In the name of God Amen the first day of March in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred fiftie seven I John Nickolls of ould Stratford in the County of Northampton yeoman being aged but of sound and perfect memory and praised bee given to god for the same And knowing the uncerteynety of this Life on Earth and being desirous to settle things in Order Following Doe make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme Followinge That is to saye First and principally I Commend my soule to Allmighty god my Creator Assuredly believing that I shall receive full pardon of all my sinnes and bee saved by the precious death and merritts of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ And my body to the earth from whence it was taken to bee buryed in Covesgrave Churchyard in such decent and Christian manner as to my Executor hereafter mencioned shall bee through meete and Conneinent [Conscience] And far as touching such worldly estate as the Lord in mercy hath lent mee my Will and meaning is the same shall bee imployed And bestowed as hereafter by this my will is expressed And first I doe revoak renounce frustrate and make void All wills by mee formerly made And declare and appointe this my last Will and Testament Item I give and bequeath to the Foure Children of Joane Austine the Wife of John Austin the younger of Ould Stratford aforesaid that are nowe Liveinge Three pounds a peece of Lawfull money of England and the said Three pounds a peece to bee paid to my Overseers within Six monethes after my decease to put the said Three poundes apeice forth for the best use of the said foure Children till they shall attaine to the age of eighteene yeares a peice or daies of Marriage wth shall happen first And if it shall happen that any of the foure Children shall dye before they come to the age aforesaid that then the said portion or portions shall remaine to the Survivor or Survivors And the said Overseers to bee accomptable to the said Children for the Legacies Item I give and bequeath to Ann Austin one paire of Sheets my best Coverlett and my greene Blanckett and the best blanckett next and the biggest Kettle and one Feather boulster Item I doe give and bequeath unto John Abbott of the Cittie of London Haberdasher Sonne of Richard Abbott of Stowny stratford Fourteen shillings of Lawfull money of England To bee paid him six months after my decease Item I doe give and bequeath unto all my Godchildren five shillings a peece Item I give and bequeath unto the poure of Covsgrave and stratford twenty shillings Item I doe give and bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Alice Nicholls All the rest of my estate unbequeathed namely my house and Close in the parish of Cavesgrave [Cosgrove] in the County of Northampton with the appurtenances thereunto belonging with all my househould goodes unbequeathed and all my goodes And Chattells whatsoever unbequeathed whom I doe make and ordaine my executrix of this my last will and testament Item I doe desire my loving friendes John Spencer of Covsgrave And Thomas Botterill Alice Clarke of Stowny  stratford to bee the Overseers of this my last Will and Testament to doe and make a just accompt of all herein mencioned to my executrix and for their paines I doe allowe them twentie shillings a peice In Wittnesse whereof I have hereunto put my hand and Seale Dated the first day of March one Thousand six hundred fiftie and seaven etc The marke of John Nickolls  Sealed Signed and published in the presence of John Horne his marke Thomas Godfrey

Probate: 2 July 1658