In the Name of god Amen I Thomas Laidman of Wanleys in the Parish of West Witton and County of York Yeoman being but sickly and Weak as to my bodily health but of sound and perfectly [sic] Mind and Memory praised be God but Considering the Uncertainly of this Transitory Life Do make Ordain appoint and Constitute this for and as my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following that is to say I give to my dear and loving Wife Ann Laidman for and during her Natural Life the sum of Seven Pounds of Lawful ^money^ of Great Brittain Yearly to be paid to her at two half Yearly Payments and to be paid to her by my Executor herein after named out of my house and Lands lying at Bowes and in the Parish of Bowes but in Case my said Executor neglect paying the same then it shall be lawfull for my loving wife to enter on my House and Lands aforesaid and to receive the rents and profits thereof till she have received all Arrears due to her also my desire is that my said loving Wife be paid the first half yearly payment at the first half Years end after my Decease likewise the low room in the West end of my House at Bowes to live in for her Life with proper Furniture for the same and to dispose of the same as she thinks proper which said Annuity of seven pounds a year furniture and room shall be deamed Suffitient and in liew of her Thirds out of my Lands at Bowes or elsewhere. I give and devise to my Son Marmaduke Laidman the sum of twenty five pounds of lawfull Money of Great Brittain. likewise to my son Thomas Laidman the sum of twenty five Pounds of like lawfull Money Also to my Son John Laidman the sum of twenty five Pounds of like lawfull Money all of which Legacies to be paid by my Executor hereafter Named in manner following to such as have Attained the Age of twenty one to be paid at one years end after my decease and such as have not Attained the Age of twenty one to Continue in the hand of my Executor he paying them legall Interest for the same. I also give and devise to my Daughter Mary Hooker the sum of twenty pounds of of [sic] lawfull Money of Great Brittain, likewise to my Daughter Martha Laidman the sum of twenty pounds of like lawfull Money of Great Brittain Also to my Daughter Margaret Doddsworth the sum of twenty pounds of like lawfull Money to be paid by my Executor at one years end after my Decease but In Case any of my Children die before these ^legacies^ become due and have no Issue then it is my Will that such Legacy or Legacies shall sink into my Freehold Estate at Bowes it is further my desire that at the end of one Year after my Decease that my Executor give to my Daughter Martha Laidman Furniture Sufficient for a room and I do further Order that if my said Daughter refuse that set apart for her by my Executor he shall give to her ten pound in liew thereof and I hereby Constitute and Appoint my Eldest Son Mark Laidman sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament revoking and making Void all Wills heretofore made I do declare this to be my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have here unto set my Hand and seal this twenty ninth day of January one Thousand seven Hundred and Ninety five.

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by

the said Testator Thomas Laidman as and

for his last Will and Testament In the [signed] Thomas Laidman

Presence of us at his request and in

the Presence of each other have subscribed

our Names as Witnesses hereunto

Anthony Willis

John Clark

John Clarkson

Mark Laidman the Executor within

named was duly sworn before me

Jo Milner

Surrogate

Source: WYAS West Yorkshire Archive Services, Leeds LS7 3AP, ref: RD/AP1/Box 156