In the name of God Amen I Thomas Richards of Rushden in the County of Northampton Yeoman do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in Manner following that is to say First I direct that all my just Debts and Funeral Expences and Legacies shall be fully paid and satisfied I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Martha the Wife of William Spencer the sum of Sixty Pounds, unto my Daughter Elizabeth Knighton Widow the sum of one hundred and sixty pounds, unto my son Henry Richards the sum of four hundred pounds, unto my Daughter Esther the Wife of William Lawrence the sum of sixty pounds, unto my son William Richards the sum of eighty pounds, unto my granddaughter Jane Richards the Daughter of my son William Richards the sum of Fifty Pounds to be severally paid unto them by my Son Charles Richards within twelve months next after my decease But no interest either then or in the meanwhile for the same I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Martha the wife of William Spencer the further sum of One hundred Pounds unto my said Daughter Elizabeth Knighton the further sum of one hundred Pounds unto my said son Henry Richards the further sum of One hundred Pounds unto my said son William Richards the further sum of One hundred Pounds to be severally paid unto them by my said son Charles Richards within two years next after my Decease but no interest either then or in the meanwhile for the same I give and Devise all my Freehold and Copyhold Messuages Cottages Closes Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever situate standing lying and being at Rushden aforesaid or elsewhere in the Kingdom of Great Britain (the Copyhold Part I have surrendered to the use of my Will) unto my son Charles Richards To Hold to him my son the said Charles Richards his Heirs and Assigns forever Subject nevertheless and charged and chargeable with the Payment of the several Legacies before mentioned and at the several times above directed to be paid I do hereby further charge and make liable all my said Freehold and Copyhold Estates in Rushden or elsewhere aforesaid with the Payment of the sum of One hundred and Fifty Pounds and the Interest or Produce thereof in the meantime to be at Four Pounds ten shillings percentum (being my Desire that it shall not be more) I direct my said son Charles Richards to pay the Interest or Produce thereof at Four Pounds Ten Shillings percentum unto my said Son in Law William Lawrence and Esther his Wife for and during their joint Lives and the Life of the longer liver of them and from and after the Decease of the longer liver of them I charge and make liable all my said Freehold and Copyhold Estates in Rushden or elsewhere aforesaid with the Payment of the said sum of One hundred and fifty pounds and to be equally distributed by my said son Charles Richards within six months next after the Decease of the survivor of them the said William Lawrence and Esther his Wife unto and amongst all and every the Child and Children of my said Daughter Esther share and share alike and in Case any of them shall happen to dye before their Legacies shall become due the share of him her or them so dying (leaving no issue) to be paid Share and Share alike to the Survivors I do hereby further Charge and make liable all my said Freehold and copyhold Estates in Rushden or elsewhere aforesaid with the Payment of the Sum of seven hundred Pounds and the Interest or Produce thereof in the meantime to be at four Pounds ten shillings per centum (being my Desire that it shall not be more) I direct my said son Charles Richards to pay the Interest or Produce thereof at Four Pounds ten shillings per centum unto my son Thomas Richards and Ann his Wife for and during their joint lives and the Life of the longer liver of them and which said Interest at four Pounds ten shillings per centum shall not be subject or liable to the Payment of any of my said son (Thomas Richards’) Debts being intended solely for the Maintenance of his family which I direct my said son Charles Richards to attend to as much as shall lie in his Power and from and after the Decease of the Longer Liver of them the said Thomas Richards and Ann his Wife I charge and make liable all my said freehold and Copyhold Estates in Rushden or elsewhere aforesaid with the Payment of the said sum of Seven hundred Pounds unto the Sons and Daughters of my said son Thomas Richards and Ann his Wife that is to say unto Thomas Richards the sum of one hundred and fifty Pounds unto Charles Richards the sum of one hundred and fifty Pounds unto Frances Richards the sum of one hundred Pounds unto Rebecca Richards the sum of one hundred Pounds unto Jane Richards the sum of one hundred Pounds and unto Sophia Richards the sum of one hundred Pounds and to be severally paid unto them by my said son Charles Richards within six months next after the Decease of the survivor of them the said Thomas Richards and Ann his Wife but in case they shall not have attained to their several ages of twenty one years at the time of the Decease of their Father and Mother then I direct my said son Charles Richards to pay the same Proportion of Interest as each shall respectively be entitled to at four Pounds ten shillings percentum for their respective Education and maintenance and as they shall severally attain to the age of twenty one years I direct my said son Charles Richards to pay the same respectively as they shall attain to the age of twenty one years but in case any either of them shall happen to dye before their respective Shares or Legacies shall become due the Share or Legacy or Shares or Legacies of him her or them so dying (leaving no issue to be paid to the survivor or survivors share and share alike) And as to for and concerning all the Rest and Residue of my Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever or of what Nature or Kind soever the same shall or may consist of (Except the Household Goods and furniture as I intend to give away in my Life Time or may hereafter Direct) at the Time of my Decease I give and bequeath the same and every Part thereof unto my said son Charles Richards to and for his own use and Benefit And I do hereby charge and make liable all my said Freehold and Copyhold Estates in Rushden or elsewhere aforesaid with the Payment of all my just Debts Funeral Expences and all the before mentioned Legacies or Sums of Money aforesaid And I do hereby nominate and constitute and appoint my said son Charles Richards Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former and other Wills by me before made I do declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Richards the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in two Sheets of Paper set my Hand and Seal that this is to say to the first sheet my hand and to this second and last Sheet my hand and seal this Seventh day of April in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety seven.

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Richards the Testator as and for his last
Will and Testament in the Presence of us who at
his Request and in his Presence and in the Presence
of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses

Thos Randoll
John Packwood
Benjamin Chettle