Margaret Geddes' will

This is written by Margaret Geddes to her mother, Marion Geddes (nee Faulds). Margaret was the only daughter of Adam Gordon Geddes. This is a copy of a copy so the copyists may have made mistakes. Apologies for any of mine.

This is from the Scottish Record Office reference SC70/4/431 pp 134-145. This is a copy of a copy so the copyists may have made mistakes. Apologies for any of mine. I've added some paragraphs to make it easier to understand.

Mrs Margaret Geddes or Vernor now Legat. Record of Invent. Vol 520 P. 47 2nd November 1911

At Edinburgh the thirty first day of August One thousand nine huindred and eleven the Deed hereinafter engrossed was presented for registration in the Books of the Lords of Council and Session for prservation and is registered in the said books as follows: I Mrs Margaret Geddes or Vernor, or Legat, Wife of John Legat Esquire, Trafalgar Lodge Musselburgh, being desirous to settle the succession to my means and estate after my death do hereby, with the special advice and consent of my said husband who signs these presents in token thereof and in evidence of his renouncing, as he does hereby renounce, his legal rights to share in any part of the Capital of my said means and Estate after my death convery, assign, and make over to the said John Legat, my Brother Colonel John Geddes, presently residing in Chetenham and my nephews John Gordon Geddes eldest son of the said Colonel John Geddes, and Ernest David Eckford Geddes eldest son of my late Brother Colonel Andrew David Geddes as Trustees (hereinafter called my said Trustees) my whole means and estate heritable and moveable for the end uses and purposes after mentioned vizt:

First For Payment of all my just and lawful debts and the expense of executing this Trust.

Second For the distribution within six months of my death of my Dresses and personal belongings (including watches and jewellery) and also of my Silver Plate, Pictures and the like amongst such persons as I may by any formal or informal writing or writings under my hand clearly direct.

Third For the payment of the free income of the residue and remainder of my said means and estate including my share of the Capital of the Estate of my Uncle the late David Geddes Esquire presently liferented by me to my said Husband during all the days of his life and that for his liferent alimentary use allenarly.

Fourth: For payment free of legacy duty at the first Term of Whitsunday or Martinmas which shall occur three months after the death of my husband, before which no vesting shall take place of

and Fifth: For payment and division at the said first term of Whitsunday or Mrtinmas which shall occur three motnhs after the death of my said Husband, before which event the same shall not vest, of the Residue and remainder of my said means and Estate as follows vizt:- one half to and amongst the whole children of my brother the said Colonel John Geddes, and the other half to and amonst the whole children of my late brother the said Colonel Andrew David Geddes, the issue of Predeceasers taking their Parents share and the shares of Minors (the income being meanwhile applied for their behoof) being held for them by my said Trustees until majority in the case of sons and majority or marriage whichever shall first happen in the case of daughters.

And I hereby appoint the said John Legat, Colonel John Geddes, John Gordon Geddes and Ernest David Eckford Geddes to be my sole Executors: And I give the most full and ample powers of management to my said Trustees including power of public and private sale, and I request and specially authorise them in their discretion to leave my said means and estate in the investments in which they may find the same at my death or to uplift and realise the same and to invest the proceeds upon whatever class of securities they may think proper including the Deposit Receipts, Debentures, Debenture or Preference Stock, of any Banking, Trading or Investment Company, having its Haed Ofice in Great Britain, Ireland the Colonies or abroad, declaring that my said Trustees shal not be liable for depreciation or loss upon Investments nor singuli in solidum but each for his own cash intromissions only.

And I authorise my said Trustees to appoint any one of their number or any other person whom they may think fit to be Factor or Agent under them for the purpose of carrying these premises into effect and managing the Trust and to pay him a reasonable remuneration of the usual professional charges for his trouble, any law or practice to the contrary notwithstanding:

And I revoke all former Settlements made by me: And while reserving generally power to alter innovate or revoke these presents with the consent of my husband, I reserve special power and to which he consents to bequeath by any formal or informal writing under my hand and whether probative or not the sum of Five hundred pounds sterling to any friend or relative the same however not to be payable during my said husband's life:

And we the said Mrs Margaret Geddes or Vernor now Legat and John Legat consent to the registration hereof for preservation. In witness whereof these presents written on this and the procedng page by JOhn McMurray, Clerk to Messieurs Horne and Lyell, Writers to the Signet, Edinburgh, are subscribed by us to the said Mrs Margeret Geddes or Vernor now Legat and John Legat both at EDkinburgh upon the twenty sixth day of April in the year Eighteen hundrede and ninety four before these witnesses George Mitchell also Clerk to te said Messieurs Horne and Lyell and the said John McMurray:

(signed) Margaret Legat, John Legat, Geo. Mitchell Witness, John McMurray Witness

We the Trustees and Executors named in the foregoing Trust Disposition and Settlement hereby accept of the office of Trustee & Executor conferred on us:

(signed) John Legat, John Geddes, J.G. Geddes Lt. Col. R.F.A., E.D.E Geddes Major R.M.A.

Extracted from the Register of Deeds &c. in the Books of Council and Sessions on this and the nine proceeding pages by me, Assistant Keeper of said Register. (signed) Robert D. Gray.

Edinburgh, 27th October 1911: Referred to in my Deposition of this date to the Inventory of the Personal Estate of Mrs Margaret Geddes or Vernor now Legat. (signed John Legat, Thos. F.s., Donaldson, J.P.

This will was written a few months before Margaret Geddes died. I am not sure when her second husband, John Legat, died - presumably after Margaret. Margaret Geddes had no surving children, since her son Alexander Vernor had died in 1888. So the children of her first husband would have been her step-sons. Part of the complexity of this will seems to be sorting out the aftermath of David Geddes' will.

It seems shocking to modern sensibilities that Margaret had to get consent from her husband to leave her own money as she chose, as late as 1911, but that seemed to be the law in Scotland at the time.

The following is part of the same document. It is presumably part of the "formal or informal writing or writings under my hand" mentioned above.

A

At Edinburgh the twentieth day of October One thousand nine hundred and eleven the Deed hereinafter engrossed was presented for registration in the Books of the Lords of Council and Session for preservation and is registered in the said Books as follows:

May 3rd 1911 [year over-typed and unclear] Trafalgar Lodge Musselburgh

I should like my dear Vi, that is, of course, after my dewar husband's death, when any money that belongs to me comes to be divided, to have any Edinburgh & Leith Gas Shares & some other money to enable her to have altogether a sum of £150 or £100 per year so that she may feel a little independent. She has been a good deal with us & always kind & considerate both to her Uncle and myself. My dear little name child Margaret Gordon in addition to my Musselburgh Gas Shares I would like to have £1000 put in her own name where ever her father thinks proper. These two dear neices should they survive me I hope will get their money first then the remainder divided as said in my will.

(Signed) Margaret Legat

My dear husband will perhaps be willing to give a small sum yearly as long as he lives to Vi say perhaps £30 to eke out the allowance she has for dress &c. &c. from her brother.

(Signed) Margaret Legat

Edinburgh 20th October 1911. This is the Memorandum marked with the Letter A referred to in our Deposition of this date

(Signed) D. Lyell, H.Monteath, Thos. F.S. Donaldson, J.P.

"Vi" is Violet Alice Geddes. She lived with Margaret Legat (nee Geddes)and her husband while Violet's father Andrew David Geddes followed his career in Malta and Hong Kong, and her mother went out there with him. Violet Geddes had a daughter called Margaret, but "My dear little name child Margaret Gordon" is, I think, the daughter of John Gordon Geddes, and grand daughter of John Geddes (V), Margaret Legat's brother - in other words, Margaret's great niece (not niece). That would mean this bequest covers the children of both Margaret's brothers.

The following is part of the same document. More of the "formal or informal writing or writings under my hand" mentioned above.

B

15th May 1909. Trafalgar Lodge, Musselburgh. (signed) Margeret Legat.

When my time cmes & and God calls me away I wd. like to say unless my husband wd. like to have them as long as he lives that

• I have promised my Silver Coffee & Tea Set that is Coffee Pot Tea Pot Sugar basic & Cream ewer to my neice Diana Catherine at Southsea
• My Cake Basket I wd. like Ethel to have, Mrs Ted De Salis at present in Malta
• My two silver Salvers I wd. like Margaret Gordon Geddes to have, they were given me by her Grand Mother my dear Madeline in 1860
• The remains of silver with (V) on belong to Vi. Mrs Dibblee also any plated things with V that she wd. like to have.

My Musselburgh Gas Shares I wd. like Margaret Gordon to have, and my Edinburgh Gas shares I wd. like Vi. to have for herself & her little Margaret, and I would like Gordan and Vi to get any of my odds & ends ornaments &c. they wd. like to have & my big Teak wood box for Vi, also the little black box safe for furs against moths a work box with M Geddes for Margaret Gordan & the netting box, same wood, for Vi and any other pieces belonging to me I wd. like my dear nephews & Neices to have if they wish instead of being sold, books &c. if they have any use for them, that is of course when my dear husband is also away.

They have all been so good & kind to me and I love thm all much and my dear Brother will help to settle all should he be alive & well, and when my dear husband leaves I wd. wish a legacy of £10 to be given to the Girls Home also £10 to the Red House, £10 to our dear old Mary Caldwell Mrs I. Kerr, £5 to Mrs Somerville and £5 to Miss Graham at Gate, £5 to each of the servants if they have been attentive and £10 to our dear Revd. Mr Duncan to add to his fund for his poor people.

Edinburgh 20th October 1911. This is the Memorandum marked with the Letter B referred to in our Deposition of this date

(Signed) D. Lyell, H.Monteath, Thos. F.S. Donaldson, J.P.

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The following is part of the same document. More of the "formal or informal writing or writings under my hand" mentioned above.

C

When it pleases God to take me I should like my dear Vi to have the remainder of the V silver and any plated articles with V on - also my diamond ring now made into a little broach also my Alicks silver viz. little Jug Bowl fork spoon &c [got them] for my little Margaret Emily and my netting box and round table of same wood, also Vi might like to have my teak wood big box and a smaller black one good to keep furs from moths &c. & some of my wearing apparel. My niece Di to have my silver tea set viz. Tea Pot, coffee pot sugar basin ande cream ewer also a gold broach & bracelet set with Turquoise blue stones a present to me from [the late] Jane Stodart my Cake basket from Uncl David I wd. like Ethey to have. Mrs de Salis my two Silver Salvers a gift from dear Madeline. I wd. like my little Margaret Gordon to have also my work box with M. Geddes green inside with slver settings inside. My dear old Gordon I wd. wish to be my residuary legatee and have any old silver with G on and any old family things such as the Monkey &c. &c. that he might fancy but these things or any thing to remain with my dear husband as long as he lives should he so wish it. My watch & chain Lily might like.

And my enameled ring with diamonds with the broach I got from Mr Somerville in remembrance of his Wife (Garnet stones) I wd. like dear Connie Legat to have, but any of these things only when my husband wd. like to part with them or when he is done. Copy of Byrons Works I wd. like Gordon to have they belonged to an Gd. Uncle of his.

Daer Edith & Beatrice for one gold Indian Bangle [got it 1908] & the other a gold Indian Bracelet [got it Sept 1908], their Mother had one of each the same as mine - this is written 3rd Sept 1906. EDith my pearl locket with my Alicks hair & name & Mrs De Salis a string of gold Indian beads [these were given to Vera G.H.G's wife in 1907, Vi knows about it.]

Edinburgh 20th October 1911. This is the Memorandum marked with the Letter C referred to in our Deposition of this date

(Signed) D. Lyell, H.Monteath, Thos. F.S. Donaldson, J.P.

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The following is part of the same document. Comments about "formal or informal writing or writings under my hand" mentioned above.

At Edinburgh the Twentieth day of October Nineteen hundred and eleven years. In the presence of Thomas Fuller Samwell Donaldson One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of the City of Edinburgh: Compared David Lyell, Writer to the Signet, Edinburgh, and Henry Monteath, Solicitor before the Supreme Courts there, who being solemnly sworn and examined Depone: That are well acquainted with the handwriting of Mrs Margaret Geddes or Vernor afterwards Legat wife of John Legat, Esquire, Trafalgar Lodge, Musselburgh and have seen and examined the three Memoranda marked with the letters A, B, and C, respectively which they have signed as relative hereto and that to the best of their knowledge and belief the same s entirely in the proper handwriting of the said Margaret Geddes or vernor afterwards Legat saving and excepting that the words "got them" between the ninth and tenth lines of Page One of the Memorandum marked with the letter C, the words "Got it 1908" between the fourth and fifth lines of Page four of the last mentioned Memorandum, the words "Got it, Sept, 1908" between the Sixth and seventh lines of the same page and the words within parenthesis at the end of the same page [these were given to Vera G.H.G's wife in 1907, Vi knows about it.] are not in the handwriting of the said Mrs Margaret Geddes or Vernor afterwards Legat. All of which is truth as the Deponents shall answer to God.

(Signed) D. Lyell, H.Monteath, Thos. F.S. Donaldson, J.P.

Extracted from the Register of Deeds &c. in the Books of Council and Session on this and the ten preceding pages by me Assistant Keeper of the said Register. Declaring that what is in red ink in this extract is done in pencil in the Original Deed. (Signed) Robert D. Gray.

Edinburgh, 27th October 1911: Referred to in my Deposition of this date to the Inventory of the personal Estate of Mrs Margaret Geddes or Vernor afterwards Legat. (Signed) John Legat, Thos. F.S. Donaldson, J.P.

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The following is part of the same document. It is the Inventory made after Margaret Legat died.

Mrs. Margaret Geddes or Vernor or Legat Duty 5% £511/19/3. Testate 2nd November 1911

At EDinburgh the second day of November Nineteen hundred and elevn the following Inventory of he personal estate of Mrs. Margaret Geddes or Vernor or Legat and Deed relative to their disposal thereof were presented by Messrs. Horne & Lyall, W.S., 39 Castle Street, Edinburgh.

Inventory of the Movable or personal Estate and Effects, wheresoever situated, of the late Mrs. Margaret Geddes or Nernor afterwards Legat, wife of John Legat, Esquire, Trafalgar Lodge, Musselburgh, who died at Trafalgar Lodge aforesaid on the twenty fifth day of August 1911.

I. Scotland

1.	Cash in the House	£51	- 14	- 6
2.	Personal effects belonging to deceased conform to Inventory & Valuation by Alexander Dowell, Licenced Appraiser, Edinburgh	103	- 1	- 0
3.	Sum in Deposit Receipt dated 8th April 1910 The National Bank of Scotland Ltd. Musselburgh £20 - 0 - 0
	Interest accrued to date of death £0 - 11 - 3	20	- 11	- 3
4.	One hundred and fifty Ordinary Shares of £1 each the Musselburgh Gas Company	140	- 12	- 6
5.	Dividend Warrant dated 26th September 26th 1894 Musselburgh Gas Company payable to deceased	2	- 3	- 8
6.	Annuity of £70 per annum payable by the Edinburgh & Leith Corporations Gas Commissioners under "The Edinburgh & Leith Corporation Gas Act 1888"	1951	- 5	- 0
7.	Sum due under Debenture No. 448 American Mortgage Co. of Scotland Ltd. current to 15th May 1915 and bearing 4% interest £784 - 0 - 0
	Interest from 15th May 1911 to date of death £8-5-1	792	- 5	- 1
8.	Sum lent by deceased to her husband the said John Legat, Esq.,	1400	- 0	- 0
9.	Income in right of deceased at date of her death, from the share of the Residue of the Estate of her Uncle David Geddes Esq., held for her liferent vizt:- Debenture p. £568-18-2 Canada Permanent Mortgage Corporation. Interest @ 4% from 15th May 1911 to date of death £5-10-7
	Debenture p. £70 of same company Interest @ 4% from 15th May 1911 to date of death £0-14-10
	Debenture p. £1000, £1000 and £500 (£2500) National Mortgage & Agency Co., of New Zealand Ltd., Interest @ 4% from 15th May 1911 to date of death £26-6-4
	Total £33-0-9 less Proportion Commission and expenses of collecting £1	32	- 0	- 9
		----	----	---
		4493	- 13	- 9

II. England

10.	Sum due under Denture No.5130 New Zealand and River Plate Land Mortgage Land Mortgage Co., current to 1st January 1913 and bearing 4½% interest £2730-0-0
10.	Interest from 1st July 1911 to date of death £17-8-8	£2747	- 8	- 8
11.	Sum due under Denture No.3148 The Central Canada Loan & Savings Co., current to 11th November 1914 and bearing 4% interest £1000-0-0
10.	Interest from 15th May 1911 to date of death £10-10-6	£1010	- 10	- 6
12.	Sum due under Denture No.3821 Canada Permanent Mortgage Corporation, current to 11th November 1914 and bearing 4% interest £2000-0-0
10.	Interest from 15th May 1911 to date of death £21-1-0	£2021	- 1	- 0
		----	----	---
		10272	- 13	- 11

Note: Mrs. Legat liferented two fifths of the Residue of the Estate of her Uncle David Geddes (Scotch Test. Reg. No. 3 1867 Fol. 21). The right to the fee of this Fund - £3138-18-2 or thereby - is being determined in an Action of Multiplepoinding - raised by David Geddes' Trustees the holders, and whatever is found to be in right of Mrs. Legat in this Acrion will be accounted for and an Additional Incentory given up.

(Signed) John Legat,
(Signed) Thos. F.S. Donaldson, J.P.

At EDinburgh the Twentieth seventh day of October Nineteen hundred and eleven years In presence of Thomas Fuller Samwell Donaldson Esquire, One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the County of the City of Edinburgh Appeared John Legat, Esquire, Trafalgar Lodge, Musselburgh who being solemnly sworn and examined, Depones:

The the said Mrs. Margaret Geddes or Vernor afterwards Legat died at Musselburgh upon 25th day of August Nineteen hundred and eleven domiciled in the County of Midlothian in Scotland.

That the Deponent is Executor Nominate of the deceased Mrs. Margaret Geddes of Vernor afterwards Legat along with Colonel John Geddes residing at No 4 Suffolk Square, Cheltenham, John Gordon Geddes now Lieutenant Colonel Royal Field Artillery, Reed Hall, Colchester, and Ernest David Eckford Geddes now Major, Royal Marine Artillery, Eastney Barracks, Portsmouth, appointed and acting under her Trust Disposition and Settlement dated 26th April 1894 and registered in the Books of Council and Session 31st August 1911 an Extract of which is exhibited and signed by the Deponent and the said Justice of the Peace as relative hereto. There are also exhibited herewith and signed by the Deponent and the said Justice of the Peace a Extract of three separate holograph Memoranda of a testamentary nature left by deceased.

That the Deponent has entered, or is about to enter, upon the possession and management of the deceased estate as Executor foresaid, along with the said John Geddes, JOhn Gordan Geddes, and Ernest David Eckford Geddes.

That the Deponent does not know of any testamentary settlement or wqriting relative to the disposal of the deceased's personal pr moveable estate, or effects, or any part thereof other than the before mentioned Trust Disposition and Settlement and the said Memoranda.

That the foregoing inventory signed by the Deponent and the said Justice of the Peace is a full and complete inventory of the personal or moveable estate and effects of the said deceased, wheresoever situated, and belonging or due to her beneficially at the time of her death, in so far as the same has come to the Deponent's knowledge

That the amount of Estate Duty (and interest thereon) payable upton this Incentory, as particularly shewn in the Statement for Estate Duty and Summary annexed hereto, is now to be paid to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

That confirmation of the personal or moveable estate in the United Kingdom amounting in value to £10,272-13-11 is required. All which is truth as the Deponent shall answer to God.

(Signed) John Legat,
(Signed) Thos. F.S. Donaldson, J.P.




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