Testament

[Andrew C.]

I wonder if anyone can clarify a financial relationship between a John Robertson and a William Mitchell for me. Below is part of John Robertson's testament (why are there so many executors?) Early on it mentions a "Heritable bond of £340" granted to him by Helen Ramsay spouse of William Mitchell and Sarah Ramsay. Does this mean John Robertson's heirs where liable for the bond? Later though it mentions "The property had been disponed to him by Sarah Ramsay and William Mitchell as security for their loan" Has Helen died and William inherited the interest in the bond along with his sister in law? Why would a property be disponded to John if he was borrowing the money? Later in the testament there is reference to Jean, John and Christian Mitchell all being bequethed either £10 or £15. Just curious.

CC1/16/17 - Testament of Mr John Robertson, merchant, Peterhead, made in
1796 [he was firstly a farmer, Collielaw, married to Isobel Taylor]. His
executors were: Robert Robertson, writer in Peterhead: Alexr Murison,
hairdresser there; William Robertson, senior, merchant there; James Milne,
baker, there; James Anderson, merchant, there; James Webster, wheelwright
there. He mentioned a heritable bond for £340 Sterling which had been
granted to him by Helen Ramsay spouse of William Mitchell, merchant in
Peterhead, and Sarah Ramsay residing there daughter of the deceased Thomas
Ramsay, late tidesman there and Janet Clark. He had a feu in Peterhead with
a new dwelling house on it bounded on the north by the tenement which had
lately been possessed by John Hutchison and Marjory Smith, his mother, and
which now belonged to James Skelton. On the south it was bounded by a
tenement belonging to James Watson, baillie formerly and now to William
Ferguson and on the east it was bounded by the common way to the sea and
arable land of the town on the west. The property had been disponed to him
by Sarah Ramsay and William Mitchell as security for their loan.