Wills and Testaments

crayspond · Post by **crayspond** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:02 pm

Does anyone know if illegitimate children would be mentioned in a Will of 1878?
My relation Dugald McFarlane was born in 1815 "out of fornication" to Dugald McFarlane Woolspinner and Elisabeth Garvie in Dunning Perth. I followed Dugald Jnr's marriage and death but could not really continue with Dugald Snr as he never married Elisabeth Garvie (i can find no marriage).
I found the following in Wills and Testaments

3 MacFarlane Dougald 19/04/1878 Grocer, Dunning, d. 03/11/1874 at Dunning, testate Perth Sheriff Court SC49/31/107

I then looked for a death for him and came up with this possibility

1 1873 MACFARLANE DOUGALD M 80 STRATHFILLAN /PERTH 394/B0 0005

The age would fit - but i am not sure if it is enough to go on and would there be mention of him or Elisabeth?

Any ideas anyone.

Regards

Ailsa

Post by **emanday** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:13 pm

I can only tell you that one of my rellies DID mention an illegitemate daughter in his will. The child was placed with his brother to be raised, so he did acknowledge parentage, as did your chap apparently.

The child in question died at 16, very shortly before he died, so never benefitted. I did notice that on her death certificate he is named as father and was, in fact, the informant. However, he seems to have decided that the mother's name would be omitted. The child's birth was certainly never registered with his surname.

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:38 pm

Hi Ailsa

Of the testaments I've seen, they can be a very mixed bag. Some are very informative from the family historian's point of view, others not so much with a bare minimum of family detail given and the majority of the content given over to legal jargon. As a very rough guide, it seems that the more pages the document contains the more chance there is of interesting mentions of either people, objects, family relationships etc.

....But that does not mean that a three page will might not have the very mention you are hoping for. I've found them to be a bit of a "lucky dip"!!

I note your Dougald's has 7 pages, which from those I've seen, suggests it has a little more than just the bare minimum of legal jargon.

Best wishes
Lesley

crayspond · Post by **crayspond** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 10:37 am

emanday,

Thanks for the reply - i would feel better if i knew it was the same Dugald McFarlane Snr before i purchased his will. I don't even know when he was born, but the fact he was 80 when he died in 1874 ties in well with him being about 20 ish when Dugald Jnr was born. If he had only married Elisabeth Garvie it would have made my life much more simple !!! I'm not interested in what he left but more about him and his family.
LesleyB,

The fact it does have 7 pages makes me wonder if it is the Dugald i am looking for. Seems a bit too prosperous for my family round about that time! Then again he might have been a bit of a ladies man and Elisabeth might have been one of many liasons.
The fact it mentions Dunning does draw me - i will think about it some more.

Thanks both for the replies.

Ailsa

Post by **emanday** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:39 pm

As Lesley has mentioned, the fact that there are 7 pages could mean there is a lot of information that might be very useful.

It IS a bit of a gamble, I agree, but I'm always tempted by ones like that as they can solve a whole lot of mysteries (maybe even save money in the long run.)

Post by **joette** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 1:23 pm

I have even purchased ones which are nothing to do with my line but because they piqued my interest-a fiver's not bad for relieving curiosity.

I have found even very humble people leaving Wills & with seven pages unless he left lots of debt should have some sort of family info in it.

crayspond · Post by **crayspond** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:00 am

I have purchased the testament, but instead of 7 pages i only can see 4 pages. I have contacted SP to ask them to have a look into it. Of the four pages there is only a mention of a John McFarlane. I will let you know if the other pages reveal anything else.

Ailsa

crayspond · Post by **crayspond** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 6:30 pm

Hi all,

It was my mistake and i managed to get it all. Alas nothing to point me in my Dougald's direction.
Meanwhile i found this on the Dunning Parish history site

I managed to find this M.I inscription for him

G 440 "In loving remembrance of DOUGALL MACFARLANE who died 3rd Nov. 1874 aged 74 and of his wife JANET SMAIL who died 30th May 1877 aged 56. Also of their son DOUGALL who died 13th May 1872 aged 23. Their granddaughter JESSIE S. MACFARLANE who died 20th May 1877 aged 8 months. Also of their daughter ELIZABETH who died 24th May 1888 aged 36. Also their son WILLIAM who died near Eulo, Queensland, on 21st Mar. 1901 aged 43 years and of their grandson JAMES MACFARLANE who died 12th Jan. 1904 aged 22 years. Also their daughter JANET wife of JOHN WHYTOCK who died 7th Feb. 1907 aged 67 years and their daughter MARY who died 29th June 1913 in her 69th year". On plinth - "Thy Will be done". Granite stone with plinth - good condition.

I could have saved myself a fiver if i had looked on here first! not to worry, it's all part of the fun.

I found this death record on SP and wondered if anyone could tell me (on ancestry) if this is the same Dougald as above.
1 1873 MACFARLANE DOUGALD M 80 STRATHFILLAN /PERTH 394/B0 0005

Thanks,
Ailsa

Post by **SarahND** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:05 pm

Hi Ailsa,
That death looks to be the man in this 1871 census return:

1871
Clifton Village, Strathfillan, Perthshire
Dugald McFarlan, 78, Head, born Clifton, Perthshire, Shoe Maker
Archibald McFarlan, 36, Son, born Clifton, Perthshire, Shew Maker
Margaret McFarlan, 36, Wife of Son, born Convin, Perthshire, Shoe Maker's Wife
Dugald McFarlan, 7, Stepson, born Clifton, Perthshire, scholar
Andrew McFarlan, 5, Stepson, born Clifton, Perthshire, scholar
Malcolm McFarlan, 3, Stepson, born Clifton, Perthshire
John McFarlan, 1, Stepson, born Clifton, Perthshire
Mary McNicol, 15, Servant, born Crosstown, Perthshire, Domestic Servant

His age is off from the other one you found in the M.I. records. Don't ask me why what look like his grandchildren are called "step" children

Cheers,
Sarah

crayspond · Post by **crayspond** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:45 am

Thanks for that Sarah, I can't see any familiar names in the household. I can't seem to find the missing link between Dugald McFarlane born 1815 in Dunning and his father also Dugald and mother Elizabeth Garvie.
I suppose they both could have moved away from the area. I will keep plodding away.

Thanks again,

Ailsa