Ronald Ban MacDonald – Last Will and Testament - March 1, 1856
Willed to Catherine (wife)
Land 100 acres at Big Cape. Bounded on west by land in possession of Angus MacCormack on east by land in occupation of Alexander MacDonald.
My dear beloved brother Vitalis to have the use of the last half of land ___ for the term of 10 years, then he gives up the land unto my beloved wife or her executors.
I bequeath to my wife – all household furniture, farming implements and remainder of horned cattle, sheep and pigs after the following shares are willed and she my wife to hold and possess the said lands, house, furniture, farming implements and cattle until my beloved son – John Alexander comes to the age of 21 years and to give my children good education and bring them up in a decent Christian manner and to support my beloved mother as long as she chooses to live with her. When John Alexander comes to age 21, then he shall become the sole owner of the land, furniture, farming implements, and cattle.
My wife to have a living off the place as long as she chooses to remain.
To Vitalis – right and claim of 120 acres of land situated Big Marsh bounded north by Donald MacCormack and south by lands in occupation of James MacCormack and 15 lbs cash that I paid for said land. Vitalis to pay the remainder, also 2 cows and one heifer.
My sister Margaret – one cow, one heifer and her support, while she works here to support the place.
To John Alexander – one mare and the whole of the effects willed to my wife Catherine when he comes of age, he is to support my wife and mother if she is living or remain with him.
To son Ronald – my horse and support of my place, until he comes of age or continues to work here.
To my friend Donald MacDonald Esq. St Margaret’s and Ronald MacDonald, farmer, Naufrage to be executors – I transfer the selling of my accounts and selling of my carpentering tools and blacksmith tools and to place the proceeds to payment of the first 100 acres of land.
Signed in presence of the subscriber Ronald Ben MacDonald
Stephen Kelly
Michael MacCormack
Fidelis (Vitalis) McDonald of Lot 42 - Last Will and Testament (1893)
In the name of God Amen
I Fidelis (Vitalis) MacDonald of Monticello, Lot 42, in the County of King’s in the province of Prince Edward Island do make and ordain this as and for my last will and testament.
First I give my soul to God who gave it me and with regard to my estate and property, real and personal, I dispose of it in the manner herein following.
My two freehold farms, to wit the homestead, bounded on the north by the Gulf St. Lawrence on the west by lands owned by Angus McCormack, on the south by lands owned by Ronald A McDonald, and on the east by lands of Widow Ronald Ban McDonald, the same containing 60 acres a little more or less. Together with my wood farm on the Marsh Road and Bounded on the south by lands of James McCormack on the north lands of the widow Dominic McCormack on the east by the boundary line of township 43 and running west as described in the Deed, the same containing 60 acres a little more or less.
These two farms together with all the improvements and chattels of all kinds whatsoever, I five devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Margaret McDonald to hold and have during her natural life and at her death to descend to my sons Bernard and John. The disposition of the property to them is to rest with my wife Margaret. She will devise one of the farms to Bernard and one to John. She will see that whichever one of them is retained in the old homestead will render such assistance to the other as may seem reasonable to my execution to enable him to erect building thereon.
However under pain of nullity of the foregoing dispositions I enjoin on my wife Margaret and my heirs that she or thy do give a cow to my daughter Margaret, wife of Henry A Fraser and further that the protection and comforts of a home be always extended to my daughters Mary Flora and Malvina during their single lives.
I hereby appoint Henry A Fraser and Joseph McDonald, DK Smith, executors of this will.
Signed on March 23, 1885
Signed by Fidelis McDonald as and for his last will and testament. And we, at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have set our signatures as subscribing witness the day and date hereinbefore mentioned.
DJG McDonald
Dugald McDonald
This will was proved on 24 October 1893 on the oath of DJG McDonald, one of the subscribing witnesses before Commissions Neil Macquarie and was filed and registered on October 28, 1893 as certified by Richard Reddin Judge of Probate.
Margaret McDonald (Widow of Alexander McDonald; Lot 42) - Last Will and Testament - 1867
To my son Vitalis (Fidelis )—I leave the farm on which I now reside, containing 50 acres of land as purchased from the Trustees of Charles Worrell Esquire.
My daughters, Catherine and Margaret who are presently unmarried are permitted to reside in the dwelling house for as long as they live here. I leave each daughter equal shares of my property.
I appoint Joseph MacPhee of Big Marsh, Lot 42, executive of my will and testament. In case of any dispute between my son and daughters, I hope and expect each of them to yield to his decision on the matter.
Dated and Sealed on September 29, 1857
Proved on March 22, 1867
1840 - Alexander Sandy McDonald Letter
The following is a letter written by Alexander (Sandy) McDonald Bear River, son of Donald McDonald, Tracadie.
St. Margaret's Sept 15th, 1840.
Dear Son and Daughters.
I would not trouble you with this Tirade just now until I would hear from you as we received no letters from you since the one you wrote me after your arrival home from the Island, and another letter Roderick got shortly afterward, only I know that you would be uneasy to hear of what success Roderick had in launching his new vessel. She was launched in stile( sic) last Friday morning, without any difficulty, only he had to wait several days for a suitable tide to launch her.
She was full rigged on the stocks and was under sail in about two hours after she was launched with a cant............at each topmost head. She is a beauty and she is 126 years old measurement Roderick refused £600 cash down for the hull of her about three weeks ago. She is at present in Rollo Bay harbour until she will be ready to load for N.F.L. I expect you have received your brother John's letter before now, in which you can see the sudden death of little Joe, Roderick's son
I expect you won't believe we had the pleasure of meeting Major-General Sir James McDonell at St Margaret's And Captain(sic) R.C. McDonald last week. They came on a visit to the Rev. John McDonald. All the old Hilanders (sic) from St. Peter's Bay met at St. Maragret's to see Sir James and his nice(sic), Roderick's lady. They were highly pleased. The General gave them plenty of brandy to drink, and Captin(sic) Roderick's Lady treated the old men with Tobacco out of her own hand and assured them that they aught to be very happy in this country.
A Highland piper attended and some of them danced out on the green at the end of the house, which gave the Visitors much pleasure. Next day (Friday) Sir James and his Nice returned And Rev. Mr .John and myself accompanied them as far as Mr. Worrell's house, when Captin(sic) R.C. McDonald was to meet them, also a number of the Kings County Regiment of Militia. Captin R.C. McDonald was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of that Regiment of Militia Since he came to the Island in place of the Honorable Charles Worrell, who resigned.
Captain McDonald seems to be proud of his new title, and made the Regiment a present of a splendit cullers( sic) Which was exhibited at the same time. He treated the people with as much spirits as they could drink. Captin McDonald is a very kind man. He inquired about all his friends. He told me to communicate his kind compliments to you and Mrs. McLellan. he and his lady is returning to Bermudas immediately. He expects that the Regiment will be moved to Halifax next summer, when he will have more time to spend to see his friends.
Ronald McDonald, Pisquet(sic ), Allan's son was here about two weeks ago. He desired to communicate his best respects to you all and particularly to Anny. My son John and John Ronald is getting on the new Barn. He gave Roderick a help to rigg(sic) the new vessel and is likely would go Captin of her only Roderick had engaged Frasor for the purpose before John came home. I know Roderick had a wish to write you when the vessel would be launched but he had but little time to do anything but the vessel itself.
I was told just now that old Mrs. McDonald, Ranald's wife, Big Cape, died last night She was very weak for some weeks past A message came to the Rev. John McDonald yesterday from Sir James McDonald requesting him to accompany...........to Halifax and to the United States...............here last evening for Charlottetown............He don't expect to be back before the fIrst of..........Your sister Mary is very anxious to hear..........James McDonald, Donald's son at the Lake went to Quebec to the colledge(sic ) last week.........I must stop giving you any farther news for want of space. Your mother, Mary, and Kitty, as also all your brothers, joins me in sending you and Mrs. McLellan our warmest love and respects, not forgetting Anny and our little grandson also to your brother and all other inquiring friends,
Your affectionate father,
Alexander McDonald
