In the Name of God Amen The first day of June in the Twenty second year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain ffrance and Ireland King Defender of the ffaith and so forth and in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and forty nine I Mary Andrews of Leighton Bussard in the County of Bedford Spinster being in good health of Body and of sound and perfect mind and memory (God be praised) Do make this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) ffirst and principally I do commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator trusting to be saved by the Merits of Jesus Christ my Redeemer. ffor my Body I commit the same to the Earth decently to be buried and for my Worldly Goods and Estate I dispose therof as followeth. Imprimis I do nominate and appoint give will and devise unto Joyce Stevens my kinswoman and to her heirs and Assigns forever All that my customary Copyhold Cotage or tenement wherein Humphrey Vesey lately dwelt and Edmund Dawson now dwelleth called the White Hart situate and being in Leighton Bussard aforesaid next the ground of Mr William Baskerfield North and fronting East to the Street And also all that my Copyhold four acres and a half of land in the Ffield of Leighton Bussard aforesaid Also all that my ffreehold Messuage Cotage or Tenement in Leighton Bussard aforesaid wherein the widow Clarke now dwells and called the Horse and Jockey And also all that my out acre of Ley Ground (being freehold) in the ffeilds of Leighton Bussard aforesaid And also all houses Outhouses Edifices Buildings Barns Stables Yards Gardens Orchards Backsides Woods Trees Hedges Pitches Mounds ffences Commons Ways Easements Waters Water courses profits and appurtenances to the same premises belonging or appertaining Such Part of the aforesaid premises as arte Copyhold being surrendered to the use of my Will To hold unto the said Joyce Stevens my kinswoman or her heirs for ever subject to the provisions expressed touching the same (that is to say) Provided always and upon this Condition and it is my Will That the said Joyce Stevens my Kinswoman or her heires Do and shall out of the Houses and Lands premises hereinbefore given or devised unto her and her heirs yearly and every year during the term of The natural life of Mary Hurnall my kinswoman for and during the term of her natural life into her own hands and seperate and apart from her present or any future husband one Annuity or yearly sum of Eight pounds by the year of lawfull money of Great Britain free from all Taxes Deductions Repairs and Outgoings at the four most usual ffeasts or Days of payment in the year (that is to say) the ffeast days of Saint John the Baptist Saint Michael the Archangel Saint Thomas the Apostle and the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary by even and equal portions the first quarterly payment to be made at such of the said ffeasts as shall next come after my decease And my Will is that the Receipt or Acquittance of the said Mary (without her Husband) shall be valid and effectual and a sufficient discharge Provided also and my Will is that if the said Joyce Stevens or her heirs shall refuse or neglect to pay the said Mary Hurnall the said Annuity or yearly sum of Eight pounds by the year according to this my Will and default shall be made in payment thereof then my Will is that the said Mary Hurnall shall or may enter upon all the said Houses Lands and premises and their appurtenenances (as well ffreehold as copyhold) so given to the said Joyce Stevens my kinswoman and heirs and hold and enjoy the same and receive and take the Rents Isues and Profits thereof until the said Mary Hurnall my kinswoman shall be fully satisfied and paid the said Annuity or yearly sum and the Arrears thereof and all Costs and Charges on entring on the same premises anything in this my Will contained to the contrary therof in anywise notwithstanding Item I do give will and devise unto Mary ffox my kinswoman the wife of Benjamin ffox of Leighton Bussard aforesaid Grasier and to her heirs All that my Moiety or half part of all those two Customary Closes of pasture Ground in Leighton Bussard aforesaid late in the occupation of Robert Ashwell Esquire and now of Adam Thompson lying in or near Rawlin's Lane and ffarm Lane And all my Moiety or half part of all........Commons and appurtenances to the same ..........And also all that my ffreehold Close of arable Land ley or grass Ground in Leighton Bussard aforesaid called Chapmans Close with all woods Trees Mounds ffences Profits Commons and appurtenances to the same belonging To hold to the same Mary ffox my kinswoman and to her heirs and Assigns for Ever Item I do give and bequeath unto Thomas Price the Elder my kinsman the sum of fourscore pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid out of my personal Estate within one year next after my decease. Item I do give and bequeath unto Anne Townsend my kinswoman (the wife of Hugh Townsend) the sum of ffourscore pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid out of my personal Estate within one year next after my decease Item I do give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Mathews my kinswoman and sister to the said Thomas Price the sum of fforty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid out of my personal Estate within one year next after my decease Item I do give and bequeath unto Sarah Butcher my kinswoman then wife of Thomas Butcher the som of fforty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to her seperate and apart from her husband out of my personal Estate within one year next after my decease; and my Will and mind is that her aquittance and receipt shall be a sufficient discharge for the same without her Husband. Item I do give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Stevens my kinswoman the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid by my Executrix out of my personal Estate within one year next after my decease Item I do give and bequeath unto James Gregory my kinsman son of Susannah Gregory Widow deceased the late Relict of John Gregory my late kinsman the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid him out of my personal Estate within one year after my decease Item I do give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Hanwell my kinswoman the wife of Abraham Hanwell the sum of fforty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid out of my personal Estate within one year next after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas Stevens my kinsman the sum of Twenty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid out of my personal Estate within one year next following my decease Item I do give five pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be distributed by my Executrix hereinafter named out of my personal Estate amongst the poor people Inhabitants of Leighton Bussard aforesaid as she shall think fit within one year next after my decease Item I do give and bequeath unto Anne Lucas my kinswoman sister to the said James Gregory the sum of Twenty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain Item all the rest and remainder of my money Goods Chattells and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever unbequeathed after my Debts Legacies and ffuneral expences are and shall be fully satisfied and paid I do give and bequeath unto Joyce Stevens my kinswoman and............I appoint Joyce Stevens sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament written and contained in this and the other three sheets of paper hereto annexed utterly revoking and making void all former Wills by me heretofore made Do pronounce and declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof the said Mary Andrews the Testatrix have to the first three sheets sett my hand only But this fourth and last my hand and seal the day and year fist above written
 
Robt Ashwell
Mary Osborn
John Millard Jun
 
Proved 24 July 1749
 
Bedford Record Office