IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN the fourteenth day of December, Anno KK Charles the second, 1669

I, William Boardman, of Halliwell in the County of Lancaster, and Parish of Deane, chapman, being in reasonable good health of body, and of sound and perfect mind & memory (praise be to God for the same) but knowing the uncertaity of this life on earth, and being desirious to settle things in good order, revoking all former wills made or pretended to be made, either in word or writing, do make and declare this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following.  And first and principally, I commend my soul to my Almighty God my Creator, assuredlly believing that I shall receive full pardon & free remission of all my sins and be saved by the precious death& merits of my Blessed Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and my body to the earth from whence it was taken to be buried at my Parish Church aforesaid in a decent and christian manner as my Executors hereafter named shall think fit.  And as concerning such wordly estate as the Lord in mercy has lent me, it is my will and mind the same be employed disposed of as herein & hereby expressed & declared.  And first it is my will and mind that after my just due debts which in conscience & right  I owe to any person or persons, and funeral expenses be discharged, they are to be divided into three equal parts.  The first part whereof I reserve to myself to be disposed of as is hereafter declared.  The second part I give to Elizabeth my loving wife.  And the third part I give undto two of my sons (that is to say) Thomas and John Bordman to be divided after this manner, namely Thomas to have threescore pounds and John eight pounds to make his Portion ( already received) equal with the said Thomas.  And the remainder of that part (if any be) to be equally divided betwixt the said Thomas and John Bordman.  

ITEM it is my will and mind that my own third part of goods be thus disposed of, and first I do give and bequeath unto Elizabeth my said wife the sum of ten pounds. 

ITEM I give unto her the standing bed in the parlour with one pair of sheets and the furniture belonging to it, the coach chair and the pillion with its furniture during her life, she continuing to live & constantly dwell in such part if this my house as I shall hereafter allot unto her and keeping herself chaste & unmarried but no longer or other wife. 

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my said son Thomas Bordman the sum of twenty marks (in of my promise to him ) to discharge my daughter Ellen now wife of Willm. Bromiley. Of Heaton,  Elizabeth  (another of my daughters) now wife of  John Alford …….rley.  

ITEM I  do also give unto him the said Thomas all the ………………not to be removed but to be and remain as heirlooms (?) to him & his issue or to give as shall hereafter inherit my lands. 

ITEM I give unto my said daughters Ellen and Elizabeth  five shillings a piece. 

ITEM I give unto my son in law Martin Taylor five shillings. And to my daughter Jane his wife, the virginalls & frame they stand upon, which I have delivered to her already. 

ITEM I give unto my Executors hereinafter named five shillings to be employed & disposed of for the use of my Grandchildren, Willm, Ann & Alice Bordman son & daughters of James Bordman. 

ITEM  it is my will and mine that the remainder of this third part (if any be) as also those goods )conditionally given to my wife ) when they fall be equally divided amongst three of my children, namely John, Ellen & Elizabeth. 

And further it is my will and mind that in case any of my children be discontented with this my last will, & raise any suit against my Executors concerning the same, that then it shall be lawful for my said Executors to detain & keep back all such portions or legacies as I have hereby given them or any of them until such times as they or every of them shall give my said Executors a full discharge.  It is also my will & mind that there be chosen 20 able men to carry my corpse to my grave.  And then there be given 12 pence a piece.  And  to the poor pence a piece. 

ITEM  It is my will and mind and I desire my son Thomas. or whomsoever of my children as shall inherit my lands to permit and suffer Elizabeth my said wife to have the parlour, the little milkhouse and the stable with free passage the same and one usual ways for her own use during the term of her natural life, if she please thereto dwell & keeps herself chaste and unmarried. But in case she do not make her constant abode there but absent herself for the space of three months at the most or if she marry or be of unchaste then it is my will and mind that she be forced out of the premises goods conditionally given her for life.  And have nothing but only her third part of goods.

It is also my will & mind & I do hereby require & charge all my children that they forebear to vex or trouble my said wife but peaceably permit & suffer her to enjoy & have what I have given her. Lastly I do constitute & appoint my loving sons Thomas Bordman & John Bordman my lawful Executors & to execute this my last will & testament as my trust is in them reposed.  And I desire my loving friends & kingsmen Thomas Bordman of Bolton & John Johnson of Halliwell aforesaid to be  overseers of the same and to be aiding and assisting to my said Executors to see my last will and testament performed according to the true intent & meaning thereof..

In Witness thereof I, Willm Bordman

have hereunto put my hand & seal the days and year above written.