The Will of William Nicholson of Cranagill, 1714/5

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Cranagill, County Armagh, Ireland

The will of William Nicholson of Cranagill, County Armagh, was originally to be found the will book of Ballyhagan Monthly Meeting. At some point it was removed. This is a transcription of the typescript copy held by the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.^[1]

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Copy of the last Will of: - WILLIAM NICHOLSON OF TALBRIDGE, CRANAGILL. made on the 10th January, 1714.

This tenth day of the eleventh month called January in the year of our Lord 1714. I William Nicholson of Cranagill in the parish of Tertarraghan & County of Ardmagh, freeholder, being now well striken in years and growing weake in Body but of sound and disposing mind and memory, for which together with many other mercies and favours that I have enjoyed brings me under deep obligations to be truly thankful unto the Lord, and calling to mind the uncertainty of this frail & transitory life doth see it needful & convenient to set my worldly concerns in order and dispose of such goods & chattles as have been bestowed or lent unto me for my comfortable being in this life doe make this my last Will & Testament in manner and forme following hereby revoking anulling & making void all former Will or Wills by me made at any time either by word or writing and this to be taken for my last Will & Testament & none other.

My will is that my body shall be buryed in such christian & decent manner as to my Exors. hereafter named shall seem meet and as touching my personal estate, goods & chattles & Credits I as order give & dispose of the same in manner & forme following.

In the first place I order that a true Inventory be taken of all the goods & chattles I die possessed of (as soon as may be after my death) by my Executors whereby & whereout I order such of my just debts to be paid as shall be hereafter mentioned.

As to my real and freehold Estate my will is and I hereby devise leave & bequeath unto my Son Jacob Nicholson his heirs & asignes, and the heirs & asignes of the survivor & survivors of them all my freehold lands in the said Cranagill, Tullyrone & Drumanon with theere & every of their members & appurtanances for ever to the intent and purpose nevertheless and in trust and confidence that he the said Jacob Nicholson his heirs and asignes &the heirs & asignes of the Survivor and Survivors of them shall have and hold the said lands and premises to the only intent use & purpose herein after limitted and expressed and to no other use intent & purpose whatsoever (that is to say) as to the lands in the said Cranagill will out of the profits of the said lands to be levied either by fines of the same or by mortgageing the said lands of mine lying in the said Cranagill or otherwise that may be most advantagious and profitable for the true payment of the several sums herein after mentioned as the said Jacob Nicholson his heirs & asignes and the heirs and asignes of the longest liver of them shall seem meet and convenient that is to say the sum of One Hundred Pounds due by bond by me to Hugh Hamilton of Roxborro be fully paid with the interest thereof that shall become due and the sum of Fifty Pounds due to William Whiteside Snr. And Robert Greer secured by mortgage on the moyety of Cranagill affors. together with all interest due thereon be fully paid and the sum of Fifty Pounds due to John Whiteside secured by mortgage on the other moyety of the said lands of Cranagill be fully paid with all interest and cost of the said several sums that may or shall become due anyway upon the said sums respectively, and twenty pounds I leave and bequeath unto my grand child Sarah McNeece to be paid by my said Trustee when she is at the age of Twenty years, also Twenty Pounds to my poor friends amongst the people called Quakers in the province of Ulster to be distributed amongst them as my Legacy according to order in such cased practiced amongst the said people within four years after my decease, the said several sums amounting to Two Hundred & Forty Pounds with interest be or is paid to the intent and purpose that the said Jacob Nicholson his heirs & asignes and the heirs & asignes of the Survivors of them in like manner do raise levey and pay out of the profits of the said lands of Cranagill the several Legacys following, that is to say, the sum of Ten Pounds ster to be paid by my Trustee his heirs & asignes and heirs & asignes of the Survivor & Survivors of them to William Nicholson eldest son to my son John Nicholson dec’d also Ten Pounds ster. to his Brother John Nicholson, also ten pounds ster. to his Sister Elizabeth Nicholson, and Twenty Pounds ster. to their Mother my daughter-in-law Margery Nicholson widdow to be devided equally amongst the rest of her children begotten by my son John Nicholson decd. and if it should so happen that either the said William, John, or Elizabeth should died before the payment of the said Legacys of ten pounds to each of them as affrs’d that then and in that case to be paid to their heirs & asignes successivsly unto the Survivors of them from one time to Another that may be then living the time when the said Legacys becometh due and payable as shall more fully appear afterwards, and also it is my will that accordingly it shall be so ordered to all the rest of my said daughter Margerys children except the three before mentioned, and further the sum of Fifty Pounds ster. to be by my said Trustee the said Jacob Nicholson his heirs & asignes and the heirs and asignes of the Survivors of them pay unto William Brownlow my son-in-law and Elizabeth his wife to be laid out by them or either of them to the sole and only use of such of their children as they shall think fit and if the said William Brownlow & Elizabeth his wife shall happen to die before the said sum of Fifty Pounds shall become due or payable then my will is that the said Fifty Pounds shall be paid to such child or children of the said William & Elizabeth his wife as shall be then living and if no child or children of the said William Brownlow & Elizabeth his wife be then living then and in that case to their Legal Representatives. And further the sum of Fifty Pounds ster. to be my said Trustee the said Jacob Nicholson his heirs & asignes and the heirs & asignes of the Survivor or Survivors of them paid unto George Fox my son-in-law and Jane his wife to be laid out by them or either of them to the sole and only use and benefit of such of their children as they shall think fit and if the said George and Jane his wife shall happen to died before the said sum of Fifty Pounds become due or payable then my will is that the said Fifty Pounds in like manner be paid to such child or children of the said George Fox & Jane his wife as shall be then living, and if no child or children of the said George & Jane his wife be then living then & in that case to their Legal Representatives, and further, the sum of Fifty Pounds ster. to be by my said Trustee the said Jacob Nicholson his heirs & asignes & the heirs & asignes of the Survivors of them paid to Robert Hodgson my son-in-law and Sarah his wife to be laid out by them or either of them to the sole and only use and benefit of such of their children as they shall think fit and if the said Robert and Sarah his wife shall happen to died before the said sum of Fifty Pounds become due or payable then my will is that the said Fifty Pounds in like manner be paid to such child or children of the said Robert & Sarah his wife as shall be then living, and if no child or children of the said George & Jane his wife be then living, then in that case to their Legal Representatives.

And I hereby leave and bequeath the said several Legacys _ _ as the same are herein aforsd devised and expended to the several children of my children provided always and it is my true intent and meaning that the said several mentioned Legacys or and of them shall not bear any manner of interest but shall be _ _ paid satisfied & discharged in order hereafter laid down and expressed as the said Legacys may be raised out of the rents profits and issues of my said freehold lands in the said Cranagill and not otherwise in manner & form following it being my will and desire that it shall be punctually done performed and duly observed by my said Trustee his heirs & asignes and the heirs & asignes of the Survivor & Survivors of them after the several debts amounting to the sum of Two hundred & Forty Pounds Str. be all paid to them will all interests that may or shall be due thereon and all other costs that may acrew to or happen to be expended in or about the said several sums amounting to two hundred and forty pounds is fully satisfied punctually paid and discharged then and afterwards the said Legacys to be paid or raised out of the rents and profits of the said Cranagill in manner as aforesaid.

Item. First, the said sum of Ten Pounds which I give to William Nicholson son to my said son John Nicholson decd. and his brother John’s & Elizabeth’s Ten Pounds before mentioned and afterwards as the profits of the said lands will allow to raise the sum of Forty Pounds and divide the said sum of Forty Pounds into four shares, that is to say, the sum of Ten Pounds to the said Margery Nicholson’s children or the Survivors of them and likewise William Brownlows & Elizabeth his wife’s children or the Survivors of them, the sum also of Ten Pounds to George Fox and Jane his wife their children or the survivors of them, the sum of Ten Pounds in like manner to Robert Hodgen & Sarah his wife’s children or the Survivors of them and so successively one payment of £40. after another as the profets of the said land will allow or be capable to raise until Twenty Pounds be paid unto Margery & heirs as aforesaid, and in like manner Fifty Pounds to be paid to William Brownlow & Elizabeth his wife ‘s children as aforesaid, and likewise Fifty Pounds to be paid unto George Fox & his wife Jane’s children, and likewise Fifty Pounds to be paid to Robert Hodgen & his wife Sarah’s children or the Survivors of them as is laid down and mentioned by even and equal payments to each of them according to their several sums.

Item. I give devise and bequeath unto my son Abraham Nicholson all my freehold lands that I have or anywise ought to have which lyeth in the said Tullyrone being the whole third part thereof without any manner of incumbrance or any other trouble whatsoever as in relation to my concerns to him and his heirs for ever but not to enter into profits thereof until after my dear wifes decease also under consideration he the said Abraham is now settled upon the said Cranagill and in possession of about seventy or eighty acres of land for the yearly rent of Forty Shillings sterling, and while he the said Abraham my son doth enjoy the said land that he is now possessed of in Said Cranagill at the said Forty Shillings yearly rent he shall have the right title or claim to enter into any or part of the profits of my freehold lands aforesaid lying in said Tullyrone anything contained in this to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding., but it is to be understood and it is my true intent and meaning that the said Abraham’s Exors. Admrs. & Asignes shall surrender & give up and clearly aquit his possession of his said holding in Cranagill before he enters into the profits of Tullyronw or any part thereof but in that case my will is that all the management thereof shall be left to the discretion of my said Trustee his Heirs & Assignes & the Heirs & Asignes of the Survivor of them to act do and perform according to this my will as before mentioned for that end and purpose there may be no loss sustained that anywise may hinder the payment of the aforesaid several sums of debts & legacies amounting to the sum of Four hundred & Forty pounds that y said Freehold lands in said Cranagill is under obligation to pay as aforsaid.

Item. I give devise and bequeath unto my son Jacob Nicholson his heirs & Assignes for ever by way of confirmation of a Deed I have already given him bearing the date the second day of the fourth month called Jane, One thousand seven hundred & fourteen, wherein I have given and fully resigned my whole right and title I have or anyway ought to have unto my said freehold lands lying in Dromannon the said parish and county to him and his heirs for ever without any manner of incumbrance of what nature or kind soever in relation to my own concerns.

And further it is my will and mind and leaves it as my directions and order upon my two freeholds (viz:-) the said Tullyrone and Dromannon given to my said two sons first to my son Abraham and if he should die without issue lawfully begotten that then and in that case my said freehold lands lying in the said Tullyrone shall return unto my son Jacob to be equally divided amongst his children lawfully begotten and the survivors of them; also if it happen my son Jacob should die without issue lawfully begotten that in like manner my said freehold lands lying in Dromannon shall return to my son Abraham and his children lawfully begotten to be divided amongst them that is such of them as mey be seen desarving by my said Trustee his heirs and asignes and the heirs and asignes of the survivor & survivors of them and upon failute of such issue them shall return and go to my three daughters children (viz) Elizabeth Brownlow wife of William Brownlow, Jane Fox wife to George Fox, Sarah Hodgson wife to Robert Hodgson to be equally divived amongst them their heirs and asignes and the heirs and asignes of the survivor or survivors of them or on faile of such to my heir general.

And all the residue and remainder of all my goods and chattles with all my bills and bonds together with all my leases of what nature or kind soever I give and bequeath unto my dear and well beloved wife Isabel Nicholson both quick and dead within doors and without be they of what nature or kind soever to her only profit and behoof and at her only _ with the asistance of my Trustee his heairs and asignes Extrs. and overseers hereafter mentioned which said goods are for her confortable accomofation & maintenance also for paying and discharging of the remainder of my just debts of what nature or kind sover besides what is above mentioned ordered and settled together with a legacy of Twenty Pounds Str. which I give and will is that is shall be paid unto the Meeting of Bellyhagan and shall be left to the discretion of William Richardson of Tgralogher William Gray of Bellyhagan as to the disposing thereof for the most advantageous benefit unto the said Meeting and to be paid within the space of one year after my decease and if not to bear interest.

As I have order my freehold lands lying in Cranagill under obligation to pay the sum of Four Hundred & Fory Pounds of debts & legacys as before mentioned and after all that said sum of Four Hundred & Forty Pounds Str. is fully completed finished and punctually discharged with interests costs and all other incumberances that may anyway attenf the same I leave this as my will that I give & bequeath unto my two sons Abraham & Jacob Nicholson all my said freehold lands lying in said Cranagill to them their heirs & asignes for ever to be divided betwixt them in manner and form following (that is to say) I leave to as my will and orders that my son Jacob shall have the one moyety which joineth to the toll bogg whereon my now dwellinghouse stands together with all outhouse gardens orchards & all other apurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining and as it is bounded along by the road that leadeth from Tollbridge to Anahmore and so about to Ardress and to the Toll River and whatsoever that whats of one moyety I order and my will is that there may be an addition made by Surveying the whole and then Set out the said addition to make one moyety to the said Jacob _ at the corner of the road as it turns to the said Anahmore & on the other side turns towards Broghas and so the moss or turf bogg joining Teaquey with one moyety of the said moss joining unto the said addition of land being the East or South East End of said moss or turf bogg which said land and moss is to lie together after the most convenient way and manner may or can be found for both their conveniences to him the said Jacob Nicholson his heirs and asignes for ever and the other moyety to my son Abraham Nicholson his heirs and asignes for ever it being that part or some of it that he the said Abraham hath now in his possession as before mentioned (about seventy or eighty acres) but now to have but one moyety of the whole of my said lands in Cranagill I give and bequeath unto them my two sons Abraham & Jacob Nicholson to them & their hiers for ever to be divided into two moyetys as afforesaid and according to the rule laid down afforesaid as in relation to the heirship of Tullyrone & Drmanon is or for not having male issue of one to return to the other that my said freehold lands may remain in my name anything herein contained to the contrary Notwithstanding.

My will is and I do order and direct that if it shall happen that my said debts of Four Hundred & Forty Pounds or any of them be paid or satisfied out of my personal estate so bequeathed to my said wife Isabel then and in that case I order and appoint my said Trustee the said Jacob Nicholson his heirs & asignes and the heirs & asignes of the survivor or survivors of them to pay my said wife her Executors Administrators & Asignes out of the profits of the said lands of Cranagill as soon as the same can be raised the like sum or sums of money as shall be satisfied and paid out of my said personal estate before any Legacy or Legacys be paid out of the same anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.

Lastly I hereby make constitute and appoint my said dear and loving wife Isabel Nicholson to be Executrix and my well beloved son-in-law Robert Hodgson of Lurgan Clonbrazill in the said county with my said wife to be my whole & sole Executors to fully execute this my last will and testament and the said William Richardson & William Gray their heirs & asignes to be overseers to see that this my said will be truly observed. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day and year first above written.

WILLIAM NICHOLSON.

Signed Sealed & Published as my last Will & Testament in the presence of us:-

John Nixon.

John Deale.

John Struges.

Joseph Williamson.

Samuel Gray.

Mary Gray.

Isabel Gray.

A true copy of the will of William Nicholson as the same appears from the engrossement thereof in the Consistory Court of Armagh.

Memorandum:- Before signing and sealing of this my last Will & Testament I have had some considerations upon the rule laid down before about paying out of the profits of the said Cranagill the sum of Two Hundred pounds Legacies unto my Grandchildren in manner and forme as is largely expressed before at Forty pounds at one payment which I think is no so fully or equally divided as is consistent with my mind and will in that that case therefore the following to be taken for my true intent and meaning for the amendment thereof that is to say, I leave it as my Will and mind that Thirty pounds the year. Ten to each of my said daughters-in-law Margery’s three children viz:- William, John & Elizabeth Nicholson their Heirs & Assignes, the Survivors of them shall out of the profits of the said Cranagill be paid the sum of Thirty pounds at one entire payment that Ten pounds sterling to each of them, likewise the next payment as it can be raised out of the said profits of Cranagill shall be the sum of Thirty pounds to be paid which is to be divided that is Ten pounds to each of my three Daughters children, their heirs & assignes or the survivors of them, then afterwards to be raised as the said profits of the said Cranagill will allow by Four equal payments at Thirtyfive pounds at each payment and to be dicided thus which is my express Will & desire viz:- as the sum of Thirtyfive pounds sterling for my Daughter-in-law Margery or for the remainder of her children shall have the sum of Five pounds for their proportion of said payment to them their heirs & assignes of the survivors of them and the sum of Ten pounds to my Daughter Elizabeth’s children their heirs & assignes of the survivors of them and the sum of Ten pounds to my Daughter Jane’s children their heirs & assignes and the survivors of them, and the sum of Ten pounds to my Daughter Sarah’s children their heirs & assignes & the survivors of them and so forward as the profits of the said Cranagill shall be capable of raising the other three payments of Thirtyfive pounds sterling and each of them and to be divided accordingly which several sums doeth fully discharge and punctually pay all the Legacies afore mentioned unto my said Grandchildren this foregoing being my Will & desire in that case, I therefore do hereby order that my said Trustee his heirs & assignes and the heirs & assignes of the survivors of them together with the assistance of my Executors & Overseers may duly observe the same anything before laid down or expressed in anywise to the contrary notwithstanding.

Signed sealed & published as my last Will & Testament in presence of us:- John Nixon - John (his mark) Deale

John Sturges. Mary Gray.

Joseph Williamson. Isabel Gray.

Samuel Gray.

WILLIAM NICHOLSON.

Sources

1. ↑ The Will of William Nicholson of Cranagill, County Armagh, 1714. Public Record Office for Northern Ireland, reference MIC/76.