in the name of god amen the 24.3.1631 I Joan Ward of Earls Colne in the county of Essex widow being sick in body but yet in good and perfect remembrance I do thank god do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following first and principally I surrender and bequeath my soul into the hands of almighty god and his blessed son jesus christ and his blessed son jesus christ my only saviour redeemer my only saviour and redeemer by whose precious bloodshedding upon the cross I do steadfastly hope to have remission of all my sins my body to the earth from whence it was taken to be decently buried according to my degree item I do give unto Edith my daughter my bedstead in the parlour and all the bedding thereto belonging now thereupon except the pillows and I do give her four pieces of pewter two of the bigger sort two of the lesser three porringers and my cauldron two silver spoons with a man's head upon the top of them and my biggest candlestick item I do give unto the said Edith and to my daughter Margt and to Joan her daughter all my linen except certain childbed linen to be equally divided between the said Edith and Margt Joan and some part of the said linen my will is that the said Joan shall have item I do give unto the said Margt my table in the hall and the frame thereto and four joined stools my biggest kettle three of my biggest pewter platters two pewter dishes three porringers and a double salt cellar two silver spoons with a little knob at the end a warming pan item I do give to the said Joan my best bedstead standing next to the door upon the chamber over the hall and the bedding and furniture there upon and a chafing dish and a bullock item I do give unto Francis Grymwade my grandchild two young sheep and an old sheep with two lambs item I do give unto Robt Johnson my grandchild a black cow and three or four pieces of pewter now commonly used item I do give unto Francis Ward my grandchild my dun cow and my bedstead and furniture therewith used upon the hall chamber and four pieces of pewter upon the chamber one of them being next the best and a little hutch in my parlour item I do give unto Jn Ward my grandchild my wennell calf and a great platter a basin two other platters and a saltcellar a flockbed a bolster a pillow my cupboard in the hall and the cloth thereupon one silver spoon with a round knob and one other little one and all my implements of household being in the kitchen and my great brass pot and my great hutch in the parlour item I do give unto Rich Ward my grandchild my brownish cow a silver spoon and the chest in the chamber over the parlour and an old hutch item I do give unto my grandchild Benj Ward two sheep item all the residue of my implements of household except my cupboard standing in the parlour and all my wearing apparel and linen I will shall be equally divided amongst my three grandchildren Jn Rich and Francis Ward item all the rest and residue of my goods and chattels not before by me bequeathed I do give unto Rich Ward my son whom I do make sole executor of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand subscribed by the said Joan Ward in the presence of Simon Ive Jas Ward