Facts and traditions collected for a family record

118 FACTS AND TRADITIONS.
and disputes may be obviated and prevented. In the first place, I recommend
my soul to God Almighty, hopeing that the same shall be saved throw the merits
of Jesus my Redeemer ; and ordains my executor, whensoever God shall call me
hence, to cause decently interr my corps, and ware upon my fuueralls ; and, in
the next place, I make, constitute, and appoint James M c Connell, my youngest
son, to be my sole executor, legator, and universall intrometter, with all and
sundry my goods, gear, debts, sums of money, corns, cropts, cattle, gold, and
silver, . . . with full power, immediately after my death, to intromett with the
haill goods and gear, . . . not only to pay all my just and lawfull debts, fuuerall
charges, and servants' fees, but also ... to my other children, ... at the terms
hereafter described — viz., to John M c Connall and Andrew M c Connall, my two
eldest sons, sometime merchants near Manchester, in England, the sum of
twenty pounds Scots money each one thereof ; item, to Agues M c Connell,
spouse to James M c Nish, in Gatehouse, near Claughenpluik, and the said James
M c Nish, for his interest, the sum of six pounds Scots money ; item, to Jannet
M c Nish, my second daughter, the sum of one hundred pounds Scots money ;
and, lastly, I leave to Margaret M c Connall, my youngest daughter, the sum of
two hundred pounds Scots money. ... To make payment to my said children
... at the first Whitsunday or Martinmas after my death with a rent thereafter
during the not payment, . . . these presents shall no way preclude Margaret
M c Millan, my spouse, of her legal share . . . effects as by law instituted. . . .
And, because the said James M c Connell ... is as yet a minor, and lest he
should not be fully capable to manage his own affairs, I hereby recommend him
to the oversight of William Xewall, of Barskeoch ; his mother ; James M c Millan,
in Grabtale ; and Andrew Livingston, in Grobtale. ... In witness whereof, I
have subscribed these presents, upon this and the preceding page of stamped
paper, with the marginal note upon this page, all wrote by Jire Hair, wryes,
(wryter.) in St John's Claughen, at Haunastoun, the nineteenth day of April,
and forty seven years, before these witnesses, the said William
Newall, of Barskeoch, Mr Robert Grierson, his chaplain, and the said Jire
Hair. (Signed thus) — Samuel M c Connell. Wm. Neuall, witness ; Robert Grier,
witness ; Jire Hair, witness. Extracted upon this and the preceding pages by
Will. Gordouue."
From the registration of this will, in January 1755, it is probable
that Samuel M'Connell died in J 754 ; in which case, lie lived seven
years after he signed the will. He was at least sixty-four years of age
when he died, as he must have been born in or before the year 1690.
There is much to be said in favour of Samuel M'Connell, from the