(first part from a rough transcript) 30.7.1654 Hen Abbott the elder of Earls Colne yeoman to Dorothy my wife 5s to Hen Abbott my son all that my tenement or messuage in Earls Colne called Hayhouses which I purchased of Thos Fisher gent to have forever without any payment of money or legacies etc out of the same except manorial dues (rest verbatim) item I give and bequeath unto Robt Abbutt my son all those my five closes and parcels of land and 1a3r of meadow being copyhold containing in all by estimation 1 8a be they more or less called or known by the several names of Hussies Chewings Lands Sandhills Perre Crofts alias Cockecrofts and Sandalls or by whatsoever name or names the same are called or known by which are all the lands afore that were Thomasin Abbutt my mother's to have and to hold all the said lands with all and every of their appurtenances thereunto belonging unto the said Robt my son during the term of his natural life and after his death to his heirs lawfully begotten of his body and for and of such issue all of it to fall unto the abovesaid Hen Abbutt my son and to his heirs forever except one parcel of the said land commonly called or known the name Tylekeell Croft which I give and bequeath if my aforesaid son Robt die without issue as is aforesaid unto Edw Abbutt my son and to his heirs forever and my will and true intent and meaning is that if the aforesaid Robt Abbutt my son die without issue as is aforesaid that then the aforesaid Hen Abbutt my son or his heirs shall upon their quiet enjoying or possession of the aforesaid copyhold according unto my true intent and meaning bequeathed by me unto the aforesaid Robt my son as is aforesaid except the aforesaid parcel excepted satisfy pay or cause to be paid unto the aforesaid Edw Abbutt my son the sum of 100li of lawful money of England within six months after his or their quiet enjoying of the aforesaid land after the death of the aforesaid Robt my son as is aforesaid item I give and bequeath more unto the said Robt Abbutt all my corn in my house and barn or fields and my hay my cows sheep and hogs upon condition the aforesaid Robt Abbutt my son pay or cause to be paid all my lawful debts be at all the charges of my funeral and of what belongs thereunto and that he the said Robt shall pay or cause to be paid the aforesaid legacy of 5s unto Dorothy my wife and 5li of lawful money of England to be given unto the poor of the parish of Earls Colne within five months after my death item I give and bequeath unto Edw Abbutt my son the 300li I lent to mr Thos Wilson of Stisted upon a mortgage of land and 100li I lent unto Rich Pemberton of Cogeshall upon a mortgage of a tenement and the 100li I lent unto Dan Cornall of Steple Bamsteed upon a mortgage of land and 40li I lent unto Sam Thayres of Colne Engaine upon an mortgage of land and 10li I lent unto Rich Ward of Earls Colne upon a bond which aforesaid sum and sums and any of them lent by me and given and bequeathed as is aforesaid my will and true intent and meaning is that the aforesaid Hen Abbutt my son shall take the care of for the aforesaid Edw my son and make the best improvement that well he can by putting them out to use for the aforesaid Edw my son and what profit or interest shall be made thereby during the time until the aforesaid Edw Abbutt shall attain unto his full age of 21yr I give unto the aforesaid Edw my son with the several sum and sums of money aforesaid given and bequeathed unto him and my will and true intent and meaning is that the aforesaid Hen Abbutt my son shall have 3li of lawful money of England every year that that shall arise and of the profits or interest of the aforesaid sums for his care and pains therein until my aforesaid son shall attain unto the aforesaid age of 21yr and further my will and true intent and meaning is that what loss or damage shall fall upon any part or parcel of the aforesaid sum or sums by me given and bequeathed unto the aforesaid Edw my son and committed unto the care of Hen Abbutt my son as is aforesaid or of any of the increase or profits thereof by bad debts or by thefts or by burnings or suchlike other accidents or losses all the time the aforesaid Hen or his heirs have the care of which come not by wilful carelessness or neglect of the said Hen or his heirs are all of them and every such loss or damage to be borne by my aforesaid son Edw and likewise all and every sum and sums of money spent in any suit or suitor in law for the securing of any part or parcel of the aforesaid sum or sums bequeathed unto him with the increase or profit and further more it is my will and true intent and meaning that if my aforesaid son Edw Abbutt shall happen to die before he shall attain unto the full age of 21yr then I give and bequeath the aforesaid sum and sums given and bequeathed unto him to be equally divided between my other two sons Hen and Robt and if it shall happen that either of them shall die before the aforesaid Edw as is aforesaid and leave a child or children lawfully begotten of their bodies that then the deceased's child or children shall have the part of him that is deceased item I give unto the aforesaid Hen Abbott my eldest son my tapestry covering and my two best silver bowls item I give and bequeath unto the aforesaid Robt Abbutt and Edw Abbutt my sons all the rest of my household stuff to be equally divided between them in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day of the date above written Hen Abbutt sealed and declared as his last will and testament in the presence of us Robt Abbutt (may be Robt Abbutt) Jn Kent Thos Harvey (may be Thos Harvey) his mark