In the
name of God Amen this fourteenth day of May in the year of our Lord God one
thousand six hundred eighty and five I
First I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who hath made me and all mankind and to Jesus Christ my alone Saviour and Redeemer hoping assuredly by his merits death and passion to be saved and to receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among them that are sanctified by faith in Christ Jesus
Secondly I commit my body to the earth whereof it was made and to be buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and as for my temporall estate which the Lord hath been pleased to bless me with all I dispose of as followeth
Imprimis I give and bequeath all my messuages tenements lands and hereditaments
with the appurtenances lying and being at Harford in
the Parish of Naunton in the County of Gloucester and
also one Quarterne Lands with the appurtenances
called Smith Mill in the Parish of Bourton-on-the-Water unto my grandson the
son and heir apparent of my daughter Mary Collett the wife of
And as
concerning my copyhold messuages tenements and lands
with the appurtenances with Liberty and Fields of Upper Slaughter and Lower Slaughter
except one messuage or tenement wherein Humphrey
Smith now liveth I do likewise give and bequeath unto
my said grandson
And the copyhold lands my will is that my said grandson shall have it all except before excepted with the appurtenances whereby so ever it shall fall by custom to the surrendee in court unto him but if it please God that my said grandson shall die without issue hale of his body then to the second son of my said daughter Mary
My will is that such second son shall hold and enjoy my free land and if such second son die without issue hale then to the third or fourth son if there be any successively
But for want of such issue hale then I do give and bequeath the same unto my granddaughter Anne Collett and for want of issue of her body then to go to my granddaughter Mary Collett and to her heirs and for want of issue of her body then to my granddaughter Elizabeth Collett and her heirs
And in
case there be any issue hale of my daughter Mary Collett begotten by her now
husband
And to my granddaughter Mary Collett the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds at the age of eighteen years
And I do likewise give to my granddaughter Elizabeth Collett the sum of one hundred pounds when she shall come to the age of eighteen years to be paid unto her provided always
And my further will is that no person or persons that are herein concerned or to have any benefit by this my Will and Testament shall have power to make sale or sales of the said estates or to make any manner of impeachment of waste of any part of the said lands and premises herein mentioned as aforesaid
And I do allow unto my said grandson ten pounds a year out of my free lands payable at Michelmas and Lady Day in his early years for his maintenance and education until he shall come to the age of eighteen years
And to my three said granddaughters twenty nobles apiece paid out of my copyhold estates for their maintenance and education until they shall accomplish the age of eighteen years with power and authority to distrain for the same if at any time their or either of their said sums shall be behind or unpaid
Item I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Bridget Collett all that my tenement in Lower Slaughter before excepted with all houses garden and backside with the appurtenances thereunto belonging now in the possession of Humphrey Smith for and during the term of her natural life and also one yearly rent or annuity of twenty nobles a year of lawful money of England to be paid her for the term of her life out of the rents issues and profits of the aforementioned copyhold lands without fraud or defaultation
Item I do give and bequeath unto her the second best cow beast that shall be in my possession at the time of my decease and also one cow common or beast pasture yearly for her life in the Liberty and Fields of Lower Slaughter aforesaid and likewise two substantial loads of good fire wood yearly during the term of her life to be duly paid produced and delivered to her or for her use at the said tenement on the first day of November yearly
And I do hereby will and assign such person and persons that shall be possessed of my said estate of copyhold by virtue of this my last Will and Testament do permit and suffer my said wife to have hold and enjoy the aforesaid copyhold messuage and tenement and appurtenances for and during the term of her natural life
But if my said wife shall refuse to accept of this my bequest and devise in manner aforesaid devise then my will and meaning is and I do hereby declare that she shall have no more of my estate than she can or may recover by and due course of law
And I do
hereby ordain nominate and appoint my son-in-law
And I
request Hercules Lydall of Lower Swell in the
And I do desire them to be aiding and assisting to my said Executor in the execution of this my Will and likewise to see my will proved in due time
And I do hereby order and appoint them twenty shillings apiece and to be paid unto them their necessary charges and expenses concerning the same
And lastly I give and bequeath to my said grandson the beadsteads tables frames and boards cupboards and presses and iron bound chest and coffer in the house wherein I now live to continue to him and his heirs
And I do hereby make revoke and make void all other Will and Wills here before made before the date hereof in witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written
in the presence of Robert Grainger, John Troy and John Fox
His daughter Mary Collett (Ref. 14H8)
His son-in-law and nephew
His nephew
His grandchildren
Mary Collett (Ref. 14I10), and Elizabeth Collett (Ref. 14I11)