In the name of God Amen I William
Jones of the pish of Landenny in
the County of Monmouth being sick in body but in good & pfect mind &
memory thanks be to God haveing first recomended my soul to the hands of my
creator thro the meritts of Christ the saviour of mankind do make and ordaine
this my last will and Testament in manner following. Whereas I was made executor unto my kinswoman Cecill Williams
and thereby became bound to pay the sume of ten shillings yearly to the poore
of the said parish of Landenny forever
which has been by me punctually observed and duly paid unto this time and
intending an addition of the like sume unto them? I do hereby devise and
bequeath unto the said poore of Landenny aforesd the sume of ten shillings
yearly payable at the feast of Christmas for ever. And I do hereby charge a certain close or parcell of land called
and known by the name of Y Havod containing by estimation five acres toward the
paym’t of the said two sev’all sumes of ten shillings and ten shillings yearly for
ever. I also hereby give devise and
bequeath those three sev’all p’cells of lands comonly called and known by the
sev’all names Yuise? Kelling and Ka Yuiss belling containing by estimation
twelve acres lyeing and being in the said pish of Landenny unto my grandaughter
Margarett Hitchins and to the heirs of her body lawfully begotten. And for want of such issue I give and devise
the same unto my daughter Mary Hitchins her mother and to her heirs for
ever the rent and proffitts of which said lands during the minority of my said
grandaughter I hereby direct and order to be yearly laid out by her said mother
towards her maintenance & education.
I also give devise and bequeath unto my old servant Mary Morgan
for the terme of her life all that my house garden orchards and appurtenances
in Lanwkechar? within the said parish of Landenny and after her decease unto my
said grandaughter Margarett Hitchins and to the heirs of her body
lawfully issueing and for want of such issue to my daughter Mary her
said mother and her heirs forever and all the rest and residue of my real
estate whatsoever and wheresoever both freehold and customary I give devise and
bequeath the same unto my said daughter Mary Hitchins and to her heirs forever
but chargeable with what sume she thinks fitt towards portioning & setting
out in the world her younger children? ...? ...? [page damaged. DW] and
proportions as she the said Mary my said daughter shall direct and
appoint. I also hereby give devise and
bequeath to my kinsman Walter Williams of the parish of Usk in the
County of Monmouth the sume of ten pounds to be paid him within twelve months
next after my decease and also to my kinsman John David of Landenny the
sume of twenty shillings and ten shillings apeice to Catherine David
and Elizabeth Richard both also of the said parish of Landenny. And I hereby also order the sume of ten
pounds to be laid out & expended by my executors towards my funerall. And I do also hereby devise the third part
of my houshould goods & stock to my said grandaughter Margarett but the use of them to my daughter the said Mary
Hitchins while she liveth, and I
hereby also give and bequeath notwithstanding the annual sume mentioned
above to the poore of the said parish of Landenny the further sume of five pounds
to be paid in three months next after my decease and the same to be disposed
off att the discretion and according to the direcon of my executrix. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my
loveing daughter the said Mary Hitchins my whole and sole executrix
recomending my loveing kinsman Mr Thomas Jones of Caye in the County of
Monmouth to be aiding & assisting to her to whom I give & bequeath one
gunia towards his trouble & pains therein.
Witness my hand 17th day of July anno dom 1720. The mark of William (X) Jones.
Signed sealed and
published in the presence of us who subscribe our names in ye p’sence of ye
testator. Tho Jones; Wallter Williams; George Thomas
(Latin) 19th July 1721. Proved by Mary Hitchins the daughter
& executrix named in the Will.
Before me William Morgan, Surrogate
(Latin) Proved at Landaff 19 July 1721 before the
Revd William Morgan, Clerk, Surrogate &c by Mary Hitchins the
daughter & executrix &c &c
Transcribed from a
photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales. NP20 6LB
Tel 01633 858 359 28 April 2003