Rushden Research Group: will John Church 1725

Transcribed by E G Parker, Orewa, New Zealand, 28 Jan 2010

John Church – will 1725

In The Name of God Amen I John Church of Wymmington
the County of Bedford Butcher being in pretty good health
for which I bless God & being desirous to settle my estate do make
this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following
…….. …[illegible on photocopy]……. … …… ……. …….. …..
My body I commend to the Earth to be decently and ………
buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter named
My Worldly estate I dispose of as followeth. First of all I give
To ^my Loving Wife Elizabeth Church all my goods Chattels and
personal estate of what name and Denomination soever to en-
able ^ her with the same to discharge all my Lawfull Debts and Fu-
neral charges and I do also nominate and appoint her my
said Wife Elizabeth Church the sole Executrix of this my
last Will and Testament. Item I give & devise to my said wife Elizabeth
Church my eighteen acres of arable land (be the same more or less)
with the commons of pasture & all other appertenances …….
belonging lying dispersedly in the several & respective fields of
Wymmington Aforesaid for and during the term of her natu-
-ral life onely, to assist her in the maintenance of herself and
the education of my children ; And from and after her decease
I give and devise the said eighteen acres of land with all their
appertenances to my eldest son Samuell Church and to his heires
forever upon this special trust, condition & proviso that he my
said son Samuell shal pay to my other children these several legac-
-eys hereafter mentioned (that is to say) To my eldest daughter Elizabeth
Church Twenty pounds of Lawfull money of Great Britain, To my
daughter Sarah Church Twenty pounds of like lawful money, To
my daughter Mary Church Twenty pounds of like lawful
money and To my son Thomas Church Twenty and five pounds
of like lawful money; All which Legacys my Will is shall be paid
by my Said Son Samuell Church within Twelve moneths after my
Said wifes decease to such of my children which shal then be
the age of one and twenty years if my Said Son Samuell shall
then be Twenty and one years old but if he my Said Son Samu-
-ell shall at the time of my Said wifes death be under the age of
Twenty and one years Then my Will is that my Said Son Samuell
shall pay to My Daughters Elizabeth and Sarah their respective
Legacys abovementioned within one moneth after he my Said
Son Samuell is Twenty and one years old and that he likewise shall
pay to my Daughter Mary and to my Son Thomas above mention-
-ed their respective legacys as they severally shall arrive to the age
of one and twenty years. In Witness wherof I have set to
my hand and Seall this Eighth day of December in the year of Our
Lord 1721

Signed Sealed Published and declared
to be the Last Will and Testament of the
Said Testatour in the presence of us who
subscribe our names in his presence.
John Church
Ri: Newcome
Anne Newcome
her
Eliza
beth ~ Web
mark

Buried 13Feb1725/6 Wymington

Wills - Master Index

Bedfordshire Record Office Ref. ABP/W 1725-26/76