In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Charles of the parish of Cumcarvan, blacksmith, and in the County of Monmoth being weak in body but of sound and perfect memory thanks be to God, do make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manour and forme following, that id to say, Inprimis I recemmend my soule to the hands of almity God that gave it and my body to decently intered at the discretion of my executor hereafter named. Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elisebeth Charles all my leashold estate lying and being in the parish of Cumcarvan and also I give and bequeath to my aforesd wife my cott, orchard and gardens lying and being in the parish of Mitchel Troy both in ye County of Monmoth and Dioces of Landaff with all my cattle and chatles with my working tooles and houl? & --? and every thing that is and shall be mine at my decese for and towards the rearing and mainetaineing my small children now in being to have and to hold the above mentioned premiseis for the end and terme of her naturall life and after her dices the remaineing years of the aforesd lease then immediately to returne to my own children then living be they male or female and for want of such heais then living, to the next of my kindred. Item I do nominate and apoint my aforesd wife Eliz Charles sole executres of this my last will and testament utterly disalowing, revoakeing and disanuling all other wills made by me do confirme this to be my last will and testament. In witness hereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this seventeenth day of January 1758. Thomas Charles
Witnes the mark of Catchmay Tyler; Walter Williams; Thos Stead
June the 21st 1758, Elizabeth Charles, widow, the relict & sole executrix in this will named was sworn well and faithfully to execute the same, to exhibite an inventary &c and to render an account &c before me Nath Wells, Surrogate
This will was proved at Abergavenny on the twenty first day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight before the Reverend Mr Nathaniel Wells, Clerk, Master of Arts, the Chancellor’s Surrogate, by Elizabeth Charles, widow, the relict and sole executrix in this will named who was first on the holy Evangelists personally sworn well and faithfully to execute the same, to exhibite an inventory &c and to render a just account of her administration thereof when thereunto lawfully required
Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales
NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 21 September 2000