Message ----- From: Bruce Laird To: 'Donal O'Kelly' Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2007 2:22 PM Subject: Old Families file and index of DerryGenWeb pre 1700 Don, I have been working on my Northern Ireland family history now for some time and a Will was found recently that added another generation to my research. The Will is attached with a transcript below Richard had no children (he may not have married) and left ½ of his estate to his nephew James Laird (my GGGgrandfather). Richard died some time after April 1797 and before probate in Feb 1798 as you can see Richard was quite well-to-do and was involved with Thomas Gregg who was a merchant in Londonderry along with Joseph Moore (witness) who was also a merchant and seems to be involved in the triangular trade with the USA. Since there are very few records from this period I have not been able to go back earlier although it is safe to say that Richard Laird was born sometime in the 1740’s. Boggstown itself however was built in the late 1690’s http://www.laird-bogstown.com/bogstown.php and I have a full archaeological report from the Ulster Folk Museum (attached), the roof in the loft contained a very rare cloth only found in a few other houses in all of Ireland., it was occupied by Joseph Boggs and his wife Sarah Laird in the 1740’s. At this stage I can not claim pre 1700 for the Laird’s although this is true of the Boggs family and the Boggstown house, any assistance or ideas in this direction would be greatly appreciated. I am not sure if you live in Derry but I will be visiting in late July. Sincerely Bruce Laird Willi-Willi Farm Victoria Australia +61397452142 www.laird-bogstown.com Copy of the Will of Richard Laird, from the Public Records Office division of the British National Archives at Kew, England, Catalogue Reference: Prob 11/1302; Image Reference: 802. Extracted from the Registry of the Diocese of Derry, beginning with left page numbered 118. This copy conformed to line length as per original text. Original manuscript begins on a right hand page labelled 118. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the name of God Amen, Richard I Richard Laird of Boggstown in the liberties Laird of the City of Londonderry being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory and understanding do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say, first and principally I commit my Soul into the hands of my Creator and my body to the Earth to be interred at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named and as to such worldly estate of whereof I shall die seized, possessed of, or entitled unto I dispose of the same in manner and form following, that is to say first I give and bequeath all my Real and Personal Estate of what[ever] kind or what soever unto Thomas Gregg of the City of Londonderry Merchant, and my nephew James Laird eldest son of my brother John Laird their Executors Administrators and Assigns which said gift and to the said Thomas Greg and James Laird is upon the Trusts and to and for the use and purposes following, that is to say that they or the survivor of them or the executors and administrators of such a survivor do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my demise not exceeding twelve months sell and dispose of the same and out of the produce and proceeds thereof pay my funeral expenses and debts if any and after payment thereof provide for the Trusts and pay and satisfy the Legacies hereinafter mentioned, that is to say I give and devise unto my brother John Laird the Sum of one hundred pounds I also give and devise unto Margaret his wife the Sum of fifty pounds. I give and divest to my nephew James Laird eldest son of my said brother John the sum of one hundred pounds and fifty pounds. I also give and devise to my nephew Joseph Laird second son of my said brother John the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds and to my nephew John Laird ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [end of right page 118, start of unnumbered left page] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- third son of my said brother John the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds the said several legacies of the hundred pounds to my brother John of fifty pounds to Margaret his wife and one hundred and fifty pounds to my nephew James Laird to be paid them as soon as conveniently may be after my demise and the said two last mentioned legacies of one hundred and fifty pounds each to my nephews Joseph and John Laird to be paid them at their respective ages of twenty one years and my further will is that my said Trustees and the survivor of them and their Executors and Administrators of such survivor shall stand intrusted with the sum of one hundred pounds to and for the uses and purposes following, that is to say that they shall as soon as conveniently may be after my demise loan and plan out the same at interest on proper security or securities and from time to time as often as occasion shall require to call in, alter, vary, and again plan out the same upon this special Trust that they, my said trustees or the survivor of them, their Executors and Administrators of such survivor do and shall pay and apply the interest and yearly provide produce of the said sum of one hundred pounds for and towards the maintenance and support of my nephew Richard Laird fourth son of my said brother John Laird and I further order and direct that the said last mentioned legacy of one hundred pounds to the said Richard Laird shall after his demise go to and be divided among his then surviving brothers in equal shares and proportions share and share alike. I also give and devise to my niece Elizabeth Laird eldest daughter of my said brother John Laird the sum of fifty pounds. To my niece Mary Laird second daughter of my said brother John Laird the sum of fifty pounds and to my niece Margaret Laird third daughter of my said brother John Laird the sum of fifty pounds and to my niece Martha laird fourth daughter of my said brother John Laird the sum of fifty pounds, and my will is that the said four last mentioned legacies of fifty pounds to each of said minors shall be paid to them at their respective ages of [probity?] [in?] years or days of marriage which [ever] shall first happen, and I order the said respective legacies of fifty pounds each to bear interest from one year after my demise until the time or times at which they are respectively to become payable. I also give and devise to my sister Mary Ewing widow the sum of fifty pounds. I also give and devise to my nephew Alexander Ewing the sum of fifty pounds. I also give and devise to my neice Sarah Boggs wife of Mr. Joseph Boggs the sum of forty pounds. I also give and devise to my niece Mary Ewing the sum of thirty pounds and to my neice Isabella Keys, wife of Sir George Keys the sum of thirty pounds. I also give and devise to [Mary?] Waller granddaughter of my said sister Mary Ewing the sum of forty pounds and I order the said six ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [end of unnumbered left page, start of right page numbered 119] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- last mentioned legacies to be paid as soon as conveniently may be after my demise. I also give and devise unto my sister Martha Watt [or Snell?], wife of Robert Watt [or Snell?] senior of Ards near Rathmullan in the County of Donegal the sum of fifty pounds, and my will that the said fifty pounds shall be passed into the hands of my said sister Martha as soon as conveniently may be after my demise to and for her own separate use and benefit and so as the same may be at her disposal notwithstanding her condition [?] and not in the power or at the disposal or subject to the control of any husband she now hath or hereafter may have done so as by any writing or Receipt under her hand. --------------------- She may at any time revive [?] and dispose of the same and so as my said Trustees or the survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such survivors shall and may by such writing or receipt be fully discharged and in safety I give and devise to my nephew Robert Watt [Snall?] Son of said Robert Watt [Snall?] senior the sum of twenty pounds and to my nephew John [?] Watt [Snall?] daughter to said Robert Watt [Soale?] the Sum of twenty pounds the said last two mentioned legacies to be paid [to] them at their respective ages of twenty one years or days of marriage which [ever] shall first happen and to bear interest from one year after my decease until the time or times they are respectively to become payable. I also give and devise unto my sister Elisabeth Watt [Soal?] wife of Robert Watt [Soal?] of Tully in the County of Donegall the sum of fifty pounds and my will is that the said sum of fifty pounds shall be paid into the hands of my said sister as soon as conveniently may be after my decease to to and for her own separate use and benefit and so as the same may be at her disposal notwithstanding her condition [?] and not in the power or at the disposal or subject to the control of any husband she now hath or may have hereafter and so as by writing or receipt under her hand she may at any time recover [?] and dispose of the same and so as my said Trustees and the survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such survivors shall and may by such writing or receipt be fully discharged and in safety and my mind and will is that if any of my said nephews or nieces shall die without lawful issue and unmarried before his her or their legacies hereby respectively given them shall become payable according to the intent of this my will that they the respective Legacies of any of my nephews so dying shall go to and ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [end of right page 119, start of unnumbered left page] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- be divided amongst his or her surviving brothers in equal shares and proportions share and share alike and the respective legacies of any of my neices so dying shall in like manner go to and be divided among her or their surviving sisters in equal shares and proportions share and share alike, and as to all the rest residue and remainder of my Real and Personal Estate after payment of my funeral expenses and costs and of these several and respective legacies heretofore mentioned to be bequeathed to and after providing for the trusts herein and hereby in my said Trustees report [?] I order and direct the said the same to be divided among the sons and daughters of my said Brother John Laird then alive in equal shares and proportions, share and share alike, provided always that my said Trustees shall not be chargeable for any sum or sums of money but what they shall actually receive by virtue of the Trust hereby in their possession, nor shall they or either them be answerable or accountable for any persons with whom or in whose hands any part of the said Trust [?] shall or may be depositied or lodged for safe Custody or for any other loss which shall happen to the same except the same shall happen by or through their own willful default and that such shall be accountable for himself only though they should join in any receipt or writings for conformity and I order and direct that my said Trustees shall be from time to time allowed all their expenses and costs and charges whatsoever which they or either of them shall sustain expend or be put unto in or about the connection [?] of the Trusts herein and hereby within exposure [?] or in relation thereto and I make, name, ordain, reinstitute [?] and appoint the said Thomas Gregg and my Nephew the said James Laird my said Trustees, Executors of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all and all instruments of form and other wills heretofore by me at any time made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety six. --- Richard Laird Signed, sealed, published and declared [?] by the above named Richard Laird as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request did in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses as we have also done the same to a duplicate of the above written will executed at same time. -- Joseph Moore -- James Gregg -- John Marshall. Whereas the above Testator Richard Laird being willing that no dispute should arise [regarding?] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [end of unnumbered left page, start of right page 120] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the disposal of my freehold and chattel property from the time of my decease till the time at which my before mentioned Trustees and Executors [?] sell from the disturbed state of the country thst the same may not be disposed of to advantage within the time limited by my foregoing will to be sold, Now I the said Richard Laird do order and direct that my said Trustees may not be ... [transcription stopped at this point]. The year is 1797 and the Rebellion of the United Irishmen is about to take place. Richard is concerned that "due to the disturbed state of the country" his freehold may take longer to sell than would normally be expected. He extends the time period given to the executors to administer his will, from 12 months to 2 years. In the last paragraph,last line, Richard leaves his gold watch to his brother John. Will signed 4th April 1797. Will probated 15th February 1798, at London