Derry Will 16 Jun 1796
JAMES Holmes of Ballynarrogen in Parish of Ballykelly & Co Londonderry. I bequeath to my wife JANE Holmes the two houses and gardens in the low town…with the rent from the Heathy faul…for life. I allow GABRIEL ,JOHN and JAMES each for themselves to sow one peck of flaxseed and each to out wind and draw thiry creels of turf to my wife Jane during her lifetime…My daughter JANE is to live with her mother & share benefits. If daughter JANE survive her mother she is to have one half of the rent of the Heathy faul and one house and garden in the low town…if she marry I allow JOHN and JAMES to pay her 3 pounds…when she has a child or heir….I bequeath to son GABRIEL one-third of Rough Hill as it is now laid off and in his possession. To my son JOHN one-third of Rough Hill and the barn…to my son JAMES one-third of Rough Hill and the dwelling house…my sons are “each to perform his part to his mother”…to my daughter HANNAH 30 pounds….the fortunes of daughters HANNAH and JANE to be paid by my sons JOHN and JAMES in equal shares. My sons JOHN and JAMES are to have the 2 houses and gardens in lowtown and the Heathy faul at their mother’s death. My daughter MARTHA has already got off her fortune for which reason I am silent…my daughter ELIZABETH is paid her fortune too…my wife and daughter JANE to live either in the lowtown or the Heathy faul as they may please…Two cows are to be sold to defray the funeral expenses, or if sons JOHN and JAMES wish to keep them, let them answer the cost…My family are to live together at present as crops will support them all. If any of my family is not pleased with what I have done let them pay down 600 pounds and they shall possess my whole farm the money to be divided among the rest. Executors: Archibald Jackson, Robert Kellan of Boveva. Witnesses: John Jackson, Andrew Jackson. Probate to Exrs 12 Mar 1797
(PRONI T/681 p.401)
Holmes Genealogy 