An earlier will was written by Samuel McConnell in 1876 and is shown below.

Will of Samuel McConnell, Holestone

This is the last Will and Testament of Samuel McConnell of Caversham near Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, for some time carrier but now out of business, made this fifth dayof June One Thousand eight hundred and seventy six, as follows--- I give devise and bequeath all the monies arising by way of interest from monies out at interest, or from dividends from insurance companies, or from coupons attached to the debentures of the City of Dunedin Corporation, and all my real and personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever, unto my dear wife Agnes McConnell, she to have control of the said interest to be used for the maintenance, education, and benefit of herself and our children --- Believing that my son Samuel Ridges McConnell gives evidence of ability, I would wish – should his inclination lead him to chose for his profession that of a minister of the Gospel or a Doctor of Medicine, and should his behaviour correspond to and be consistent with either of these honourable professions that out of the Interest from monies and he be thoroughly be educated for his profession.  As it is not my desire to give all that I die possessed of to my first born son but to give each of my children a portion, and believing that I, were to die now, would leave about three thousand pounds Stg. – I should wish that in the event of my wife dying before my children reach the age of maturity that my Executors to be hereafter named would apportion to James McConnell and Samuel Ridges McConnell a sum of say Eight hundred pounds each, but it is not my wish to give my sons control of this principal sum of Eight hundred pounds immediately.  I leave this to the discretion of my Executors whither and when to let them have control of the sum named.  Samuel on completing his education may need some to start him in his profession, my Executors will be at liberty and do hereby have my consent to realize on some portion of the sum named as coming to him. For my daughters Rachael, Annes Jane, and Agnes Margaret McConnell I wish my Executors to apportion each of them four hundred pounds to be secured to them for their life time, and be secured that their husbands, should they get married cannot touch the money.  I desire also that the interest arising from this sum be secured to themselves, but I wish that at their decease should they live to the age of maturity that they may have the disposal of this sum. It is my wish also regarding my daughters that should they live to be married and my wife still alive that they be paid only half the interest the other half being retained for the support of my wife Agnes McConnell, but that on her decease the whole of the interest of such sum be paid to them.  And in the regard to the interest of the eight hundred pounds to be paid to my sons, the half interest of this sum to be paid them, should my Executors however decide to capitalise these sums to be invested in say a farm for either of them I wish my Executors to retain enough capital to pay my wife during her life, say the sum of Sixty pounds per Annum.  On the event of either of my children dying before attaining their majority I wish their portion to be equally divided amongst those surviving.  In case my intentions about the support of Mrs Agnes McConnell be obscure I wish her to have say sixty pounds per Annum.  Thirty six pounds of this sum will come from the interest retained from my daughters’ portion, the balance of this sum of sixty pounds to be paid out of the sums apportioned to my sons.

Notwithstanding all that has been written on this and the foregoing page I do hereby direct that should Agnes McConnell my wife marry again the control of the monies given her by this instrument be taken from her and that my Executors see that it be disposed of according to my wishes herein expressed.  That is to say in the event of her again marrying only a sum of forty pounds be paid her annually in quarterly payments and this sum of forty pounds Irish secured on herself so that her husband cannot interfere in its disposal.  In the event of her marrying again there will be more money at the disposal of my Executors as only forty pounds will be necessary instead of sixty, my Executors I direct to divide the surplus amongst the survivors pro-rata.

I do hereby appoint James McConnell of Ballyharvey and James McConnell of Ballysavage both of the County of Antrim, Ireland to be my Executors under my Will, and do hereby direct them to carry out my wishes as far as the monies placed at their disposal by this my Will admit of, after payment of my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses and the charges of proving and registering of this my Will and do hereby revoke all Wills.

In Witness where of I have hereunto set my hand the day and year before written

Names of witnesses missing.