In the Name of God Amen I James Ball of the City of Bristoll Saylemaker being weake in Body but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding thanks be given to Almighty God for the same do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following (that is to say) Imprimis I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body I commit to the Earth from whence it was taken to be decently Interred at the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named and as to that worldly Estate as God hath Blessed me with I dispose thereof as followeth Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Wife Mary Ball all the sume of fifty pounds of lawfull money of great Brittaine in full of all bonds given by me att my Intermarriage with my said Wife for her use Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Samuel Ball all that my messuage or tenement att Whitchurch with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging to hold to him my said son Samuel Ball for and during the whole title and Interest I have therein Item I give and bequeath unto my youngest son James Ball all that my messuage or tenement situate in Marsh Street in the Parish of St Stephens within the City of Bristoll together with the appurtenances thereunto belonging to hold to him my said son James for and during the whole terme and Interest I Have therein Item I give and bequeath unto my said son James the sume of One hundred Pounds of like lawfull money of Great Brittaine and my Will and meaning is that my said Wife shall receive the rents Issues and Profitts of my said Tenements att Whitchurch and Marsh Street and of the said One hundred pounds till my said sons shall respectively attaine the age of One and Twenty years and to be applied towards the Education and maintenance of them and in case either of them shall happen to dye before he comes of age then the share of so dying shall descend and goe to the Survivor and in case both my said sons shall happen to dye before they attaine the said age of one and twenty years then I give and bequeath their said Legacys hereinafter mentioned to my Executrix Item I give and bequeath unto Capt John Roberts and Mr Richard Steele the sume of One hundred and ten pounds of lawfull money of great Brittaine to be paid to them by my Executrix Immediately after my decease to and for the uses hereinafter mentioned(that is to say) that they the said John Roberts and Richard Steere or the survivor of them shall with all convenient speed put out the same on good securitye and to apply the Interest thereof towards the maintenance of my mother Elizabeth Ball for and during her life, and from and after her decease I give and bequeath the same One hundred and ten pounds to my said two sons Samuel and James Ball, Equally to be divided between them Share and Share alike Item I give and bequeath unto my said Wife Mary Ball all my household goods Plate rings Linnen and wareing Apparel of what nature or kind soever and my Will and meaning further is that my said Executrix shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease make a full true and perfect Inventory of all my goods in Trade Chattells moneys and securitys for moneys and all other my reall and personall Estate of what nature of kind soever not before by me given and bequeathed and after my just debts and funeral Expences are first paid and discharged I give the same to be equally divided between my said Wife and two sons share and share alike Item I give and bequeath unto my Wife’s Sister Snooke wife of James Snooke of Gurney Slade in the parish of Biniger in the County of Somersett five pounds of lawfull money of great Brittaine to buy her mourning and lastly I do hereby make Ordaine constitute and appoint the said John Roberts and Richard Steere Overseers of this my Will desiring their aid and Assistance to my Wife Mary Ball whom I do hereby make Ordaine constitute and appoint sole and full Executrix hereof revoking all former Wills by me att any time heretofore made and do publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this fourteenth day of September Anno Dm One Thousand seven hundred and twenty seven        James Ball

Robt Watkins
Gilbt Cobbe
 

Proved at London 30 December 1727
PCC
Prob11/618