in the name of god amen I Jn Fletcher of Earls Colne in the county of Essex innholder being sick in body but of a sound and perfect mind and understanding thanks be to god do make this my last will and testament in manner following hereby revoking all former wills by me made 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 imprimis I give and bequeath unto Martha my loving wife for and during her natural life all that my farm barns lands pastures woods tenements and hereditaments whatsoever with their appurtenances which I purchased of Wm Lillie of London on condition that my wife or her assigns shall and do out of the fell of the underwoods so soon as the same shall be fit to be felled pay unto my son in law Jn Hutchinson what I am anyways engaged to pay him and also out of the rents and profits of the said premises or otherwise pay and discharge such monies as are due thereupon and from and after the decease of my said wife I give and devise all the said woods and one third part of my said farm lands and tenements unto my son Math Fletcher nd his heirs forever and one other third part of my said farm lands and tenements unto my son Benj Fletcher and his heirs forever and the other third part of my said farm lands and tenements I give and devise unto my son Moses Fletcher and his heirs forever as the said farm lands and tenements now are or late were in the tenure or occupation of Robt Parminter of Walter Belchamp his assignee or assigns and as all the said premises do abut upon the queen's highway leading from Gestingthorpe to Little Yeldham item I give and bequeath unto the said Martha my loving wife and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life all that my messuage lands and tenements situate lying and being in Colne Engaine in the county aforesaid and now or late in the tenure or occupation of myself Geo Bernard and Edw Boosey and which I purchased of Nicholls and Crow and after the decease of my said wife I give and bequeath the same premises unto my said sons Benj Fletcher and Moses Fletcher and their heirs forever item I give and bequeath unto the said Martha my wife for and during the term of her natural life all those copyhold lands called Lovelands which I lately purchased of Ralph Josselin and after her decease I give and bequeath the same and also my freehold and copyhold lands called Burroughs and Fouracres all in my own occupation unto my said son Math Fletcher and his heirs forever item I give and bequeath unto the said Martha my wife and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life all that my messuage or tenement with the barn outhouses yards and gardens with the appurtenances situate and being in Earls Colne aforesaid and now in the several occupations of myself Jn Hutchinson and Dan King and from and after the decease of my said wife I give and bequeath the same unto my said son Math Fletcher and his heirs forever the said Martha my wife or the said Math my son or his heirs well and truly paying unto my two daughters Mary Caplin widow and Rosamund Fletcher the sum of 10li apiece within four years after my decease and in case my said wife or my said son Math or his heirs shall refuse or neglect to pay the said legacies or sums of 10li apiece unto my said two daughters or either of them or any part of the said sums to them or either of them then my will and meaning is that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said two daughters or such of them as shall be unpaid her said legacy or any part thereof contrary to the true intent and meaning of this my will to enter into and upon my said messuage and premises herein before mentioned to be given to my said wife for life and to my said son Math and his heirs and the same to have hold and enjoy and the rents issues and profits thereof to receive and take until the said sums of 10li apiece and all reasonable charges shall be fully satisfied and paid item I give and bequeath unto my said two daughters Mary Caplin and Rosamund Fletcher the sum of 120li apiece to be paid unto them by the said Martha my loving wife within five years after my decease out of the lands and tenements herein before given unto my said wife and out of my personal estate and in case either of my said two daughters shall happen to die leaving no issue of their body before her legacy shall become due to be paid then I will that the legacy of her so dying shall be paid unto the survivor of my said two daughters item I give and bequeath unto Eliz Fletcher my daughter the sum of 40li to be paid her by my executrix hereinafter named within five years next Jn Fletcher (inserted) after my decease item all other my lands and tenements whatsoever and wheresoever not herein before bequeathed I give and devise unto Joseph Fletcher my eldest son and his heirs forever and all the rest and residue of my goods chattels and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever after my debts legacies funeral charges and probate of this my will shall be satisfied paid and discharged I give and bequeath unto the said Martha my loving wife and lastly I do nominate and appoint the said Martha my loving wife sole executrix of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I the said Jn Fletcher to this my last will and testament contained in two sheets of paper have to each sheet set my hand and to the last sheet my seal this 18.7.1712 etc. Jn Fletcher signed sealed published and declared by the testator in our presence and in his presence attested and subscribed by us these words leaving no issue of her body in the first sheet being first interlined Jn Cressener Jn Flanklyn S Grimston Jn Fletcher (signature very scratchy)