Will of Rev. Francis Metherall (1791-1875)

Thanks to help from a fellow genealogist who I mentioned in my previous article, I present the last will and testament of my great great great great grandfather, pioneer missionary from England to P.E.I. Canada, the Reverend Francis Metherall (1791-1875). His handwritten final wishes are something I've been hoping to locate since I first started researching my family history almost 4 years ago.

Because I don't know if I have permission to publish a scan of the original document here, I will write out the text, and include images showing some specific passages.

Full text

31 July 1873

---

This is the last will and testament of me Francis Metherall
of Cape Wolfe settlement in Township number seven in Prince
County Prince Edward Island, Minister of the Gospel.
First my will and desire is that at my Death all my just debts
be paid out of the property of which I may be possessed at
my decease.
Second, I give and bequeath all my real and personal estate
of which I may be possessed or entitled at the time of my
decease unto my well beloved wife Mary Metherall, but subject
to the payment to the several following legacies, namely, 1st to my son
Samuel I give and bequeath one Dollar; 2nd to my Daughter
Mary Whitlock I give and bequeath one Dollar; 3rd to my Daughter
Rachel I give and bequeath one Dollar; 4th to my Son James I give
and bequeath one Dollar and 5th to my Daughter Jemima Kinley
I give and bequeath one Dollar.
Third my Will and desire is that my beloved wife strive
to keep the Family together on the farm as long as they can live
together comfortably as long as the present family are disposed
to remain with her, and that Edwin when he comes to a proper
age and strength be put to a trade.
I appoint my beloved wife Executrix and Samuel Lidstone
and my son James Metherall to be joint Executors with my
said wife. But if at any time my said wife should see fit
to marry again, then and in such case it is my will and
Request that the property be sold or valued by not less than three
competent judges, that if in case either of my two sons, namely my son
Thomas or my son Francis should wish to purchase the Homestead.
And the amount for which it is sold or at which it may be valued
shall be divided and my said wife shall have one third of the said
amount or value, and the remaining two thirds shall be divided
equally between my son Thomas, my daughters Hannah Maria, Martha
Jane and my Son Francis.
And I revoke all wills previously made by me heretofore at any
time. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand this thirty first
day of July in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight
Hundred and Seventy three
Signed by the said Francis Metherall
the testator, in our presence, who in his
presence and in the presence of each
other at the same time subscribe our
names as witnesses.
Robert B Kinley of Township Number Seven Farmer
Abraham Kinley of the above named place Farmer
James Kinley of the above named place Farmer

---

2 June 1875

---

I Francis Metherall of Cape Wolfe settlement Township
Number Seven in Prince County Prince Edward Island Minister of
the Gospel do make this Codicil to my last will which bears date
the thirty first day of July in the year of our Lord one Thousand
eight hundred and Seventy three
Whereas I have in my said will given and bequeathed unto my
Daughter Rachel, a legacy or sum of one Dollar, do hereby give and
bequeath unto my said Daughter Rachel an additional sum of
Thirty two Dollars as soon as the homestead may be sold or if she
may wish to leave the family residence, and live at any other place, the
said legacy to be for her own absolute use to be paid out of my personal
estate immediately on the conclusion of either of the forementioned
considerations. And in all other respects I confirm my said will.
In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand this second day of
June In the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
seventy five
Signed by the said Francis Metherall,
the testator, as a codicil to his will in
our presence, who in his presence and
in the presence of each other at the
same time subscribe our names
as witnesses,
Abraham Kinley of Lot 7 Prince County Farmer
Richard Kinley of Lot 7 Prince County Farmer

---

22 July 1875

---

The annexed will of Francis Metherall, being presented
for probate, Abraham Kinley one of the subscribing witnesses,
made oath that he was present and did see the said testator
sign and deliver the same, and also heard him publish and
declare the same as and for his last will and testament,
and when he so did, he was of sound disposing mind and
memory, according to this deponent's best discerning, and that
he set and subscribed his name as a witness thereto, in the
said testator's presence, and that Robert B Kinley and James Kinley
set their names as witnesses thereto at the same time;
and also the annexed codicil to the will of Francis Metherall, being
presented for probate, Abraham Kinley one of the subscribing
witnesses, made oath that he was present and did see the testator
sign and deliver the same, and also heard him publish and
declare the same as and for his last will and testament in addition
to the former, and when he so did, he was of sound disposing mind
and memory, according to this deponent's best discerning, and that
he set and subscribed his name as a witness thereto in the said
testator's presence and that Richard Kinley set his name as a
witness thereto at the same time.
Abraham Kinley
Sworn at Balasalla West Cape in Prince County
this 22nd day of July A.D. 1875
James Kinley
Commissioner for taking affidavits for said
Prince County in Supreme Court

My analysis and thoughts

So there was a main will, a codicil (small addition or change), and a legal document filing them both with the probate court.

Regarding the actual content of the will, keep in mind Rev Metherall had 10 living children at the time of his death, along with his wife Mary. He had toiled relentlessly all his life, walking the paths of rural England and then pioneer Prince Edward Island as an itinerant (travelling) preacher. When he wasn't walking cross country or preaching the gospel, he was building houses, churches, and farms. Missionary pay was ridiculously small, and Rev Metherall spent much of what he earned on helping his community. He build the homestead and grew the family's food with his bare hands, when not away at work. It was a hard pioneer life, and money was scarce everywhere.

Having lost his first wife in 1841 to a sudden infectious illness, Rev Metherall remarried in 1852. So he had a batch of older children who were already established when he died, and a batch of younger children who were youths when he died.

Mary Martha - $1 (already married with a house nearby)
Samuel - $1 (already established with a business nearby)
Rachel - $33 (did not marry, stayed at home)
James - $1 (already married with a house nearby)
Jemima - $1 (already married with a house nearby)

Thomas H - 1/6 of the farm, option to buy it
Annie M - 1/6 of the farm
Martha J - 1/6 of the farm
Francis G - 1/6 of the farm, option to buy it
Edward W - put into a trade

So while at first glance, it didn't look like much, it is clear to me he took care of his family. Each of his older children was already set up and doing okay, something he probably had a hand in. The unmarried daughter, Rachel, was given a little cash to help her get started. ($33 then had the purchasing power of about $1000 today!)

He was careful to ensure most of his estate went to his younger children. The little boy was to be entered into a trade once he was older, while the two older boys were given the option to own the homestead. (It was Frank who eventually did, and farmed there until he died in 1949.) The whole younger batch would have had somewhere to live, and eventually split the proceeds if the farm was sold.

Not bad at all for a man who gave so much of himself to his mission, and poured so much into others all his life, while still being able to raise a large and cohesive family, with culture and values, that stayed together even after his death! He still had some savings left to ensure his large progeny was taken care of.

Of note, the codicil was done just a week before his death. Clearly, he wasn't feeling very well, and decided to make a last-minute adjustment. I guess he had hoped Rachel would marry, but when his death drew near and she was still a spinster, he decided to leave her a bit of extra cash.

I notice that his signature wasn't as good in 1875 as it had been in 1873:

Looks like he nearly missed the N in Francis. He was well into his 80s, so it's not surprising. That said, I see the witness make oath that he was "of sound disposing mind and memory", meaning he was clear and capable of making his own informed decisions. I've heard the same from other sources, such as the book "The Life of Rev Francis Metherall" (1883) by John Harris. He wrote that Rev Metherall's final words were "I am going to be with Jesus," and that just before he died he had told those with him he had no regrets, and only wished that he could have done more.

I'm very happy to have been able to know my great-grandfather's great-grandfather better by reading his will. There are many things about him I find admirable, and a big one is that he did his best to keep the family together long after his death. Respect.

DRutter