Last Will and Testament of Robert Douglas

Note: Rev. Robert Douglas who is buried at Midgell Cemetery and his wife Hannah Blanchard is buried at the Old Prot. Cemetery on University Avenue in Charlottetown.

That we know not the day of our death and that our property cannot be any advantage to us after death are truths which I most firmly believe. But though worldly property cannot be of any use to us after death yet I believe that it is the duty of every man to consider seriously who are best entitled to enjoy it and how it may be most useful to his heirs and while he is in the enjoyment of health and in the possession of reason to settle his worldly affairs.

Therefore, I Robert Douglas, Minister of the gospel in the full enjoyment of bodily health and in the possession of reason and understanding now make my last will and testament. It is my will that my wife Hannah Blanchard shall have the sole management of all my property real and personal for the benefit of herself and my four unmarried children (viz. John, Jane Blanchard, Sarrah Waddell and Susan Cullen) as she may judge more condusive to the welfare of the family. It is my will that my daughter Helen shall receive one dollar as she has already received a larger share of property that can fall to the lot of any one of my other children. It is my will that my wife Hannah Blanchard shall have power to sell or otherwise dispose of my property in Nova Scotia which is five hundred acres of woodland which is situated on the town line of Onslow. It is my will that my wife Hannah Blanchard shall remain unmarried she shall at her own decease dispose of all the property among my four unmarried children as she may judge proper. But if she again enter into married state she shall have one third of the property and the other two thirds my wife Hannah Blanchard shall divide among my four unmarried children as she may judge equitable and right as I am satisfied that she will act honestly. I appoint my wife Hannah Blanchard the sole administratrix of this my last will and testament to which I have set my hand and seal to this twenty eighth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two (1842) at St. Peter's in the presence of the following witnesses.

(sgd) James McCallum (LS) (sgd) Matilda McCallum (sgd) John Cameron

(sgd) Robert Douglas