DEED OF ASSIGNMENT

Know all men by these presents that I Robert Burns in Mossgiel: whereas I intend to leave Scotland and go abroad, and having acknowledged myself the father of a child named Elizabeth, begot upon Elizabeth Paton in Largieside: and whereas Gilbert Burns in Mossgiel, my brother, has become bound, and hereby binds and oblidges himself to aliment clothe and educate my said natural child in a suitable manner as if she were his own, in case her Mother chuse to part with her, and that until she arrive at the age of fifteen years. Therefore, and to enable the said Gilbert Burns to make good his said engagement, Wit ye me to have assigned, disponed, conveyed and made over to, and in favors of, the said Gibert Burns his Heirs, Executors and Assignees, who are always to be bound in like manner with himself, all and Sundry Foods, Gear, Corns, Cattle, Horses, Nolt, Sheep, Household furniture, and all other moveable effects of whatever kind that I shall leave behind me on my departure from the kingdom, after allowing for my part of the conjunct debts due by the said Gilbert Burns and me as joint Tacksmen of the farm of Mossgiel.- And particularly, without prejudice of the aforesaid generality the profits that may arise from the Publication of my Poems presently in the Press- And also, I hereby dispone and convey to him in trust for behoof of my said natural daughter, the Copyright of said Poems in so far as I can dispose of the same by law, after she arrives at the above age of fifteen years complete- Surrogating and Substituting the said Gilbert Burns, my brother and his foresaids in my full right, title, room and place of the whole Premises, with power to him to intromit with, and dispose upon the same at pleasure, and in general to do every other thing in the Premises that I could have done myself- before granting hereof, but always with and under the conditions before expressed. And but always with and under the conditions before expressed.- And I oblidge myself to warrand this disposition and assignation from my own proper fact and deed allenarly- Consenting to the Registration hereof in the Books of Council and Session, or any other Judges Books competent, therin to remain for preservation, and constitute . . . whereof I have Procutars, & c. - In witness whereof I have wrote and signed these presents, consisting of this and the preceding page, on stamped paper, with my own hand at Mossgiel the twenty second day of July, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-six years.

Robert Burns

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