In the name of God Amen I William Matthews of the parish of Garway in the County of Hereford being very sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory do make ordain and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say First I desire that all my jest debts funeral expencis and the proving this my will shall in the first place be fully paid and discharged by my executrix herein after named and I do hereby give and bequeath unto my wife Susannah Matthews during her natural life all my real and personal estate and efects messuages lands and tenements goods and chattels money and securities for money whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature sort or kind soever all and singular to her use during her natural life, and from and after the decease of my said wife Susannah Matthews then to be equally devided between my four children hereafter mentioned to my daughter Susannah Barrett, my daughter Elizabeth Pritchard, my daughter Ann Matthews and my daughter Mary Watters to each of them an equal share, and the one fourth part so devided to be equally devided between my daughter Elizabeth Pritchard’s three children Elizabeth Pritchard, Thomas Pritchard and Catherine Pritchard she being now deceased to each of them an equal share, and I do appoint John Barrett and John Badham both of the parish of St Weonards and County of Hereford to be trustees over them and what property comes to their share from their mothers part in confidence that they my said trustees or the survivor of them or the executive or administrator of each survivor shall and do as soon as conveniently may be after my wifes decease secure and take care of their property and apply the interest for the maintenance and education of them tell they arive at the age of twenty one years then the said trustees or the survivor of them or the executors or administrators of such survivor do and shall pay the whole principal and interest then due to them for their own use and disposal, lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my wife Susannah Matthews sole executrix of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven. The mark of William Matthews.
Signed sealed published and declared to be the last will and testament of the said William Matthews in the presence of us John Roberts; John Roberts, taylor; John Badham
14th day of August 1811
on which day Susannah Matthews widow the sole executrix named in the within written will was then sworn in due form of law.
Sworn under £100
Proved at Hereford 14th Aug 1811 before the Revd & Wor’ll Jno Napleton DD Vicr Gen &c by the oath of Susannah Matthews wid the sole exex within named
Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales. NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 22 February 2001