When Andrew Broadfoot (Broadfute) was born on March 1, 1729, in Isle of Whithorn, Cutoloy, Wigtownshire, Scotland, his father, David, was 54 and his mother, Grizall, was 36. His baptism is recorded in the Parochial Register of Whithorn Parish. He married May Conning in 1750 in Wigtown, Wigtownshire, Scotland. They had ten children in 31 years. He died in 1802 in Wigtown, Wigtownshire, Scotland, at the age of 73. His eighth child, a son, Charles, is our direct descendent and first of our line emigrate to America.
Tom, John, and Charlie Broadfoot went to Wigtown, Scotland to visit their roots. They were well entertained by distant Scottish Broadfoot cousins, Ian and Julia. Charlie is posing beside the grave of Andrew Broadfoot, his 7th Great-grandfather.
The Will of Andrew Broadfoot – 1802
I, Andrew Broadfoot, in Balsier being at present indisposed, in body but perfect in memory and judgment and being resolved to settle my worldly affairs in order to prevent all disputes amongst my spouse and children after my death do therefore make the following settlements:-
I nominate and appoint David Broadfoot of Balsier, my eldest son, Andrew Broadfoot in Barnharrow, my second son, and John Broadfoot -, my youngest son, my joint executors while in life and the survivors or survivor of them with full powers to them immediately after my decease to intromit with my whole movable goods and Gear debts and sums of money and everything pertaining or shall then pertain and belong or be due and addebted to me and to uplift all debts and sums of money that may be owing to me and if needful to prosecute therefore as accord of law. Declaring however that May CONNING my spouse and whose lifetime the Trustees for Mr. Murray of Broughtons children agreed should be granted and inserted in the Tack of my possessions of Balsier lately taken by our …………shall have the whole Stock Crop and farming, utensils that shall be in my said possession at the time of my death and use and continue to use the said Stock and Possessions and seal alter and dispose of the saidStocks and Annual Crops that shall arise therefrom during her lifetime. Also she is to have the use of the whole household furniture linen etc during her life and at her death the said Stock Crops and furniture that shall be on the said possession shall belong to my said executors survivors or survivor of them for the purpose thereafter mentioned. I also ordain my said executors to pay to the said May CONNING their mother the sum of twenty pounds Sterling yearly during all the days and the years that she shall live after my decease and that from a sum of four hundred Pounds contained in the Earl of Galloway’s bill to me and which sum is uplifted by me said Executors or the bill be renewed, the new bill on security shall be taken payable to the said May CONNING in Lifetime during all the days of her life, and to my said executors in fee at her decease for the ends and purposes after mentioned. And whereas the said Andrew Broadfoot has received from me One hundred pounds and the said John Broadfoot One hundred and fifteen pounds Sterling more than any of my other children have yet to receive from me, therefore, I require the said Andrew Broadfoot to pay to the said May CONNING his mother the sum of five pound’s fifteen shillings Sterling yearly during her life aforesaid and which Stock and Crop above left to her for the management of the said possession, the use of the household effects with the said Annuity of Twenty pounds and the said Annuities of five pounds andfive pounds fifteen shillings I declare to be in full of all that she can ask c1aim or demand by and through my decease as Jusrelictae or otherwise.
And whereas the said David Broadfoot has agreed to pay to my daughter Katherine Broadfoot spouse to Thomas Lennox Fifteen pounds Sterling out of the sum he has received already from me to make them equal with my other daughters therefore these payments I have already made to me [my?] children and including the sums to be paid by the said David Broadfoot are as follows viz:-
The said David Broadfoot will have received One hundred pounds. The said Andrew Broadfoot Two hundred pounds, and the said John Broadfoot- Two hundred and fifteen pounds sterling and each of my daughters Elizabeth Grissel, Katherine, Jane and May Broadfoot One hundred pounds sterling. And whereas it is my will and intention that all of my children should have an equal dividend of my said movable effects according what they have already received as above stated.
Therefore I ordain my said Executors immediately after the decease of their said Mother to convert the whole movables then on hand Stock Crop and household furniture etc,., in the said possession into money and therewith and with the other proceeds funds to pay to the said David Broadfoot One hundred and fifteen pounds sterling to the said Andrew Broadfoot and to each of my daughters above named the sum of One hundred and fifteen pounds sterling, so that the whole may then be equal to the sum my son John Broadfoot has already received, and as my son Charles Broadfoot who is at present abroad did receive the property of his brother George Broadfoot now deceased, to the amount of Two hundred and forty pounds sterling which belonged to me, and as he is also endebted to me in a considerable sum by bond, which forms a part of my executry funds and if not paid before my death will fail to be recoveredby my said executors, therefore I ordain my said executors, to allow the said Charles Broadfoot to retain for his own use the said sum of Two hundred and forty pounds sterling so received by him aforesaid, also to allow him the sum of sixty pounds sterling out of the money he is due to me by bond as aforesaid and which two sums are in full of all claims he has on my effects through my decease or the decease of his mother, and after my said executors or survivors or survivor shall have made payments aforesaid to my said sons David and Andrew, and to each of my daughters above mentioned, and shall have made the allowances aforesaid to me [my] son Charles if any sum remains over the sums to be equally divided among my whole children by my executors share and share alike.
And in the like manner in case of deficiency in my funds to make up the payments above specified either from bad debts or from my executors not being able to procure from the said Charles Broadfoot the amount of his debt, then the said Andrew and John Broadfoot shall payback to the executory fund such a sum out of the money they have already received as shall make my whole children alike, the said Charles always excepted.
I also ordain that the farming utensils in my possession at the time of the death of the said May Conning shall belong to my executors without accounting any value therein in settling with the other children above named before the death of their mother, or before the final division of my effects as aforesaid. Yet the children of such shall have the same right as their parent or parents would have had if in life. I also ordain and require my said executors to pay all my just and lawful debts deathbed charges and funeral expenses.
Declaring this to be my last Will and Testament revoking all former ones if any be but reserving always power to myself while in life or even on death bed to alter this Will and settlement in any manner I shall think proper and dispensing with the non delivery hereof I consent to the registration hereof in the books of Council and Sessions orother competent for preservation, and that all execution may pass hereon as affairs and that effect constitute.
In witness whereof I have subscribed these presents written on this and the preceding pages of stamped paper of James Nish in Garliestown Factor to the Earl of Galloway at Balsier the thirteenth day of January Eighteen hundred and two years before these witnesses
Peter Broadfoot, tenant in Whitehills, and William Beggs, weaver in Garliestown.
(Signed) Peter BroadFoot Witness,
(Signed) William Beggs Witness.
(Signed) Andrew Broadfoot.
Last Will of Andrew Broadfoot_ ……. 1802.
NOTES: This Will is in the possession of the Drape family – Broadfoot descendents – who reside in Isle of Whithorn, Wigtownshire, Scotland. It was shown to me, along with an old account book belonging to the same Andrew Broadfoot in July 1955. The copy was made for me by Mr. Patrick Broadfoot McMasters of Portwilliam, Wigtownshire, Scotland.
Mrs. Findlay (nee Broadfoot) allowed me to take the account to London and have it photostated.
(Signed) F. B. CLAYPOOLE.
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Broadfoot Family 