Declaration of the last will of Jesse Chevalier
living in the Palle regarding his possessions, being
sick in his bed very healthy of mind and understanding
said what follows in the presence of gentlemen
who reside in the Palle and who have signed below.
First he said that he was giving all his possessions to the
poor of the village of the Palle provided
that all his debts would be paid and that his(1) burial
was paid for
He also said that he was giving to Abraham dutemp
all his personal belongings(2) and his testament(3)
and his razors and whatever he might owe him for having
lodged him for some time in his house and for
having fed him during his illness.
He also said that he was giving to Charles davoine who lives
in the Palle ten bushels(4) of wheat for having helped him
and kept him and watched over him during his illness.
He said that, after having taken care of what is said above,
if there is anything left it is for the poor in the Palle.
recorded in the Palle on the thirteenth
day of February one thousand six hundred eighty-nine
Translated from the original French by David Wilkin, February 2003
Notes
(1) Translate “les” as “his” since otherwise I see a conflict in what the possessive adjectives refer to.
(2) 'hardes' refers especially to clothing.
(3) 'Testament' probably refers to the 'New Testament'.
(4) The French word is 'boisseau'.
