MARY BUCHANAN als MYLREA als STEPHENSON

1848 - Will (Douglas)

This is the joint last will and testament of William Henry Buchanan of the town of Douglas innkeeper and Mary his wife who before her intermarriage with the said William Henry Buchanan was called Mary Mylrea and was the widow of Daniel Mylrea formerly of Douglas, innkeeper deceased. The said William Henry Buchanan directs that all his just debts funeral and testamentary expenses be paid and after payment thereof he gives and bequeaths unto his beloved wife Mary Buchanan for her life all his household furniture and stock in trade now used by him in his business of an Innkeeper and wheresoever situate with liberty to use consume and employ the same in business and from and after the decease of the said Mary Buchanan the said William Henry Buchanan gives and bequeaths the furniture and stock in trade which shall then remain …………. of unto Margaret Buchanan, Catherine Jane Buchanan, Caroline Buchanan and all after born children of the said Mary Buchanan in equal shares and proportions with benefit of survivorship and the said William Henry Buchanan appoints the said Mary Buchanan his wife his sole residuary legatee and executrix and the said Mary Buchanan directs that all her just debts funeral and testamentary expenses be paid and after payment thereof she bequeaths unto her children Daniel Mylrea, Thomas Mylrea, Mary Ann Mylrea, Sarah Mylrea, the said Margaret Buchanan, Catherine Jane Buchanan, Caroline Buchanan and to every after born child of her the said Mary Buchanan the sum of thirty pounds each with benefit of survivorship amongst all of said children the legacies of such of presaid children as are daughters to be paid to them as they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years and the legacies to each of the children as are boys to be applied in educating and putting them respectively to business or trade and the said Mary Buchanan gives and bequeaths all her household furniture and stock in trade as used by her jointly with her said husband in his business of an innkeeper and wheresoever situate unto her said husband William Henry Buchanan with liberty to use consume and employ the same in business and from and after the decease of the said William Henry Buchanan the said Mary Buchanan gives and bequeaths the said furniture and stock in trade which shall be then undisposed of in business unto Margaret Buchanan, Catherine Jane Buchanan, Caroline Buchanan and all after born children of the said Mary Buchanan in equal shares and portions with benefit of survivorship and the said Mary Buchanan appoints the said William Henry Buchanan her husband sole residuary legatee and executor and the said William Henry Buchanan and Mary Buchanan do hereby expressly declare it to be their will and mind that the survivor of them shall be bound to maintain and educate all the children of the said Mary Buchanan in a decent and respectable manner until they shall respectively attain their several ages of twenty one years or be placed to trade or business and the said William Henry Buchanan and Mary Buchanan hereby revoke all former wills by them or either of them at any time heretofore made. In witness whereof the said William Henry Buchanan and Mary his wife have hereunto subscribed their names this second day of March one thousand eight hundred and forty eight. Signed and published in the presence of us the undersigned witnesses the name Mary Buchanan being written at her request W. H. Buchanan, Mary Buchanan (both signed rather than made mark) W.M.Borst (?)

PROBATE Braddan To the worshipful Thomas Arthur Corlett Vicar General The humble petition of William Henry Buchanan of the town of Douglas, Innkeeper sheweth that the said Mary Buchanan of the said town of Douglas your petitioner’s wife lately departed having first duly made and published her last will and testament whereof she appointed your petitioner executor and sole residuary legatee that petitioner is desirous the said will should be received and probate thereof granted to petitioner wherefore petitioner prays a hearing hereof and that your worship may be pleased to receive the said will and grant probate thereof to petitioner in …. form and he will pray …. .. Garrant .. Christian Ordered that this petitioner do come to be heard at the Court to be holden at Douglas on Friday next whereof all proper parties and persons to have due notice. Given this 24th day of April 1848 T.A.Corlett

SETTLEMENT The Ecclesiastical Court held in Douglas the 28th April, 1848 John Moore and William Bower the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Mary Buchanan deceased having made oath on the Holy Evangelist that the said Mary Buchanan the executrix when of sound disposing mind memory and understanding duty signed and executed the same in their presence as and for her last will and testament William Henry Buchanan the executor is therefore sworn well and truly to fulfill and execute the same according to law to pay all debts legacies and funeral expenses of the deceased so far forth as her goods will extend and the law bind him and to return to the Archdeacon’s Registry a full true and perfect inventory of the same with an accurate account of his acts and proceedings in the premises when thereunto lawfully required and to these ends he has given pledges namely Robert Spencer and J. Gillon who have executed the usual bond in presence of the court. Probatum est. T.A.Corlett

WHEREAS the Ecclesiastical Court of this diocese hath this day granted probate of the will of Mary Buchanan late of Douglas deceased to William Henry Buchanan also of the town of Douglas Innkeeper and whereas Robert Spencer of the town of Douglas livery stable keeper and James Gillon also of the same town have agreed to become pledges to the said William Henry Buchanan. Therefore know all men by these presents that we the said Robert Spencer and James Gillon hereby bind and oblige ourselves and other executors and administrators as pledges to the said William Henry Buchanan for the due and faithful administration of the goods and effects of the said deceased according to law. Witness our subscription this twenty seventh day of April 1848. Robert Spencer, J. Gillon

 

Witness: ………… Call

NOTES

  1. Mary was the widow of Daniel Mylrea, who died in 1839. They had 8 children, of whom 4 were alive when their father died
  2. The surviving Mylrea children were: Mary Ann (1826), Daniel (1830 married Mary Ann Riley UK), Sarah (1837 married Norris Buckley UK), Thomas Stephens (1839)
  3. All but their first child were born in Douglas where Daniel & Mary were publicans
  4. Mary subsequently married William Henry Buchanan, another publican, and had 4 more children. She died around the time of the birth of her fourth child, William Henry Buchanan, who grew up to be a mariner and drowned off the coast of Chile in 1882
  5. Little is known about Mary's background. Her father was probably Robert Stevenson (sic) of Lezayre

Associated Documents

Last updated: Dec 2020