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Testament of William Carstairs
NAS CC8/8/86 pp 414-419

 [In Margin] Mr William Carstairs
30 August 1716

[Main text] The Testament Testamentar and Inventory of the goods gear
debts and sums of money pertaining and addebted to umquile
Mr William Carstairs one of the ministers of the Gospell in the
City of Ed[dinbu]r[gh] and principal of the College thereof the tyme
Of his decease who deceased upon the twenty eight day of December
Jm vij C[entus] [one thousand seven hundred] and fifteen years Faithfully made and Given up by
Himself upon the third day of May Jm vij C[entus] years and eleventh
Day of June Jm vij C[entus] and fifteen years In so far as concerns the
Nomination of his sole exe[cut]rix And Given up by Elizabeth
Carstairs alias Rikewick relict of the s[aid] defunct so farr as
Concerns the Inventory of the said Defunct his Goods gear and
Debts aftermentioned Wich Elizabeth Carstairs alias Rikewick
Is sole exe[cut]rix Constitute & appointed by the said umq[ui]le Mr William
Carstairs Conform to his Letter Will and Testament underw[itte]n
As the Samein Signed by him for presence of the witnesses aforementioned

Testa[men]t Test[ament]ar Umq[ui]le Mr W[illia]m Carstairs on the Min[iste]rs of the Gospell in the City of
Ed[inbu]r[gh] Dated 30 Aug[us]t 1716
First Eik made thereto as follows To Will the free funds of the ? of the Chappell
Royal in the paroches of BalmcClellan Kells and Kelsyde of Carsphairn to the
The s[ai]d defunct has right as Chaplin to the ? from the Year 1689 to the
1715 both Inclusive & resting by the respective hereto & ? Lyable in Payment
of the tenor of the lands Lying in the fores[ai]d paroches aftermen[tione]d & of the are Con[taine]d in an
Deed obtained before the Lords of Councill & Session At the Insistance of the said
Defunct At the most ? if not the haill p[er]sones after named & designed for the ?
Underwritten for the Saids Funds of the date of 18th January 1712 years Vi[delice]zt Impr[imi]s
BalmcClellan & Kells Yearly Item of Sum of £36 by the duke of Queensberry for
The p[ar]t of his Lands in BalmcClellan parish Called Craiginny formerly pertaining
To the deceast Edward Goldie & that for the Space foresaid Item By Gordon of
Froquhain Yearly the Sum of fourty one pound 6 ß[olidus] 8 d[enarius] It[em] the Sum of £54 ..13 ..4
By Gordon Skinner for his lands including Dalgarnochen alias Water
Head now pertaining to David Thomson & that for the Space fores[ai]d It[em] by
Gordon of Holme for his Lands Including over Minniebuy now be-
longing to Alex[ander] Cairns the Sum of £36 Yearly, It[em] by Gordon of Crogo
for his Lands yearly the sum of £<8> £72 It[em] the Sum of £20 Yearly
furth of the Lands of Garerogo formerly belonging to Edward Gordon Now to the
heirs of James Shortrig mer[chan]t in Dumfries It[em] the Sum of £19..9..8 Yearly
furth of the Lands of Barley & Cassinrey pertaining to the representatives
of John Cannan It[em] by David Gordon for his Land of Craig & Cross £2..13..
..4d[enarius] Yearly It[em] the Sum of £16..13..4 Yearly by W[illia]m Ireland for the ? Cal-
dows belonging to him It[em] by Ro[ber]t Cannan of Kellochy furth of his Lands
the Sum of £..18 & the for the s[ai]d Space It[em] the Yearly Sum of £15..6..4 by
the representatives of the deceast John Cubbison of Blakeraig for his land
of £10..6..8 Yearly It[em] the Sum of £5..4..10 furth of the Lands of Dalshangen
p[er]taining to John Cannan of Barley & that for the Space foresaid It[em] furth
of John Shaw of Daton his Lands in the parroch of Kells the Sum of £72..6..
4d[enarius] Yearly It[em] the Sum of £4..10 furth of the Land of Bridgenoch that formerly
pertained to Gordon of Barnow to Gordon of Carletoun & that
for the Space foresaid It[em] furth of the Lands of Bardenock ? formerly p[er]ta[in]ed
to the Deceast John Gibson & Now to Mr John Reid Mm at Carsphairn the
Yearly Sum of £6..4..8 It[em] furth of the tenpundland of Airds belonging
To Gordon of Carlestoun the Sum of £110..16.. Yearly It[em] by the Deceast
Newall of Barskiock for his Lands in Strangfaseet furth of his
Lands in Kells pareoch the Sum of £61..15 & That for the Space foresaid
It[em] the Sum of £111..14..4 Yearly by William Kennedy of Knockreoch It[em]
By Adam Forrester of Knockskein for his Lands the Sum of £9..6..8
And the for the Space foresaid It[em] by John Shaw of Craigend for his Lands the

The Sum of £4..7..4 Yearly It[em] By W[illia]m & John McClamrock for
Their Lands of Over & nether Craignenbaes Yearly the Sum of £66..7
It[em] the Sum of £13..6..8 Yearly By Ro[ber]t Johnston Mer[chan]t in Drum
Fries furth of his Lands of Barnsalloch that formerly pertained
To McClellan of Barscol It[em] furth of the Lands of Nether
Minniebuy belonging to the Representatives of the deceaset Mr
Thomas Ternor MM of BalmcClellan the Sum of £60 Yearly
It[em] by Alex[ander] Cairns of Over minnibuy furth of his Lands the
Sum of £20 .. And that for the Space foresaid It[em] by the s[ai]d
David Thomson furth of his Lands of Dalgarnochen alias
Waterhead the Sum of £6..13..4 Yearly Extending yearly
The Saids free Teinds in the haill to the sum of £1660..2..2
Scotts money Which for the Space of 27 Years Amounts
To the Sum of £44822..18.6 money foresaid Being the
Extent of the Sum Given up in this present Eik And We
Give & Commit the Intromission that of the s[ai]d
Elizabeth Carstairs alias Rikewick relict of the s[ai]d Defunct
Exe[cut]rix Testa[menta]rix foresaid & c[etera] Caur Mr Colin Drummond
Professor of philosophy in the College of Ed[inburgh] Dated
May 1724

[Note on its side] 78 Eik
Test[amen]t Tes[tamen]tar
Mr William Carstairs
7 May 1724
Comp[eared] for Bmm
? 2 Sheets

[In margin on its side] Att Edinburgh The Thirtyeth day of Aprile Jm vijC and Twenty Four Years In presence of Sir James Smollet Sir John Elphinstone
Masters Andrew Marjoribanks and James Patersone Com[missone]rs of Edin[bu]r[gh] Compeared John Gibson as pro[curato]r for after designed John
Oliphant & Gave in the Instrument of Protest underwritten Desponing the Same to be Insert & registred in the Said Commissarys
Their Court books To have the Strength of their Decreet Interponed thereto That Letters of Horning on Six days Charge
And o[f] the Execution needful may pass hereon Conform to the Clause of Registration underwritten therein Contained


And a Ratification or Confirmation thereof of the dates ? foresaid
Also written and Signed by him in themselves more fullie prepart
Under protestation made by the said exe[cut]rix that she may be pre
parred before all others to ass & eik to this present Gestal what
further goods gear and debts belonging & addebted to the said
Defunct Shall hereafter come to her knowledge Which protestation
The Commissaries of Co[u]r[t] have admitted & hereby admitt
In The First The Said umquhile Mr William Carstairs the tyme of
His decease forsaid had pertaining and belonging to him the goods
And gear following of the availls and prices after mentioned To Witt
Imprimus The said Defunct his Library of books estimat all to be
Worth the sum of jC[entus] £ib[ra] sterling money Extending in Scots money
To jm iiC[entus] £ib[ra] Item the Insight plenishing and furniture of the s[ai]d
Defunct his dwelling house or Lodging estimat to the Sum of xxv £ib[ra]
Sterling which is iijC[entus] £ib[ra] Scots money Item the said Defunct his
Silver plait valued to the Like Sum of xxv £ib[ra] sterling money
Is iijC[entus] £ib[ra] Scots money Extending the values of the said Goods & gear
In whole to the Sum of jm viijC[entus] £ib[ra] Scots money
Summa of the Inventory –jm viijC[entus] £ib[ra]
Follows the debts owing to the dead
Item There was addebted and resting owing to the said umq[ui]le Mr
William Carstairs the tyme of his decease forsaid the debts and Sums
Of money underwritten by the persons after names Vi[delice]zt Imprimis By
David Earl of Leven the Sum of jC[entus] £ib[ra] sterling being jm ijC[entus] £ib[ra] Scots
Money of principall Contained in a bond bearing @ rout & _ _ _ _
Of penalty Grantedby him to the defunct dated the eighteenth day of
February jm viiC[entus] and Ten years Item the Sum of jC[entus] xix £ib[ra] Scots money
As the bygone @ rout of the said principall Sum due preceeding the said
Defunct his decease Item by S[i]r James Steuart of Goodtrees advocat
The Sum of ijC[entus] x £ib[ra] sterling being iijm £ib[ra] Scots money of prin[cipa]ll
Contained in a bond bearing @ rout and _ _ _ _of penalty ___
Granted by him to the s[ai]d Defunct Dated the fourteenth day of December
Jm vijC and fourteen years Item the Sum of jC lvj £ib Scots money as the
Bygone @ rout of the said principall Sum due preceeding the s[ai]d defunct
His decease Item more by the said S[i]r James Steuart the same of L £ib
Sterling being vjC £ib Scots money of prin[cipa]ll Contained in another
Bond bearing @ rout and = = = of penalty Granted by him to the
Defunct dated the ninth day of March jm viijC and fifteen years
Item the Sum of xxiiij £ib ij ß Scots money as the bygone @ rout of

The said pricipall sum due preceeding the said defunct his decease
Item by David Earl of Buchan and Dame Katherine Erskine relict
Of S[i]r Willaim Denham of West Sheills the Sum of jC £ib sterling money
Being jm iiC £ib Scots money of prin[cipa]ll Contained in a bond bearing
@ rout and = = = = of penalty Granted by them to the s[ai]d Defunct
Dated the nineteenth day of April Jm vijC and fourteen years
The Sum of viij £ib Scots money as the bygone @ rout of the said
Principall Sum due preceeding the s[aid] defunct his decease Item
By John Archibald Factor for uplifting the Routs abd revenue
Of the Deanrie of the Chappell Royall the Sum of jC lx £ib Sterling
Extending in Scots money to Jm jx C lx £lib Item due of the
Defunct his Sallary as principall of the College of Ed[inbu]r[gh]
Of Lxv £ib xiß one and a thirs part of a penny sterling
Being VijC Lxxx vj £ib xiij ß iiij d Scots money Item by the
-trate and Community of the City of Ed[inbu]r[gh] of Stipend due to the s[ai]d
Defunct as one of the ministers of the Gospell of the said City the
Sum of Lxj £ib ij ß ij d and two third parts of a penny Sterling
Money which is vijC xxxiij £ib vj ß viij d Scots money Item by Mr
William Steuart minister at Inverness the Sum of xij £ib Sterling
Money being jC xliij £ib Scots money of prin[cpa]ll Conform to a bond
Bearing @ rout and = = = of penalty Granted by him to the said
Defunct dated the twenty ninth day of August Jm vijC and fifiteen
Years Item the Sum of J £ib xvj ß Scots money as the bygone @ rout
The said prin[cipa]ll Sum due preceeding the said Defunct his decease
By James Balfour waiter on the Salt customes Conform to his Gu-
-ket granted by him to the said Defunct Dated at London the thirteenth
day of January Jm vijC and fourteen English and fifteen Scots stile
Two Guineas Inde Two pound Three Shillings Sterling In Scots xxv £ib
Xvj ß Item by Mr John Williamson Minister at Inverask Conform
To a note Granted by him to the said Defunct Dated the twenty
Seventh day of August Jm vij and fifteen years the Sum
Steling is xxiiij £ib Scots money Item by = = = ? pro-
-jector of the Scots Settlement in Darien the Sum of xl £ib Sterling
bing iiij C lxxx £ib Scots money Contained in a note Granted by him
to the s[ai]d Defunct Dated the = = = day of = = = Jm v = = = = years
Summa of the Debts owing to the dead xm iiij C xxij £ib xiij ß
Summa of the Inventary with the debts xij m ij C xxij £ib xiij ß
Follows the deads Legacy Latter Will

My tyme in this world being uncertain and not knowing how soon
The Soverraign God may remove me out of it and being desireous to pre-
-vent all debates amongst my relations about my Little Concerns in this
world I Doo by this my Last Will Constitut and appoint my Dearest wife
Elizabeth Carstairs my Sole executrix and Doe bequeath to her all Sumes
Of money that I have any right to and all my books and and househild fur-
-niture or any thing else that belongs to me to be possessed & intirely
Disposed of by her intirely as She Shall think fitt, And this I doo
Heartily and upon good Grounds, She having brought to me a
Greater portion than all that is mentioned above will I am afraid
amount to, and her faithfull and Tender affection to me in all Changes
of my Condition Doth deserve more from me than I have to give
And I Doubt not but my relations will Show her all kindness and
Give her all the assistance they can as her Circumstances Shall require
It, And I am persuaded that She will upon all occasions She in a tender
Affection to them and particularly to my Brother Alexander and
My Sister Sarah and their Children, I Doo not pretend to understand
Terms of Law nor forms of Testaments, But it is my plain will that
My Dearest wife Elizabeth Carstairs Should without any Controversie
Entirely possess and have the absolute Disposall of all money & Goods
Whatsoever that belong to me or that I can justly Lay claim to as
Mine And In witness of all that is written above I Doo Subscribe &
Seall these presents at London this third day of May one Thousand and
Seven Hundreth year in presence of these witnesses Mr John Campbell
Goldsmith in London and Mr Thomas Harbin Stationer in the same
City Sic Subtur W Carstairs John Campbell witness
Tho[mas] Harbin Witness
I have Considered my Last will which is wrote upon the other Syde
And I am Still fullie of the Same mind that I was when I did write
It, in Leaving to my Dear wife to be entirely at her Disposall, all
Sums of money books, plate, household furniture and every thing
Else that I can lay claim to, and I Doubt not but She will be as
Kind to my brother and Sisters, which are all dear to me, as She
Can; But I Doo not leave her under the least restraint, nor doo I
Give them any ground to lay claime to any thing I Shall be at my
Dieing possessed of, as theirs by any right or Title whatsoever, and
This Confirmation of my former Will I subscribe as I have wrote it
With my own hand At Edin[bu]r[gh] this eleventh day of June one Thousand
Seven Hundreth and fifteen years W Carstares