Author Topic: Will for McNeill 1880/1901  (Read 385 times)

Offline bertbert

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Will for McNeill 1880/1901
« on: Thursday 16 September 21 08:22 BST (UK) »
I'm struggling with the will calendar here:

https://apps.proni.gov.uk/DCAL_PRONI_WillsCalendar/B-0060-0406-0.png

It is for Archibald McNeill who died in 1880.  The PRONI site has this detail.

Quote
Date of Death :   11 December 1880
Surname :   McNeill   
Date of Grant :   21 June 1901
Forename :   Archibald   
Registry :   Belfast   
Effects :   Effects £247 0s. 6d.

Full Abstract : Probate of the Will of Archibald M'Neill late of Carnlough County Antrim Farmer who died 11 December 1880 granted at Belfast to Esther M'Neill the Widow and William M'Galliard Farmer.

I'm not clear on why it would have taken 21 years for the grant to happen and thought there might be something in the Will Calendar along with some other family info.  I can make out a few words here and there, e.g. "wife should" and names like "McNeill" and "Esther" but the vast majority is illegible to me.  This is what I can make out

Quote
... 1871 ... McNeill of Carnlough ... McNeill ... and County of ... Antrim do hearby declare this to be my last will and testament made and ... day of ... my dear wife Esther ... held by me at ... of the ... together ... all the ... and all the goods and ... to my ... wife ... my dwellingplace all ... and all my ... On the ... of my ... to my wife should my ... die before ... wife ... possessions at her death and the ... according to the ... that my wife shall ... care of my son ...

So not great!  But enough to make me think that there are some details in there.  Any help with any of this is appreciated.

Offline aghadowey

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Re: Will for McNeill 1880/1901
« Reply #1 on: Thursday 16 September 21 10:49 BST (UK) »
Usually when this happens it's because Will needs to finally be proved when another family member dies, property is being transferred or a clause in the Will in question means there is something to finally sort out.

No. 1871 McNeill Archibald I Archibald McNeill Carnlough in the parish of Ardclines and County of Antrim do hearby declare this to be my Last Will and Testament made and executed this twenty third day of January one thousand eight hundred and seventy seven I give and bequeath to my dear wife Esther all my rights and interest in the farm of land now held by me at Harphall under the representatives of the late Marchioness of Londonderry together ... all the ... and all the goods and ... to my ... wife ... my dwellingplace all ... and all my ... On the ... of my ... to my wife should my ... die before ... wife ... possessions at her death and the ... according to the ... that my wife shall ... care of my son ..
Away sorting out DNA matches... I may be gone for some time many years!

Offline bertbert

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Re: Will for McNeill 1880/1901
« Reply #2 on: Thursday 16 September 21 16:01 BST (UK) »
A huge thanks for this.  That's really helpful.  Pretty sure that there was no chance of me being able to decipher a lot of that.

I've been continuing to poke and guessed my way through a chunk more of it.  Currently I've got

Quote
No 871 McNeill Archibald

I Archibald McNeill of Carnlough in the
parish of Ardclines and County of
Antrim do hearby declare this to be
my Last Will and Testament made
and executed this twenty third day
of January one thousand eight hundred
and seventy seven. I give and bequeath
to my dear wife Esther all my rights
and interest in the farm of land now
held by me at Harphall under the
representatives of the late Marchioness
of Londonderry together with all the
... ... ... and all the
goods and property ... ...
... bequeath to my ... wife all
my property and my dwelling house and
... ... ... ... ...
... ... said dwelling house, all
my ... money and all my ...
... and ... ... and ...
of which ... ... ... ...
decease. On the decease of my ...
... wife then my son James
shall ... to a ... ... every
thing above ... ... bequeathed
to my wife. Should my ... son James
die before my wife ...
... ... ... my wife's
possessions at her death and the
proceeds ... according to the
... ... ... before ...
... ... ... that my wife shall
... care of my son ... ...

Quite a lot of guesswork involved :)   The fact "James" is mentioned ties in with him being the only child I can identify, although maybe child #2 just doesn't get anything rather than doesn't exist.

Again, I really appreciate the help you gave.

Offline Bookbox

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Re: Will for McNeill 1880/1901
« Reply #3 on: Thursday 16 September 21 18:06 BST (UK) »
Picking up after Londonderry ...

... together with all the
stock crops chattles and all other
goods and property whatsoever thereon
I likewise bequeath to my said wife all
my property in my dwelling house and
tenements appertaining thereto, my
furniture in said dwelling house, all
my ready money and all my other
real and personal estate and effects
of which I may be in possession at my
decease  On the decease of my before
mentioned wife then my son James
shall succeed to and inherit every
thing above described as bequeathed
to my wife  Should my said son James
die before my wife then I direct all to
be sold which may be in my wife’s
possession at her death and the
proceeds applied according to the
directions she may give before her
decease I direct that my wife shall
in case of my son dying before her ...


Offline aghadowey

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Re: Will for McNeill 1880/1901
« Reply #4 on: Thursday 16 September 21 19:43 BST (UK) »
Archibald McNeill's death registered by a James McNeill of Carnlough (no relationship given)-
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1881/06454/4855123.pdf

Esther McNeill died 1905 "widow of a sea captain" -
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1905/05606/4576234.pdf
bequests to grandchildren but not son James-
Probate of the Will of Esther M'Neill late of Carnlough County Antrim Widow who died 17 March 1905 granted at Belfast to Hugh M'Evoy Auctioneer.
Away sorting out DNA matches... I may be gone for some time many years!

Offline bertbert

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Re: Will for McNeill 1880/1901
« Reply #5 on: Friday 17 September 21 01:04 BST (UK) »
Honestly, I can't thank you guys enough.  This has been very interesting for me.  Featherbeds for everyone!  Esther forgot she actually had 3 McNeill grandchildren by the time her will was written, or else decided the baby didn't need an extra bed.

Plus that's also added in a sibling for James that I didn't know about, Mary who was married to Charles McAuley.