William Christian, 1767

Note: The pagination may not be correct and translated or doubtful wording may not be indicated.

58       Bride
The last will and testament of William 
Christian of Kown Lough and parish of 
KK Bride being apparently sound in mind 
and memory as follows:  
First, He bequeathed his soul to God 
and his body to a Christian burial.  
Secd, He leaves twenty shillings to 
his sister Catharine Kneale to be paid 
her by his brother Samuel Christian 
of Ramsey out of the three pounds due 
by the said Saml Christian to the 
deceased and the remainder he leaves 
as legacy for the said Saml Christian.  
Thirdly, He leaves six pounds to his 
sister Joney Howland to be paid by his 
brother John Christian with one 
cupboard which is in the house of 
Thos Howland of the Church of KK Bride 
together with whatsoever of the 
Deceased’s that was in their hands 
belonging to the said Deceased that 
her husband or they may not be 
disturbed at Law on his account 
reserving to himself one sheet for his 
burial out of the same.  
Fourthly He allows eighteen pence each 
of the witnesses of his said will to 
have the same executed and if any person 
seems discontented at the same, His 
will is that the said person or persons 
may be paid and satisfied with six pence only.  
Fifthly, He leaves his brother John 
Christian of Kown Lough his sole executor 
of all his effects moveable and immoveable.  
Witnesses: 
Saml Castle X my mark, 
Robt Kneale X my mark, jurati.                       

             To the Revd Matthias Curghey 
             Vicar General and the Rest of 
             the Revd Court, holding a 
             Chapter Court at Lezaire 
             this 25th Day of May 1767
             The humble petition of 
             demurer and caveat of 
             Samuel Christian of the 
             town of Ramsey and of 
             Stanley Kneale of KK 
             Andrews for himself 
             and in the right and behalf 
             of Catherine Kneale alias 
             Christian his wife: 
Sheweth 
    That your petitions having 
    a brother by name William 
    Christian whose misfortune 
    was to have been an 
    ignoramus delirious and 
    imperfect in his intellect 
    and deficient in the 
    capacity of his natural 
    senses (a thing known to 
    everyone who knew him or 
    had any acquaintance 
    with him) 
    and he the said Wm Christian 
    have departed this life about 
    the beginning of spring last 
    at the House of his brother 
    John Christian of the parish 
    of KK Bride, who now presumes 
    to offer and produce a will 
    unto this Revd Court, 
    alledging the same to have 
    been made or worded by his 
    poor ignorant and infatuate 
    brother Wm Christian aforesaid, 
    a thing most inconsistent 
    to reason and contrary to 
    the rules of nature and 
    humanity, to impose a will 
    upon such a weak person, 
    in order to deprive the 
    rest of his brothers and 
    sisters from having a 
    dividend of his goods, 
    as the said John Christian 
    now presumes himself to 
    be sole Executor, 
    which now necessitates 
    your petitions thus to 
    address your Revd Court.  
    And your petitioners 
    therefore do hereby object 
    and demur against the probate 
    of the said alledged will 
    of the said Wm Christian 
    deceased or any proceedings 
    to be made thereon at 
    this time, 
    Most humbly praying this 
    Revd Court to take the 
    matter to a most judicious 
    consideration and to be 
    graciously pleased to 
    appoint a day of hearing 
    of this their petition 
    of the demurrers and caveat 
    with authority to charge 
    the said John Christian 
    the ......... Executor 
    with such proper persons 
    (as witnesses) who knew 
    and were acquainted with 
    the said William Christian 
    deceased in his lifetime 
    all to appear and attend 
    at the same time, 
    that upon a full examination 
    and determination of the 
    matter you petitioners may 
    be decreed joint administrators 
    of the Deceased’s goods, 
    chattels and effects along 
    with the said John Christian, 
    and they as in dugy bound 
    shall forever pray &c.                      

On consideration of the matter of this  
Petition, I think proper to authorize 
the Revd John Gell Arch:Regr to take 
& commit to writing all such witnesses 
as shall be produced by the parties 
respectively on such time and place 
as he shall appoint, the Petitions 
giving all proper parties & persons 
due notice & service. 
Given at a Chapter Court holden 
at Lezayre May 25, 1767, 
Matths.Curghey.                    

I appoint Monday next the 1st of June 
for taking the evidence in the before 
written petition mentioned at my House 
in the Parish of Lezayre, when and 
where all witnesses as well as parties 
are required to attend duly prepared 
for that purpose about eight o’clock 
in the forenoon of sd day. Dated at 
Lezayre 28th May 1767, 
John Gell, Ar.Regr.                     

At Lezayre 1st June 1767: 
Samuel Christian one of the Petitioners 
named in the before mentioned Petitions 
appeared this day and said that he had 
not seen the said petition until this day, 
& that the same had not been preferred 
to the Revd Court by his consent, 
knowledge or approbation, and therefore 
he as far as he is concerned therein, 
withdraws the same. 
Saml Christian his mark X.   
Before me, John Gell, Ar. Regr, 
authorized by me in this cause.                        

At Lezayre 1st June 1767: 
I Samuel Christian one of the persons 
named as a petitioner in the within petition 
do hereby give my full and free consent 
to the last will and testament of my 
deceased brother William Christian, 
and do, as far as I am concerned or 
named therein hereby consent thereunto, 
that the same  be admitted as the last 
will and testament of my said deceased 
brother William Christian upon the 
terms & in the manner he hath made 
the same; and I Stanley KNeale the 
other petitioner named and mentioned 
therein do also hereby give my full 
and free consent that my said brother 
in law William Christian’s last will 
and testament be admitted and accepted 
upon the terms and in the manner he 
the said William Christian hath made 
the same, my brother in law John 
Christian the Executor named in said 
will having this day agreed and consented 
to pay unto me the full sum of thirty 
shillings over and besides the legacy 
of twenty shillings which was left and 
bequeathed therein unto my wife Catharine 
Keale payable by my brother in law 
Samuel Christian, and I the said John 
Christian of KionLough in the parish 
of KK Bride the Executor named in the 
said will do hereby agree and consent 
to pay unto the said Stanley Kneale 
the said sum of thirty shillings.  
Whereupon we the said Samuel Christian 
& Stanley Kneale do each of us withdraw 
the said petition and ...... with all 
other claims, suits, differences and 
disputes whatsoever for or on account 
of any right or demand to the said 
deceased William Christian’s goods, 
chattels, credits or effects, as 
witness our several subscriptions or 
marks to our names the day and date 
above written.  
Saml Christian my mark X, 
Stanley Kneal, 
John Christian.   
Witnesses present: 
John Gill, Ar.Regr, 
William Joughin, 
Willm Kneale.                         

At a Chapter Court holden at 
the KK Christ Lezayre 27th Oct 1767: 
Stanley Kneale & John Christian two of 
the subscribing parties to the above 
agreement have acknowledged the same 
to be their voluntary act and deed, 
and the Revd. John Gill and Wm Joughin 
two of the subscribing witnesses have 
deposed on the holy Evangelists that 
Saml Christian the other subscribing 
party duly signed and executed the 
above agreement in their presence. 
Taken and sworn by and before me, 
Matths Curghey.                      

At a Chapter Court holden at 
Lezayre 27th Oct 1767: 
The Executor is sworn in Court in form of Law 
& hath given pledges for the payment of debts 
and legacies namely Saml Castal & Robt Kneale 
the witnesses of the will both of KK Bride.  
Solv. 12d, Probatus est, 
Ro:Radcliffe, 
Matths:Curghey.                        

3d Febry 1768: 
Alice Smith otherwise Christian enters a 
claim against the Executor of Wm Christian 
for the sum of 2 pounds 2s 2d, & craves the Law.                          

Augt 11th 1772: 
This day Thomas Howland husband of Joney 
Howland the Legatee mentioned in the within 
will of William Christian acknowledged to 
have received from John Christian his heirs, 
executors, administrators & assigns of said 
Legacy on any part thereof forever. 
[signed his mark] Thos Howland my X.   
Before me, Thos:Cubbon, Arch Reg