In the name of God Amen I Thomas John of the pish of Tregare in the Cunty of Monmoth, yeoman, being sick and weak in body but through the Lords mercy of good and perfect memory do now this seaventeenth day of November in the thirteenth yeare of the Reigne of our Soverigne Lord William the Third, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland & in the yeare of our Lord God 1701 make and ordaine this my present last will and testament in writeing in maner and forme following (that is to say) First and principally I committ my soule into the mercyfull hands of allmighty God and my body to the earth to be buryed after the manner of Christians. And as for what reall and psonall estate the Lord hath blessed me with I do herein and hereby give, devise and bequeath the same as follows (that is to say) whereas by a certaine deed of settlement by me formerly signed and sealed bearing date the fouer and twentieth day of May Anno Domini 1695 I have setled my estate therein mentioned after certaine uses therein before expressed for the raising of the sume of fifteene pounds to be paid unto such person or persons as by my last will and testament or by some other acte or deed in writeing should give, devise, direct or appoint the same to be paid within three months after mine and my wife’s decease (and whereas my wife is allready deceased ) Now I do herein and hereby give, devise and bequeath my estate unto my son William, his heyres and assignes for ever according to the tennour and effect of the said deed upon condition that my said son William, his heyres or assignes shall and will well and truly pay the said sume of fifteene pounds in maner following (viz) I do herein and hereby give, devise and bequeath the said sume of fiffteene pounds unto my grand daughter Mary Howell for and towards her care and paines with me in my weakness and towards the payment and dischargeing of my debts and funerall expences. Item I give, devise and bequeath unto my grand daughter Rachell one of the daughters of my son John my greatest kettle to be delivered her imediately after my decease and as for the said sume of fifteene pounds herein before mentioned to be given unto my said grand daughter Mary Howell my will and meaning is that my said sone William, his heyres or assignes shall and will well and truly pay them unto my said grand daughter Mary Howell within three months after my decease or other wise to be raised out of the profitts of my estate according to the tennoure of the affore mentioned deed. And as for all the rest of my goods, household stuffe, chattles and personall estate whatsoever I give, devise and bequeath the same unto my said grand daughter Mary Howell as a legacy and and towards the uses aforesaid and towards the proveing and executeing of this my present last will and testament which said Mary Howell I do allso hereby nominate, constitute and ordaine to be sole executrix of this my last will and testament hereby revokeing and making null and void every other will or wills by me at any time heretofore made or caused to be made. In wittness whereof I have hereunto putt my hand and seale the day moneth and yeare herein first above written. The marke of the testator Thomas John
Read, signed, sealed, published and delivered in the presence of us James Hopkin; James James; Sam Lewis
(Latin) 3 Oct 1705 Mary Howell, grand daughter & executrix named in the testament. Before me John Jones
(Latin) Proved at Abergavenny 3 Oct 1705 before me John Jones, by Mary Howell grand daughter & executrix
A true and perfect inventory made the 18th day of May 1705 of the goods, chattles and psonall estate of Thomas John of the pish of Tregare lately deceased made and taken by us whose names are under written is as followeth (viz)
£ s d
Imprimis his wearing apparrell 1 0 0
Item 3 beds viz one feather bed, one flock bed and one chaff bed
with theyr appurtenances 1 10 0
Item brass and pewter in the house 1 6 8
Item tables, stooles, benches and other wooden lumber
about the house 1 5 0
Item 8 sheep & 6 lambs 1 4 0
Item in money 5 0 0
11 5 8
Apprizors
Tho Hughes by sign; Walter Prichard; Sam Lewis
(Latin) Inventory exhibited at Abergavenny 3 Oct 1705 by Mary Howell, grand daughter & executrix
Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales
NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 25 September 2000