In the name of god amen this 24 day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord god 1631 I John Darling of Rushden in the County of North’ husbandman being sicke of body but of a perfect memory thanks be given to god for the same do make and ordayne this my last will and Testament in manner and fourme as followeth First I bequeath my soule into the hands of Almighty god my maker and my body to be buryed within the Churchyard of Rushden

In primis I give to my Elder sonne Thomas Darling my halfe yard land with my whole Crope of wheat corne peasse and hay that lyeth within the fields and medow of Rushden with all my freehold land in Laten in Huntingdonshire

Item I give to my sonne Thomas foure horses two shod cartes two short cartes with plowes and plow geares with cart and cart geares and the furniture theirto belonging

Item I give to my sonne Thomas three Beasse on heifer and on yearling Bullocke

Item I give to my sonne Thomas two score hogges with all the Timber and firewood in the yard

Item I give to my sonn Thomas on Trusbed in the parlor with all the furniture therto belonging

Item I give to my sonn Thomas on Cubord in the hall on low table in the same some ix buffet stooles on chayer with the third part of the pewter the third part of the Linnen with the best Chest and on [stannell] baren blanket

Item I give to my sonne Thomas the biggest great kettell the biggest brasse pott with on great brasse pann

Item I give to my sonne John all my freehold Land in Thurligh paying unto his Brother Thomas [ij] score pounds when the said Land doth fall unto him and yf it doth fall out [so] that the sayd land shall come to Thomas by desent that then the sayd Thomas shall pay threescore pounds [to the said John] when it fals unto him

Item I give to my sonne John xx£ to be payd x£ that day twelmonth after my decease and x£ that day two yeares after my decease

Item I give to my sonn John on Browne bullocke on trusbed in the upper chamber with the furniture therto belonging on great Chest in the same roome on Table in the same roome the mydle brasse pott on new Kettell with the third part of the Linnen and the third Part of the pewter and the [Penn] in the Hall

Item I give to my sonne George threescore pounds to be payd at foure severall payments by mye Executor that is to say ten pounds that day twelmonth after my decease on ten pounds that day two yeares after my decease twentieth pounds seaven yeares after my decease and xx£ when the lease of that land in Laten in Huntingdonshire is expired

Item I give to my sonne George on red pid Bullocke on cubord in the parlor on Trusbed in the same roome with the furniture theirto belonging on Chest in the same roome the best pann the best pott the third part of the pewter the third part of the Linnen on framed fourm on …

Item I give to my Sister Margets thre shilling four pence

Item I give to my Cousen Robinson two shillings

Item I give to Mary Fardell two shillings

Item all the rest of my goods and …………………….. debts and funeral discharged I give to my sonne Thomas whom I make the sole Executor of this my last will and Testament

The mark of John Darling

Witness unto

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…….. (blotted)

Note: An inventory totalling £65 13 0 follows the will in the volume but much of it is unreadable