Will of Thomas McConnell

In the name of God Amen I Thomas McConnell of East Ballywee in the parish of Kilbride and county of Antrim farmer do make this my last Will as follows. I leave to my wife Nancy McConnell otherwise Gawn the bed bedding furniture and other articles in the bedroom in which we slept absolutely. I also leave to my wife during her natural life a yearly sum of fifteen pounds sterling and the use of that portion of my house which consists of the potato house and the bedroom above the same being the thatched part of my house which lies on the South East end of the portion which is slated and my daughter Isabella shall also be entitled to reside therein so long as she may be unmarried but it is my will that my wife and daughter Isabella shall themselves occupy the said portion of my houses and shall not be at liberty to sell their interest therein or let the same to any person and in case my said daughter shall marry or go to reside abroad she shall thereupon cease to have any claim to the said houses. I direct that the said thatched house shall be kept in proper  ----table repair by my son Thomas John or other person from time to time entitled to my lands who shall also pay all head rent charges rated and taxes that may become payable for the same. I leave to my Daughter Isabella from and after the time of my wife's decease a sum of five pounds yearly so long as she may be unmarried and reside in this country but in case she marries or goes abroad the five pounds yearly shall cease and instead thereof I leave a legacy of Twenty pounds. I leave to my son Thomas John all my farm of land and premises in Ballywee subject to payment of the said annuities and bequests to my wife and daughter Isabella to any debts that I may owe at my decease and my funeral and testamentary expenses. I leave to my son Thomas John absolutely all my stock crop and farming implements the residue of my household furniture and all other property estate and effects of every kind which I may have disposing power over at the time of my decease. In case it shall happen that my son Thomas John without leaving any children or child surviving him then it is my will that my said farm of land shall upon his decease go to my son James his executors administrators and asigns subject to such of the charges which I have left thereon as may be then subsisting. But if James shall die before Thomas John without leaving any child surviving then and in such case Thomas John shall be at liberty to leave or dispose of said farm as he may think fit. I appoint my son James McConnell and my brother-in-law Thomas Gawn executors of this my last will and Testament and revoke all wills heretofore made by me.

In Witness whereof I have hereto subscribed my name this fifteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy five.

Thomas McConnell

Signed published and declared by the said Thomas McConnell as and for his last Will and Testament in presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in presence of each other have here unto subscribed our names and signatures. --- Thomas Beggs and  Andrew Ferguson.

The foregoing will of Thomas McConnell late of East Ballywee in the County of Antrim, Farmer, deceased was proved on the 17th day of May 1878 and Probate thereof Granted to James McConnell and Thomas Gawn the executors therein named.--------