Matthias Curghey, 1771

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18        bALLAUGH
I, Matthias Curghey, Rector of Ballaugh, indisposed at 
present as to bodily health, but of perfect mind and 
memory, praised be God, do make this my last will and 
testament in manner and form following: 
First, I comment my soul to God, hoping for mercy through 
Christ, and my body to Christian burial. 
It being my earnest desire that my dear and deserving 
wife Catharine Curghey, otherwise Allen, should have 
as handsome and decent provision towards a comfortable 
support during her natural life, as it is in my power 
to make for her, it is therefore my mind and will, and 
I accordingly devise and bequeath unto her my said wife 
the annual interest, issues, and profits of all my money 
and fortune, whether laid out or secured on mortgages 
or bonds, to be possessed and enjoyed by her during her 
natural life, and after her decease I direct and appoint 
that the several sums of money, hereafter named and 
bequeathed, be paid and disposed of as following, 
that is to say: 
I give and bequeath unto my friend, the Revd. James Wilks, 
Vicar General and Vicar of KK Michael, all that my mortgage 
of an hundred and ten pounds British, secured upon the 
lands of Mr. John Lewhellin of Ramsey, in special trust 
and confidence that he will yearly and ever year pay unto 
my sister Elizabeth Curghey during her natural life the 
growing interes, issues and profits of said sum, from 
the day of my wife's decease. And it is my will that my 
said sister shall and many have it in her power to devise 
and bequeath the said sum of one hundred and ten pounds 
British, to such friend or friends as she shall think most 
deserving her esteem and regard. 
Item: I give and bequeath unto my niece Elizabeth Macrea 
otherwise Christian all that my mortgage of sixty pounds 
secured upon the lands of Thomas Casement of the Grange 
in the Parish of Lezayre, as also all that my mortgage 
of sixty pounds secured on the lands of Arthur Cowle of 
Ka_, late of said parish, to be possessed and enjoyed by her, 
with the interest, issues, and profits thereof during 
her natural life, from the time of my wife's decease, 
and no sooner. And I direct and appoint that, after the 
decease of my said niece Elizabeth Macrea, fourty pounds 
of said hundred and twenty pounds shall be paid and become 
due unto her son John Macrea, in case he survive her, 
otherwise the whole of said mortgages to become her own 
property and at her own disposal. 
Item: I give and bequeath to my niece Catharine Ross als 
Christian all that my mortgage of an hundred pounds secured 
on the lands of Daniel Christian, late of Ardonah in the 
Parish of KK Andrews, to be possessed and enjoyed by her, 
with the interest, issues and profists thereof, from the 
time of my wife's decease and no sooner. 
Item: I give and bequeath unto my niece Margret Christian 
all that my mortgage of an hundred pounds secured unpon the 
lands of William Joughin Junior of the parrish of Bride 
purchased by Mr John Callin late of Peeltown, to be 
possessed and enjoyed by her with the interest, issues, 
and profits thereof, from the time of my wife's decease, 
and no sooner. 
Item: It is my will and desire and I accordingly order 
and appoint that, in case any or all of the foresaid 
mortgages should be paid and discharged by the mortgagers 
during the lifetime of my said wife, that she my said 
wife shall have the sole power to receive the several 
sums due on account of the several mortgages and give 
acquittiances and discharges for the same respectively, 
save and except the legacy before mentioned bequeathed 
unto my sister Elizabeth Curghey, the management whereof 
I commit to the care of my friend the Revd James Wilks 
before mentioned, with the like power to him to give 
release and discharge for said mortgage, be it in trust 
and confidence that they my said wife and said Revd. James 
Wilks shall and will, as soon as may be after, lay out 
the said several sums by them respectively received on 
good and sufficient securities for the uses directed and 
prescribed by this my Will: 
Excepting, and that most justly, that my said wife, in 
consideration of the ample provision made for her by this 
my will, do give her full consent, that per part of the 
said several mortgages be paid agreeable to the same. 
Item: I give and bequeath unto my sister Elizabeth Curghey 
before mentioned, the sum of twelve pounds, to be paid 
her by my executor hereafter named, as also three silver 
table spoons, and my signet and mourning ring. 
Item: I give and bequeath unto my brother in law Mr. 
Thomas Christian my woolen wearing apparel, gowns and 
capocks excepted. 
Item, I give and bequeath unto my kinsman Robert Curghey 
of Sulby in Lezayre, the growing interest, issues and 
profits of my mortgage of twelve pounds secured unpon 
the lands of William Kneen of Ballaugh, during his natural 
life, and after the decease of said Robert Curghey, I 
give and bequeath the said mortgage, so secured, unto 
my successor the Rectors of Ballaugh and to the Wardens 
of the said parish, for the time being, in trust, that 
they the said Rectors and Wardens shall, froom time to 
time, pay unto the Schoolmaster, for the time being, 
the interest arriving out of the principal, for the 
said Master's better encouragement to be diligent and 
careful in the discharge of his duty, reservind to my 
wife the interest of said mortgage during her natural life. 
Item, I give and bequeath unto the Revd James Wilks 
before mentioned my best horse, a large silver spoon, 
my books, (papers excepted), a gun, as also a parcel 
of intack land in the Parish of Ballaugh commonly called 
Cubbon's Croft, lately purchased by me from William 
Stephan, not doubting his friendly compliance in 
undertaking the trust and confidence reposed in him, 
earnestly recommending to his care and directions my 
dear wife and her concerns. 
Lastly, I give and bequeath all the rest of my personal 
estate whether secured in mortgages or otherwise, 
unto my dear wife Catherine Curghey, otherwise Allen, 
whom I appoint residuary legatee, as also sole Executrix 
of this my last will. 
In testimony hereof I have hereunto subscribed my 
name and affixed my seal this twenty first day of 
July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven 
hundred and seventy. 
[signed] Matthias Curghey. 
Witnesses:
 Wm Corlett, 
 Philip Caine, 
 Wm Crebbin. 
 
I Catharine Curghey otherwise Allen wife of the testator, 
do give my full consent and assent of the beforegoing will 
in every particular. Witness my mark to my name this 
twenty-first day of July in the year one thousand seven 
hundred and seventy. 
[signed, her mark] Catharine Curghey otherwise Allen

Last Modified 028 July 2014