The testa[men]t testa[men]tar and inventar of the goods gear & debts
of umq[uhi]le Agnes Stevensone spouse to James Cur
in Newbigging within the parochine of Newtyle and
sh[e]refdome of Angus The tyme of hir deceiss which was
in May 1706 years faithfullie made & given u
p Be the said James Cur hir relict husband and Ex[ecut]or
nominat to hir Conforme to hir Latter will under-
wryten In the first the uttincill and domicill of the house vi li. xiii s. iiii d.
Item the grouth and incress of vi firlots bear sawne estimat to the
4th curne extending to vi bolls at iiii li. p[er] boll inde xxiiii li. Item the grouth
and incress of iii bolls oats outfeild & infild at the 3rd curne extending to
ix bolls at iii li. vi sh. viii d. the boll inde xxx li. Item ii stots both estimat to xvi li.
Item ane cow ix li. Item ane mear x li.
Summa inventary - Lxxxxv li. xiii sh. iiii d.
No debts awine to the defunct
debts awine be hir & hir husband In the first to the Master of the ground and his factore for tuo years
ferme cropts 1705 & 1706 Lvi li. Item to Wm Stevensone yo[unge]r v li. of the
expenss of the funeralls being xviii li. Item for a servants fie for a year of mony & bountie xii li. Summa of the saids debts - Lxxxxi li. frie gear debts deduce - iiii li. xiii sh. iiii d. followes the Latter will
I Agnes Stevensone spouse to James Cur weaver in Newbigging
of Newtyle being sick in bodie but perfyte in memorie & senses
knowing that ther is nothing more certaine then death no nothing
more uncertaine then the hour and tyme therof for declara[tio]n
of my will and mynd And for esowing of all debeats & questions
that may aryse amongst my freinds and relat[io]ns anents my mony
and goods after my death Doe heirby Nominat & appoynt the said
James Cur my husband my only Exe[cuto]r test[ament]ar and universall
intro[mitto]r with my haill goods gear and debts With power to him imediatlie
after my death To mell and intromitt therwith sell use & dispone
therupon at his pleasure And if ned be to give up inventar therof
for ordinar Confirma[tio]n of the same And Generallie all &
sundrie other things requisite anent the premisses to doe that
any Ex[ecut]or test[ament]ar may doe or might doe be the Laws of this kingdome
And I doe hereby leave and in Legacie Dispone To Jannet Stevensone
spouse to James Chaplane my changing pettiecoatt and ane Lindar
and to Agnes Stevensone in Ochtertyre Daughter to James Stevensone
in Newbigging my whyte coatt Which I ordaine my said Ex[ecut]or to
delyver up to them And to make use of the haill remanent of my
saids cloaths goods gear and others @mentionat at his pleasure
and to seclud and debar all others thirfra And this I ordaine
to stand and abyd as my Last will & testa[men]t in all tyme cumeing
In witnes q[uhe]rof I have sub[scrivi]t thir p[rese]nts (Wryten be Wm Luke Notar
in Balmeno Att the said Newbigging of Newtyle the nynteine day
of May jaj viict and six years [1706] Before thir witnesses George Donald
Cordinar in Newbeging & Wm Baxter there Sic Sub[scribitu]r De mandato
dict[ae] Agnetae Stevensone scribere nescientis ut ass[eve]rit) Ego Gulielmus
Luke Not. pub. sub[scribens] Will[iam] Luke NP: William Baxter witnes George
Donald witnes Thir p[rese]nt inventar & testa[men]t is Confirmit the 18 Junii 1706 years and James Husband in Newtyle is cau[tione]r

The small parish of Newtyle is situated in the county of Forfar in eastern Scotland. It extends only about 1.75 miles from east to west and the same distance from north to south, over the Sidlie Hills. The landscape is hilly in the south and flatter in the north.

In the 18th century the land was fertile and generally well cultivated, the main crops being clover, oats, barley, turnips and potatoes. Surplus grain, usually barley, was transported out of the parish to be sold. Horses and cattle were raised, but few sheep. As in many other parts of Scotland, its population was in decline. In 1755 there were 913 inhabitants, but by 1791 this number had dropped to 594.

The Statistical Account of Scotland, Vol. X (1794) furnishes us with an interesting description of the parishioners: “The general size of the people in this parish is about 5 feet 6 inches. A few individuals have attained the height of 6 feet. They are very industrious in general, and more than one half of the householders are weavers, and possess a small portion of land. They are not fond of a military life, and few inlist in any corps. They are in general sober and economical; enjoy, in a reasonable degree, the comforts and advantages of society, and, on the whole, seem pretty well satisfied with their condition. Their situation, however, might be meliorated, by greater exertions of industry, and by superior knowledge of agriculture, and the other arts of civil life”.

It is interesting to note that the livelihood of Agnes Stevensone as detailed in her testament, i.e. her possession of a small area of land, her crops, her livestock and her husband’s occupation, ties in very well with the above picture.