The Last Will and Testament of Lewis Tapp of Rushden in the County of Northampton Husbandman Imprimis I Commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping for mercy thro’ the alone merits of my Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried and as for my estate I dispose of the same as followeth Item I give and devise all my messuages cottages lands tenements hereditaments and premises with there and every of there appurtenances situate lying and being in the town fields precincts and territories of Rushden aforesaid unto my eldest son Lewis Tapp and to his heirs and assigns for ever subject and chargeable with the payment of one annuity or Rent charge and the several legacies hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) I give and devise unto my dear and loving wife Hannah Tapp one annuity of ten pounds per annum to be issuing out of my messuages lands tenements and hereditaments before devised to my son Lewis Tapp and to be paid unto her by half yearly payments for and during the term of her natural life I also give and bequeath unto my son William Tapp the sum of sixty pounds of lawful money and to my son Edmund Tapp the like sum of sixty pounds and to my two daughters Mary and Hannah Tapp the sum of forty pounds apiece and to be paid to them at their several ages of twenty one years and my said younger children to be paid interest for the same after the rate of five pounds per cent per annum for and towards their maintenance and education and in case any of my said children shall happen to die before they shall attain to their age of twenty one years such their legacies to go and be equally divided between the survivor and survivors of them who shall not inherit and my mind and will is that if my said son Lewis Tapp shall happen to die before he shall attain to the age of twenty one years then I give and devise the aforesaid messuages lands and tenements unto my said son William Tapp and to his heirs and assigns for ever subject and chargeable as aforesaid and if my said son William Tapp shall happen to die before he shall attain to the age of twenty one years then I give and devise the aforesaid messuages lands and tenements unto my youngest son Edmund Tapp and to his heirs and assigns for ever subject and chargeable as aforesaid and whereas my wife being now with child in case such child shall be born alive and live to attain to the age of twenty one years then I give unto such child the sum of forty pounds to be paid and to go as the several legacies before bequeathed to my younger children and the better to enable my said son Lewis Tapp or such son as shall inherit to pay my debts legacies and funeral expenses I give and bequeath unto him all my goods cattle chattells and monies and do make my said son Lewis Tapp sole executor of this my last will and testament and I do order and direct that my goods stock and cattle may be forthwith sold and the monies arising thereby be put and placed out at interest by the consent and approbation of the Reverend Mr Randolph Ekins Rector of Rushden and my cousin Thomas Smith son of Thomas Smith the elder and I do give to them ten shillings apiece for their trouble therein in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the seventh day of April Anno Domini 1727

Lew: Tapp

Signed sealed published and declared by the above
said Lewis Tapp as his last will and testament
in the presence of us who in his presence have set our
hands as witnesses

John Giscard
William Wills
George [Ekins]

The Condition of the within written Obligation
is such that if the within bounden Hannah TAPP the widow relict
Administratrix of all and singular the goods Chattells and Creditts of
Lewis TAPP late of Rushden in the County of Northampton husbandman
dec’d with his Last Will and Testament annexed (being Guardian lawfully
assigned to Lewis TAPP a minor under the age of fourteen years the son
Executor and residuary Legatee named in the Last Will and testament
of the said Lewis TAPP dec’d) during the minority and for the use and
benefit of the said Minor Do make or cause to be made a
true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the goods
Chattells and Creditts of the said dec’d which shall come to her
hands possession or knowledge and the same so made Do Exhibit
or cause to be Exhibited into the Registry of the within named Lord
Bishop on or before the Last day of July next ensuing and all and
singular the said Goods Chattells and Creditts of the said dec’d do
faithfully and truly administer according to the last will
& testament of the said dec’d paying
the debts of the said dec’d and the Legacies in the said Will contained
and given and further do make & Exhibit or cause to be made and
Exhibited a just and true account of and upon her said
administration and all the rest residue and remainder of the said
goods Chattells and Creditts of the said dec’d which shall be
found remaining upon the said administratrix’s account the
same being first Examined and approved shall deliver
and pay unto such or persons as the said Judge or Judges
for the time being by his or their decree or Sentence shall
limit and appoint then this Obligation to be void or else to
remaine in full force.

Sealed and delivered
in the presences of
Will GURNALL
Tho SMITH
Robt ACHURCH