Annapolis Heritage Society | Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia

John Halliday will, 11 March 1795

Here is a transcription of the Will of John Halliday of Granville dated 11 March 1795:
In the Name of God Amen. The eleventh day of March, one thousand Seven hundred and ninety-five. I John Halliday of the Town of Granville, Cordwainer, being weak of body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be unto God, therefore calling unto mind the Mortallity of my body, knowing that it is appointed unto 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 recommend to the Earth, to be buried in decent Christian burial, at the Discretion of my Executors, nothing Doubting, but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again, by the Almighty power of God~ And as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give and Devise and Dispose of the Same in the following manner and form-
First I give and bequeath to my two sons James and Charles Halliday, whom I likewise constitute, make and ordain my sole Executors of this my last will and testament, all and singular my lands, messuages, and tenements, by them freely to be possessed and enjoyed betwixt them, from the River to the Mountain top at the Decease of their Mother, on condition that they take care to provide sufficiently for her During her natural Life, She and they wishing to live together.
Also I give and bequeath to my Two Sons John and William Halliday betwixt them all my back Land from the Top of the Mountain to the Bay of Funday; and should they be Disposed to sell s’d land they are to give their Brothers Jas. & Charles the first offer~
Also it is my will and Desire that my Daughters Ann and Hannah shall each have a good Milch Cow and two Ewes when they Demand them~ And also I will to my Daughter Christiana Oliver one good Milch Cow when she shall Demand it, after my Decease~
It is my Desire and wish further, that at the Decease of my Wife, Eight Cows and Twenty sheep which I suppose will be then on the farm, shall be Equally Divided among my four sons-
Also I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke, and Disannul, all and every other former testaments, wills, Legacies, bequests and Executors by me in any ways before named, willed, and bequeathed; ratifying and confirming this, and no other, to be my last will and testament~
In Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and Seal the Day and Year above Written.

John Halliday

Signed and sealed, published, pronounced and Declared by the Said John Halliday as his last will and Testament in the presence of us the Subscribers-

William Kerr
William Gilliat
Ann Hamilton