In the name of God Amen I James John of the parish of Henllys in ye County of Monmouth, yeoman, being weak in body but of sound and perfect memory – praised be Almighty God for ye same – do make, constitute and appoint this my last will and testamt in manner and form following (viz) first and principally I comend my soul into ye hands of my saviour and redeemer Jesus Christ hopeing thro his intercession and blessed meritts to be pardoned of all my sins, and my body to be buried in a Christian buriall according to ye discretion of my executrices herein after mentioned. And as touching such worldly effects that God of his bountifull goodness has been pleased to bestow uppon me I give, order, devise and bequeath them as hereunder follows.
Fist I order, devise and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Dorothy John ye sum of forty shillings yearly during her natural life, and to be paid jointly by my three daughters that is Margarett, Elizabeth and Rachel who are joint executrices of my will and testam’t (viz) in case my said wife think it not proper to live with one of them and to be maintain’d with all necessaries of life and if she settle with either of them, the other two is to pay their dividend of ye said forty shillings unto my wife yearly as before bequeathed. Also I give unto my eldest daughter Margarett ye sum of two pounds ten shillings more than her part or share that shall fall unto her or one of my executrices to this testament. Also I give and bequeath unto Rachell my youngest daughter ye sum of thirty shillings more and above her share as one of my said executrices together with a brass skillett which I bequeath her also, further I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary wife of William George ye sum of one pound to be paid her jointly by my executrices within a twelve month after my decease. I further give and bequeath unto ye said William George’s three children one ewe and a lamb a piece and to be delivered them ye first May after my decease. Finally I do hereby order & appoint my three daughters as before named, that is, Margarett, Elizabeth and Rachell to be joynt executrices of this my last will & testamt revoking and disanulling all former wills by me heretofore made acknowledging this to be my only last will and testamt. In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal this eighth day of March 1748/9. James John
Sighned, sealed and delivered, declared, published & pronounced this within will by ye testator in ye p’sence of us and att his request have witnessed the same. The mark of Charles John; Benj Lewis
October the 9th 1755. Margarett John, Elizabeth John and Rachel John the natural and lawfull daughters, the executrices in this will named, were sworn well and faithfully to execute the same, to exhibite an inventary &c and to render an account &c before me. Wm Harris, Sur
This will was proved at Caerleon on the ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty five before the Reverend Mr William Harris, Clerk, Master of Arts, the Chancellor’s Surrogate, by Margarett John, Elizabeth John and Rachel John the natural and lawfull daughters, the executrices in this will named, who were first on the holy Evangelists personally sworn well and faithfully to execute the same, to exhibite an inventary &c and to render a just account 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 7 Nov 2000