In the Name of God Amen I Benjamin Fox of Leighton Bussard in the County of Bedford Yeoman being in good Health of Body and of sound and disposing Mind and Memory (Praised be God for the same) and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs whilst I have Strength and Capacity to do so Do make and publish this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and making void all former Wills by me at any Time heretofore made; And first and principally I commend my Soul into the Hands of my Creator who gave it and my Body to the Earth to be decently buried at the Discretion of my Executors hereinafter named And as to such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to intrust me, I dispose of the same as followeth, Imprimis I give and devise unto my brother John Fox of Grovebury in the Parish of Leighton Bussard aforesaid, Yeoman And unto my Brother in Law James Gregory of Grovebury aforesaid Gentleman their Executors Administrators and Assigns All those my two Closes of Pasture or Swerd Ground situate lying and being in the Parrish of Linslade in the County of Bucks which I lately purchased of Joseph Gutteridge and Dorothy his Wife with all and singular their and every of their appurtenences Upon the several Intents Trusts and Purposes hereinafter mentioned touching the same Viz Upon this special Trust that they the said John Fox or James Gregory or the Survivor of them or the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor shall from my Death pay and apply the Rents Issues and Profits thereof in the payment of the Interest Money which shall from time to time become due on a certain Mortgage by me made of the said Closes to Mrs Davis of Northampton Widow for Three hundred Pounds And the Residue of the Rents and Profits of the beforementioned Closes (after payment of the Interest of the said Mortgage Money) shall and will be paid and applied for and towards the Education Maintenence Cloathing and putting out Apprentices to such Trades and Employments as the said John Fox and James Gregory or the Survivor of them of the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor my Son Benjamin Fox and my Daughtrs Mary, Martha, Sarah and Susannah Fox or such of them as shall be living at the Time of my Decease until they shall respectively arrive at their age of one and twenty Years And for Cloathing and other Expences necessary for my Son Gregory Fox who is already placed out until he arrive to his age of one and twenty Years And when all and every of my said Children shall have attained their ages of one and twenty Years (or in Case of the Death of any of my said Children before they attain the said age of one and twenty Years) Then I give and devise the said Closes with the appurtenances unto all and every of my said Children which shall beliving at the Time the youngest of my Children shall attain his or her age of one and twenty years and to their Heirs and Assigns forever as Joint tenants and not as Tenants in Common Also I give to my Son Gregory Fox and to his Heirs and Assigns for ever All that Close comonly called Chapmans Close shooting into the Highway leading to Dunstable Also I give and devise to my Son Benjamin Fox and to his Heirs and Assigns for ever All that Building commonly called the Granary situate standing and being in the Parish of Leighton Bussard aforesaid and of the North part of the Yard belonging to the Messuage called the Raven with the appurtenances .....Also I give to my said Son Benjamin Fox my Silver pint Mug, I give to my said Son Gregory Fox my Silver Watch Also I give to my Daughters Mary, Martha, Sarah and Susannah Fox all the wearing Apparel which was my late Wife's equally to be divided between them share and share alike And I also give to each of them my said Daughters Mary Martha, Sarah and Susannah Fox one of my Gold Rings All the rest residue and remainder of my Household Goods, Furniture, Moneys, Corn, Hay, Waggons, Ploughs, Carts, Implements of Husbandry, Goods and Chattells and all other my personal estate of what Nature or Kind soever the same be I give and bequeath unto the said John Fox and James Gregory their Executors Administrators and Assigns In Trustn that they the said John Fox and James Gregory or the Survivor of them or the the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor shall and will as soon after my Decease as they conveniently can sell and dispose thereof for the best Price or Prices that can or may be gotten for the same, and the Moneys arising therefrom, after payment of my just Debts and funeral Expences, shall put and place out at interest upon Government or other good and sufficient Securities for the best Interest that can or may be had for the same And shall and will pay and apply the Interest and Produce thereof to arise and be made for and towards their better Education Maintenance Cloathing and putting out Apprentice such of my said Children as shall not be placed out at the time of my Decease to such Trades or Employments as the said John Fox or James Gregory or the Survivor of them or the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor shall think fit until they shall respectively reach their ages of one and twenty years Also I give and bequeath unto my said son Gregory Fox the Sum of Fifty Pounds when he shall arrive at his age of one and twenty Years Also I give to my Daughter Mary Fox the like Sum of Fifty Pounds when She shall arrive at her said age of one and twenty Years Also I give to my Daughter Martha Fox the like Sum of Fifty Pounds when She shall arrive at her said age of one and twenty Years Also I give to my Daughter Sarah Fox the like Sum of Fifty Pounds when She shall arrive at her said age of one and twenty Years Also I give to my Son Benjamin Fox the like Sum of Fifty Pounds when he shall arrive at her said age of one and twenty Years Also I give to my Daughter Susannah Fox the like Sum of Fifty Pounds when She shall arrive at her said age of one and twenty Years All which said Legacies and Bequests I do hereby direct my Executors to pay out of the Interest of the Moneys so to be raised by the Sale of my personal Estate as aforesaid In Case the Interest is not found sufficient to pay the same (over and above the Trusts before directed) Then I do hereby direct my said Executors and the Survivor of them or the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor to call in so much of the Principal from time to time as shall be necessary for that Purpose And I do hereby charge the said principal Money so to be raised out of my personal Estate as aforesaid with the Payment thereof And when all and every of my said Children shall have attained their said age of one and twenty Years Or in Case of the Death of any of my said Children beforecthey shall attain the same , Then I give and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of the Moneys & personal Estate if any remain unsold which shall remain after the Trusts aforesaid performed unto all and every of my said Children which Shall be living at the Time the youngest of my Children shall attain her age of one and twenty Years to be divided between them share and Share alike And I do hereby make constitute and appoint the said John Fox and James Gregory joint Executors of this my Will In Witness whereof I the said Benjamin Fox have to this my last Will set my Hand and Seal this thirteenth day of March in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and fifty five Benj: Fox
 
Robert Hawkins
Adam Thompson
Thos Deverell
 
A Codicil to be Annexed to the Will of Benjamin Fox
I Benjamin Fox of Leighton Bussard Yeoman do this day make and publish this my Codicil to this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say)I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Jane Fox the sum of Fifty Pounds to be Raised out of my Personall Estate which said sum shall become due and payable at the Expiration of six months after the Decease of my present Wife Elizabeth; And it is my desire that this present Codicil be annexed to and made a part of my last will and Testament to all intents and purposes In Witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this First day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Fifty seven
Benj: Fox
 
Richd Stone
John Mann
 
Proved the 27th day of May 1761 before the revd Owen Gough Clerk Surrogate by the Oaths
of John Fox and James Gregory joint Executors to whom Admon was committed they being
first sworn duly to Administer
 
Bedford Record Office
 
PLBP/W1761/41