In the name of God Amen I Richard Jenkin of the parish of Lanover in the County of Monmouth and Diocess of Landaff yeoman being sick of body but of sound and perfect memory and understanding do make and ordain this my last will and testament as followeth.
Fist I bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my body to the grave to be buried in a Christian burial at the discretion of my executors hereafter named. And as for what worldly goods God was pleas’d to bestow upon me I give and bequeath in maner and form following.
First I give and bequeath all my real and personal estate goods, cattle and chattles to my beloved wife Mary Jenkin to be by her enjoy’d during her natural life and after her decease I give and bequeath my real estate which is in value in the parish rate twenty shillings in as full and ample manner as I now enjoy the same to my son Richard Jenkin and to his heirs for ever, he the said Richard Jenkin my son paying for me where I am indepted the sume of thirty pounds of lawful money of Great Brittain and the said Richard Jenkin this present testator, do hereby promise to pay the interest of the above sd thirty pounds during my natural life, and after my decease I order my wife if she outlives me to pay the interest of the above mentioned thirty pounds. Also I give unto my son John Jenkin the sume of one shilling to be paid him within one whole year after my decease. And as for my goods, cattle and chattles that shall be left after my wifes decease, I give and bequeath all of them to my six children equally to be divided betwixt them share and share like, that is to say betwix my son Richard, my son Edward, my son Thomas, my daughter Mary, my daughter Margarett & my daughter Jonett. Also I order and desire my son Richard Jenkin to be in the expence of my funeral charges, also I nominate and appoint my wife Mary Jenkin and my son Richard Jenkin joint executors of this my last will & testament revoking and disannulling all former wills & testaments by me made & ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In wittness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th day of May 1754. The mark of Richard Jenkin.
Signed sealed published and declared by the within written testator in the presence of us whose names are hereunder written John Jones; the mark of Edward James; John Prichard
July the 8th 1754. Richard Jenkin the son, one of the executors in this will named was sworn &c &c power being first reserved to Mary Jenkin wid: the relict, the other executor if she will apply for the same. Before me William Harris, Surrogate.
This will was proved at Landaff the 8th of July 1754 before Revd William Harris, Surrogate by Richard Jenkin, the son, one of the executors in this will named &c , power being first reserved to Mary Jenkin widow, the relict, the other executor if she will apply for the same.
A true and perfect inventory of all the goods cattle & chattles of Richd Jenkin lately deceased of the parish of Lanover County of Monm’th & Diocess of Landaff as followeth
£ s d
First his wearing apparell 0 5 0
Four old cows 5 0 0
Four two years steers 4 0 0
Two old horses 1 0 0
Three one year young cattle 0 15 0
Three calfs 0 6 0
Eleven old sheep 0 3 8
Household stuff 5 0 0
Implements of husbandry 0 5 4
16 15 0
Apprais’d by us whose names are under written Walter Williams; the mark of Edward James
Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales. NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 5 May 2001