The Will of John Ward

 

In the Name of God Amen I John Ward of the Burrough of Leicester being of sound mind and memory (praised be God) calling to mind the uncertainty of this life do make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following ffirst I bequeath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God And my body to the Earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named And as for that Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I give and dispose thereof as followeth Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my son in law Thomas Carter gent and to my daughter Judith his wife to each of them the sume of one hundred pounds to be paid at the terme of one yeare after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto their three Children (Vizt Lawrence Thomas and John to each and every of them the sume of one hundred pounds) Item I give and bequeath unto my Sister Hannah Stevens the sume of ffoure pounds to be paid her by my said Executrix yearly and every yeare dureing her naturall life by two equall payments the first payemtn to be made att the expiration of six months after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto her son my Nephew John Stevens the sume of Tenn pounds to be paid when he shall attaine to the age of one and twenty yeares Item I give and devise unto my Nephew William Hill and his heires for ever All that my Close or Meadow ground in the feild of Houghton on the Hill in the County of Leicester called the Brick Close which I purchased of Paul Goode of Houghton aforesaid and now in the tenure of him or his Assignes Item I give unto the said William Hill the sume of Twenty Pounds to be paid when he shall attaine the age of one and twenty yeares And order that my said hereafter named Executrix shall find him fitting Apparell of all sorts dureing the time of his Apprenticeshipp Item I give and bequeath unto my Neice Ann Hill the Sume of Tenn Pounds to be paid when she shall attaine to the age of Eighteene Yeares Item I give and devise unto my deare daughter Ann All and singular my lands tenements and hereditaments wheresoever and whatsoever (except as hereinbefore devised) to her and to her heires forever And I do hereby devise and dispose of the Custody and tuition of my said daughter Ann until she shall attaine to the age of one and Twenty yeares unto my said Son in Law Thomas Carter to my brother William Ward of Nottingham and my brother in law John Cooper and William Topp And I give and bequeath unto each of them the sume of Three Guineas for their trouble in performing the Trust by me herein reposed in them Item I give and bequeath unto my brother in law Mr Richard Newton of the City of London the sume of ffive Guineas As for the rest and residue of my Personall Estate after my debts and legacies paid and ffunerall expences discharged I give and bequeath the same unto my said daughter Ann whome I hereby constitute and appoint sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament And I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me made In Witness whereof I hereunto sett my hand and Seale the ffive and twentieth day of September in the yeare of our Lord God 1727 John Ward

(Attestation Clause)
Mary Topp
William Slater
John Holroide

Proved 12 February 1731/2
PCC
Prob11/650