The last will and testament of Thomas John of the parish of Usk in the County of Monmouth, yeoman, made this eighteenth day of July in the twelvth yeare of the reigne of our sovereigne Lord George the Second King over Great Brittaine and so forth and in the yeare of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty eight. First I comend my soul to God hoping through the merritts of my blessed saviour to receive full pardon of all my sins my temporal estate which God hath blessed me with in this life I give, devise and bequeath in manner following.
All and singular my free hold lands, tenements and hereditaments called and known by the severall names of the Wibbs? Isha & Wibbs? Isha with all and singular the apputenances thereunto belonging situate, lyeing and being in the several parishes of Uske aforesd and Trostrey in the aforesaid County I give, devise and bequeath unto my loveing wife Blanch John for and during the terme of her natural life without impediment? of waste? and after her decease I give, devise and bequeath the said free hold estate with all and singular appurt…? --? the same lands and tenements belonging --? In my wife appurtaining to my son John Thomas to have and to hold to him & his heirs forever I give and bequeath unto my four daughters to wit Ann the wife of William Morgan, Martha the wife of James Jones, Elizabeth the wife of David William and Martha John, spinster, the sum of five pounds a piece of lawfull money of Great Brittain to be paid to them respectively within three yeares after the death of my said wife. I also give to my grandson Thomas John son of my late son William John the sum of five pounds of like lawfull money to be paid him in like manner which said? severall legacyes, ---? and d…? to be paid to the severall and respective legaties herein named by my said son John Thomas in manner aforesaid. And of this my said will I nominate and appoint my said loveing wife whose and sole executrix & to whome I give all and singular my personal estate whatsoever towards paying my lawfull debts & discharging my funeral expenses making voyd former will and wills by me heretofore made ratifyeing & confirming this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day and yeare first within mentioned. The mark of the said testator Thomas John.
Signed, sealed, published and delivered by the said testator as his last will and testament in the p’sence of us who at the request of the said testator have subscribed our names as witnesses hereunto John James, Thomas Harry, John Jones.
May the 8th 1739. Blanch John, the relict & executrix named in this will was sworn well & faithfully to execute the same to exhibite an inventary &c & render an account &c before me. Wm Harris, Surr
This will was proved at Abergavenny upon the eighth day of May in the year of our Lord Christ 1739 before the Reverend Mr William Harris, Clerk, the Chancellor’s Surrogate by Blanch John the relict and executrix in this will named who was first upon the holy Evangelists personally sworn well and faithfully to execute the same, to exhibite an inventary and to render a just account of her administration &c 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 9 Nov 2000
NOTE:- This document was written in a very poor hand. DW