John Preston 1745
In the Name of God Amen, I John Preston of Yardley Gobion in the County of Northampton, being of A sound and Perfect Memory tho weak of Body. Do make this my last will and Testament and it is my Desire it Be taken as such by all whom it may Concern Imprismiss I bequeath my soul to God that gave it and my Body to the Earth as it well In a sure and Certain hope of the Resurrection as the last Day through the Merits of Jesus Christ My Dear Redeemer who Died for me and all Mankind to be Decently Intered at the Discretion of my Executrix here after Mentioned Item I give and Devise unto Martha Preston my beloved Wife whom I make soul and whole Executrix of this my last will and Testament all that my Tenament Now standing and being Situate in Yardly Gobion in the County of Northampton aforesaid together with all out Houses barns stables Yards Gardens Hedged Ditches Trees and all other the Appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise Appertaining Together with all those my two Acres of Free Land which I purchased of her Brother William Whorlett lying and being Dispersedly in the open and Common field of Yardley Gobion aforesaid Together with all other my worldly Goods and Chattles to Me belonging or in any wise Appertaining For and During the whole Term of her Natural Life Provided she keeps herself my Widow and after the Death of my beloved wife or her Widowhood which shall first happen I give and Devise unto my son Stephon Preston all those my two Acres of Free Land before Mentioned he paying to his Brother Daniel within the Term of One Year and One Day Next after he shall be Possesd of the Land the Sum of five Pounds of good and Lawfull Money of great Brittain he shall Likewise pay out of these Lands at the same time the sum of five Pounds of Like Lawful Money to his Sister Elisabeth if they shall be then Capable of Making use of it otherwise My Will and Desire is that he should keep their Money in his hand till they become of the Age of Twenty one years of Age he Giving them Security for their Money and paying them such Interest as the law allows of for the Same I Likewise give unto My son William after the Death of my beloved Wife or her widowhood which shall first happen all that my Dwelling House or Tenament Afore Mentioned he paying to his Brother Daniel the sum of five pounds of Lawfull Money of great Brittain out of the said Dwelling House or Tenament within the Term of One Year and One Day Next after he shall be so Possed of the same he shall Likewise pay or Caused to be paid at the same time to my daughter Elisabeth the like sum of five pounds of Like Lawfull Money of great Brittain if they shall be then Capable of making Use of it otherwise my Will and Desire is that he should keep their Money in his hand till they become of the Age of Twenty One Years of Age Giving them Security for their Money and Paying them Such Interest as the Law Allows off for the same My Will and Desire further is that if it shall so happen that my son Stephon should Die before he Enjoys the land and leaves no issue that then and in such Case my son William shall have the Land and my son Daniel shall have the House and Land and if it shall so happen that my son William should Die before he Enjoys the House and leave no issue the House shall fall to Daniel he Paying to his Sister Elizabeth the Sum of Ten pounds and in case it shall so happen that my son William Should Die before he Enjoys Either House or Land that then and in such case My Son Daniel having the House My son Stephon shall pay to my Daughter Elisabeth the sum of ten pounds and Nothing to his Brother Daniel and I further give and Devise to my Daughter Elisabeth my Best Bed and Bedstid Together with the Curtains and Quilt and also two Blankets Two pillows and one Boulster and if my son Daniel Shall Die before he Enjoys his Legacie it shall fall to Elisabeth if he leaves no issue and if my Daughter Die before She Enjoys her Legacie it shall fall to Daniel if he be then Living Provided she leaves no issue and if Daniel and Elisabeth both Die before their Legacies fall to them and leave no issue their Legacies shall fall to them that are to pay them and if my Son Stephon out live his Two Brothers and they leave no issue before they Enjoy what I have before Given them he shall have both House and Land he paying to his Sister Elisabeth the sum of Twenty Pounds and if my sons all Die before the Estate of House and Land fall to them and leave no issue and my Daughter be then Living she shall Enjoy what I have Left in my Will but if my Sons Live to Enjoy the House and Land as given to them in my Will they or Either of them may sell Either House or Land to pay the Legacies they are to pay and if they or either of them Leave issue to Enjoy which is given to them there shall be Care taken by them that have the Care of their issue to pay the Legacies when Due otherwise it shall and may be Lawfull for my Younger Children them or Either of them or their issue to make Seasure on the Estate of Either House or Land and sell it to pay themselves their Legacies as Given in this my Will but if my wife Continue my Widow till Death she shall Enjoy all that I Die Possest of During her Natural Life Paying the sum of Ten pounds which my Son John Left to put Daniel to Prentice and this I do Declare to be my Last Will and Testament Written upon One Sheet of Paper and signed with my Hand and seal this 6th Day of September in the year of our Lord 1744 In the Presence of John Hillyer, Richard Brown and Robert Harris
John Preston
Witness
John Hillyer
Richard Browne Junr
Robert Harris
Proved 27th April 1745
Sub Value
27th Aprill 1745
Martha preston the sole Executrix named in the within written Will was Sworn well and faithfully to fulfil the Same etc. And that the Testator at the time of his Death was not possessed of Goods and Chattells to the Value of Twenty pounds
Before me
John Clarke Surrogate |