In the Name of God Amen I William Stear of Leighton Bussard in the County of Bedford Farrier being of Indifferent health in Body but of Sound and Disposing Mind Memory and Understanding (Thanks be to God) do make & ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner & form following (that is to say) Whereas I have Surrendered All & every my Coppyhold Messuages Cotages Closes Lands & Tenements holden of the Mannor of Leighton Bussard otherwise Grovebury in the County of Bedford To the use of my last Will and Testament Now I Do hereby Give Devise and Bequeath unto my Neice Elizabeth Fox now Wife of Benjamin Fox of Leighton Bussard aforesaid Grasier late Elizabeth How Widow to her heirs and Assigns All & every my Freehold and Coppyhold Messuages Cotages Closes Lands & Tenements & Hereditaments whatsoever & wheresoever To hold the same unto the said Elizabeth Fox & of her heirs & Assigns for ever To the only proper use & Behoofe of the said Elizabeth Fox & of her heirs & Assigns for ever Provided Always & upon this Condition That She the said Elizabeth Fox her heirs & Assigns Do & shall by with & out of the same premises And also out of my personall Estate herein after mentioned well & truly Pay or Cause to be paid the severall Legacys following (that is to say) To my Neice Sarah Atkins Wife of Richard Atkins of Eaton Bray in the said County of Bedford Baker Five Pounds of Lawfull money of Great Britain within One Month next after my Decease To Mary Gurney now Wife of Thomas Gurney late Mary How Spinster Nathaniell How & Hannah How Children of the said Elizabeth Fox by John How her former Husband Deceased & to each & every One of them Five Pounds Apeice of like money To Elizabeth How & Ann How Children also of the said Elizabeth Fox Two Pounds & Ten Shillings Apeice of like money The said Severall Legacys to be paid to the said Mary Gurney Nathaniell How Hannah How Elizabeth How & Ann How at their severall and respective Ages of One & Twenty Years But In Case of any or either of their Deaths before then Then the same to sink & not be paid And Further I Do hereby Give Devise & Bequeath unto the said Elizabeth Fox my Neice All and every my Stock in Trade Household Goods Moneys Debts Goods Chattells & Personall Estate whatsoever & wheresoever To hold the same unto the said Elizabeth Fox my Neice her Exors Admors & Assigns forever Provided Always That She the said Elizabeth Fox my Neice her Exors Admors & Assigns Do & shall out of my said Personall Estate & also out of my said Real Estate so Devised to her as aforesaid well & truly Pay the said Severall Legacys & also my Debts & Funerall Expences And I Do hereby make & ordain the said Elizabeth Fox my Neice full & Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament And I do hereby revoke & make void all former & other Wills by me heretofore made In Wittness whereof I the said William Stear the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament sett my hand & Seal this Twentyeth Day of October One Thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty Seven William Stear

Geroge Goodson
Cha: Pyne
B. Pyne

27th May 1761
Sworn the Executrix above named that the effects did not amount to 20L before me Owne Gough Surr
Bedford Record Office

This Will was kindly  transcribed and sent in by Ros.

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