines hoping thereby to 
recover & this abt three days after the sd 
will making.



              At a Consistory Court held 
              in KK Michael Feb 19th 1756 –
Daniel Looney sworn & examined on the part 
of Wm Lawson deposeth & sayeth that he the 
Depont about three weeks after Lamas day 
old stiles was?at Messrs Corlets & Garrets 
miln, wherof Isab: Kelly came to let sd miln 
agrinding her husband being then from home 
and that sd Isabel after the miln was 
grinding asked the Depont why he did not come 
to see her for that she had been sick, 
and the Depont after telling her that he 
did not hear of her illness, she the sd 
Isabel told this Depont she had made a will, 
and the Depont asking her wht will she had 
made she the sd Isabel replyed she had made 
a will in favour of her husband Ja: Kelly 
& thereby had left him the land as well as 
her goods for that he had been crying & 
saying he wd been poor if she dyed without 
a will & that she to please him had made 
her will as above and the sd Isabel afterwards 
told this Depont that she had sent for 
other witnesses & had made another will 
whereby she had left her part of the croft 
to her brother Wm Lawson during his? natural 
life and afterwards to descend to John son 
of sd Lawson & sd Isabel also declared she 
wd never make any other will & charged 
this Depont not to mention anything of 
this second will, lest her husband shd hear 
of it
           Daniel Looney

Margaret Kelly also sworn & examined in the 
part of sd Lawson deposeth & sayeth that she 
the Depont was going towards the Grenane 
sometime in summer or harvest last but which 
she does not recollect & calling at the house 
of Ja: Kelly in her way thither, this Depont 
after some conversation wth Isabel Kelly sd 
Ja: Kelly’s wife, she the sd Isabel told this 
Depont she had made a will first in favour 
of her husband Kelly – and that she had made 
another will by which she had left all to Wm 
who this Depont understood was her brother 
Wm Lawson.
         Margt Kelly’s mark X

We whose names are hereunto subscribed being 
witnesses to Isabel Kelly’s als Lawson’s will, 
do declare if need require that they were called 
upon to be witnesses to her will that she 
declared that she was inveigled by her husband 
who called in Nichs Kelly & Wm Harrison who 
forced her to make her will which she did for 
she was in danger of her life upon which she 
begd these persons to be witnesses to wills 
“----“ now which she declared was & would be 
her last will & the Sunday before she died 
wch was the 20th of Jan 1756 she firther 
declared to Anne Fargher that the will she made 
before her and Jane Kinley should stand & 
none other in the world.
Jane Kinley’s   X
Ann Fargher’s   X



            At a Consistory Court at KK Michl 
            Feb 19th 1756
After having fully examined into the matter of 
the will of Isab Kelly we say that from the 
proof taken that the will made in favour of 
Lawson is the last will of Isabel Kelly wife 
of Ja Kelly & therefore Wm Lawson is sworn 
in form of Law and hath given pledges namely 
Ja Looney of Lonan & Wm Lace …… of Lezayre

Solvit 12D      Probatum est
				Ro Ratcliff

Lib:I:Nov 1756   Lonan
June 11th 1756 – Elinor Coileash als Gill enters a 
claim against the Exectr of Isabel Kelly als Lawson 
for the sum of six shillings and craves the Law.

- Examd by Matth. Curghey ar:Regtrar 
   at a Consistory Court at Lezaire Jun 16th 1756
The claimer having provd the sum of six shills – 
ordered the Deads part thereof be discharged 	sub para juris
with all fees

To the Sumner of Lonan			
who if disobeyed is to apply   Ro: Radcliffe
for a soldr                    Matthw Curghey

Last Modified 30 November 2014