1680 will of William Irving Dumfries

[stephenllanber]

Hi,
I hope anyone can help me decipher a will of a distant ancestor.



many thanks

[GR2]

It loses its sharpness when you try to blow it up, but a quick look says it is the testament dative and inventory of William Irving younger, merchant in Dumfries, who died in December last, given up by his widow, Agnes C[.......] on behalf of herself and their children, John and Janet. [....] is valued at £26 13/4d; the merchandise in his shop is worth £240; his furnishings and clothing is worth £26 13/4d. Several people owe him money (including John Irving younger, merchant in Dumfies, £48) and he owes money to some others.

[stephenllanber]

Many thanks. If you click on the photo it will open up my photobucket page and on the right side there is a magnifying glass icon to enlarge it.

Agnes Carlyle was Williams wife, his son John became the convener of the seven trades of Dumfries.

Is there any reference of where he lived of where the shop was? Also if he was William Irving younger does that imply that his father was called William as well?

Many thanks again

Stephen

[GR2]

I can now see it more clearly. The beginning of it goes

testa umqll wm Irving
yor mercd
date october 11th
1680

The testa dative and inventer of the goods gear soes of moey and debts
qlk justly prtaned belonged and wer addebted and restand awand to
umqll wm Irving yor mercd in dunmfreis the tyme of his deceas wha deceast
in the monethe of december last bypast fathfullie made and given up
be Agnes Carlylle relict of the sd defunct as haveing best knowledge for
and in name and behalf of Jon and Janet Irvings bairnes laull and only
exeres datives decerned to the sd defunct ....................

Testament of the umquhile (= late) William Irvine
younger merchant
date October 11th
1680

The testament dative and inventory of the goods gear sums of money and debts
which (quhilk) justly pertained belonged and were addebted and resting owing to
the late (umquhile) Wm Irving younger merchant (merchand) in Dumfries the time of his decease who deceased
in the month of December last bypast faithfully made and given up
by Agnes Carlyle relict (= widow) of the said defunct as having best knowledge for
and in name and behalf of John and Janet Irving bairns lawful (= legitimate children) and only
executors dative decerned (= decreed) to the said defunct ....................

He has not left a will naming executors, so his widow has applied to the commissary who has made her and her children executors. While I have once seen "younger" used to distinguish an uncle and nephew, it is usually used to distinguish father and son, in the father's lifetime. As John and Janet appear to be very young, William's father may well still be alive. There is no indication of where his shop was situated. Probably the only way to discover that is if he owned the property its location might be described in a sasine.

[stephenllanber]

Many thanks for that,

I owe you a drink!

shame his father isn't mentioned.

cheers