Rhonda

Australia

Profile Information:

Which Douglas line are you researching? Dates and places help making connections.
William Douglas 1838 to 1878 Longford Tasmania
Who is your earliest known Douglas ancestor?
William Douglas 1838

Comment Wall:

Load Previous Comments
  • William Douglas

  • William Douglas

    The top document appears to be from Jamaica:

    This is a Probate document from Jamaica, dated December 5, 1876. It concerns the Last Will and Testament of William Douglas.

    Here's a detailed reading of the visible text:

    • Header: "Probate of - The Last Will and Testament of - William Douglas"

    • Court Information: "In the Supreme Court of Jamaica's Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction"

    • Date: "Shahon the fifth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy six"

    • Administrator/Executor Appointment: The text indicates that "Administration" was granted to "David I. Innes" and "Thomas M'Neel." It states they were "sworn and legally authorized Administrator[s] of the goods chattels rights credits monies and effects of the said deceased William Douglas."

    • Estate Valuation: "in value the sum of One thousand pounds in Jamaica and the special thereof" (meaning the estate was valued at £1,000 in Jamaica).

    • Granting Clause: "Given under our hand and the seal of the Supreme Court of Jamaica this fourth fourth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy six"

    • Signatures:

      • "By The Court"

      • "P. Pinckard" (likely the Registrar)

    • Marginal Notes: There are some handwritten notes on the left, one of which appears to say "Val. of In Supreme Court of Jamaica" and "£1000".

    In summary, this document is a formal record of the probate of William Douglas's will, issued by the Supreme Court of Jamaica on December 5, 1876. It appoints David I. Innes and Thomas M'Neel as the administrators of his estate, which was valued at one thousand pounds.

  • William Douglas

    The next section appears to begin with: "This is the Last Will and Testament of me William Douglas of King Street in the Parish of Kingston in the Island of Jamaica planter..."

    This confirms, once again, that the individual, William Douglas, was "of King Street in the Parish of Kingston in the Island of Jamaica." This directly confirms the location as Jamaica.

    The document then proceeds to detail various bequests and instructions, which would typically be found in a will. Due to the very faint and sometimes overlapping text, a full transcription is challenging, but here are some phrases and concepts I can discern:

    • "...I give devise and bequeath unto my son Henry Edward Douglas..."

    • "...to be paid out of my real estate and personal estate..."

    • "...and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint Henry Edward Douglas and Mary Elizabeth Douglas and Thomas M'Neel to be the joint executors..."

    • It mentions "my dear wife," "my children," "my daughters."

    • There are references to specific properties or assets ("the house," "lands").

    • It discusses the management of funds and properties until the children come of age.

    • There's mention of "trustees" and their duties.