In the name of God Amen this seventh day of October in the first year of the reign of our sovereign lord James the second by the grace of God King of England Scotland France & Ireland defender of the faith and in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred eighty and five I William Keene of the parish of Widston in the County of Monmouth diocese of Landaf, Gent being sick of body but of sound memory thanks be to Almighty God do make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner and form as following.

First I commend my soul into the hands of the Almighty God my Creator hoping that through the most glorious death and passion of his son and my saviour and redeemer pardon and forgiveness for all my sins and my body to be buried in Christian burial in the middle chancel of the parish church of Christchurch in the old grave.

Item I give and bequeath towards the Cathedral Church of Landaf two shillings and six pence. Item I give towards the Church of Christchurch five shillings. Item I give and bequeath unto my son William Keene all the household thereof in his house in Caerlion and my block house that is here at home and to be delivered after my decease

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Keene five pounds to be paid within one twelve

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Keene five pounds to be paid within one twelve month after my decease.

Item I give and bequeath unto my grand child John Keene fifty shillings for and towards the helping and assisting of affording? him to be an apprentice. Item I give and bequeath unto my grand child Elizabeth Keene the best cow beast going on two years old to be mentained by my executor till it be full years old and to be set out at time by the said executor to the cert advantage of the said child. Item I give and bequeath unto Alice my maid servant one cow beast going on twelve month old to be maintained till it be five years old and if the said Alice doth happen to die before the expiration of the two years that the said beast be returned? to the executors.

Item I do give & bequeath all the rest of my goods, cattle and chattels movable and unmovable, real? corn? and growing to my beloved wife Ann Keene and to my son Roger Keene in equal portions and the said Ann is for to have her quiet to enjoy her share during her life time and at her she is to have the disposing of seventy pounds and chest. The rest to be returned unto my son Roger after her decease.

Item I nominate & appoint my well beloved wife Ann Keene and my son Roger Keene to be my whole & sole executors of this my last will & testament revoking all other wills whatsoever. In witness thereof I have put my hand & seal the day & year above written. William Keene

NOTE: The above has been re-typed from a copy of what looks like a modern, hand written transcript. Unfortunately this transcript was done a too hasty a hand, some of it descending into scribble. Also this is a photocopy of the original hand written transcript and some of it has missed the photocopier. I suspect that there are a number of transcription errors – these are not mine. DW

Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales. NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 19 March 2001