Historical information

This is the probate and will of John Hannon of the Anakies. John Hannon died in March 1874. Anakie is a small town between Geelong and Bacchus Marsh and the Anakies are three small hills in the nearby Brisbane Ranges National Park. Nothing is known of John Bannon except for the details in the will and probate. He was unable to read and write, signing his will with a cross and he was a small handholder having property valued at under £300. He left his estate to his wife Johanna and her family. The probate document is signed by R.W. Pohlman, Acting Master in Equity

Significance

This document is only of interest in that it came from a local Warrnambool legal office in Kepler Street. It originally came from Thomas Goodall, a legal clerk in the office of lawyer Ernest Chambers who passed it on to George Mackay, the lawyer in the forerunner firm of the legal firm of Mackay Taylor. The document came the buildings that previously housed the firm of Mackay Taylor.

Physical description

This is a piece of parchment folded in two and joined at the fold by a piece of green ribbon to which is attached a government seal (Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria). The parchment is much discoloured and the seal is torn. The contents are handwritten in black ink.

Inscriptions & markings

‘Probate on the will of John Hannon, late of the Anakies, in the colony of Victoria, Farmer, deceased’