Where, Wills, Ways...

It's the last one, really.  Do you believe me?  I wouldn't if I were you.

Here's Michael Madden, listen to this, who "fell from a large rock on the shore from which he was watching his boys eeling, and died there."  That would be, catching eels to eat for dinner.  In 1809.  See Robertson Pedigree Chart. (quote from Barrington NS Township Records)

Michael died without a will, after all, who expects to die while watching children eel?  He had 6 children ranging in age from 4 to 14 and his wife Catherine was 3 months pregnant.

Shelburne SS                                                       Court of Probates of Wills

                I Catherine Madden ~ ~ do make Oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that I do not know or have heard of any last Will made by Michael ~ Madden ~ ~ late of Cape Negro ~ in the County of Shelburne Yeoman ~~ deceased and that I will well and truly Administer the goods Chattels, and Credits of the said deceased according to the Tenor of the Letters of Administration to me this day Committed and I will give a just Account of my Administration when thereto I shall be Lawfully Called. ~                                                           So help me God

                                                                                   her

                                                                Catherine   +    Madden

                                                                                   mark

Sworn in open Court

this twenty third ~ day

of October ~ ~ ~ 1809

     before me

Colin Campbell

The ~ lines indicate where the space is left blank to be filled in - these are forms, pre-written.  We can see that Catherine is illiterate since she signed with her mark.  And a month out of childbirth.

This is the inventory of Michael's possessions:

Cap Niger 6 Nov 1809

Anwinter of the Deceased Mihal Madden's Personal Estat

one Cow Named Browny -------------4 pounds

one Steer two years old Named buck .....2 pounds 5 shillings

fiften Shep at ten shillings per shep....7 pounds 10 shillings

The total is 13 pounds 15 shillings and is signed by Gavin Lyle.  There was no such thing as uniform spelling of words back then, as you can tell.  Inventory is spelled Anwinter.

How to raise 7 children on a cow, a steer, and 15 sheep?  I believe Catherine and Michael owned land, but it is not mentioned here.  The following is a letter that Catherine asked Gavin Lyle to write for her.

Cape Nigero 10 November 1809

Mr. Cunigham

I am Diemayered? by Mrs. Madden to inform you What She Shall Do with the Cattel & Shep that was praysed (appraised) for The horse No hay to keep them for the will Suffer for want of hay I hop you will Send out moore what is to be Done with them -------

I remien yours

Gavin Lyle

Catherine did manage to keep everyone's body and soul together for 5 years before she married Timothy Mahaney, a shoemaker.  In Barrington, the town provided for the woollen mill to process wool from shearing to tartan free for widows.

I find it very interesting that one of the eeling sons, Benjamin Madden, met with great success in his life.  Here is his inventory from his death in 1856, where he has a lot more than a cow and steer named Browny and Buck.  

There is an entire section just for Buildings:  3 houses, 1 barn, 2 fish stores, a storehouse, and workshop.  Then there's the fishing materials section, where he has 6 boats, 11 fish casks, 4 herring nets, and 4 mackerel nets, among other items.  And 5 shares in the telegraph company!  In the Doubtfull section, there is 77 pounds 7 shillings 9 pence of Ready Money on hand.

Benjamin's estate is worth 820 pounds, 14 shillings, 11 pence, an incredible difference from the 13 pounds 15 shillings that his father Michael left.  Do you need to ask if we are descended from Benjamin?  No, we are not.  We are descended from his sister Catharine, who married John-with-the-blind-sister-Robertson.