Archdeacon Wills 1784 #124, Andreas, of Esther Corkill als Lace, widow:

‘Know all men by these presents that I Esther Corkill otherwise Lace of the parish of KK Andreas, widow, for and in consideration of the love, good will and natural affection which I have and do bear towards my dutiful and well beloved son Gilbert Christian of the said parish of KK Andreas and Mary his wife my daughter, which whom I have resided for many years and who do take all due care of me and provided all things necessary for me in my old age & weak and feeble condition, they obliging themselves to continue their duty to me and provide all thing necessary for me for the time to come as also for and upon amount of the further considerations and obligations herein after mentioned; Have therefore given, granted, assigned, passed over, settled, estated, and confirmed and by these presents do give grant, assign, pass over and forever absolutely settle, estate and confirm to and upon them the said Gilbert Christian and Mary his wife (my daughter aforesaid) all my right, title xxx and interest to and in a certain parcel of intack land situate in the parish of KK Christ Lezayre commonly call and distinguished by the name of the Archdeacon’s Close, with all easements, liberty and appurtenances thereunto belonging of six pence yearly Lord’s Rent upon my part and the same in present possession for and during the natural lifetime of the longest liver of them the said Gilbert Christian & Mary his wife aforesaid, and after the decease of the longer liver of them the premise to fall and descend to their son William Christian without any encumbrance. And I do also hereby further settle estate and confirm to and upon him the said Gilbert Christian and Mary his wife aforesaid all the rest of my worldly goods chattels, credits and effects of what kind nature or denomination soever to be immediately possessed and enjoyed by them as their absolute right a property forever from and after the assigning and delivery of these presents. They the said Gilbert Christian and Mary his wife aforesaid for and in consideration of this Deed of Settlement and what are therein mentioned, obliging themselves to take xxx care of me and provide all things necessary for my livelihood during my natural life and have me decently buried. They also oblige themselves as a further consideration for this Deed of Settlement to give the following particulars to the persons hereafter named after my decease xxx to my daughter Catharine the widow of William Lace they are to give the table and frame and the dresser in the dwelling house with xxx any furniture, and one of the dales in the house to repair the said dresser, and likewise the lime stones at the old lime kiln. To my [?grand]daughter Esther Christian they are to give a feather bed and bolster, a chest and a spinning wheel. To my greatgranddaughter the daughter of Joney Garret they are to give an ewe lamb, all which particulars before mentioned are to be given to the persons afore named after my decease by the said Gilbert Christian and May his wife aforesaid. And further to signify testify and declare that this do be my voluntary pact and deed by me made without any fraid[?] imposition or circumventions, I have with these presents delivered unto them the said Gilbert Christian and Mary his wife aforesaid my daughter one coined piece of silver called an English shilling as delivery seizure possession and investiture of all singular the before mentioned settled and estated premise in present of the subscribing witnesses. And for the true and faithful performance of all and singular the before written Deed of Settlement gift grand and assignment to both parties, that is to the said Esther Corkill otherwise Lace and the said Gilbert Christian and Mary his wife aforesaid doe hereby firmly bind and oblige themselves the either party to the other and their representatives heirs executors administrators and assigns in and under the penalty and forfeiture of two hundred pounds sterling to be levied and paid according to the law and practice within this Isle, as witness our respective names hereunto set and subscribed this the 17^th day of January anno domini 1782. [signed their marks] Esther Corkill als Lace; Gilbert Christian, Mary Christian. Witnesses: William Kewin, Patrick Brew.

9^th March 1782, Gilbert Christian & Mary Christian acknowledged the before written Deed of Gift & Settlement to be their proper act and deed, and William Kewin and Patrick Brew the executing witnesses made oath on the Holy Evangelists that Esther Corkill alias Lace duly executed the same in their presence. Before me [signed] John Frissell.

We the Setting Quest of the parish of KK Christ Lezayre to Settle and proportion on the premise mention in the within and before going Deed of Gift and Settlement the annual or yearly Lord’s rent of six pence as witness our subscriptions this 28^th May 1782. [signed] John Kneale, John Crowe, John Cowley, William Garret.

At a Court Baron holded at KK Michael for the parishes of Andreas, Bride & Lezayre, the 30^th day of May 1782, The within written Deed of Settlement being acknowledged before the High Bailiff of Ramsey and now openly published in Court, the consideration thereof was objected to on the grounds of the Grantor having conveyed the premise therein mentioned by a Deed, but no such Deed or other evidence appearing in xxx of such allegation, the same is therefor allowed of for and in the name and behalf of the most noble John Duke of Atholl, Lord of Mann and the Isles, &c, and confirmed b this Court. [signed] xxx Heywood. Executed by Robert Heywood D Lenes[?]

At a Chapter Court holden at Lezayre June 17, 1784, The before going Deed of Settlement having been lawfully proved, the same is accepted as the last will and testament of Esther Corkill, the Donor, and Gilbert Christian the Donee is sworn for payment of debts and legacies according to Law, and hath given pledges to that end, namely William Radcliffe and Charles Cowle both of Andreas. I William Lace son & heir of Catharine Lace do hereby acknowledge to have received from Gilbert Christian the table, frame and dresser and a dale to repair the same, likewise the lime stones at the old lime kiln, the same being a legacy bequeathed as to Catharine Lace aforesaid by her mother Esther Corkill and I do hereby acquit release and discharge the said Gilbert Christian his executors and administrators of said articles as witness my hand this 19^th February 1785. [signed] William Lace.’