In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Ekins of Rushden in the County of Northton do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and fform Following In the first place I commend my soul unto almighty God hoping for mercy through the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ my Saviour and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named as near to my dear Father and Mother in the Chancell of Rushden as conveniently may be as for the temporal Estate which God hath blessed me with I dispose of the same in the manner following In the first place I desire and my mind and Will is that all my just debts be punctually paid Then I give and devise unto my Nephew George Ekins of Wellingborow in the County of Northton and his heirs and assignes forever all my Lands Tenements and Hereditaments lying and being in the ffeilds and Parish of Rushden and elsewhere when he shall attain the age of twenty one years and until he shall attain the age of twenty one years my mind and Will is that my Executor hereinafter named shall put out to Interest on Land Security the money arising out of the rents and profits of the said Lands Tenements and Hereditaments or purchase copyhold Land in Rushden not Bondhold but Freehold if may be for the benefit of the said George Ekins my Executor  deducting all reasonable and necessary charges out of the said rents profits etc. I do also give unto my Nephew George Ekins one thousand pounds provided my said Nephew George Ekins and his Mother Mary Ekins of Wellingborow widow acquieste in a bargain of and for the moiety of some cows horses and the moiety of a crop of grain and some part of which Goods Chattels etc. were taken and received by my Brother George Ekins of Wellingborow ffather of my said Nephew George Ekins yet the said bargain was not discharged in form by my said Brother George Ekins and me but there was more money considerable due to me and had been for some time than the Balance thereof and Whereas there was some plate said to be divided between my said Brother George Ekins and me of which there is or was a Note in the large Chest in the Room commonly called my Mothers room in Rushden which plate (and I apprehend and some other) the said Mary Ekins Widow late Wife of my Dear Brother George doth detain in her custody and also keepeth the key of the said Chest in Rushden in which Chest there yet remain some things undivided which I cannot come at nor the use of the Chest now in case my Nephew George Ekins and his Mother do not agree to the terms above mentioned about the Moiety of the stock Grain Money etc. and to restore and bring to me or my Executor my full share of plate etc. Then I Give the said one thousand pounds before given or intended to be given to my said Nephew George Ekins unto my Neices Mary and Elizabeth Ekins Daughters of my Brother John Ekins to be equally divided between them in case they be living at my decease and in case any one or both them should dye before their and her Legacy becomes due then my mind and Will is that such Legacy or Legacies shall go to my Executor hereinafter named I also give unto my Nephew George Ekins one peice of Gold value five pounds and five shillings my Silver Tankard my Gold Shirt Buttons my Silver Watch with Studded Case my great Bible my Diamond ring of fifteen Diamonds and my Share of plate that is in the hands of his Mother Mary Ekins of Wellingborow Widow all which several things I would have him keep in memory of my Dear Mother and me and my mind and Will is that my Executor do pay or give unto my Nephew George Ekins half a Guinea every Quarter of a year towards his pocket expences whilst he shall continue at school and that my Executor will allow him whilst at school or otherwise in business as he grows bigger somewhat more if he behaves himself well to the good liking of my Executor and not else whom I will and order to deduct such moneys and all other paid to my said Nephew George Ekins and all reasonable Charges out of the rents and profits of the Lands Tenements Hereditaments moneys etc. given to my said Nephew George Ekins and my mind and Will is that the said Lands Tenements and Hereditaments and moneys and plate so given to my said Nephew George Ekins be under the management of my Executor only in Trust for my said Nephew George Ekins till he shall attain the age of twenty one years but if it should happen that my Nephew George Ekins should dye before he shall attain the age of twenty one years or be unmarried without Issue Male lawfully begotten then I give and devise the said Lands Tenements and Hereditaments unto my kinsman Robert Ekins of Saint Mary Hill London his heirs and assigns forever and my mind and Will is that if my Nephew George Ekins accepts of the thousand pounds on the conditions above mentioned which is his manifest and sole advantage to do then I give to my Neices Mary and Elizabeth Ekins Daughters of my Brother John Ekins three hundred pounds each if they be living at the time of my decease and ten pounds a peice to buy them mourning I also give unto Robert Draper of Denton in the County of Northton forty shillings a year to be paid him Quarterly during the term of his natural life the first payment to commence at the first Quarter day after my decease a suit of my cloths two fflaxen shirts two handkercheifs two stocks hat and Wigg a pair of my shoes and stockens and a Great Coat I also give unto Nicholas Matthews of Knotting in the County of Bedford my Shepherd ten pounds a suit of my cloths two fflaxen Shirts two Stocks a Great Coat and four of my Ewes such as he shall choose if he be living with me at the time of my decease I also give unto William Oakes of Rushden aforesaid Butcher fifty pounds one good suit of my cloths of the best sort and a good Great Coat a Hat two pair of Stockins one of my Riding Horses or Mares not the worst desiring him to use the said Horse and Mare reasonably well and I earnestly intreat and desire the said William Oakes to live soberly and temperately I also give him four good fflaxen shirts four handkercheifs four Stocks and a Silver Stock Buckle and one fat cow if he be living at the time of my decease to buy him mourning I also give unto Ann Mabbott wife of Samuel Mabbott of Scaldwell in the County of Northton Yeoman forty shillings a year to be paid her quarterly and to no other person on her behalf during her coverture and in case it should happen that she should be a Widow then I give unto the said Ann Mabbott three pounds a year more to make her annuity five pounds a year to be paid her Quarterly during her natural life or so long as she continues a Widow I also give unto the said Ann Mabbott three pair of good sheets two pair of hemp one pair of fflaxen three pillow Drawers four shifts four handkercheifs two suits of Capps or headcloths if I have any by me at the time of my decease if I should have no shifts by me that be sound and good then I give unto the said Ann Mabbott new fflaxen Cloth to make her four shifts and for no other use I also give to the said Ann Mabbott the Bedstead Curtains ffeather Bed Bolster Pillows and Bedding that my dear Mother used to lye on and which I now use or lye on the Chest of Drawers in the Room called my Mothers Room and the rest of the furniture there except six matted Chairs I also give unto the said Ann Mabbott my best Bible next the Great one my best common Prayer Book and whole duty of Man a good Table Cloth and twelve good Napkins a Gold Ring such as she shall choose out of those I have by me I would advise her to have that I had at the ffuneral of Mr. Waring Ashbys good Lady if it is by me at my decease if not some other she shall choose I also give the said Ann Mabbott five pounds to buy her mourning and I would have her have some of my Dear Mothers and Sisters Woollen and Linnen apparel as my Executor shall think proper to whom I recommend for her faithfull care of and tenderness to my Dear Mother and her just and constant civility to me I also give unto the poor of the parish of Rushden seven pounds to be paid within one month at the furthest or sooner if conveniently may be after my decease at the discretion of my Executor in distributing of which money I would have the sober and antient Widows and diligent poor who endeavour to live without Collection preferred I also give unto William Perrin of Rushden by me called Thatcher Robert Ingram Richard White the Elder John Corby John Nuton and John Holon and to Richard Bettle ten shillings each if they work with me at the time of my decease except Perrin when work is done and I would have them paid at my funeral or the day following I also give unto James Colson of Rushden Shoemaker a suit of Cloths hat and Wigg and I do remit and forgive James Colson aforesaid what moneys he shall owe me for rent or on any other amount at my decease I also give unto Elizabeth Colson wife of the said James Colson five pounds a pair of Good Sheets Pillow drawer two Shifts if I have any by me at my decease and some Linnen or Woollen of my dear Mother’s and Sisters if my Executor approves thereof for her civility to my dear Mother and me if she be living at my decease I also give unto William Howton of Rushden Taylor twenty shillings a Suit of my Cloths pair of Stockens pair of Shoes a hat and Wigg I also give unto Thomas ffletcher if he living with me at the time of my decease ten pounds a good suit of my Cloths and in case I have none fresh and good left after the others above mentioned be given away I would have a thorough Suit bought for him I also give him four good fflaxen Shirts or Cloth to make them four handkercheifs four Stocks two pair of my Stockens a pair of shoes and a hat I also give unto Mary Gascoing Wife of Samuel Gascoing of Loddington in the County of Northton Labourer twenty shillings two pair of Sheets two Pillow Drawers if she be living at the time of my decease I also give unto each of my hired servants that live in the house with me and have lived with me above one year ten shillings each except to my Servant called my headman to whom I give twenty shillings as an addition to his Wages or a Legacy to be paid within one week after my decease and my mind and Will is that if my Maid Servant that is called my Housekeeper shall have lived with me above one year that then such Maid Servant shall have twenty shillings a year for every year after the first year as an addition to her Wages a Suit of Mourning Headcloths two Shifts and two handkercheifs I also give unto Ann Ekins second Daughter of my kinsman Robert Ekins of Saint Mary Hill London fifty pounds my Gold Watch a ring of a Guinea value I also give unto my very good ffriend and most Worthy Gent Jeremy Sambrooke of Gubbins in the County of Hartford Esquire a ring of one Guinea value if he pleases to accept the same which I presume to offer as a gratefull acknowledgement of his constant goodness to all persons and me in particular I also give unto my good Couzen Ekins of Chester Widow John Ekins of Northton Hosier and to Robert Ekins of Saint Mary Hill London to each a ring of twenty shillings I also give unto Richard Robins of Keyshoe in the County of Bedford Grazier twenty pounds I also give to John Reeve of Chelston in the County of Northton Yeoman twenty pounds I also give unto Robert Achurch of Rushden aforesaid Yeoman ten pounds I also give unto John Rennall of Wellingborow in the County of Northton Barber ten pounds if living at my decease and my mind and Will is that my Executor hereinafter named do pay the several Legacies here severally given as they shall become due and I do charge my personall and reall Estate with the payment thereof and all my just debts all the rest of my Estate undisposed of I give unto my Kinsman Robert Ekins of Saint Mary Hill London (desiring my said Kinsman to give unto William Wright that now lives with me and if living with me at the time of my decease a suit of my Cloths if any be left if not something as an equivalent taking off the plate Buttons off my Cloths whom I make Executor of this my last Will and Testament) hereby revoking all former Wills by me at any time made In Witness whereof I have this twenty ninth day of October one thousand seven hundred and thirty nine set my hand and Seal. Thomas Ekins. Signed Sealed published and declared to be the last Will and Testament of Thomas Ekins by the said Thomas Ekins in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have set our hands as Witnesses to the same. Be it remembered that the Interlineations were inserted before the Execution of the above Will.

Ephraim Cox.
John Morris.
The mark of William Emerton

This Will was proved at London the tenth day of January in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty nine (1740) before the Worshipfull Robert Chapman Doctor of Laws and Surrogate to the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prorogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Robert Ekins the sole Executor named in the said Will to whom administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased was granted being first sworn duly to administer the same. Ext.

On the eighth day of April in the yeare of our Lord 1749 power was given to Sarah Ekins widow the relict administratrix of the Goods of Robert deceased (whilst living) the sole residuary Legatee named in Will and Testament late of Rushden in the County of Northton dec’d to administer Goods Chattels & Credits of the said deceased according to the tenure of the Will left unadministered by the said Robert Ekins since also deceased being first sworn to administer.