Up the Gatineau! Article
This article was first published in Up the Gatineau! Volume 7.
Footnote to History
How one man provided for his widow in 1847
"Fifthly, I give, devise and bequeath unto the said Margaret Docksteader my wife in full and absolute property for ever, one bedstead, and bed and bedding, one chest, one trunk, one washstand, one table, one side saddle and seven chairs.
Sixthly, I give and bequeath unto the said Margaret Docksteader for and during the natural life of her the said Margaret Docksteader and so long as she remains unmarried the usufruct and enjoyment of the small tract of land east of my own dwelling house, and north of the road and adjoining my garden, containing two acres of land be the same more or less together with the use of her lodging room and the bedroom adjoining it also the use of a horse occasionally and looking glass in the said lodging room together with the use of the following, two cows to be fed on the land so bequeathed summer and winter, one third part of the fowls killed annually on said lots of land, cooking utensils and furniture for her table, and a cupboard standing in her room.
Seventhly, I order and direct that the following be found provided and supplied unto the said Margaret Docksteader by the said John Meech annually, and so long as the said Margaret Docksteader remains unmarried, fifteen pounds sheeps wool, twenty bushels of wheat, one fat hog weighing at least two hundred weight, two sheep for her meat, twenty bushels of potatoes, six pounds of candles, twenty-five pounds of sugar, five pounds tea, and a sufficient quantity of fire wood for her fire, the above to be supplied, found and provided unto the said Margaret Docksteader by the said John Meech until the time the said Charles Meech shall be twenty-three years old, after which time the said Charles Meech shall find and provide unto the said Margaret Docksteader the one half of the same.
Excerpt from the last Will and Testament of ‘Asa Meech The Elder’ prepared by A. Larue, Notary Public, of Aylmer, Que. dated 16th November 1847.
The preamble includes of sound mind, memory, judgment and understanding as it appeared to us Asa Meech did declare that, considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its hour, he was desirous of making his last Will and Testament..."
Material supplied by Miss Marion A. Meech.