in the name of god amen I Edm Brewer of Hedingham Castle in the county of Essex being sick in body but of sound and perfect memory thanks be given to almighty god therefore do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of almighty god my maker hoping and assuredly trusting through the only merits and mediation of jesus christ my saviour to have free pardon of all my sins and to be made partaker of the kingdom of heaven and my body I commit to the earth whence it was made to be buried in christian burial at the discretion of my executors hereafter named and as for my worldly estate which god of his mercy hath bestowed upon me I dispose of the same as followeth imprimis I give and bequeath to Mary my well beloved wife the messuage wherein I now dwell and all the lands tenements and hereditaments thereunto belonging both freehold and copyhold which I purchased of mr Jekyll and a parcel of meadow and hopground holden of the manor of Grayes in Hedingham Sible to hold to the said Mary my wife for the term of her natural life and after her decease I give the said meadow and hopground in Hedingham Sible to my son Nath and his heirs forever but if he shall happen to die without issue before he shall attain to the age of 21yr then my will and mind is that the same meadow and hopground shall be sold by my executors or the survivor of them and the money thereof coming to be divided amongst my three daughters Lucy Ruth and Hannah and my son Steph or the survivors of them by equal portions item I devise my said lands and tenements purchased of mr Jekyll after my wife's decease to my said three daughters Lucy Ruth and Hannah and their heirs item I give to my son Steph my messuage lands in Maplestead to hold to him and his heirs forever(inserted) and I give to my said son Steph all my books except those in my son Jn's possession to whom I give those excepted books item I will and devise that all lands and tenements not herein before bequeathed shall be sold by my executors or the survivor of them within a convenient time after my decease and the money thereof arising I will shall go towards the payment of my debts and the residue thereof to remain in my wife's hands for and towards the maintenance and education of my said three daughters Lucy Ruth and Hannah until their several ages of 21yr or days of marriage which shall first happen and then to be severally and respectively paid unto them or the survivors of them item I give to my son Jn 20li and I will that he be discharged of the debts wherein I stand bound with him upon this condition that my said son Jn shall confirm this my will and release all his estate and interest in all my lands and tenements to such persons as I have severally disposed the same unto or to whom any of my lands or tenements shall hereafter be sold according to this my will or do any further act in order thereunto as my executors or the survivor of them shall devise item I give to the poor people of the parish of Hedingham Castle 5li to be paid within one year next after my decease also I give to Joseph Hannah and Eliz son and daughters of my deceased sister Harrington 20s apiece all my other goods chattels and debts not herein be fore bequeathed I do give and bequeath to my said wife and Sidrach Smith my son in law executors of this my last will and testament revoking all former wills by me made in witness whereof I the said Edm Brewer have hereunto put my hand and seal the 14.8.1658 further my will and mind is that if any of my said three daughters shall happen to die before their ages of 21yr or days of marriage then the portion of 300li which I have given in marriage with my daughter Rebecca shall be made equal with my said other daughters estate out of the said estate given to them as aforesaid anything herein before contained to the contrary notwithstanding Edm Brewer this writing containing five sheets of paper was signed sealed published and declared by the above named Edm Brewer to be his last will and testament in the presence of us Nich Jakyll the mark of Mary Browne the mark of Robt Towers