Hello
Others might find the below of interest which is extracted from his testament on Scotlandspeople. He was my great great grandfather. I have never been able to find the details of his marriage to Elizabeth Slaiker, if others have and can provide this information I would be very grateful.
Testament and Inventory of Arthur Murray “sometime Farmer of Blackhills, in the parish of Saint Fergus”. Who died 30 Jan 1867.
The testament was drawn up on the 21 January 1867 (though not “finalised” until 04 Nov 1867). Written by William Brebner Clerk to Messieurs Andrew and William Boyd Solicitors in Peterhead at Blackhills. Witnesses were James Murray Farmer (his son) at Blackhills, and John Adams Servant to and residing with James Murray.
Sole executors were administrators were:
Alexander Watson Farmer in Northessie, Saint Fergus
Charles Buchan, Farmer in Keyhead, Saint Fergus
(For some reason there were restrictions on the payments to his son Arthur)
“In the first place I ordain my said executors or executor, within six months after my death, to set apart from the produce and proceeds of my said estate and executing the sum of One hundred pounds sterling, which I leave and bequeath to my son Arthur Murray: but I hereby declare and provide that my said executors shall deposit the said sum of One hundred pounds sterling in a bank to be selected by them, in their own names as my Executors, and that they shall pay the said sum of One hundred pounds sterling and the interest arising thereon, or on such balance thereof as may remain from time to time, to my said son Arthur Murray, but that only at such times and in such proportions and sums as they deem most for his advantage, of which they shall be the sole judges; hereby secluding and debarring my said son from interfering with my said executors in any manner whatever in reference to the discretion which they are empowered….”
Other legacies were:
“To my son Alexander Murray the sum of seventy pounds sterling”
“my son William Murray the sum of twenty pounds sterling”
Arthur was also left “the following articles of household furniture”:
A box bed
A table my chairs
Seven pairs of blankets
A chaff bed (whatever that is?)
A bolster and pillows
Three bedcovers.
To his grand daughter Elspet Murray residing at Blackhills he left:
A chest of drawers
“and whatever residue there may be of my said means and estate falling under this testament, I ordain the same to be accounted for and paid over to my son James Murray, whom I hereby decree to be my residuary Legatee”.
The “formal” extract inventory does not say much (figures were “finalised” on 01 Nov 1867), an just lists the monetary value of Arthur’s estate.
Household furniture and other effects £2
Balanced due to deceased on account current with Alexander Watson £104 2s 4d
Interest thereon till date of Oath to inventory £3 2s 8d
Balanced due to deceased on account with his son James Murray £147 9s 0d
Interest thereon till date of Oath to inventory £4 8s 7d
Total amount of Personal Estate £261 2s 7d
(I don’t understand the above, perhaps someone else can? I presume the amount owed by Alexander Watson is part of the £100 left to Alexander and Charles Buchan, as executors, to manage on his son’s Arthur behalf).
I also don’t understand why there is so much owed to the deceased by his on James, who was only to get any residual value from the estate).
