In the Name of God Amen I William Rice of Rushden in the County of Northampton being through the abundant Mercy of God though weak in Body yet of a sound mind and understanding and Memory do constitute this my last Will and Testament and desire it may be received as such by all, first I humbly bequeath my soul to God my Maker and desire my Burial may be decent with pomp or state as to my Worldly Estate I Will and positively Order that all my Debts be paid then I appoint my dearly beloved Son Richard Rice as my sole Executor for the benefit and use of my dearly beloved wife Rebecca Rice to be freely enjoyed by her the few remaining days that may be allotted for her, and at her decease I give to my well beloved Son James Rice them three Houses situate at the North end of Rushden in the occupation of Samuel Rice, William Linnit and Richard Rice, for him to pay his Brother Daniel Twenty Pound in good and lawful money out of the aforesaid estate.

The other estate that I Bought of Mr Roberts of Higham Ferrers I give the whole together with the Close and appurtenances thereto belonging to my well beloved Son Richard Rice for him to pay his Brother Thomas Rice Fifty Pounds and his Sister Elizabeth Rice Fifty Pounds all of good and lawful money by yearly Installments at five pounds to both per annum, and to his Sister Rebecca Wood to be paid one shilling and sixpence per Week for her life. This is my last Will and Testament in the year of Redemption one Thousand Eight Hundred and fifty seven 1857

Signed William Rice

and John Barry, Witness

Josias Barry do

In the Archdeanary Court of Northampton In the Goods of William Rice deceased Appeared personally John Barry of Rushden in the County of Northampton Shoemaker and made oath that he is one of the subscribed Witnesses to the last Will and Testament of William Rice late of Rushden aforesaid Yeoman deceased which Will bears date the twelfth day of January One Thousand eight hundred and fifty seven and is now hereunto annexed. And he further made oath that on the twelfth day of January aforesaid the said Testator duly executed his said Will by signing his name at the foot or end thereof in the presence of this deponent and of Josias Barry the other subscribed Witness thereto, both of whom were present at the same time – that this Deponent and the said Josias Barry thereupon respectively attested and subscribed the said Will in the presence of the said Testator and also in the presence of each other, as witnesses attesting to the One execution thereof.

On the fourteenth
day of October One thousand
eight hundred and fifty seven,
the said John Barry was duly
sworn to the truth of this affidavit John Barry

Before me
[Rich C W] Hannaford

In the Archdeanary Court of Northampton On the fourteenth day of October 1857 Richard Rice of Rushden within the County of Northampton Builder the sole executor named in the within Will was then sworn well and faithfully to fulfil the same according to Law, and that the Goods Chattels and Credits of the within named deceased at the time of his death which happened August 27 1857 did not amount in value to Twenty Pounds.

Before me
[Rich C W] Hannaford