Graham Maxwell, L237, kindly translated the William Beattie of Watcarrick testament dated 1656 for me and gave me permission to post the transcription to the list. Graham is a professional researcher who specializes in the Border region of Scotland. I wish we could have met with him on our recent Beattie DNA Trip. Here is a link to his web page for anyone needing professional research services in Scotland: http://www.langholmarchivecentre.org.uk:80/ Graham Maxwell's transcription [2 versions, direct and English rendering]: N.B. Letters in square brackets are implied by contractions or abbreviations in the text. umq[uhi]ll[e] Wm. beattie xv July 1656 The Testament dative and Inventar of [th]e guids geir soumes of mony and debtis q[uhi]lk Justlie pertainit and were adebtit & restand awand to umq[uhi]ll[e] william william beatie in Watcarrick [th]e tyme of his decis quha decist in [th]e moneth of Maij 1656 Faithfullie maide & gevin up be helen thomsone his Relict as having best Knowledg in name and behalf of Jon wm blanshe Bessie Janet and helen beaties bairnes to [th]e defunct and only exe[cuto]rs daitive decernit to him as nearest of Kin be decreit of [th]e commissar of [th]e comissariot of dumfreis upon [th]e fyftein of July and yeir of god forsaid as [th]e samyne in it [word uncertain] at mair Lenth beirs. Item [th]e s[ai]d umq[uhi]ll[e] wm beatie had pertaining to him [th]e tyme of his Decis forsaid [th]e guids geir and others underwritten of [th]e availls and prices followeing viz. Imprimis fyfe kyne with [th]air followers price of [th]e peice twelf pound Suma thrie scoir pnd Item mair thrie two yeir old quoyis pryce of [th]e peice fyfe pound Summa xvlb. Item two ten yeir old Stotts pryce of [th]e piece four pound Summa viijlb. Item twentie nyn yewis and Lambs pryce of [th]e piece fourtie shilling scots Summa Lviijlb. Item mair fourtie thrie yeild sheip pryce of [th]e piece twentie sex shilling Summa Lvjlb xiijs iiijd. Item mair two meirs and ane foall pryce of [th]e peace thirteen pound sex shilling aught pennies Summa xxvjlb xiijs iiijd. Item mair of corne sawin upon [th]e ground thrie [pro]duced bolls of corne estimate to [th]e thrie corne Inde nyn bolls oats pryce of [th]e boll not [th]e fodder four pounds Summa xxxvjlb. Item mair of beir sawin upon [th]e ground sex pecks estimat to [th]e four of corne Inde twentie four pecks beir pryce of bolls not [th]e fother aught pound Item mair [th]e Insight and plenisheing of [th]e hous with [th]e abulyuments of the defuncts bodie estimat to [th]e sowme of ten pounds scots. Summa of the In[venta]r ijc Lxxxxlb Followes the debts awand to the dead Item [th]air was Justlie adebtit and restand awand to [th]e s[ai]d defunct be Ro[ber]t thomsone in Overtalfer [th]e sowme of fourtie sevein shilling four pennies Item mair be walter blaik in wat carrick [th]e sowme of four pound. Summa of [th]e debts awand be [th]e dead vjlb vijs iiijd Summa of [th]e In[venta]r with [th]e debts ijc Lxxxxvjlb vijs 4d To be devydit thrie [par]ts deads pairt is Lxxxxvijlb vjs viijd Capitane William Ross of drumgairland Comissar princi[pal]l of [th]e Comissariot of Dumfreis speciallie constitute for confirmationes of testaments Understanding I decernit [thai]runtill as conforme to the q[uhi]lk as Provydeing [word uncertain] Q[uhai]r[e]upon wm baitie in Maidsha Becam Cau[tione]r as ane act maid [thair]anent beirs. An approximate English rendering: The late William Beattie 15 July 1656 The testament dative and inventory of the goods, gear, sums of money and debts which justly pertained and were debted and resting owing to the late William Beattie in Watcarrick at the time of his decease; who died in the month of May 1656: faithfully made and given up by Helen Thomson his relict as having best knowledge in name and behalf of John, William, Blanche, Bessie, Janet and Helen Beattie, children of the deceased and only executors dative discerned as nearest of kin to him by the decree of the Commissary of the Commissariot of Dumfries on 15 July 1656 as the same at more length bears. Item the said William Beattie has pertaining to him at the time of his decease foresaid the goods, gear and others underwritten of the avails and prices following viz: Firstly: five kine (cows) with their followers at £12 each, total £60. Further item: three two-year old quoys (heifers) at £5 each, total £15. Item two two-year old stots (young bulls) at £4 each, total £8. Item 29 ewes and lambs at 40/- each, total £58. Further item: 43 yield sheep at 26/- each, total £56 13 4. Further item: 2 mares and a foal at £13 6 8 each, total £26 13 4. Further item: Corn sown in the ground - three bolls produced estimated to the three corn. Nine bolls of oats, not for fodder £4, total £36. Further item: Bere (a form of barley) sown in the ground six bolls estimated to the four of corn, six pecks estimated to the four of corn, twenty-four pecks bere price £8. Further item: Household goods and furnishings with the clothing of the deceased estimated at £10 Scots. Total of the Inventory: £290 The debts owing to the deceased: Item: There was justly owing to the deceased by Robert Thomson in Over Telfer the sum of 47/4. Further item: By Walter Blaik in Watcarrick the sum of £4. Total of debts owed to the deceased £6 7/4 Total of the Inventory with the debts £296 7/4 To be divided into three parts; the "dead's part" * is £97 6/8 Captain William Ross of Drumgairland Commissary Principal of the Commissariot of Dumfries specially constituted for confirmations of testaments. William Beattie in Meadshaw became cautioner as an act made in relation to this bears. * NB the part of someone's moveable estate which they are entitled to dispose of by testament after death