in the name of god amen I Wm Brewer of Much Tey in the county of Essex yeoman being sick and weak in body but of a sound and perfect mind and memory thanks be given to almighty god for the same do constitute make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following hereby revoking all former wills by me made that is to say first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of almighty god my most merciful creator hoping to be saved through the alone merits of jesus christ my most gracious redeemer and my body I desire may be decently buried at the discretion of my executrix hereinafter named and as to that worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased god to bless me I dispose thereof as followeth viz imprimis I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Ann Brewer for and during the term of her natural life all that my messuage or tenement commonly called or known by the name of Lamberts or otherwise situate lying and being in Much Tey aforesaid Chappell and Earls Colne or in some of them she paying my debts and taking care of and bringing up of my children and also keeping the premises in good repair and after her decease I give and bequeath the same messuage and premises unto my eldest son Wm Brewer and his heirs forever but in case my said son Wm and my other two sons Edw and Sam shall happen to die without issue before they shall attain their ages of 21yr then I give and bequeath the said messuage lands and premises unto (sic) my said messuage lands and premises unto my said loving wife Ann Brewer and her heirs forever item I give and bequeath unto my said son Wm Brewer and his heirs forever all that my customary messuage or cottage commonly called or known by the name of Burtons or otherwise with six crofts of land thereunto belonging containing together by estimation 10a more or less with the appurtenances holden of the manor of Colne Pryory my said son Wm Brewer permitting my said wife Ann to receive the rents and profits thereof until he shall accomplish his age of 21yr towards his education and maintenance and the maintenance of my other children but my will and meaning is that my said son Wm Brewer his heirs or assigns shall well and truly pay unto my other two sons namely Edw Brewer and Sam Brewer as well out of the aforesaid messuage lands as also out of the aforesaid copyhold premises herein before given unto my said son Wm the sum of 200li apiece of lawful money of England in manner following that is to say 100li apiece as they shall respectively attain their several ages of 21yr and 100li apiece within six months next after the decease of my said wife and in case either of my said sons Edw and Sam shall happen to dies before he or they shall attain his or their age of 21yr then I will that the legacy of him so dying shall be equally divided between the survivor of my said two sons Edw and Sam and my said son Wm and in case my said son Wm or his heirs shall refuse or neglect to pay to my other two sons or either of them the legacy or legacies herein before to them given as aforesaid or any part of either of them then I give the said freehold premises after my said wife's decease and also the said copyhold premises unto my said two sons Edw and Sam and their heirs forever they paying unto my said son Wm Brewer the sum of 200li within one year next after such refusal or neglect and will and meaning is that in case all my said children shall happen to depart this life without issue before they shall attain their ages of 21yr then I give the said copyhold messuage lands and premises unto my said wife Ann Brewer for and during the term of her natural life and after her decease unto my right heirs forever item my will and meaning is that my loving wife Ann Brewer and such other person or persons as shall enjoy the aforesaid messuage lands and premises shall out of the rents and profits of the same premises well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto my mother Bridget Brewer or her assigns yearly and every year during the term of her natural life the sum of 5li of lawful money of England at four quarterly payments and also deliver her one load and a half of logs yearly during her life according to the condition of a bond which I formerly sealed and delivered to her use item I give and bequeath to the poor people of the parish of Much Tey aforesaid the sum of 40s to be distributed amongst them according to the discretion of my executrix within three months next after my decease item all the rest of my goods chattels ready money plate and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever after my debts legacies funeral charges and probate of this my will shall be paid satisfied and discharged I give and bequeath unto my said loving wife Ann Brewer and lastly I do nominate and appoint my said loving wife Ann Brewer sole executrix of this my last will and testament contained in two sheets of paper in witness whereof to each sheet thereof I have subscribed my name and to the last sheet thereof I have set my seal the 22.12.1696 Wm Brewer signed sealed published and declared by the testator in our presence and afterwards in his presence this last will was attested and subscribed by us Mary Creffeild Jn Taylor S Grimston