Last Will and Testament of John McClaurin, Ardchattan Parish, 1694

Inventar of the Goods of John McClaurin, 1694

Reference CC2/5/4

Wri[tte]n Inventar of the good[es] and gear whilk

pertained to the deceast John M^cClaurin

in Carvlickaig in the paroch of Balleodan

the tyme of his decease, which was in the

moneth of November 1687 year[es], faithfully

given up be Neill M^cClaurine his sone, For

himself and in name of John Eun

Duncan and Lauchlane M^cClaurine

y^r Children Exe[cuto]r[es].

                                            £    s    d

Imp[rimis] Fourteen great Cowes                    186 13 04

Item four tuo year olds                                       26 13 04

Item Fyve stirk[es]                                                16 3 04

Item one little fillie                                                  6 0 00

Item tuentie sheep and goatt                                26 13 04

Item sown of Corne six boll[es] three boll[es]

att the 3^d Is nyne                                        18 00 00

Item of laying money                                            25 00 00

It[em] the houshold plenishing                                6 00 00

                                                                              311 03 04

Debts due be to the dead

Imp[rimis] due to the defunct be John Cameron in Auchnaba 10 00 00

      321 13 4

Debts due be the dead

Imp[rimis] for the rent                              25 00 00

It[em] for the Servant[es] Fies                    8 00 00

Item for the defunct[es] funerall Charges 10 00 00

                                                                   43 00 00

To be divyded 278 13 04

I, Dugald Campbell in Bairres, obleidges me as Cau[tion]er that the forsaid[es] good[es] and gear shall be made forth comand to all parties haveing Interest,

And for payment of the quota when requyred.

Sub[scribi]t day and place fors[ai]d.

Alex^r Campbell Cl[er]k

Payed

In 1707, one pound Scots was worth twenty English pence, so a ratio in pounds sterling of  5:1. 278 Scots pounds or 56 English pounds would be worth about $14,000 today, to be divided among John's six sons, Neill, John, Eun, Duncan and Lauchlane McClaurine. Calculator https://www.uwyo.edu/numimage/currency.htm

Ardchattan Parish showing Coire Bliochdaig, Baires (Barrs) and Achnaba

John McClaurin Testament 1694
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"I interpret the abbreviation "yr" to mean "other", so Neill is one son of John McLaurin, and John, Eun, Duncan and Lauchlane are other sons of John McLaurin, ie there are five children, all of them executors." Brooke Westcott

Donald McLaurin Testament 1686

 The Testament of Donald McLaurin - 1686

This Testament links the 'Lorn to Carolinas McLaurins' to the 'Edinburgh MacLaurins' through Drumurch in north Glenaray, not far from Dalmally where Duncan McLaren MP's Memorial is located, whose family is from the Isle of Lismore. There are numerous McLaurin families living in nearby Stronmagachan and to the east in nearby Strath of Orchy, according to parish records.

The Cautioneer (Executor) is Hew McLaurin from Drumurch, John MacLaurin who became clan chief in 1781 cites in his Petition to the Lyon Court that his ancestor Donald MacLaurin Esq. married Katherine MacArthur of Drumurch. They lived at the same time period as Hew McLaurin in the Testament.

An interesting entry in Donald McLaurin's Testament from 1686 two years after his death in 1684, are his utensils and armour, indicating that he was an armed gentleman a 'daoine uasile'.

Donald lived in Coire Bliochdaig (where cows were want to be milked), what I would describe as a Draw on the High Plains. It runs south out of Glenure on the Canmore.org map. It is my opinion that John McClaurin D. 1687 a relative of Donald's who also lived in Coire Bliochdaig is the ancestor of most of the Richmond County, NC (Laurinburg and Red Bluff) McLaurins.

Testament Dative and Inventar of the Goods of Donald McLaurin, 1686

Reference CC2/3/3

Testament Donald M^cLaurin

The Testament dative and Inventar of the gods and geir pertaining to the deceist Donald M^cLaurin in Carivlekag within the parochen of Balliboydan & diocis of Argyll the tyme of her his deceise, who deceist in the moneth of No[vembe]r 1684,

Faithfuly made and given up be Neill M^cLaurin his broy^r in name of Mary M^cLaurin, only child & exe[cut]rix dative decerned to the s[ai]d deceist Donald M^cLaurin her fay^r,

As ane act made y^ranent of the dait of thir p[rese]nts in itself at more length bear[es]

Inventar

Imprimis the said defunct had pertaining to him the tyme of his deceise the goods and geir underwri[tte]n of the availl[es] and pryces par[ticular]lie following, To witt,

Twelve great Cowes price piece £13 6s 8d inde £160,

Item four tuo yeir olds price £24,

Item four stirks price £12,

Item fourtie sheep and goat[es] price £53 6s 8d,

Item ane mare, ane horse and thre follower[es] price £26 13s 4d,

Item ane boll meall and thre boll[es] oat[es] price £11 6s 8d,

Item the utencil[es] and Armour est[imated] to £13 6s 8d.

Summa Inventarii £300 – 13 – 4

No debt[es] to

Debt[es] be

Item y^r was Resting be the s[ai]d defunct the tyme fors[ai]d,

To her M[aste]r of Rent £29 6s 8d,

Item of Teynd[es] and viccarage £3 6s 8d,

Item of servant[es] fies 46s 8d,

Item allowed of Funerall charges £6 13s 4d.

Testament Dative and Inventar of the Goods of Donald McLaurin, 1686

Reference CC2/3/3

Su[m]ma debt[es] be £41 – 13 – 4

which deduced Remaines £259 – 0 – 0

Dead[es] p[ar]t is £129 – 10 – 0

Confirmatio

I, John M^cLean, Co[m]miss[a]r Deput of Argyll, doe Ratifie, approve and Confirme the Testament dative and Inventar of the goods and geir abovewri[tte]n and decerne and Confirme the said Mary M^cLaurin exe[cut]rix dative to the s[ai]d deceist Donald M^cLaurin her fay^r,

And give and Committ to the s[ai]d Neill M^cLaurin her uncle, for her, in her name & behalf, and to her use & behove, full power to Intromet &c,

And if need bees to Call &c in Co[mmun]i fo[rm]a,

Becaus the said Neill hes maid faith & found Hew M^cLaurin in Drumurch Cau[tione]r for him that the goods and geir abovewri[tte]n shall be made forthcomeing to all parties havand Intrest as accords.

In witnes q^rof thir p[rese]nts sub[scribe]d by me at Ardchattan, the Tuelth day of No[vembe]r 1686 yeirs

Corrieblicaik (where cows arer wont to be milked), Balleodan Parish lower Glen Creran.