In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Truelove of Ravenston in the County of Bucks yeoman knowing the Infirmities of Man and that nothing is more certaine than Death and the time thereof uncertain Doe in my sound mind and perfect understanding make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following First and Principally I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator And my Body I commit to the Earth to be there decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named And as for my Estate Reall and Personall wherewith God hath blest me I Give and Dispose of the same as followeth Imprimis I do Give and Devise unto Anne Truelove my Wife for and dureing her naturall life (In case she shall so long live sole and unmarried) over and besides her Jointure my Parlour parcell of my Messuage or dwelling house in Ravenston aforesaid Together with the Chamber over the same Parlour and my Orchard called the Hillyard Together with full and free liberty of ingresse and egress and regress into upon and from the said Parlour and Chamber and Orchard called the Hillyard And into and upon and from the Yards and other Orchards and Gardens parcell of the said Messuage for drying of Clothes and walking therein and for other occasions And for laying and placeing of Wood and fewell in the yards and unto and from the Well for Water and otherwise from time to time and at all times of her free will and pleasure ffreed and discharged from any charges of Repairs or payment of any Taxes Levies duties or impositions whatsoever for or in respect of the said Parlour Chamber or Orchard And from or after the decease of d Anne my said wife or day of her Marriage this shall come first or happen I doe Give and devise the said Parlour and Chamber over the same and Orchard called the Hillyard And all the rest and residue of my said Messuage Yards Orchards & Gardens Immediately after my decease Together with the power and Right of Redemption of the same unto John Truelove my eldest son and to the heirs of his Body lawfully to be begotten And for want of such Issue I doe Give and devise the same unto Jeffery Truelove my youngest son and his heires forever And also I doe Give and Bequeath unto Anne my said wife yearly and every yeare dureing her naturall life (In case she shall so long live sole and unmarried) one good and sufficient Logg or Cart Load of Wood for ffireing To be had and taken yearly provided of and from the Lopp of the Trees in my Close or Elsewhere By and at the proper costs and charges of John Truelove my said son or his heires Or of such person or other persons as then shall be owners or occupiers of my said Messuage and Closes either or any of them. And to be brought home yearly by him or them at his and their like proper costs and charges to the Parlour & Chambers aforementioned To and for the proper use and Benefit of Anne my said Wife during the term and time aforementioned And also I doe Give and Devise unto John Truelove my said son and his heires of his Body lawfully to be begotten All those my two Closes in Ravenston comonly called or known by the name or names of Patch Closes conteyning in the whole Nyne Acres by estimacon (be they more or less together with the power and right of Redempcon of the same Closes and all other of my Closes and other Lands Mortgages and for Default of such Issue I do Give and Devise the said two Closes called Patch Closes and other Lands and Closes with the appurtenances unto Jeffery Truelove my said son and his heires forever Upon this Trust and confidence neverthelesse that John Truelove my said son and the heires of his Body And such person and persons two whom my said two Closes called Patch Closes or either of them or any part of them or either of them shall descend or come Doe or shall pay unto John Jeffrey my brother his Executor or Administrators the sume of ffifty pounds (besides interest) ffor which the said two Closes and all other my Closes and Lands in Ravenston aforesaid (Except such as were formerly settled in or by way of Jointure for Anne my said Wife) are Mortgaged And also doe and shall pay unto John Jeffrey my said brother his Executors and Administrators the sume of Ten ponds more of lawful Money of England (besides the interest thereof) which I owe unto him upon bond to be paid forth and out of the said Closes and Lands Mortgages as aforesaid And also doe and shall pay unto the said Jeffery Truelove my son Ten pounds of lawful money of England To be paid forth and out of the said Closes and Lands At such time as Jeffery my said son shall accomplish the age of one and thirty years And also upon the like Trust and confidence That he and they doe and shall pay unto Mary Masters my Eldest Daughter the sum of Ten pounds of like lawful Money To be paid forth and out of the said Mortgages Closes and Lands within one year next after my decease (of which Legacy or sume of Ten Pounds I doe give forth full performence or satisfaction of any declaration or promise at any time made by me unto my said Daughter Mary Masters upon her Marriage or otherwise) And also doe and shall pay and allow unto Anne Truelove my wife the sume of Twenty pounds of like lawful money to be paid forth and out of the said Lands Closes and Mortgages as aforesaid at such times and by such parsons as shall be most convenient and necessary to assist towards her livelihood and maintenance And also I doe give and bequeath unto my said sonnes John Trulove and Jeffrey Trulove and unto my said Daughter Mary Masters each the sum of Twenty shillings And also I doe Give and Bequeath unto John Truelove my said son one Ewe and two Lambs the choicest and best he can Choose out of and amongst all my Sheep Item all the Rest and residue of my Goods and Personall Estate not hereinbefore bequeathed ( after my Debts shall be paid and my ffunerall expences discharged ) I Give & Bequeath unto Anne Trulove my said Wife And I do hereby make constitute and appoint my said Wife Anne Trulove full and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament And my Will and desire is that my loveing neighbours William Kitely and William Warwick of Ravenston aforesaid doe assist my said Executrix and John Trulove my said Son in what they can in performance and executing of this my Will And I doe give them for their paines herein to be taken half a crowne apiece to buy them Gloves And I doe hereby nominate and desire John Jeffery my said brother to be Overseer of this my Will And to Assist my said Executrix and son John in performance thereof
 
27 May 1698
 
Thomas Butcher
 
the mark of Hugh Butcher
 
Buckingham Record Office
Proved 1698
 

This Will was kindly transcribed and sent in by Ros.

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