John Stowell, 1796

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

         Braddan
I John Stowell of the town of Douglas duly calling to mind the
uncertainty of this life and now being in sound and disposing mind and
memory do publish and declare as follows to be my last will and
testament.
First I leave my soul to God and my body to decent Christian burial. 2ndly
I leave and bequeath to my beloved wife the house we now live in with
the stable or stables unto the same belonging with the yard and small garden
thereunto appertaining also all the furniture of every kind sort or
denomination unto the same house belonging.
I likewise leave her the rents profits or issue of my farm or estate of
Ballacreetch subject to the payment of ten pounds British --- years left
as hereafter mentioned to my son John.  All which house, houses, and
furniture, together with the rents profits and issues of the above said farm
she my said wife to  enjoy during her natural life on condition that she
will leave the full possession of said houses furniture and land to
my son William to be enjoy by him after my said wife¹s decease.  I also
leave and bequeath to my said wife the half of whatever wine or spirits
there my be in the cellar or cellars of the above said dwelling house,
likewise all the provisions of every kind or sort that will be in said
houses or house at the time of my decease.
3rdly I leave and bequeath to my son John ten pounds British per year to be
paid out for him by my wife out of the rent of Ballacreetch to find and in
part to furnish him with the real necessaries of life for the time to come
and that no part of said ten pounds shall apply towards the
discharge of any debts that he hath already contracted or may hereafter
contract but said sum shall truly be laid out for him by my said wife or
any other truly friend all which during his natural life only.
4thly I leave and bequeath to my son William all my lands houses
tenement miln and every immoveable property that I am possessed save and
except what I have already left and bequeath to my wife - all which
to be enjoyed by him after my decease during his natural life and to his
children or issues after him if such the will have at the time of his
decease, but, that and if my said son William will die without issue my
will and pleasure then is that my son John shall possess said premises
during his natural life and no longer and that if he will have lawfull
issue at the time of his decease such issue to enjoy and possess the
aforesaid lands houses and concerns ever afterwards.  I leave and bequeath
to my son Wm the full disposal or enjoyment of the land I
bought from John Mylcreest without any restriction to leave it to his
issue or brother but that he may sell mortgage or dispose of the same
whenever he chooses so to do.  Though I could wish it was always to go with
Ballacreetch as it would be a great easement to it.  My will and
desire is that my son William shall pay the annuity that I am liable to
pay to Cathrine Cannon and to my sister in law Susannah Stowell and her
daughter and that the same shall not be any charge against Ballacreetch
during my wife's life time.
I leave further more to my son John twenty pounds British per year to be
paid or advanced him by my son William after my wife¹s decease in same way
for same purpose and under the same restrictions that the ten pounds were
left which ten pounds is no longer to be paid but the twenty pounds in their
place and stead as above said should it so happen as it probably may that
both my sons will dye without issue my will then is
that my niece Jane Brown shall after my two sons decease have and hold the
sheds cellars and building that I bought from Thos Bridson of Ballasalley
during her life and that after the decease the same shall descend to the son
Robert Brown for like manner I leave and bequeath to my niece Cathrine
Cosnahan all the houses barn stables haggard and gardens on th landside
built and erected on part of John Vinches or Frenches lands to be enjoyed by
her during ther natural life and after the decease to her son Joseph
Cosnahan.
I also leave and bequeath to my niece Susannah -------- the brick house
on the bullwark that her father built during her life and after the
decease to her son George Blewn but that none or either of the legacies thus
left my nieces are to be given or paid until after the decease of my two
sons and they both die without issue.  And that in case they both die
without leaveing any lawfull issue.  I leave and bequeath to my grand nephew
Joseph Cosnahan all my right tytle and interest in and unto the farm of
Ballacreetch under the thereafter restrictions that is to say he
is to pay my daughter in law Mary Stowell the present wife of my son William
twenty pounds British per year if she left a widow during her widowhood and
to pay every annuity that I have a right to pay the aforesaid Susannah
Stowell her daughter and cash--------- provided she
the above persons will be living at the time she will get possession of
the said farm which is not likely to be case.
He and his heirs forever after him or whoever possess said farm after
my said grand nephew is forever after they will possess said farm or
tenement (choose whose hands the same) will be in they are too pay
yearly and every year to the Chaplain or Chaplains of Douglas and chapel
wardens of the same forever the sum of five pounds British at every
Christmas to be duly and regularly divided amongst the poor of said
town.
And lastly I do appoint nominate and constitute my son William whole
and sole executor of all the rest of my effects moveable and immoveable of
what kind or nature so ever to be wholley and entirely possessed by him
immediately after my decease and I do order and request that my said
son shall advance and pay my said wife twenty pounds British for her
subsistence until her rents will become due.
In witness whereof I have  hereunto subscribed my name this 30th May 1796.
John Stowell
Witnesses:
Danl Mylchreest
William Lewin

Since writing and signing the before going will I have recollected that I
have two cows and a horse that I could wish to accommodate both my
sons and wife.
I therefore to accommodate both do leave and bequeath said two cows
and horse to be equally betwixt them and that the fields I have at
Ballaquayle shall be equally betwixt them they paying an equal share of
the rent of said fields all with which they live unanimously in one
family which is my earnest wish they always should, But, that and if my son
will not content himself to live with his mother on such terms as Mr Robert
Whiteside and Ann.  Thos Stowell the attorney shall prescribe betwixt them,
that then and in that case I leave the horse and the upper field or meadow
to my son he paying one half the rents, I pay to doctor
and the two cows and two smaller fields I leave to my wife she paying
the other half of said rent.
I leave and bequeath to every  person or person not here particularly named
that can pretend any share or division in my effects the sum of five
shillings each.
In witness of all which I also subscribed my name this codicil the day
and date before written.  John Stowell.
Witnesses:
Danl Mylchreest
William Lewin   Jurati

Forasmuch as I John Stowell of Douglas did on or about the 30th of last
month sign execute and declare as my last will and testament in
presence of Danl Mylchreest and William Lewin wherein I devised and
bequeathed unto my son William certain houses and concerns in the town
of Douglas to be enjoyed by him during his life time only.  But, as I have
since reconsidered the matter that the said houses and concerns would
fall to decay without annual repairs.  My will now therefore is that the
said houses and concerns except what his mother is to enjoy by said will
shall be henceforth entirely his at his disposal without any restriction
after my decease. But, that all the rest of my will shall stand good
excepting the legacy left to my nieces Brown Cosnahan and Blewen which must
and shall cease and I this do publish and execute as a codicil to the
aforesaid will as witness my hand this 9th day of June 1796.
John Stowell
Witnesses:
Danl Mylchreest
William Lewin

At an Eccl Court 12 August 1796 Executor sworn with the witnesses as
pledges.

The widow and relict of the said testator hath by her advocate Thomas
Stowell Esquire declared and made known in open court that she doth not give
her consent to the said will.             Ev:  Christian

Last Modified 4 June 2014