In the name of God Amen, I Robert Merefield of Crewkerne in the County of Sommerset, Esqr, being of sound memory and mind praised be God doe make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following. First I bequeath my soule unto Allmighty God and my body to be buried in the parish church of Crewkerne aforesaid. Item I give unto the poore of the parish of Crewkerne aforesaid the sume of five pounds to be distributed within a month after my decease. Item I give, will and devise unto my loveing kinsmen John Sweet of Lyons June in the County of Middx, gentleman. John Cozens of Crewkerne aforesaid, maulster, and Roger Cozens of Crewkerne aforesaid, gentleman and to the survivour of them and to the executors and administrators of such survivours all that of my mannor of Hewish in the County of Summersett with all the rights, members and appurtenances thereof and all messuages lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever with all and singular there and every of theyre appurtenances (except such estate as is already settled on Lidia my deare wife and after her to my sonne Robert and his heyres and alsoe all my messuages lands and tenements within the parish of Crewkerne with all its rights, members and appurtenances except alsoe such estate as is allready settled on Lidia my deare wife and Robert my sonne. And alsoe all that my messuage or tenement with the appurtenances in Ash in the parish of Martocke in the County of Summersett aforesaid which I purchased of one John Gooden. And alsoe all those my messuages or tenements lands and premisses with theire and every of theire appurtenances lying at Highbridge in the parish of Burnham in the County of Sumersett aforesaid which I purchased of my loveing father law? John Colson? with all and singular theire and every of theire appurtenances to have and to hold to them the said John Sweet , John Cozens and Robert Cozens and the survivour of them the executors and administrators of such survivours for by and dureing and unto the full --? and terme of fourescore and ninteene yeares to commence and beginne imediately after my decease in trust and confidence nevertheless and to the intent and purpose that they my said trustees and the survivour of them and the executors and administrators of such survivour shall out of the rents, issues and proffits of the said mannor messuages lands tenements and premisses or by same of the same or any parte thereof raise, leavy and pay sufficient to pay my debts, legacies and annuities herein after given and bequeathed such as my personall estate not herein particularly given to my wife will not --? unto. Item I give, will and devise unto my sonne John Merefield and to his heyres forever the reversion and inheritance of the before mentioned mannor, messuages, lands, tenements and hereditaments whatsoever (except before excepted) Item I give unto my deare wife the annuall or yearly sume of fifty pounds to be paid unto her by my trustees aforesaid out of the mannor, messuages, lands, tenements and premisses aforesaid yearly dureing soe many yeares of the aforesaid terme as shall --? out and be expired in the life time of my said deare wife. Item I give unto my sonne Robert Merefield the sume of twenty pounds a yeare to be alsoe paid out of the said mannor, messuages, lands, tenements and premisses yearely by my said trustees dureing soe many yeares of the aforesaid terme as shall --? out and expire in the life time of my said deare wife. Item I give unto my two daughters Alice and Susanna the sume of one thousand pounds apeece to be paid unto them at theire respective age of one and twenty yeares or dayes of marriage which shall first happen. Item my will is that my two daughters be educated as my trustes shall thinke fitt. And that my trustees doe pay out of the mannor, messuages, lands, tenements and premisses the sume of twenty pounds a yeare towards each of theire maintainance untill they shall attaine the age of one and twenty yeares or be married which shall first happen. Item I give unto my deare wife the use of all such plate and household stuffe for her life as in the schedule here unto annexed is contained and after her decease I give the same wholly to my sonne Robert Merefield. Item I doe nominate and assigne my trustees before named to be alsoe guardians to my sonne John Merefield untill he shall attaine the age of one and twenty yeares. Item I doe nominate d appoint my loveing father law Thomas Napper of Tintenhull in the County of Somsett, Gent, and John Acourt of the Inner Temple in London, Esqr, to be guardians to my sonne Robert Merefield desireing them to see him well educated in a collidge. Item my will is that if my sonne John Merefield shall happen to dye before he shall attaine the age of one and twenty yeares, that then the aforesaid mannor, messuages, lands, tenements and premisses shall onely stand charged with the fifty pounds annuity to my deare wife and be discharged from the raiseing of the two thousand pounds for my two daughters by reason my daughters will have a more considerable fortune in land by theire brother John Merefield’s death, and in case it soe happen, then I will and devise the said mannor, messuages, lands, tenements and premisses unto my sonne Robert Merefield and his heyres for ever. Item all the rest of my goods and chattles not before bequeathed my debts, legavies and funerall expences being satisfied I give and bequeath unto my eldest sonne John Merefield whome I make my sole executor of this my last will and testament. In witnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this thirteenth day of January in the first yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord King James the Second over England & Anno Dom one thousand six hundred eighty five. Robert Merefield. Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of us Will Priddle; Mary S--?; Robert Merry

A Schedule of the plate and household goods which I have given to my deare wife and my sonne Robert Merefield. Imprimis one great tankard, two imbossed c--ddle? cups with covers marked with JRL, two sugar chests imbossed marked with J? S, two silver plates the one marked HN and the other SN, one great dish marked with NJ, one cupp with JRL, one brann? dish with JR, foure napped spoones with JBLM, two spoones flatt with JNLR, one pap spoone, one great bason with the Court? arms Nappers and Merefield, one tumbler with the Merefields and Nappers arms, one sugar ---?. Item the bedd and every thing belonging to it, and all other the furniture in the hall chamber except the hangings. Item the bedd and every thing belonging to it and other the furniture standing in the kitchin chamber. Item on suite of new damask?. Item one paire of Holland sheets, one paire of dowlace? sheets and two paire of Holland pillow cases.

(Latin) Proved in London 20 October1686 by John Merefield, son & executor named in the said testament.

Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales

NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 27/28 August 2000