| in the name of god amen I Joseph Abbutt of Coptford in the county of Essex gent being sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding praised be almighty god for the same do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following first I commend my soul into the hands of almighty god my creator hoping for pardon of all my sins through the merits of my blessed lord and saviour jesus christ and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors herein after named and as to my worldly estate I dispose thereof as followeth first I give devise and bequeath unto my loving sister Abigail Johnson all that messuage or tenement and farm called the Hay House with all the lands meadows pastures hopgrounds hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging both freehold and copyhold and also the messuage or tenement and farm called Curds and Priest Land or otherwise with all the lands and appurtenances thereunto belonging all my share and right of in and to the same as they are situate lying and being in Earls Colne in the said county and are both now in the occupation of my brother in law Oliver Johnson his undertenant or undertenants and also all that messuage or tenement with the yards orchards lands and appurtenances thereunto belonging situate lying and being in the street in Earls Colne aforesaid now in the occupation of Edwards | |
| original so | and also all those houses above the Hay House called the Wick Houses with their appurtenances and also all that messuage or tenement and farm with the lands meadows pastures woods hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging situate lying and being in Pebmarsh and Colne Engaine in the said county now in the occupation of Moss |
| original so | or his assigns and myself and all other my messuages lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever situate lying and being in Earls Colne Pebmarsh and Colne Engaine aforesaid to hold to her and her heirs and assigns forever upon condition that she and they do pay and discharge the legacies given to her children in and by the last will and testament of my late brother Edw Abbutt and indemnify my executors goods and chattels lands and tenements of and from the same likewise I give devise and bequeath unto my loving sister Mary Jacob all my messuages lands tenements and hereditaments both freehold and copyhold with their appurtenances situate lying and being in Coptford Stanaway Lair Bretton and Great Wigborow or any other parish or parishes thereunto next adjoining in the said county of Essex to hold to her and her heirs and assigns forever on condition that she and they do pay and discharge the legacies given to her children in and by the last will and testament of my late brother Edw Abbutt and indemnify my executors goods and chattels lands and tenements of and from the same and also on condition and chargeable and I do hereby charge the said premises devised to my said sister Mary Jacob with the payment of 5li a year to my cousin Eliz Meadows for her life payable half yearly to wit on ladyday and michaelmas day the first payment to begin and be made on the first of the said days which shall next happen after my decease also I give devise and bequeath unto my kinsman Geo Brooke of Halstead in the said county gent all my messuages lands tenements woods tithes and hereditaments both freehold and copyhold or leasehold with their and every of their appurtenances situate lying and being in Kersey Lindsey otherwise Lyllisly and Hitcham or elsewhere in the county of Suffolk to hold to him his heirs and assigns forever but I do hereby declare my mind and will to be that he and they shall and do permit and suffer the said Eliz Meadows to live in the house called Gentrys in Kersey aforesaid during the term of her natural life without paying anything therefore and I do hereby order direct and appoint my executors herein after named to sell all that messuage or tenement and farm with the lands meadows pastures and appurtenances thereto belonging situate lying and being in Great Tey Little Tey and Chappell or some or one of them in the said county of Essex and also the tithes of Great Coggeshall and Little Coggeshall in the said county of Essex for the best price or prices that may or can be gotten for the same and I do hereby bequeath the same to be sold accordingly and to apply the money arising by such sale or sales for and towards payment of a mortgage made on my estate at Lair Bretton and Great Wigborow and all other my debts whatsoever and my several legacies given and bequeathed in and by this my will and I do hereby declare my mind to be that the purchaser or purchasers shall not be answerable for any misap plication of the said money also I give and bequeath unto Wm Theobald the elder of Coptford aforesaid blacksmith the sum of 100li of lawful money of Great Britain also I give and bequeath unto Wm Theobald his son the sum of 5li of like lawful money and my silver watch and wearing apparel also I give and bequeath unto my kinswoman Mary Carter that now lives with me the sum of 300li of like lawful money also I give to my kinsman mr Rich Hayward the sum of 10li a year for and during the term of his natural life to be paid half yearly at ladyday and michaelmas day the first payment to begin on the first of the said days next after my decease also I give and bequeath unto my said cousin Eliz Meadows the use of so many of my household goods as my executors shall think fit to furnish the said house called Gentrys during her life and after her decease I give and bequeath the same unto my said sister Abigail Johnson and I do hereby declare my mind and will to be that the said Oliver Johnson shall carry the said goods to the said house called Gentrys for the said Eliz Meadows at his own expense without charging her anything therefore also I give and bequeath unto Ann Kath the wife of the said Geo Brooke my turkey work carpet and I do hereby declare my mind to be and I do hereby acquit release and discharge the said Geo Brooke his executors and administrators of and from all sum and sums of money and accounts whatsoever between him and me and I bequeath the same to him accordingly he or they claiming no sum or sums whatsoever due from me but if he or they shall refuse to discharge such sum or sums then the bequest of the estate herein before made to him to be void and I then give and devise the same unto my said sister Abigail Johnson and her heirs all the rest and residue of my goods chattels and personal estate I give and bequeath unto my said sister Abigail Johnson and I do hereby nominate and appoint my brother in law Oliver Johnson and the said Geo Brooke executors of this my last will and testament and revoking all former wills and codicils by me made do declare this to be my last in witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament contained in three sheets of paper set my seal to the label that fixeth them together and my hand to the first two sheets and my hand and seal to the last sheet this 9.11.1734 Joseph Abbutt signed sealed published and declared by the said Joseph Abbutt the testator in the presence of us and by us attested in his presence Rich Kendall Joseph Boydon Sam Wall |