This is the last will and testament of me William Nicholas of the parish of Cwmcarvan in the County of Monmouth, farmer. I give and desire all that my messuage or tenement and lands called Ty Vry and Tuy Bach with the rights, members and appurtenances thereunto belonging situate, lying and being in the parish of Cwmcarvan aforesaid in the said County of Monmouth unto John Edmonds of the parish of Cwmcarvan aforesaid, farmer, and William Williams of the town of Monmouth, Gentleman, and their heirs upon the several trusts and for the several uses, intents and purposes herein after mentioned, expressed and declared of and concerning the same that is to say – upon trust that they the said John Edmonds and William Williams and their heirs do and shall pay to or otherwise permit and suffer my wife Joyce Nicholas and her assigns to have , receive and take the rents, issues and profits of the said premises to and for her and their own use and benefit until my son Walter Nicholas shall attain the age of twenty five years and when and so soon as my said son Walter Nicholas shall attain that age then upon trust for and I do give and devise the same to my said son Walter Nicholas, his heirs and assigns for ever subject nevertheless to and charged and chargeable with the payment of the sum of one hundred pounds to my son John Nicholas which said sum of one hundred pounds I do hereby order and direct to be paid to my said son John Nicholas by my said son Walter Nicholas within the space of three years next after my said son Walter Nicholas shall have attained his age of twenty five years. And if my said son Walter Nicholas shall depart this life before he shall have attained the age of Twenty five years then I give and devise the same premises with the appurtenances to my said son John Nicholas, his heirs and assigns. And I give and devise all that my undivided moiety or half part of and in all that undivided third part or share the whole into three equal parts or shares to be divided of and in all that messuage or tenement farm lands and hereditaments called Llangunnock situate in the several parishes of Llangunnock and Llanvihangal Torymonyth in the said County of Monmouth with the apputenances there to belonging (which said third part or share was purchased by me and Viney Burge, widow, equally between us of and from Isaac Hale, clockmaker) unto the said John Edmonds and William Williams and their heirs upon the several trusts and for the several uses, intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned expressed and declared of and concerning the same that is to say upon trust that they the said John Edmonds and William Williams and their heirs do and shall pay to or otherwise permit and suffer my wife Joyce Nicholas and her assigns to have, receive and take the rents, issues and profits of the said premises to and for her and their own use and benefit until my son John Nicholas shall attain the age of twenty five years, and when and so soon as my said son John Nicholas shall attain that age then upon trust and I do give and devise the same to my said son John Nicholas, his heirs and assigns forever, and if my said son John Nicholas shall depart this life before he shall have attained the age of twenty five years then I give and devise the said last mentioned premises so given and devised to him as aforesaid to my said son Walter Nicholas his heirs and assigns forever. And I give and bequeath the sum of fifty pounds to my daughter Anne the wife of Thomas Herbert to and for her own use and benefit independent of her husband and I do declare that the receipt of my said daughter alone shall notwithstanding he c--? be as afficient discharge for the same. And I give and bequeath the sum of fifty pounds to my daughter Sarah Nicholas which said two several sums of fifty pounds and fifty pounds I do hereby order and direct to be paid out of my personal estate within the space of two years next after my death. And I give and bequeath all my stock , ready monies, household goods, chattles and effects and all other my personal estate and effects of what nature or kind soever unto the said John Edmonds and William Williams, their executors and administrators upon trust that they the said trustees do and shall permit and suffer my said wife to have the use, occupation and enjoyment thereof for and during the term of her natural life for the purpose of enabling her to maintain and bring up my children. And after the decease of my said wife upon trust that they the said John Edmonds and William Williams, their excutors and administrators do and shall with all convenient speed sell and convert into money all such parts of my personal estate and effects as shall not consist of monies and do and shall thereout pay the sum of twenty pounds unto and equally between such of the children of my sister Mary Jones as shall be living at the decease of my said wife and then do and shall pay, apply and dispose of all the rest, residue and remainder of estate and effects unto and equally between my younger children namely the said John Nicholas, Walter Nicholas, Anne Herbert and Sarah Nicholas and the issue of such of them as shall be then dead leaving issue such issue to take only his, her or their respective parents share. And lastly I desire that all my just debts may be be paid and do hereby appoint my said wife Joyce Nicholas, the said John Edmonds and William Williams, executrix and executors of this my will. In witness whereof I have to the four first sheets of this my will the whole whereof is contained in five sheets of paper set my hand and to this fifth and last sheet my hand and seal this twentieth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight. Wm Nicholas
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his requeast and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto Charles Pask; Thomas Howell; Robt Williams
February 18th 1799. John Edmonds one of the executors named in the forgoing will was sworn to the truth thereof &c, and that the goods, chattels and credits of the said do not amount in value to the sum of three hundred pounds power being reserved to the --? executors? Before me Benjamin Hall, Chancellor
Proved at Landaff on the 18th day of February 1799 before the Chancellor on the oath of John Edmonds, one of the executors named in the forgoing will
Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales
NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 21 August 2000