In the Name of God Amen I John Bird of Potterspury in the County of Northampton yeoman being of perfecte minde and memory (Thankes be to god) doe make & declare this my Last will and Testament in manner and forme followeing: First I commend my soule into the handes of Almighty god, my Maker, hopeing to be saved, And enjoy everlasting life through the Merritts of my Lord And saviour Jesus Christ, And my body to the arth to be decently buryed in the Church Yard of Potterspury as neere to the rest of my relations as conveniently may be, by my executrix hereafter named, And as for the Temporall estate; which god hath beene pleased to lend me; I doe dispose of the same as followeth, I doe give and divise All that freehold Messuage, and Five Acres of Land, Lying And being in the Towne ; And fields of Potterspury aforesaid with I purchased of Marthana Wilson, Thomas Scryvener, John Bason, And Mr Goodman, unto my deare and Loveing wife Susanna Bird for and dureing the tearme of her naturall life: And from and after her decease I give and devise the same to my sonne William Bird And his heyres for ever if he be living at the death of my said wife Susannah But in case he shall dye before my said wife Then I doe give and devise the same; unto my two daughters Alice Bird, And Elizabeth equally to be divided betwixt them & soe to remaine & be to them & theyre heyres for ever Item my will & pleasure is That whomesoever the said Cottage; and five acres of land shall descend and come next, and immediately after the decease of my said wife Susannah, That it shall be subject to, An' chargable with the payment of Tenn pounds to Susannah Watkins if she be then Living; Item I give and bequeath to my sonne John Bird five shillings, as an increase of his portion, I doe give unto my daughters Alice Bird And Elizabeth Bird Tenn ponds a piece; to be paid unto them within one yeare after my decease; I doe give and bequeath unto all my Grandchildren Five shillings apiece whith shalbe alive at my decease. All w^h Legacyes are to be paid by [my]ⁱ Executrix hereafter named All the rest of my goods, Chattells, Cattells, ready money and Household stuffe unbequeathed my debts, and funerall expenses being first paid, and discharged I give and bequeath unto my loveing wife Susannah Bird whome I doe make [the]ⁱ sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament, Hereby revoking: Annihillateing and making void all former wills by me formerly made; And I doe hereby desyre And appoynt my sonne John Bird of Yardley, And Richard Jones of Pottersbury aforesaid to be overseers of this my last will & Testament giving them halfe a Crowne apiece to buy each of them a paire of Gloves: In witness whereof to this my last will & Testament I have hereunto sett my hand & selle the eleventh day of February In the thirtyeth yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord King Charles ye second of England etc Anno domini 1677
Signed, sealled, published pronounced
& declared in the presence of John Burd
John Burd
Richard Basson