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I John Crouch of Dunstable in the County of Bedford Malster being of sound mind memory and Understanding thanks be to God therefore remembering the uncertainty of this life and being desirous to settle my affairs do therefore make and publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following first I give will and devise all that my Messuage or Tenement Situate in a certain place called the Middle Row in the Town of Dunstable aforesaid with all the Appurtenances thereto belonging now in the Tenure or Occupation of George Oliver Butcher and also all that Yard and Barn situate in Pouching alias Pudding lane Occupied with the Workhouse and also that garden adjoining occupied by William Burman Master of the Workhouse in Dunstable aforesaid with the Appurtenances thereto belonging unto my Sister Joanna Bird Widow and her Assigns during the Term of her natural life and from and immediately after her decease I give will and devise the same Messuage or Tenement Yard Barn and Garden with their Appurtenances unto my Niece Joanna Bird Daughter to my said Sister the before named Joanna Bird and to her heirs and Assigns for ever Provided nevertheless if it shall happen that my said Niece Joanna Bird should depart this life before her Mother my said Sister Joanna Bird without lawful Issue living then in such case I give will and devise the same Messuage or Tenement and all other the Premises with their Appurtenances so devised as aforesaid unto my said Sister Joanna Bird unto Hannah Cooke and Mary Crouch the two Daughters of my late Brother James Crouch deceased as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants and to their heirs and Assigns for ever Also I give will and devise unto my Niece Mary Crouch Daughter to my Brother James Crouch deceased the Sum of forty Pounds and to my aforesaid Sister Joanna Bird and to Mr William Worster of Dunstable and to Hannah Cooke Daughter to my Brother James Crouch deceased and to Michael Shourd Bricklayer of Uxbridge in the County of Middlesex the full Sum of Twenty Pounds each and to Elizabeth Crouch Widow and Relict of my Brother James Crouch deceased and to Mark Partridge my Maltman and to Humphrey Rogers Weaver Nephew to my late Wife living in five Inkhorn Alley near the White Lyon in ffashion Street Spittlefields in the Parish of Christ Church Middlesex London and to Luce Patterson Niece to my late Wife living in Halifax Street Coverlys fields in the hamlet of Mile End New Town in the Parish of St Dunstans Stepney London the full Sum of Ten Pounds each and to Richard Cadbury Cordwainer of Dunstable the Sum of five Pounds all the beforesaid Legacys I Appoint to be paid out of my Personal Estate with lawful Money of England by my Executor hereinafter named within eighteen Months next after my decease and in Case of the death of any of them the said Mary Crouch Joanna Bird Widow or her Daughter Joanna Bird Mr William Worster Hannah Cooke Michael Shourd Elizabeth Crtouch Mark Partridge Humphrey Rogers Lucy Patterson or Richard Cadbury before his her or their Legacy becomes due then it is my express mind and Will that the Legacy or Sum of Money so given to him her or them so dying shall be paid to such Person or Persons who shall be found their Legal Representative or Representatives Also I give will and devise unto my Servant Maid that shall live with me at the time of my decease the full Sum of five Pounds to be paid out of my Personal Estate with lawful Money of England by my Executor hereinafter named within Six months next after my decease Also I give will and devise the Sum of Six Pounds of like lawful Money to be paid out of my Personal Estate by my Executor hereinafter named to be laid out in bread within One Month next after my decease and distributed at the discretion of my hereinafter named Executor unto and amongst the necessitous Poor residing in the said Town and Parish of Dunstable Also I give will and devise unto my Niece Joanna Bird out of my Household Goods and furniture the bedstead and Curtains and Rods that stands in my lodging Room with the feather bed Bolster and two Pillows with the three blankets and the Quilt usually lying thereon with the best Chest of Drawers the Pier Glass and dressing Glass with the Six Cain Chairs and Elbow Chair standing in my said lodging Room Also twelve Pewter Plates and six Pewter Dishes siseable from the largest to the smallest that stand in my Kitchen or Dwelling house with the least Pottage Pot but one and lidd and the largest Saucepan and the brass Warming Pan Also one of the large Cherry tree Tables in the best Parlour and the little dressing Table that stands in the Closet next my lodging Room Also the six leather bottom Chairs with the Elbow Chair that stand in the Old Room over the Brewhouse one of them usually standing in the best Parlour Also three pair of Sheets four Table Cloths Six Napkins and six Pillow Cases marked with a black thread I Also give will and devise unto Mrs Sarah Copper Widow of Tillsworth in the County of Bedford my best set of Red and White China consisting of eight Cups and Saucers and one Tea Pot and stand one Tea Cannister one Cream Pot one Sugar dish and Cover with the Bason commonly used with it also Six Coffee Cups of the same Pattern with eight silver Tea Spoons marked with M.R and the best silver Tea Tongs All the Rest and Residue of my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments with their Appurtenances not herein disposed of I give and devise unto my Brother Thomas Crouch his heirs and Assigns for ever And also the Residue and Remainder of my Goods and Chattels Rights and Credits and Personal Estate whatsoever not before disposed of I give and bequeath unto him my said Brother Thomas Crouch Subject to the payment of all my just debts funeral Expences and all incident Charges attending the same and hereby nominate Constitute and ordain my said Brother Thomas Crouch Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament lastly I utterly revoke and make void and of no Effect all other or former Wills by me heretofore made and declare this and no other as and for my last Will and Testament contained in three sheets of Paper In Witness whereof I have to each set my hand and Seal the twentieth day of July One Thousand seven hundred and Seventy John Crouch

Andrew Cooper Junior
Timothy Anderson

Proved 4th October 1770
PCC
Prob11/960
 

This Will was kindly  transcribed and sent in by Ros.

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