Will of John SMITH, dated 21st Sep 1761
In the Name of God Amen I John SMITH of Rushden in the County of Northampton Shepherd being of Sound Mind & Memory tho Weak in Body Do make this my last Will & Testament in Manner & Form following First of all I recommend my Soul into the Hand of God that gave it hoping thro the Merits of our Lord Jesus Christ to find Mercy And as for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and Decent Manner at the Discretion of my Executrix hereinafter Named And as for such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I give & bequeath as follows I give Devise & bequeath unto my Beloved Wife Sarah All my seven Acres and three Rods of Arable Land and Ley Ground (be the same more or less) being Dispersed in the fields of Rushden aforesaid with all their Appurtenances to the same belonging I give the above Mentioned real Estate to my said Wife for the Term of her Natural Life And after her Decease I give Devise and bequeath the same real Estate unto my Kinsman Joseph SERGEANT the Eldest Son of my Brother Henry SERGEANT his Heirs and Assigns forever Upon this Express Condition That he pays out of it two Guineas to his own Mother and two Guineas to each of his own Brothers and Sisters that may or shall be then Living And I do hereby Charge my real Estate with the payment of those Legacies that I have given to my Sister and her own Children My mind and Will is that my Kinsman Joseph SERGEANT should pay the Legacies that I have given out of my real Estate within twelve Calender Months after he possesses the same I give & bequeath unto my Beloved Wife Sarah SMITH All my personal Estate Namely my Houshold Goods Monies and Chattels and all moveables whatsoever and wheresoever as are mine And all my stock belonging to Husbandry She my said Wife paying all my just Debts and funeral Charges out of it and I do Nominate Constitute and Ordain my said Wife Sole and only Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and do confirm this and no other to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal This 21st of September and in the Year of our Lord 1761
The mark of “X” John SMITH (red seal affixed beside his mark)
Signed Sealed Published & Declared by
the said John SMITH the Testator as and
for his last Will & Testament in
the presence of Us Who in his presence
and at his request have set our Names
as Witnesses whereof
Wm BLOSSOM
The mark of X John BAKER
John FISHER
On the 11th Day of May in the year of Our
Lord 1762 the within Named Sarah SMITH the
Sole Executrix Named in the above & within Will
was then Sworne faithfully to Execute the same according
to Law and so forth
Before us Tho: HOLME LLB Surrogate
Probated granted 1th May 1762
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