In the Name of God Amen -

I Francis Hopkins of Ginge in the Parish of West Hendred in the County of Berks, Gentleman being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding do for the disposing of the Estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with make my last Will and Testament in manner following and first I commend my Soul to God and my Body to the Earth to be buried in such decent manner as my Executors hereinafter named shall think fitt also I give and bequeath unto my Son ffrancis Hopkins all that my one fourth or quarter part of all that Parsonage Glebe Lands and Tythes in Steventon in the said County of Berks and all that my Meadow Ground commonly called or known by the name of Bramble Croft meadow situate lying and being in Steventon aforesaid and also all other my Lands, Tythes and premisses whatsoever which I hold by lease from the Dean and Chapter of Westminster to hold unto my said son ffrancis Hopkins, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns for and during all the Estate Term and Interest which I shall have therein at the time of my Decease.  Also I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Hopkins all that my customary of copyhold messuage or Tenement Barn Stable Arable Land Meadow and Pasture Ground Commons and premisses situate lying and being in Steventon aforesaid which I lately purchased of William Smallbone and now in my possession.  To be had and holden unto and to the use of my said Daughter Elizabeth, her heirs and Assigns for ever.  Also I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Hopkins all those my Customary or Copyhold arable lands Commons and premisses situate and being at Steventon aforesaid which I lately purchased of Walter Doe now in my possession.  To be had and holden unto and to the use of my said son Benjamin Hopkins, his heirs and assigns for ever.  Also I give devise and bequeath unto my son Richard Hopkins all other my Customary or Copyhold Messuages Lands Tenements Commons and premisses whatsoever situate and being in Steventon aforesaid not herein before by me otherwise given devised or bequeathed.  To be had and holden unto and to the use of ;my said son Richard Hopkins, his Heirs and Assigns for ever subject nevertheless and charged and chargeable with the payment of the sum of Six hundred pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain unto my said son Benjamin Hopkins at his age of One and Twenty years together with interest for the same after the rate of four pounds for one hundred pounds by the year from the time of my decease untill the said Legacy or Sum of Six hundred pounds shall be actually paid.  Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Hopkins the Legacy or Sum of ffive hundred pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid unto her at her age of one and twenty years or day of marriage which shall first happen together with Interest for the same after the rate of ffour pounds for One hundred pounds by the year from the time of my decease untill the said Legacy or Sum of ffive hundred pounds hereby bequeathed unto my said Daughter Mary shall be actually paid.  Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Martha Hopkins, the Legacy or Sum of ffive hundred pounds of like lawfull money to be paid unto her at her Age of One and Twenty years or Day of Marriage which shall first happen together with Interest for the same after the rate of ffour pounds for one hundred pounds by the year from the time of my decease until the said Legacy or Sum of ffive hundred pounds hereby bequeathed unto my said Daughter Martha shall be actually paid.  Also I give and bequeath unto my said son Richard Hopkins my largest Silver Tankard and my Gold Ring with the Coat of Arms on it.  Also I give and bequeath unto my said son ffrancis Hopkins my other Silver Tankard and all the rest and residue of my Plat and Rings whatsoever I give and bequeath unto all my sons and daughters to be equally divided amongst them.  Also I give and bequeath unto my said son ffrancis Hopkins and Daughter Elizabeth Hopkins the further Legacy of ffifty pounds apiece of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid unto them within six months next after Decease by Executors hereinafter named and my will is that the Receipt of Receipts of my said son ffrancis and Daughter Elizabeth for the said Legacy of ffifty pounds apiece hereby before bequeathed unto them shall notwithstanding their Minority be good and sufficient Discharged to my said executors.  Also I give and bequeath unto my three Daughters Mary, Martha and Elizabeth Hopkins ten pounds apiece of like lawfull money to buy them mourning.  Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Martha Hopkins my large Chest of Drawers in the best Chamber in the Dwelling House wherein I now live.  Also I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Elizabeth my Bed Bedstead and all other the Goods and ffurniture of an in the best Chamber in the said Dwelling house wherein I now live.  (Except only the large Chest of Drawers herein before bequeathed unto my said Daughter Martha)  Also I give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Mary my Chest of Drawers in the Little Chamber in the Dwelling house wherein I now live and also I give unto my Brother Joseph Hopkins, Brother in Law Robert Baker and my Cousin Richard Sellwood, ffive Guineas apiece for their care and trouble which they may have and be put unto in or about the Trusts hereby reposed in them. And as for and concerning all the rest and residue of all my Goods, Cattle, Chattles Stock and implements in Husbandry, Ready Money Debts owing and all other my personal Estate of what nature or kind soever which shall remain after payment of my debts Legacys and funeral expenses I give and bequeath the same unto my said Brother Joseph Hopkins, Brother in Law Robert Baker and my said Cousin Richard Sellwood.  In Trust for my said three sons Richard, ffrancis and Benjamin Hopkins to be equally divided amongst them share and share alike at their respective ages of one and twenty years and my will and desire is that my said Brother Joseph Hopkins Brother in Law Robert Baker and my said cousin Richard Sellwood shall have the care and management of all my said children and shall maintain educate and breed them up and put and place out my said sons or such of them as said Trustees shall think fitt apprentices to such Trades or possessions and in such manner as they shall think proper by and out of the Estates Legacys sums of money and personal Estate hereby devised and bequeathed unto my said Children respectively or by and out of the respective Rents Issues and Profits Interest and proceed thereof provided that it shall and may be lawfull to and for my said Brother Joseph Hopkins, Brother in Law Robert Baker and my said cousin Richard Sellwood their Executors and Administrators by and out of the Estates Legacy, sums of Money and Personal Estate bequeathed unto my said children respectively or by and out of the respective Rents Issues profits and Interest thereof to deduct and keep so much money as shall from time to time be sufficient to reimburse and satisfy my said Trustees and each and every of them all such Expenses Losses and Damages as they or any or either of them shall sustain or be put unto by reason or means of this my Will or of the Trusts hereby in them reposed and I do make constitute and appoint my said Brother Joseph Hopkins, Brother in Law Robert Baker and my said Cousin Richard Sellwood, the Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and making void all former and other Wills by ma at any time heretofore made.  In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contained in three sheets of paper to each sheet thereof set my hand and seal the twenty sixth day of May in the Thirtieth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain ffrance and Ireland Kind Defender of the ffaith and so forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ffifty seven Francis Hopkins  signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named ffrancis Hopkins the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in our presence and in his presence attested and subscribed by us John Day, Thomas Eltow, Farmer Eltow.

 

This Will was proved at London on the Second day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty one before the Worshipfull Andrew Cottee Dusarth, Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipfull Edward Simpson Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Joseph Hopkins the Brother of the deceased and one of the Executors named in the said will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattles and Credits of the said deceased he having been first sworn only to Administer power reserved to make the like grant to Robert Baker and Richard Sellwood the other Executors named in the said will when they or either of them shall apply for the same.