In the name of God Amen I John Edmund of the parish of Cwmcarvan in the County of Monmouth, farmer, being sick in body but of a sound mind and perfect memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First I commend my soul unto Almighty God my saviour and redeemer and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executor & executrix herein after named. And for the settling of my temporal estate and such goods, chattels as it hath pleased God to bestow upon me I give and bequeath the same in manner and form following (that is to say) Imprimis I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Susanna the sum of one shilling to be paid within one year after my decease. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary the sum of one shilling to be paid in the same manner. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann the sum of one shilling to be paid in the same manner. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane the sum of one shilling to be paid in the same manner. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Frances the sum of thirty pounds of lawful British money to be paid within one year next after my decease. Item I give and bequeath to my son John Edmunds the one moiety of all my goods, chattels and personal estate now in my possession. Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife the other moiety of all my goods, chattels and personal estate during her widowhood. And I do hereby constitute, ordain and appoint my son John and my beloved wife Elisabeth to be joint executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking disannulling and making void all former wills by me made and declaring this only to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty six. John Edmunds
Signed, sealed, publish’d and declared in the presence of us who have put our names as witnesses at the request of the testator Howell Powell; William Willets; the mark of Jane Edwards
April 27th 1778. John Edmund the son & Elizabeth Edmund, widow, the relict the executors named in this will were sworn to the truth thereof &c to their faithful performance of the same, before me, Wm Jenkins, Surrogate
Proved at Abergavenny on the twenty seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & seventy three before the Revd William Jenkins, Clerk, MA, Surrogate &c by John Edmund the son & Elizabeth Edmund, widow, the relict of the dece’d, the executors in this will named who were first on the holy Evangelists personallysworn well & faithfully to execute the same, to exhibit an inventary &c & to render a just accomp’t of their 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 24 September 2000