January 24th 1680/1

In the name of God Amen, I John Elmes of Alderton alias Aldrington in the County of Northampton Tayler; being sick in body, but of good and perfect memory, (thanks be to God for it), do make ordain and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following and first being penitent and sorrowful for my sins past, humbly desiring forgiveness of the same. I give and commit my soul unto Almighty God and my body to be buried in the churchyard of Alderton; and for the settling of my temporal estate and such goods as it has pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me; I do order give, and dispose of the same in manner and form following.
I give and bequeath unto my son William Elmes one house or tenement in Paulerspury that one Elizabeth Walker lived in and one half headed bed with the furniture belonging to it.
I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Marie Elmes all my estate in Alderton of house, land goods and chattel whatsoever for the term of her natural life; and afterwards I give and bequeath it to my two sons John and George Elmes, to be equally divided betwixt them; both the house , homestall, lands goods and chattel whatsoever as before expressed; and if they cannot agree to part it themselves my will is that two honest men shall be chosen to do it for them; and if my said wife Mary Elmes after my death should chance to marry again she shall have only the thirds of the land and depart from the ground before bequeathed to her.
I give unto my daughter Catherine Grace two shillings six pence.
I give unto Marie Elmes my grandchild five pounds out of a cottage in Paulerspury that Catherine Grace now lives in, after the said Catherine's decease;
I make Mary Elmes my beloved wife my executrix to pay my debts and funeral expenses and my daughter Catherine Grace her legacy of two shillings and six pence. In witness where of I have put my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Sealed and delivered in the presence of