Lesley That is a list of Robert's assets - -the cash in the house -the household contents -the amount owed to him by James Tanner by virtue of an acknowledgement of debt or similar signed by James in 1833 - it occurs to me that Robert may possibly have sold his building/business to James at that time, and the acknowledgement may have been a mortgage or deed to secure the whole or part of the sale price -the amount of unpaid interest on the loan for the period of some 1Y 9 months up to the date of death -cash in the bank I guess it's clear, but the will provides for the wife to be paid the income for life then on her death for the estate to be divided among his children Regards Stephen Thwaite New Zealand //// ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lesley Fiedler" <[email protected]> Has anyone got an idea of what this will means esp the part talking about " Principal sum contained in obligation dated 1833" Robert Griersons will dated 12 October 1835 he died 2 April 1835 the two sons Robert & John were both Tanners in 1841 census Henrietta was noted as widow of farmer in 1861 census she was still living at Palmerston then the document says starting off Cash in the house £5. 3 shillings Account of Inventory and appraisement of household furniture and other effects belonging to the deceased made by Alexander McCubbin Joiner in Maxwelltown and John McGowan cabinetmaker in Dumfries £14.7shillings Principal sum contained in obligation dated the twentieth day of June1833 granted by James Primrose Tanner in Dumfries to the deceased £112 Interest at two percent per obligation to the second day of April 1835 One year two hundred and eighty six days £3.19shillings 10 +half pence Amount of account current kept by the deceased with the Dumfries Parish bank on 31 Jan 1835 £63 . 5 shillings signed Robert Primrose, William Primrose John Mac George JP McCom at Dumfries then goes on to say that appeared in court Robert Primrose Currier ,William Primrose tanner at Palmerston and William Primrose writer at Dumfries executors of the deceased Robert Grierson and that the deponents have entered upon the profession and management of the deceased's person estate as executors nominated by him in a trust disposition and deed of settlement executed by him on 28th May 1833 it has a lot of legal speak then goes on to say that said trustees shall pay yearly to my spouse Henrietta Caven the interest or yearly profits of my whole heritable and movable estates before conveyed and then if she dies to be divided between his children and then grandchildren when they reach the age of 21 its signed Robert Grierson Henrietta Caven at Palmerston I found an old map dated 1819 it has on the road from Terregals a large area as Mr John Afflecks property and across the road shows Mr Jas Primrose buildings possibly the Tannery and also next to the large property of Mr Afflecks a building set back from the road named Palmerston says Mr Affleck there are 2 other buildings not named on the edge of the road named Terregles Street http://maps.nls.uk/towns/view/?id=333 trying to work a timeline for the family son Robert was born at Islesteps 1815 daughter Catherine was born at Palmerston 1825 Ship Name FAVOURITE Master: GRIERSON, Joseph Owners: HAIR., George Snr., Islesteps, Wood Merchant 64 shares. History: Built at Kelton 1820, registered at Dumfries 20 Sept. 1836 Regards Lesley in Tasmania