in the name of god I Jas Meredith of Great Coggeshall in the county of Essex victualler 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 make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made that is to say first I will that my executors hereinafter named shall out of my personal estate put out at interest the sum of 300li of lawful money of Great Britain and the interest thereof I will shall be paid unto my loving wife Mary Meredith until my son Jas Meredith shall attain his age of 25yr in case she shall so long continue as housekeeper and shall maintain and provide for my said son Jas Meredith but in case my said wife shall leave off housekeeping or shall refuse to maintain and provide for my said son Jas Meredith until his said age of 25yr as aforesaid that then and from thenceforth in either of the said cases my will is that my executors shall pay or cause to be paid unto my said son Jas Meredith the interest of the said sum of 300li weekly and every week by two equal payments if demanded until he shall attain his said age of 25yr and in case my said son Jas Meredith shall live to attain his said age of 25yr then I give the said principal sum of 300li unto my said son Jas Meredith to be paid unto him within three months next after he shall attain his said age of 25yr but in case my said son Jas Meredith shall happen to die under the age of 25yr leaving issue of his body lawfully begotten living at the time of his decease then I give the said principal sum of 300li unto such child or children of my said son Jas Meredith lawfully begotten as aforesaid as shall be living at the time of his decease to be equally divided between them part and share alike but if my said son Jas Meredith shall happen to die under the age of 25yr and without issue of his body lawfully begotten as aforesaid then I give the said Jas Meredith (inserted) principal sum of 300li unto my two daughters Mary Meredith and Eliz Meredith to be equally divided between them part and share alike also I will that my said executors shall lay out of the sum of 20li to put my said son Jas Meredith apprentice to some good trade if he shall request or desire the same also I give devise and bequeath unto my said daughter Mary Meredith and to her heirs and assigns forever all that my freehold messuage or tenement with the barns stables buildings outhouses lands meadows pastures feedings and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining called or known by the name of Cowlands or otherwise situate lying and being in Earls Colne in the said county and now in my own occupation also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Mary Meredith the sum of 150li of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto her at her age of 21yr or day of marriage which shall first happen also I devise and bequeath unto my said daughter Eliz Meredith and to her heirs or assigns forever all that my freehold messuage or tenement called or known by the name or sign of the Fleece or otherwise together with all the outhouses buildings stables yards gardens orchards and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining situate lying and being in West Street in Great Coggeshall aforesaid and now in my own occupation and my will is that my said wife shall receive and take the rents and profits of all and singular the premises herein before by me give and devised unto my said two daughters and also the interest of the said sum of 150li herein before given unto my said daughter Mary until they shall severally attain their respective ages of 21yr or days of marriage which shall first happen for and towards their maintenance and education also I will that my said executors shall put out at interest the sum of 400li of lawful money of Great Britain and the interest thereof I will shall be paid unto my said wife Mary Meredith for and during the term of her natural life only by four equal quarterly payments Jas Meredith (inserted) in full bar and satisfaction of and for her dower or thirds which she can or may claim out of the freehold premises herein before by me given and devised unto my said two daughters and from and after her decease I give and bequeath the said principal sum of 400li unto my said two daughters Mary and Eliz to be equally divided between them part and share alike and in case my said wife shall refuse to execute a sufficient release unto my said two daughters or either of them if thereunto requested of all her right and title of dower or thirds of in and to the said freehold premises herein before by me given unto my said two daughters that then the interest of the sum of 400li shall cease to be paid to my said wife and that then and in such case I give the said sum of 400li unto my said two daughters to be equally divided between them part and share alike also all the rest and residue of my goods chattels stock and personal estate of what nature kind or sort soever and wheresoever after my debts legacies funeral charges and probate of this my will shall be paid and discharged I give and bequeath unto my said two daughters Mary and Eliz to be equally divided between them part and share alike and lastly I do make ordain constitute and appoint my trusty and well beloved friends Geo Brett of Little Coggeshall in the said county yeoman and Geo Day of Great Coggeshall aforesaid salesman executors of this my last will and I give unto each of them the sum of 5li apiece of lawful money of Great Britain for their care and trouble in seeing this my will duly performed in witness whereof I have to each sheet of this my last will and testament contained in three sheets of paper set my hand and seal the 22.11.1734 signed sealed published and declared by the said Jas Meredith as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names as witnesses hereto in his presence Robt Ludgater Jn Drywood Jn Smyth Jas Maryday