In the name of God Amen the twelth day of September in ye year of our Lord God 1739 I Walter Lewis of Langum ucha in the County of Monmouth and Diosess of Landaffe, yeoman, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God therefore calling unto mind ye mortality of my body and knowing that it is apointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say, principally first of all I give and recommend my soul into ye hands of God that gave it and for my body I comend it to the earth whence it came to be buried in a Christian like maner by my executrix nothing doubting but att the genarall rserection I shall receive the same againe by the mighty power of God and as touching worldly estate were with it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. I do give dispose unto Alce Lewis my mother the sum of ten shillings to be paid within one year after my deceas. Item I do give and dispose unto my brother my best suit of cloaths after my decease. Item I do give and dispose unto my three sisters the sum of five shillings a piece to be paid within one year after my decease. Item I do give and dispose unto William Water the younger the sum of five shillings. Item I do give and dispose between John Langley his wife and child the sum of twenty shillings to be paid within one year after my decease and my will is that John Langley my son in law shall have and enjoy that mesuag lieng and being in the parish of Lantrishent? dureing? His natural life after the decease of Catherin my wife? and then to Walter Langley and his heirs for ever or to such isue as shall be goten by the said John Langley out of the said Susan his wife. Item I do give and dispose unto Samuell Watkins and Dorothy his wife that mesuage called Craig Master after the deceace of Catherin my wife to them and thaier heirs for ever. Also one mesuage being about fifty shillings a year both lieing and being in the parish of Newchurch soon after my deceace to have and to hould. Item I do give, device, dispose and bequeath unto Catherin my well beloved wife all my lands goods, chatles and chatles whatsoever whome I constitute, make and ordain my only and sole executrix of this my last will and testament all and in singular my lands mesuage and tenements by her self to be posessed and enjoyed other than what is herein before prescribed and I do hereby uterly disallow, revocke and disanull all and every other former will or testament, legaties, bequeaths and executors by me in any ways before this time named willed and bequeathed ratifieing and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written. Walter Lewis
Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presens of us being subscribers George Madoks; Lois Lewis; Beth Watkins
January the 29th 1740/41. Catherine Lewis the relict and executrix in this will named was sworn well and faithfully to execute the same, to the truth of the inventary &c and to render an account &c before me. William Harris, Surrogate
This will was proved at Landaffe upon the twenty ninth day of January in the year of our Lord Christ (according to the computation of the Church of England) 1740 by Catherine Lewis the relict and executrix in this will named who was first upon the holy Evangenlists personally sworn well and faithfully to execute the same, to the truth of the inventary by her exhibited and to render a just account of her administration of the same when thereunto lawfully required.
An inventary of all and singular the goods, cattle and chattles of Walter Lewis late of the parish of Langum Ycha in the County of Monmouth and Diocese of Landaffe, yeoman, dece'd, made, valued and appraized the twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord Christ 1740 by George Madock and Richard Gwillim appraizors as follows, that is to say
£ s d
First His wearing apparel valued at 2 0 0
Also Two feather and three dust beds with their appurtenances
at 5 0 0
Also Eight old dishes & two plates at 0 10 0
Also Five old brass kettles at 1 0 6
Also Seven Cows & a heyfer at 16 10 0
Also Two oxen and three steers at 9 5 0
Also One old mare & two little colts at 2 6 0
Also Six young cattle at 5 0 0
Also Six yearlings at 2 5 0
Also Thirty five small sheep at 2 4 0
Also Four small piggs at 0 15 0
Also All other implements and lumber at 0 16 0
Sum Total 47 11 6
Exhibited at Landaffe upon the 29th day of January 1740/41 by Catherine Lewis the relict and executrix for a true and perfect inventary &c but under protestation of adding &c if any more of the decedents assetts shall hereafter come to her hands, possession or knowlegde
Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven,
2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales
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