Wills

In the name of God Amen

I Thomas Holderness of Colebrooke in the County of Bucks 

Apothecary being weake in body but of sound and disposing 

mind memory and understanding (praised be God) del make

my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following 

first and principally I command and commit my soule unto 

the hands of Almighty God trusting for a free pardon of my

sins through the merits of Christ my redeemer and my 

body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred at the 

discretion of my Executors hereinafter named and as to 

such temporal Estate Wherewith it hath pleased God to

bless me I dispose thereof as followeth Imprimis I will 

and order that my Executors shall sell and dispose of my 

goods chattels and personal Estate for the payment of my

debts as farr as the same will extended Item I five devise

and bequeath unto David Foster of Colebrook aforesaid

Gentleman all and Singular my lands tenements and 

hereditaments situate lying and being in the parishes of 

Little Maplested or Much Maplested in the County 

of Essex now in the occupation of Joseph Moore and all other 

my lands tenements and hereditaments in the said County 

of Essex to have and to hold unto the said David Foster and 

his heirs in trust that he or they shall sell and dispose of

the same with all convenient speed after my decease for the 

best price that can be gotten and with the money arising 

by such sale shall be in the first place pay and discharge one 

Mortgage for the principal summe of two hundred and 

fifty pounds and the interest thereof which borrowed of 

          Cooke and also one other Mortgage for the 

principal summe of Thirty pounds advanced by my Cousin

Joseph Rayner with the interest thereof Alsoe the sume of 

fiftie pounds principal money which I owe Mary Adkins 

widow on bond with the interest thereof Alsoe the summe of 

one and twenty pounds tenn shillings principal money

which I owe unto Robert Ridle on bond and now with the

interest thereof and also the sume of Tenn Pounds which I 

owe to William Tomson and the interest thereof and after 

the said severall sumes of Two hundred and fifty pounds 

thirty pounds fifty pounds twenty pounds and tenn 

pounds with the interest shall be due shall be paid and 

discharges that then the said Daniel Foster shall and may

pay and reimburse himself all such summe or summes of 

money which I am indebted to him on any account  whatsoever

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And also all such charges and depences which he his heirs 

executors or Administrators shall or may be att in the sale of

the same Estate or any waise about the principals and after 

all my just debts shall be paid and discharged then in Trust 

that the said Daniel Foster his executors or Administrators

shall pay the surplis of the monies arising by such sale into

the hands of my Executors to and the use of my two sonns

Pawlson and Richard to be placed out at interest for their  

advantage all the rest and residue of my personal Estate 

after my debts funeral expences and Executors charges are 

paid and discharged I give unto my said son Richard & and I 

doe nominate constitute and appoint my loving Kinsman 

Joseph Rayner and my good friend William Tomson Executors

of this my last Will and Testament In witness whereof 

have here unto sett my hand and seale the twenty fifth day 

June in the fifth year of the reigne of our Sovereign 

Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great 

Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith etc

and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred 

and thirty one  Thomas Holderness signed sealed 

published and declared by the said Thomas Holderness the

testator as and for his last Will and testament in the 

presence of us who have set our names as witnesses at 

his request and in his presence Samuel Stevens Richard 

Pigg William Finch

Probate to Joseph Rayner & William Thomson 14 Dec 1731?  

The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Series PROB 11; Class: PROB 11; Piece: 646 F 352