In the name of God Amen I Charles Hopkins of the parish of Dingestow in the County of Monmouth yeoman being of sound memory and understanding do make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner following That is to say First I commend my soul to Almighty God who gave it me and my body to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executor hereafter named As to my estate effects and substance I give and bequeath all the same as followeth I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Mary Hopkins all such sume and sumes of money and arrears of rent that shall be due to me from and out of Landister Farm in Langattock Vibon Avel from my son in law Addam Thomas at the time of my decease with all the benefit and advantage thereof and to recover the same according to the power given by the marriage settlement of the said Addam Thomas with my daughter Catherine. I also give and bequeath unto my said dear wife Mary the sume of fifty and five pounds and all arrears of interest due for the same at the time of my decease which said sume of fifty five pounds and interest is secured to me by mortgage upon Landister Farm aforesaid in conjunction with fifty pounds lent at the same time to the said Addam Thomas by my sister in law Margaret Price of London and secured whereby the same mortgage to hold the said sume of fifty five pounds and interest and all arrears thereof due for the same at the time of my decease unto my said dear wife her executors administrators and assigns for ever. I also give and bequeath unto my said dear wife Mary the black mare which is called my wives mare. And I also give unto my said dear wife the best cow I shall be owner of at my death. And I also give her the best hogg that I shall dye possessed of whether the same be fatt or leane. I give and bequeath also unto my said dear wife Mary two bushells of good cleane wheat. I also give and bequeath unto her my said wife a hogshed of good aple sider in case there be two hogsheds of sider in my possession or I shall be owner of at the time of my decease. All which said effects it is my will and I do direct that the same and every part and parcel thereof be delivered unto her my said dear wife imediately after my decease without any denial. I also give and bequeath unto my son James Hopkins my sider mill and all my sider vessells and all the houshold stuff or goods or implements of household which are mentioned and excepted in a Bond by me entered into to More Price dated the sixth day of October in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and thirty six to hold to my said son James Hopkins his executors and administrators for ever by which recited Bond I am impowered to dispose of the effects therein excepted to such person as I should think proper. And I also give unto my said son James Hopkins all my books. I also give devise and bequeath and confirm unto my said dear wife Mary her estate for life in my farm and estate in the parish of Skenfrith in the said County of Monmouth. I also give and bequeath unto my said wife all such sume and sumes of money as shall be due for rent and arrears of rent from the ten’t holding the said farm at Skenfrith aforesaid at the time of my decease. I do also charge and make chargeable all the rest and residue of my personal estate not hereby or herein before given and bequeathed with the payment of my debts legacies and funeral charges. And the remainder and overplus of my said personal estate after payment of debts and funerall charges and all my ready money due by mortgage Bonds bills or otherwise and all other my personal estate whatsoever not before given and bequeathed I give and bequeath unto my four children vizt my sons James Hopkins, Charles Hopkins and my son William Hopkins and my daughter Cecelia the wife of Jonas Edmonds of Tregare in the said County to be equally divided between them share and share like. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Catherine five shillings. I do nominate constitute and appoint William Price of Langattock Vibon Able tayler and Wm Price junr of the same place in the said County of Monmouth trustees and overseers of this my will requesting and desireing them to see the same performed. I also nominate constitute and appoint my said son James Hopkins executor of this my will revoking all former and other wills by me made. Do declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this 25th day of June in the year of our Lord God 1753. Cha Hopkins
Signed sealed published and declared by the within named Charles Hopkins the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names as witnesses to the execution thereof in his presence and at his request. Mary Roberts, John Meredith, James Davies
October the 28th 1755. James Hopkins the son and executor in this will named, was sworn well and faithfully to execute the same, to exhibite an inventory &c and to render an acc’t &c before me William Harris, Surrogate.
This will was proved at Landaff on the twenty eighth day of October in the year of our Lord 1755 before the Reverend Mr William Harris, Clerk, &c by James Hopkins the son, the executor in this will named &c
NOTE: The following appears to be another version of some of the above. DW
Due for rent and arrears of rent from the tenant holding the said farm at Skenfrith aforesaid at the time of my decease. I do also charge and make chargable all the rest and residue of my personal estate not hereby or herein before given and bequeath with the paym’t of my debts legacies and funeral charges and the remainder and overplus of my sd personal estate after paym’t of debts and funeral charges and all my ready money due by mortgage Bonds bills or otherwise ---? and all other my personall estate whatsoever not before given and bequeathed I give and bequeath unto my four children vizt my sons James Hopkins, Charles Hopkins and my son William Hopkins and my daughter Cecelia the wife of James Edmonds of Tregare in the said County to be equally divided between them share and share like. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Catherine five shillings. And I do nominate and constitute and appoint William Price of Langattock Vibon Avell and Wm Price junr the son of Moore Price of Langattock aforesaid in the said County of Monmouth the trustees and overseers of this my will requesting and desireing them to see the same performed. I also nominate constitute and appoint my said son James Hopkins executor of this my will revoking all former and other wills by me made. Do declare this to be my last will and testam’t. In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this 25th day of June in the year of our Lord God 1753. Cha Hopkins
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Charles Hopkins the testator as and for his last will and testam’t in the p’sence of us who subscribed our names as witnesses to the execution thereof in his presence and at his request the oblitoration being first observed Mary Roberts, John Meredith, James Davies.
26th November 1777. James Evans the grandson and sole executor named in the last will & testament of James Hopkins deceased (whilst living) the son and sole executor in the above will named but dying before he had taken upon him the execution thereof was sworn to the truth thereof to administer &c and to render an acc’t &c. Before me T James, Surrogate.
On the twenty sixth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven Letters of Administration of all and singular the goods chattles & credits of the within named Charles Hopkins with this will annexed was granted and committed to James Evans the sole executor of James Hopkins deceased (whilst living) the sole executor named in the said will he having been first sworn duly to administer to exhibit an inventory &c and to render a true and just account of his administration &c (the said James Hopkins having survived the testator but dying without taking upon him the execution of the said will)
Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales. NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 27 March 2001