This is the Last Will and Testament of me Thomas Lawrence of Undy in the County of Monmouthshire, Yeoman, made this eighth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty four.
I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Jane Lawrence, one feather bed, bolster and pillow and the bedclothes thereto appertaining, one bedstead and furniture for her own use and benefit and the Interest of Three hundred pounds,now deposited in the hands of my son James Lawrence of the Parish of Lansoy. The interest is to be paid unto her quarterly in equal quarterly payments without any deduction or diminution whatsoever, for and during her natural life, for her own use and benefit, and after her decease, the principle to be divided into four equal shares and paid unto my children viz. Thomas Lawrence, Henry Lawrence, John Lawrence and Mary Lawrence, share and share alike.
I give and devise the Common Acre and the Garden under the Churchyard Wall and the little Common and the piece of land adjoining Mr Morgan’s pound together with the new house lately erected thereon with all their appurtenances in as large and ample manner as the same were purchased by me of her Majesty the Queen’s Commissioners of Woods and Forests unto my beloved wife, for and during her natural life, and after here decease I give and devise the same unto my son John Lawrence for and during his natural life and after his decease unto the heirs of his body. I give and devise the two misgauges(?) or dwelling house situated in the town of Chepstow and which I purchased of my brother Edward Lawrence unto my son Thomas Lawrence his heirs and assigns forever, with their appurtenances in as large and ample manner as the same were purchased by me of my said brother Edward Lawrence.
I give and bequeath unto my son James Lawrence the sum of five pounds, the said sum being in his hand. I give and devise the two dwelling houses now in the occupation of Thomas Lawrence and Timothy Harry as yearly tenants together with the gardens and ????? of land thereto adjoining and belonging situated on Undy Tump in this parish, with all their appurtenances in as large and ample manner as the same were purchased by me of her Majesty the Queen’s Commissioners of Woods and Forests, unto my son Henry Lawrence, his heirs and assigns forever.
I give and devise the Cottage and Garden (now in the occupation of my son John Lawrence) together with the Carpenters shop which I purchased of William James unto my Grandson George Lawrence when he attains the age of thirty years but in the event of his dying before he attains the age of thirty years, I give and devise the aforesaid Cottage and Garden and the appurtenances thereto belonging unto his farther ~ John Lawrence for his natural life and after his decease unto the heirs of his body and my son John Lawrence is to have, hold and enjoy the undisturbed occupation, ????? , and benefit of the said House and Garden until his son George Lawrence attains the age of thirty years and at that time my Grandson is to have the quiet and peaceable ????? and the premises are to be kept and given up in good substantial repair by my son John Lawrence or his representative when my Grandson attains the aforesaid age and my son john Lawrence and my Grandson George Lawrence are hereby strictly prohibited and restricted from selling, mortgaging or in anyway encumbering or ????? upon the same.
I give and bequeath unto my son Henry Lawrence one feather bed, bolster and pillow and the bedclothes thereto belonging and one bedstead and furniture. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Lawrence one feather bed bolster and pillow and the bedclothes thereto belonging and one bedstead and furniture, and my will is that all the rest of my household furniture, dairy & brewing utensils and all my farming stock and crops together with all the implements of husbandry be sold by Public Auction within one calendar month after my decease and that the surplus after paying all my just debts and funeral and ????? expenses be divided into four equal shares and by my executor herein after named paid unto my children Thomas Lawrence, Henry Lawrence, John Lawrence and Mary Lawrence in equal shares – share and share alike. I nominate and appoint my Nephew John Lawrence of Common y Coed to be sole executor of this my last will and testament and lastly I nominate and appoint James Lawrence my son to be trustee for and during the natural life of his Mother, but the interest of the money deposited in his hand is to be paid into the hand of the Executor quarterly and by the Executor to the Widow and the Bond is to be held by the Executor of this my will hereby revoking and making void all former and other will or wills by me at any time heretofore made. In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written.
The mark of Thomas Lawrence
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Lawrence the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto.
Hm Jones Vicar of Undy
John Callowhill Rector of Llanmartin
10th Day of February 1845 John Lawrence the lawful Nephew and Sole Executor of this Will named was duly sworn as such and the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased are under the value of Four Hundred and fifty pounds.
Before me Richard Pritchard
Surrogate
An Inventory of the Personal Estate and effects of the late Thomas Lawrence of Brook House in the Parish of Undy deceased, taken this 30th day of January 1845 by Richard Baker Esq. of Llanvihangel Court and Mr John Williams of Great House in the said Parish of Undy in the County of Monmouth.
Wearing Apparel £ 10 0
Beds, Bedclothes & Furniture 5.00.0
Cheese 1.05.0
Kitchen Furniture 5.10.0
Dairy Furniture 1.14.0
Bacon and Bench 2.00.0
Brewing Utensils 1.03.0
Winnowing Materials 1.00.0
Cyder and Cask 1.00.0
Pikes and Rakes 0.02.0
Casks 1.11.6
Gig & Harnesses 1.15.0
Ladders 0.12.0
Iron Bar,PickAxe Shovel & Spade 05.0
Waggons 8.00.0
Carts & Roller 5.00.0
Drags & Harrows 0.12.0
Plough 0.05.0
Saddles & Bridle 0.03.6
Kitchen Requisites 0.05.6
Swede Turnips 1.00.0
Potatoes 4.00.0
2 Cows 12.00.0
Mare & Colt 7.00.0
2 Cart Mares 12.00.0
Sacks 0.04.6
Cart Horse 9.00.0
Harnesses 1.10.0
3 Pigs 2.10.0
Salt House & Pig Trough 0.02.6
Wheat Mow 8.10.0
Barley Mow 7.00.0
Clover Mow 2.10.0
Hay Mow 5.00.0
???? Clover Mow 1.00.0
Bond Debt 300.00.0
Richard Baker
John Williams