In the Name of God Amen I Michael Read of the parish of Hockliffe in the County of Bedford Dairyman being week in Body but of Sound disposing Mind Memory and Understanding Do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say I give and bequeath unto my Loving Wife Elizabeth Read and my son Abraham Read All and every my Goods and Chattells Stock and Cattle Ready Money and Securities for Money and all other my Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what Nature kind and Quality soever and over which I have a Disposing power and all my Estate right and Interest therein To Hold the same and every part and parcel thereof unto my said Wife Elizabeth Read and my said son Abraham Read their separate Executors Administrators and Assigns to and for her his and their own separate Use and benefit for Ever as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants He she and they paying thereout all and every my just Debts which I shall owe at the time of my Decease my Funeral Expences and the Costs and Charges of proving this my Will And also within twelve Calendar Months next after my Decease to pay or cause to be paid to my Eldest Son William Read the Sum of Ten Pounds to my second son Michael Read the Sum of twenty pounds To my Eldest Daughter Elizabeth Gillman the Wife of Thomas Gillman the Sum of twenty pounds to my third Son George Read the Sum of Ten Pounds to my fourth son James Read the Sum of twenty pounds to my fifth son Thomas Read the Sum of twenty pounds To my sixth son John Read the several Sums of Money he stands indebted and owing to me To my Daughter Rebecca Partridge the Wife of John Partridge the Sum of five Pounds Which said several Legacies I do hereby give and bequeath to them my said Sons and Daughters accordingly And I do hereby charge and make Subject all and every part of my said Personal Estate by me given and bequeathed to said Wife Elizabeth Read and my said son Abraham Read as aforesaid to and with the payment thereof And my Mind and Will further is that if any of my said Sons and Daughters Legatees above named shall depart this Life before his her and their several Legacy or Legacys shall become due and payable Then I will and direct that the Legacy or Legacys of him her or them so dying shall be paid to his her and their respective and legal Representative and Representatives And Also my Mind and Will further is that my Daughter Marcella Cumberland shall with her three Children in the absence of my Son in Law William Cumberland have a Maintenance from my said Personal Estate so long as my said Wife Elizabeth Read and my said son Abraham Read shall be in Business together and hold the premises now in my Occupation and they shall not be able of getting their own Livelyhood And my Mind and Will further is and I do hereby Will Direct and Order that my said son James Read and my said Son in Law Thomas Gillman do inspect and see to the Management and Execution of this my Will and do appoint them Trustees thereof And in Case of any ill Management of Misconduct in my said Wife Elizabeth Read and my said son Abraham Read or Disagreement between them that they the said James Read and Thomas Gillman their Executors and Administrators do make Sale of my said Personal Estate and Convert the same into Money and the Money arising therefrom to divide equally share and share alike unto them my said Wife Elizabeth Read and my said son Abraham Read their separate Executors Administrators and Assigns And I do hereby nominate Constitute and appoint my said Wife Elizabeth Read and my said son Abraham Read joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament And lastly I do hereby revoke and make Void all former and other Wills by me heretofore made and executed declaring this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Michael Read the Elder have to this my last Will and Testament set my Hand and Seal this twenty ninth day of December in the Year of our Lord Christ One thousand seven hundred and seventy Eight
 
The Mark of Michael Read the X Elder and Testator
 
Wm Stevens
Jn Bird
David Willis
 
Proved 4 September 1779
Bedford Record Office
ABP/W1779/36

This Will was kindly  transcribed and sent in by Ros.

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