this is the last will and testament of me Francis Nunn of Earls Colne in the county of Essex farmer which I make in manner following that is to day first I give and devise unto my eldest son Francis and to his heirs and assigns forever the manor of Goldingtons with all rights royalties privileges and appurtenances thereof and also the messuage or tenement and farm called Goldingtons lying and being in the parish of Colne Engaine in the said county of Essex or in some other adjoining parish and also the messuage or tenement and farm called Parlebeans lying and being in Halsted Colne Engaine and Earls Colne in the said county of Essex or in some other adjoining parish and all other the freehold and copyhold hereditaments which I lately purchased of Jn Bridge Littel esq and the appurtenances thereof respectively (except such copyhold hereditaments as were under that purchase surrendered to my son Jas ) subject nevertheless and I do hereby charge all the premises before devised to my said son Francis with the payment of the full sum of 4500li of lawful money of Great Britain within six months next after my decease to my executrix and one of my executors herein after named for the purposes after mentioned I give and devise to my said son Rich and his heirs and assigns forever the freehold and copyhold messuages lands tenements and hereditaments lying and being in the parish of Earls Colne aforesaid or near thereto which I purchase of mr Peter Pain and his wife and the appurtenances thereof respectively I give ratify and confirm as far as I lawfully can unto my third son Jas and to his heirs and assigns forever the copyhold hereditaments which I have purchased of the said Jn Bridge Little and which were about that time surrendered to the use of my said son Jas and his heirs also I give and devise to my said son Jas and his heirs and assigns all and every the freehold lands tenements and hereditaments lying and being in Earls Colne aforesaid which I purchased of mr Jn Gripper and his wife with the appurtenances I give and devise to my fourth son Phil and to his heirs and assigns forever all and every the copyhold messuages lands tenements and hereditaments holden of the several manors of Feering with Pattiswick and Stansted in Halsted in the said county of Essex which I purchased of mr Chas Newman with their appurtenances subject nevertheless and I do hereby charge the same with the several sums of money following to wit with the sum of 500li of lawful British money to my daughter Sarah 200li of like money to my said son Jas and the like sum of 200li to my youngest son Joshua to be paid to them respectively on their attaining the age of twenty-one years with legal interest for the same in the meantime to their benefits respectively also I give devise ratify and confirm as far as I lawfully can to my said son Phil and to his heirs and assigns forever all and every the copyhold lands and tenements holden of the manors of Colne Priory and Earls Colne (which I also purchased of the said Jn Gripper and Eliz his wife and to which my said son Phil hath been admitted) and the appurtenances thereof I give and devise to my youngest son Math and his heirs and assigns forever all those pieces or parcels of copyhold land called the Fenn Land and the Meeting Land lying and being in the parish of Earls Colne aforesaid and all other the hereditaments as well freehold as copyhold which I lately purchased of Wm Firmin with their appurtenances respectively I give and devise to my wife Martha and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life all those freehold messuages lands tenements and hereditaments which I purchased of Jn May and I give devise ratify and confirm to my said wife for the term of her natural life all those copyhold messuages lands tenements and hereditaments which I also purchased of the said Jn May (and to which my said wife has been admitted for life) and the appurtenances thereof respectively and after the decease of my said wife and give and devise the same freehold and copyhold hereditaments with the appurtenances thereof respectively to my said son Joshua and to his heirs and assigns forever provided always that if the several sums of 4500li 500li 500li 200li and 200li or the interest thereof or any of them herein before charged upon the premises devised to my said sons Francis and Phil respectively and directed to be paid to my executrix and one of my executors to my daughter Sarah and my sons Jas and Joshua at the respective times herein before mentioned or any of them should not be duly paid by my said sons Francis and Phil and their respective heirs or assigns in manner as I have herein before directed then and in such case I do hereby order and direct that such sums of 4500li 500li 500li 200li and 200li (or such of them as should not have been duly paid) with interest for the same respectively at the rate of 5li per centum per annum shall be received or borrowed and taken up by sale or mortgage of the estates herein before respectively charged with the payment thereof or a sufficient part or parts thereof so that such sum or sums of money and interest thereof respectively shall be duly and fully paid to such of them my said executrix and executor daughter Sarah and sons Jas and Joshua respectively as shall become entitled thereto free from all taxes and deductions whatsoever I give and bequeath to my nephew Hen Nunn son of my late brother Hen Nunn the sum of 10li to my nephew Sturgeon Drew son of my late sister Rose Drew the sum of 5li to my brother Joseph Nunn the sum of 100li and to mr Jn Greenwood of Halsted aforesaid ironmonger 10li10s all this I desire may be paid out of my personal estate within six months after my decease and I do direct my wife and my said brother Joseph Nunn as soon as conveniently may be after my decease out of the aforesaid sum of 4500li herein before made payable out of the real estates herein before given to my said son Francis to pay and discharge all debts justly due and owing from me and from and after payment thereof then I give and bequeath the residue of the said sum of 4500li and all the rest and residue of my personal estate of every sort and kind (after payment of my funeral expenses the legacies after mentioned to my said wife and the charges of proving and executing this my will) unto all and every my aforesaid children equally part and share alike to be paid and delivered with all convenient speed to such of them as shall at my decease be of the age of twenty-one years and to the other or others of them upon his her or their attaining that age and in case any of them should die during their minority then I give and bequeath his her or their share or shares to the survivors of survivor and I do further order and direct that as soon as conveniently can be after my decease my executrix and executors case to be made by two skilful persons a true valuation and appraisement of all my farming stock crops utensils and personal property on any of the aforesaid estates and after such valuation and appraisement shall be made then I desire my said wife to take of the household goods to the amount in value of 30li to and for her own use and benefit absolutely and I also give her 20li for her own use and I declare that the provision mentioned in this my will for my said wife is to be by her accepted in lieu bar and full satisfaction of her dower thirds and freebench or other customary claim which she may have or be entitled to of and in my real or personal estate and shall not otherwise be enjoyed by her and my meaning is that none of the devises aforesaid to my children (except such as may be on the real estates given to my son Francis ) shall be construed to include or pass the personal property which may at my decease be upon any of the said farms but that the stock crops and personal effects both living and death upon each farm shall be considered as part of the residuum of my personal property my will be that all my children should have the personal property equally and it is my will and I do desire my executors to invest all such monies as may not be actually engaged in business on mortgages or on government security for the benefit of my said children respectively and lastly I do appoint my said brother Joseph Nunn and my said son Francis executors and my said wife so long as she shall remain a widow executrix of this my will and I do nominate and appoint the said Jn Greenwood to be guardian of the persons and property of my said children during their minority and do request him to superintend the business of the executorship and I desire my executrix and executors to consult and advise with him on all matters of difficulty being confident he will faithfully advise them for the best and hereby revoking all former wills I declare this to be my last in witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament contained in four sheets of paper set my seal to the label affixing them together etc. this 22.1.1794 Francis Nunn signed sealed published and declared by the said testator Francis Nunn as his last will and testament in our presence and in the presence of each of other Jas Cardinal Math White Wm Francis