This is the last will of me Robert Merefield of Beaminster in the County of Dorset, Gentleman written with my own hand hereby revoking and making void all other wills by me formerly made. Imprimis I give to the poor of Broadwinsor in the County aforesaid the sum of twenty pounds of Lawful money of Great Britain and to the poor of Burstock in the same County the further sum of twenty pounds to be paid and distributed within six months after my death. Item I give to my servant Elizabeth Hoskins the sum of twenty pounds to be paid within one year after my decease. Item I give and bequeath to my niece Lucy Merefield an infant the sum of one thousand and five hundred pounds of like lawfull money and to my niece Ann Merefield an infant the like sum of one thousand and five hundred pounds to be payd to them and each of them when and as soon as they shall attain their several and respective ages of one and twenty years but in case either of my said nieces shall dye before she shall arrive to her said age, then I give the portion so dying to the survivor of them if such survivor shall live to attain her age of one and twenty years. And if both my said nieces shall happen to dye before they shall arrive to their said respective ages of one and twenty years then my will is that the legacy's so by me given to them respectively as aforesaid shall remain and be to and for the use and benefit of my executrix hereinafter named. Item all my lands of inheritance in Burstock aforesaid or elsewhere. I give and devise to the said infants Lucy Merefield and Ann Merefield equally to be divided between them to hold the same to them, their heirs and assigns forever. Item all my leasehold estates in Broadwinsor aforesaid and elsewhere I give and bequeath to Sarah my wife, her executors, adm’tors and assigns for and during the several and respective long terms for years or remainder of terms for years as I have therein charged and chargeable nevertheless with the several legacy's or bequests hereinafter specified. Item all the rest and residue of my goods, chattells and personal estate (not herein before disposed of) I give and bequeath to my said wife whom I make and constitute whole and sole exectrix of this my will. Lastly I hereby declare that what I have hereby given to my said wife is and shall be taken in recompense and full satisfaction of all her dower and thirds which she can, shall or may claim in all or any the said lands of inheritance so devised as aforesaid. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the eleventh day of August in the year of our Lord according to the computation of the Church of England one thousand seven hundred and thirty nine. R Merefield.

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the testator Robert Merefield as and for his only last will in the presence of us who all subscribed our names ereunto as witnesses in the presence of the said testator Robert Jones. John Barter. William Hoskins junr

This will was proved at London the eighteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty one before the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth. Doctor of Laws. Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Sarah Merefield widow the relict and sole executrix in the said will named to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods. chattells and credits of the said deceased being first sworn by commission duly to administer

Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park. Newport, South Wales. NP2O 6LB Tel 01633 858359 28 May 2000