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The Public Records Office of Victoria is currently making many early Victorian Will and Probate records available online, free of charge. You can search and download full .pdf files of the original documents, which in many cases contain the handwritten wills of the individuals. At present, I am only transcribing the actual wills and not the rest of the legalese involved in these documents. Other relevant information not contained in the text of the actual Wills will also be included.

John MONTGOMERY (1816 - 1892)

Will Date 3 June, 1892:

"This is the last Will and testament of me, John MONTGOMERY, Farmer of Tallygaroopna in the Colony of Victoria. After payment of all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses, I give and bequeath to my dear Wife, Elizabeth Ann Montgomery, all my real and personal estate, Farm Stock, produce, agricultural implements, effects, etc, for her sole use and benefit during her lifetime.

And at her decease the whole of the above property real and personal, I give and bequeath to my sons Thos Teer Montgomery and Robert Nelson Montgomery, subject to the payment of the following Legacies:

my son Henry MONTGOMERY, fifty pounds, 50-0-0

my son John Graham MONTGOMERY, two hundred pounds, 200-0-0

my daughter Elizabeth Ann CANET, fifty pounds, 50-0-0

my son George Stewart MONTGOMERY, one hundred pounds, 100-0-0

my son William Clarkson MONTGOMERY, two hundred and fifty pounds to be placed in Bank or other Institution for income for him, 250-0-0

my daughter Anne MONTGOMERY, one hundred pounds, 100-0-0

XXX division of real estate, Farm, I direct the land be divided in equal parts or portions, the western portion with house thereon, I give to my son Thomas Teer MONTGOMERY, the eastern portion I give to my son Robert Nelson MONTGOMERY. I direct that the whole of the personal property and effects, stock, plant etc, be divided by my son Thomas Teer MONTGOMERY in equal parts and my son Robert Nelson MONTGOMERY, take his choice of same for his share, the remaining part or portion becoming the share of Thomas Teer MONTGOMERY.

And I appoint Thomas Henry THWAITES of Hampton House, Jolimont and my wife, Elizabeth Ann MONTGOMERY, Executor of this my Will in witness whereof I have herewith set my hand this third day of June, one thousand eight hundred and ninty two.

Signed and acknowledged and declared by the said testator John MONTGOMERY, as for his last Will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereto subscribed our names as witnesses: John MCGUINESS, Medical Practitioner, Numurkah and Francis Henry MOHN, Groom, Numurkah. "

from PROV File No.49/390 VPRS_7591_P0002_197

Listing of Assets from PROV File No.49/390VPRS_28_P0002_341

Real Estate
All that piece of land containing 320 acres or thereabouts situated in the Parish of Tallygaroopna, County of Moira being allotment forty three on which is erected a four roomed house and outbuildings occupied by deceased at time of death. Municipal assessment £65
Valued at		1680	0	0

Personal Estate
Crops
	110 acres sown 1 month value at 12/ per acre	66	0	0
	1208 Bushels of Wheat valued at 3/ per bushel	226	10	0
	28 Bags of Fowls feed	11	4
	Hay Stack	15	0	0
Livestock
	3 horses	30	0	0
	1 horse	5	0	0
	1 Bull £1.5.0, 4 Cows £10.0.0, 8 Cows £24.0.0	35	5	0
	2 Heifers £1.5.0, 5 Calves £2.0.0, 2 Pigs £1.16.0	5	1	0
	1 Sow and 4 suckers £3.16.0, 130 Fowels £4.7.6	8	13	6
Farming Implements, Carridges & Harness and Saddlery, Plant and Tools
	Stripper and Winower £30, Reaper £5 Double Furrow plough £11	46	0	0
	Single Furrow plough £1, Cultivator £4 Sel of Harrows £6	11	0	0
	Wheel Burrow and Truck £1.30.0, Dray and Frame £10.10.0, Chaffcutter £2	13	13	0
	Buggy and Harness £23.0.0, Tank £1.12.6, Water Barrels 10/	25	2	6
	Meat Cask 5/, 2 Rollers 10/6, 1 Bag lifter £1.10.0, Bellows 15/	3	0	6
	5 Pitch forks 7/6, 3 Sickles 2/6, Blocks 5/6, Churn £2.0.0, 30 Dishes £2.5.0	5	0	6
	Dairy Utensils £1.14.0, 2 Revolving Couckers £1.2.6, 1 steel xx	3	3	6
	Scythe, Hay Knife and hay needle 5/, Grindstone 2/		7	0
	Adze, Axe, Shovel, 2 picks, Crowbar		13	0
	2 Brands, 4 Augurs, Hand Saw, Cross Cut Saw		16	6
	Raw Oil, Brace and Sil plane		14	6
	Smithy and sundries £1.6.0, Spade, Rake and Hoe 4/	1	10	0
	6 Collars and Harness £4.10.0, 5 xxxxx 6/6	4	16	6
	5 pair trace chains 2 leading chains	1	0	0
	Saddle and Bridle 9/, 2 xx saddles and breeching 13/6	1	2	6
Furniture
	40 Empty Bags 13/4, Rope 5/		18	4
	8 Hives of Bees	4	0	0

Landed property held under Lease or License from the Crown, Rents, Watches, trinkets, jewellery etc, Money in hand or house, Money in Bank on Current account, Money on deposit, Interest, Debentures, Mortgages, Mortgages interest, Life Policies, Bonus', Shares, Dividends, Debts due the Estate, Hock in or shop, Goodwill, Interest in a deceased persons estate - NIL		0	0	0
		2240	17	10

Elizabeth Ann MONTGOMERY (1829 - 1903)

"This is the Last Will and Testament of Elizabeth Ann Montgomery of Tallygaroopna - Farmer.

Herein I give, devise and bequeath to my sons - Thomas Teer and Robert Nelson in equal shares the following, my property viz. bne mare. Four head of cattle. All my grain and stacks of hay. Reaper and binder. Chaff-cutter and horseworks. Spring cart and harness.

To my son, Thomas Teer, I give all my household goods and effects. With the exception of the sewing machine, which I give to my daugher, Jane.

Given under my hand this Fourth day of July, in the Year of Our Lord Eighteen Hundred and ninety-four.

Signed, Elizabeth Ann Montgomery

Signed before us who in her prescnes and in the presence of each other, do inscribe our names as witnesses hereto.

George Montgomery (Ed: Son)
Clarkson Sandilands (Ed: Brother)"

from PROV File No. 89/375 VPRS_7591_P0002_356

At the time of her death, Elizabeth owned no property but had £129/4/9 in the Bank of Australiasia, Shepparton and £16/14/4 in the Commercial Bank of Australia, Shepparton. Probate was dealt with on the 5 Feb 1904. The paperwork was dealt with by Thomas Henry THWAITES, cousin to Elizabeth Ann MONTGOMERY (son of her sister, Elizabeth).

Her children are listed as:

John Graham MONTGOMERY of Tallygaroopna
Elizabeth Ann CANET of Tallygaroopna
George Stewart MONTGOMERY of Marungi
William Clarkson MONTGOMERY of Tallygaroopna
Thomas Teer MONTGOMERY of Tallygaroopna
Jain ANDERSON of Bubbartha
Robert Nelson MONTGOMERY of Tallygaroopna
Henry MONTGOMERY of South Australia

Newspaper Articles

Zacharie Théophile CANET (1813 - 1851?)

The London Gazette - 16th June, 1843

Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership here-tofore susbsisting between us the undersigned, Teophille CANET and Richard James BARROW, as Tailors, carrying on business at No. 60, Frith-street, Soho, was this day dissolved by mutal consent; and all debts due to and by the said partnership business will be received and paid by the said Teophille CANET. - Dated this 10th day of June 1843. Teophille CANET and Richard James BARROW.

The London Gazette - 4th June, 1844

Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership here-tofore susbsisting between us the undersigned, Teophille CANET and Thomas MASON, carrying on business as Tailors, at No. 60, Frith-street, Soho, and No. 17, George-street, Hanover-square, in the county of Middlesex, has been this day dissolved by mutal consent. - Dated this 30th day of March 1844. Teophille CANET and Thos. MASON.

Henry Vincent CANET (1878 - 1953)

Sale of Air Rifle - Fine Imposed

The Argus, 5 June 1925

SALE OF AIR RIFLE

Buyer Under Age

An unusual case was heard at the Fitzroy Court on Thursday, when Henry Canet, of the Blue Bell Cycle Works, Brunswick street, Fitzroy, was charged with having, on or about May 6, sold two air rifles to a person under the age of 38 years. Mr. D. Grant, P.M., and Mr. A. Rosen, J.P., were on the bench.

George Buchanan Robertson, schoolboy, said:- My brother and I visited Canet's shop and asked for two Daisy air guns. He asked us whether we had our parents permission, and sent us back for a note. We obtained a note and gave it to him, and he let us have the two guns. We paid 8/6 each for them.

Mr. J. Carroll, who appeared for Canet, said that his client had acted in ignorance of the regulations. He had expected to find the regulation in the Firearms Act, but had found it in the latest amended Police Offences Act. He thought that many shopkeepers were ignorant of this regulation.

Mr. Grant said that he believed that Canet had acted in ignorance of the law. A fine of 40/ was imposed.