Shorter Sarah. Will made 10 December 1776. Proved 5 March 1777.
I Sarah Shorter of the parish of North Bradley in the County of Wilts widow of John Shorter late of the same place Innholder deceased do make publish and declare my last Will and Testament to be as follows (that is to say)
I give and bequeath unto my friends John Edwards the elder of the said parish of North Bradley aforesaid Miller and Joseph Greenhill of the parish of Woolverton in the County of Somerset Yeoman and to the survivor of them and the executors and administrators of the survivor of them all my personal estate of what nature or kind soever. In trust nevertheless and to for and upon the several purposes hereinafter mentioned (that is to say)
That they the said John Edwards and Joseph Greenhill and the survivor of them and the executors or administrators of the survivor of them do and shall as soon as they conveniently can after my decease sell and dispose of the whole of my personal estate for the best price that can be got for the same and out of the money arising from the same do and shall in the first place pay off and discharge my funeral expenses.
And in the next place pay and satisfy all my just debts in a course of administration if the same will so far extend.
And after payment of my said funeral expenses and debts as aforesaid if there shall happen to be and remain any overplus of my said personal estate that then and in such case I do hereby will and direct that they the said John Edwards and Joseph Greenhill and the survivor of them and the executors and administrators of such survivor of them do and shall apply such overplus in maintaining clothing and educating of my son and daughters John Shorter Elizabeth Shorter Ann Shorter Judith Shorter Sarah Shorter and Jane Shorter until the youngest of my said children shall attain her age of twenty one years in such manner shares and proportions as they shall think best for the general good of my said children and that they do and shall when the youngest of my said children shall attain such age as aforesaid provided there shall then remain any part of my personal estate unapplied for the purposes aforesaid pay such overplus to and amongst all and every my said children if more than one such child shall be then living in equal shares and proportions.
But if but one such child shall be then living then the whole thereof to such only child. And I do hereby nominate and appoint the said John Edwards and Joseph Greenhill joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six.
Sarah Shorter
Signed sealed published and declared by the Testatrix Sarah Shorter as and for her last Will and Testament in our presence who in the presence of the said Testatrix and in the presence of each other subscribe our names hereto as witnesses thereof
Frs Skurray Rob Tadd