The Will of John Stanbridge

In the name of God amen I John Stanbridge of Dunstable in the County of Bedford Cordwainer being weake in body but of Sound and disposing mind and Memory thanks be given unto Almighty God for the same doe make this my last will and testament in manner & forme following first I bequeath my soul into the hands of God my maker hopeing assuredly thro the only meritts of Jesus Christ my Saviour to receive pardon for all my Sinns and as touching that temporall Estate that God hath blessed me withall I give and bequeath in Manner ffollowing first I give and bequeath unto John Hawkins Sen of Houghton Regis in the said County of Bedford yeoman & John Hanwell of St Martin Legrand in the parish of in the County of Middx Cordwainer and to their heires and assignes all those my two messuages or Tenements in the Midle Row in Dunstable aforesaid in the severall occupations of me the said John Stanbridge and Thomas Crouch and all those ffour Messuages or tenements in Dunstable aforesaid in a lane there called Hollywick lane in the severall occupations of Mary Birch Henry Humble Edward Lawrence and Mary Blacknell and all those Nine acres of arable land with the appurtenances disposedly lieing and being dispersedly in the parish ffeilds and ....of Kensworth in the County of Hertford in the occupation of Thomas Green and also all other my messuages lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever in Dunstable aforesaid or elsewhere in the said County of Bedford and Hertford To hold to them and their heirs Upon these following special trusts and confidences herein after by me ....limited and declared and to and for the respective use and uses hereinafter expressed and Mentioned (that is to say) that my mind and will herein is and I doe hereby declare the same to be that the said John Hawkins and John Hanwell and their heires shall sell and dispose of all and every my said Messuages or tenements lands hereditaments and premisses by me herein before bequeathed unto them of such part or parts thereof as to them shall seem meete and expedient for the paying and discharging the same of and from such Mortgages and Securities as I have pawned and engaged the same for and also aswell for the payment of and discharging such just debts as I owe any person or persons by any manner of waies or means whatsoever and after that the said John Hawkins and John Hanwell or their heires shall by such Sale of the premisses aforesaid have seized a sufficient and competent Sume of money for the payment of my debts as aforesaid and the same soe paid of and discharged Then my Mind and will is and I doe give devise and bequeath the remaining part or parts of the said premisses (which shall not be sold by the said John Hawkins and John Hanwell for the payment of my debts as aforesaid) unto my Loveing wife Alice and Margarett my Mother in law and their assignes and dureing their Naturall lives and after their deceases and the decease of the Longer liver of them Then I give and bequeath such part or parts of the Premisses as shall not be sold and disposed of as aforesaid for payment of debts as aforesaid unto Elizabeth Stambridge my Daughter and to her heires and assignes for ever but in case that my said Daughter Elizabeth shall happen to die & depart this life before she shall attaine unto One and twenty yeares of age and leave noe child behind her Then I give and bequeath the said Premisses given bequeathed unto her unto my God Son Edward Hanwell Son of Edward Hanwell my brother in law and to his heires and assigns for ever Item my further will and Mind is that my Trustees herein before named shall have (out of such money as shall be raised by such sale as aforersaid) their reasonable charges cash and expences as they shall sustaine and be putt unto in executing and performeing this trust by me in them reposed Item I doe give and bequeath unto Alice my said wife and Elizabeth my said Daughter (equally betweene them) all and every of my household goods linen woolen pewter brasse and all other my goods cattell chattells rights and Creditts whatsoever And I doe hereby nominate and appoint the said Alice my said wife and Elizabeth my said Daughter sole executrixes of this my last will and testament and I doe hereby declare this to be my last will and testament and revoak and make void all former and Other wills by me heretofore made In witnesses whereof I the said John Stanbridge to this my last will and testament containing two sheets of paper (affixt together at the topp under my seale) to each sheete sett my hand and seale this thirteenth day of June Anno Dm 1706

The marke of J Stanbridge

William Conroy
George Baker
John Rowley

Proved 15 October 1706