In the name of God Amen the one and twentieth day of November in the yeare of our Lord God according to the computation of the Church of England one thousand six hundred eighty four I Judith Nicholas of Treleg Grainge in the County of Monmouth, widdow, the relict and late wife of Edward Nicholas late of the same Esquire, deceased being very sick and weake in body but of good and perfect memory thanks bee to God doe make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following (that is to say) first I bequeath my soul and spirit into the hands of Almighty God my heavenly father by whome of his meer and only grace I trust to bee saved and received into eternal rest through the death of my savior and redeemer Jesus Christ in whose precious blood I sett the whole and only hope of my salvation my wretched body in hope of a joyful resurrection I commit to the earth to bee decently buried and my funeral to bee ordered at the discretion of my executrixes herein after named and as touching the distribution of my mortal goods I dispose of the same as followeth. First I will that all such debts as I shall owe at the time of my decease bee truly paid.

Item I give and bequeath unto my two sons Thomas Evans and John Evans each of them one guinea or piece of gold of twenty shillings. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary, wife of William Jones, Gent, one guinea or like piece of gold. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anne the wife of John Probyn, tanner, one guinea or like piece of gold. Item I give and bequeath unto my other daughter Anne the wife of John Gabb, Gent, one guinea or like piece of gold. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Joice Price, widd, one guinea or like piece of gold. Item I give and bequeath unto Andrew Nicholas and Edward Nicholas, Gentlemen, sons of my said husband one guinea or like piece of gold to each of them. Item I give and bequeath unto John Evans eldest son of my said son Thomas Evans the sum of five pounds. Item I give and bequeath unto Walter Blower, Thomas Blower, Mary Blower and Elizabeth Blower sons and daughters of John Blower of the parish of Langoven in the said County, Gent, the sum of five pounds a piece. Item I give and bequeath unto the granddaughter of my said husband Joice Jones, spinster, the sum me of Item shillings. Item I give and bequeath unto Tacey Jones sister to the said Joice Jones the sum of twenty shillings yearly and every yeare to bee paid unto her the said Tacey during her natural life from and out of the lands and premises called and knowne by the name of Wayne y Parke lying and being within the parish of Trelegg in the said County and which I holdeth by lease as from the Earle of Pembrooke for lives yet in being provided the said lease shall not expire before the decease of the said Tacey. Item I give and bequeath unto John James my now servant man the sum of twenty shillings yearely and every yeare to bee paid unto him during his naturall life from and out of the said lands and premises provided the said lease shall not expire before the decease of the said John James. Item I give and bequeath all and all other the remainder and residue of my goods, cattle and chattles whatsoever and wheresoever and not herein before by mee given or bequeathed unto my two daughters Elizabeth Nicholas and Rachell Nicholas spinsters, to bee equally divided betweene them immediately after my decease and I doe hereby nominate and appoint my said two daughters Elizabeth Nicholas and Rachell Nicholas my joint executrixes of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me in any wise heretofore made or declared and I doe hereby nominate and appoint my said sonne Thomas Evans and John Evans overseers of’ this my last will and testament hoping they will see the same duly and truly performed according to the true meaning and intent thereof in wittiness whereof I the said Judith Nicholas to this my last will and testament have sell my hand and scale the day and yeare first above written the mark of the aforesaid Judith Nicholas sealed, declared and delivered by the foresaid Judith Nicholas in the presence of us Ch? Price; John Gabb; Joseph Price; Peregrine Lewis

Probate (in Latin) Proved in London 7 March 1684. Administration given to Elizabeth Nicholas & Rachel Nicholas, daughters of the deceased

Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven 2 Aspen Way Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales. NP2O 61.13 Tel 01633 855359