In the name of God amen. I Joseph Pitt of Brokenburrough in the County of Wilts Yeoman being weak of Body but of perfect mind and memory (thanks be to Almighty God) and Calling to mind the Certainty of Death And the Uncertainty of the time thereof doth make this my last will & testament in manner and form ffollowing, that is to say Impes I Recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it And my Body I commit to the Earth to be buried in Christian like manner by my Executor or Executrix herein & hereafter Named hopeing through the meRrits of my blessed Saviour I shall have a free pardon of all my Sins And as for My wordly Estate wherewith the Lord hath bestowed upon me I give and Devise of the same after my Debts & ffuneral Expenses are paid & discharged, in manner following -
Item I give & Devise unto Elizabeth my beloved Wife All my Dwelling house with all the Orchard and Backside thereunto belonging Situate & being in the parish of Brokenburrough Aforesaid During her Natural Life And after her decease to my Son Joseph Pitt if the lives in the sd Estate shall so long live.
Item And as for all the Rest & Remainder of All my Stock in Cattle Corn Goods Chattles both moveable & Immoveable Bonds Bills whatsoever & wheresoever att the time of my decease I shall have Right title to or interest in I have in the hand of my Beloved Wife to maintain & brood up my fower Children And as for the Remainder if please God she should die before they Come to Age or Maturity to help them selves to be Equally divided between them And I do Nominate Desire and Appoint Brother Samuel & Simon Pitt to be Trustees over those my four Children to direct and guide them if please God I Should die & leave them And I do Nominate Constitute and Ordaine Eliz Pitt aforsd my beloved Wife to be my whole & Sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament And I do hereby Revoke disannul & make void all former Wills Legacies & bequests by me made or given And doth declare this to be my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & Seal this the twenty fourth day of July in the year of our Lord 1731
Signed Sealed & published
& declared in the presence of
The mark of Joseph @ White
Mary Pitt
Charles Wells