In the Name of God Amen I CHRISTOPHER DIXON of Middleham in the County of York Malster being sick and weak in body but of sound and disposeing mind and memory praised be God I do hereby make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner following to wit I give and devise and bequeath unto my brother ROBERT DIXON of Middleham all that my messuage or tenement with appurtenances now in possession of ELIZABETH WRAY situate in Kirkgate in Middleham... and also 6 cattlegates on Middleham Moor To hold to him my said brother ROBERT DIXON for and during the term of his natural life and after the decease of my brother ROBERT DIXON I give and devise and bequeath all that said messuage and 6 cattlegates unto my two nephews the sons of my sister ANN GILL widow to wit JOHN GILL and ROBERT GILL To have and to hold .... and I do hereby further give and devise and bequeath unto my said nephews JOHN GILL and ROBERT GILL all those my lands and premises situate at Middleham now in my own possession ... And my further mind and will is and I do hereby give and devise unto JOHN GILL and ROBERT GILL the premises herein after mentioned after the decease of my loveing wife ANN DIXON to wit all that Malthouse now in my own possession also a warehouse now in the possession of WILLIAM DIXON and CHRISTOPHER DIXON a chamber now in the possession of GEORGE ATKINSON another chamber now in the possession of JOHN JEFFERSON and a cellar now in the possession of FRANCIS THOMPSON ... all in Middleham .... To have and to hold to JOHN GILL and ROBERT GILL after the death of my said wife ANN DIXON ... I do hereby give and devise and bequeath to my neice MARY GILL daughter of my sister ANN GILL the sum of £50 of lawful money ... when she attains 21 years ... paid out of the lands devised to my nephews JOHN GILL and ROBERT GILL ... and in default of payment she may enter into the said lands and tenements.... And as to all my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever .... give and devise the same to my said loveing wife ANN DIXON and I hereby desire that my loveing cozen THOMAS DIXON of Burton in the parish of Aisgarth will take upon him the care and management of all my real estate hereby given and bequeathed unto my nephews JOHN GILL and ROBERT GILL until they shall attain respectively the age of 21 years and receive and take the rents and profits ... and apply the same to their maintenance and education. And also that the said THOMAS DIXON will be a trustee to see the due administration of my Last Will and Testament .... and I do constitute and nominate and appoint my loveing wife ANN DIXON executrix of the my last Will and testament in witnesses whereof I the said CHRISTOPHER DIXON have set my hand and seal this 3 April 1750

Witnesses H Lindsey, Thomasin Hall, Hen. Thornton

From the North Riding of Yorkshire Registry of Deeds at Northallerton

L 236 137