This is the last Will and Testament of me William Achurch of Rushden in the County of Northampton Farmer which I do make and publish as follows that is to say First I direct that all my just debts and funeral expences be paid and satisfied I appoint William Smith of Creaton in the said County Farmer Cuthbert Curtis of Wellingborough in the same County Draper and William Fillingham of Wymington in the County of Bedford Farmer Trustees and Executors of this my Will and I bequeath to each of them the sum of Five pounds as a small acknowledgment for the trouble they will have in the execution of this my Will. I give and bequeath to my four sisters All my Linen equally to be divided amongst them and to my niece Mary the wife of John Robinson of Rushden aforesaid Farmer the chest of drawers in my best bed room and my best bed and bedstead bolster pillows hangings and furniture thereto belonging. I give and devise and bequeath unto the said William Smith Cuthbert Curtis and William Fillingham All my Messuage Land Tenement Hereditaments and real Estate whatsoever situate and being at Rushden aforesaid Woodford in the County of Northampton or elsewhere and also all my household goods and Furniture Plate and China Live and dead Farming stock and all other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever (except what is herein before otherwise bequeathed) To hold all and singular my said real and personal Estate and Effects unto the said William Smith Cuthbert Curtis and William Fillingham their Heirs Executors administrators and assigns upon the Trust hereinafter declared of and concerning the same that is to say upon Trust that they my said Trustees or the survivors or survivor of them or the Heirs Executors or administrators of the said survivor do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease sell and absolutely dispose of and convert into money all and singular my said real and personal Estates either by public auction or private Contract and either altogether or in parcels in such manner as they may think proper And do and shall with and out of the money arising therefrom pay all and singular my due debts funeral and testamentary expences and from and after payment and satisfaction thereof and shall pay and divide all the residue of the monies which shall arise or be produced from any my said real and personal Estate and Effects in manner following that is to say As to one sixth part thereof and shall pay the same to my Brother Samuel Achurch to whom I do hereby give and bequeath the same As to one other sixth part thereof do and shall pay the same to my sister Elizabeth the wife of William Wright to whom I do hereby give and bequeath the same As to one other sixth part thereof do and shall pay the same to my sister Mary Watkin widow to whom I do hereby give and bequeath the same As to one other sixth part thereof do and shall pay the same to my sister Sarah Ann Achurch of Saint Neots widow to whom I do hereby give and bequeath the same As to one other sixth part thereof do and shall pay the same to my sister Jane Munns widow to whom I do hereby give and bequeath the same And as to the remaining sixth part thereof do and shall pay the same to my sister Elizabeth the wife of William Wright to whom I do declare that my said Trustees do and shall place the same out at Interest on mortgage or .....sments (with full power alter and vary the same) and do and shall pay the Interest therof from time to time as the same that become due unto my Brother John Achurch for and during the term of his natural life and from and after his decease that my said Trustees do and shall pay distribute and devise the last mentioned sixth part of the residue of the monies to arise or be produced from my said real and personal Estate and Effects out between and amongst all and every the Child and Children of my said Brother John Achurch who shall be living at the time of his decease and the issue of such of them as shall be then dead in equal shares and proportions such issue to take a ... share out...... [the rest is difficult to decipher on our photocopy]

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the tenth day of May One thousand eight hundred and Thirty six.

[Signed by] Wm Achurch

Witnesses
George Burnham
Wm Ravens Pope
Thos Jno Starling

A codicil is attached regarding payments to his sister Mary Wallis:-

Now therefore I do by this my Codicil which I desire may be added to and taken as part of my said Will give and bequeath unto William Smith Cuthbert Curtis and William Fillingham the Trustees and Executors in my said will named the sum of Ninety pounds and I declare that they shall stand possessed thereof Upon such and the same trusts intents and purposes as are in my said late Fathers Will expressed and declared of and concerning the said sum of Seventy pounds bequeathed for the benefit of my said sister Mary Wallis and her Children (both which sums of Ninety pounds and seventy pounds make together the sum of one hundred and sixty pounds) And I do hereby ratify and confirm my said Will in all other respects not hereby altered or revoked. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the tenth day of May One thousand eight hundred and thirty six.

[Signed by] Wm Achurch

Witnesses

George Burnham
John Achurch, Rushden
Robert Achurch, St Neots