Parsons James. Will made 22 July 1698. Proved 28 May 1701.
In the Name of God Amen I James Parsons of Road in the County of Somerset Clothier being of good and perfect health and memory thanks be to Almighty God but calling to remembrance the uncertain estate of this transitory life and that all flesh must yield unto death when it shall please God to call do make constitute ordain and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following revoking and annulling by these presents all and every Testament and Testaments Will and Wills heretofore by me made and declared either by word or writing and this to be taken only for my last Will and Testament and none other.
And first being penitent and sorry from the bottom of my heart for my sins past most humbly desiring forgiveness for the same I give and commit my soul unto Almighty God my Saviour and Redeemer in whom and by the merits of Jesus Christ I trust and believe assuredly to be saved and to have full remission and forgiveness of all my sins and that my soul with my body at the general day of resurrection shall rise again with joy and through the merits of Christ’s death and passion possess and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven prepared for his elect and chosen. And my body to be buried in such place where it shall please my Executors hereafter named to appoint.
And now for settling of my temporal estate and such goods chattels and debts as it hath pleased God far above my deserts to bestow upon me I do order give and dispose the same in manner and form following (that is to say) First I will that all those debts and duties as I owe in right or conscience to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truly consented and paid or ordained to be paid within convenient time after my decease by my Executors in trusts hereafter named.
Item. I give and devise unto my daughter Hannah my leasehold messuage or tenement called Bishops with the appurtenances situate and being in the parish of Woolverton in the said County of Somerset.
Item. I give devise and bequeath unto the said Hannah and unto the heirs of her body lawfully to be begotten the grounds called Adland and the Tining attached called Longuidy which I purchased in fee simple. And if the said Hannah shall happen to die without issue not having child or children then my will is the said grounds as aforesaid shall be and remain unto my son James and his heirs for ever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son James my leasehold estate called Edgehill and Peart lying and being within the parish of Laverton in the County aforesaid with the appurtenances to enter into it when he shall come to be of the age of one and twenty years he the said James paying my said daughter Hannah the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds of current English money in manner and form following (that is to say) one hundred pounds part thereof when he the said James shall enter to the said estate called Edgehills Peart and my will is on payment of the said one hundred pounds by the said James the said Hannah or her husband (in case the said Hannah shall happen to be married before the said James shall come to be of the age of one and twenty years) shall give a bond to the said James his executors and assigns of two hundred pounds penalty to surrender her the said Hannah’s right to him the said James his executors or assigns in my copyhold estate in Laverton aforesaid when he the said James his executors or assigns shall her thereunto require.
And when the said Hannah do make such surrender as aforesaid my will is that he the said James do pay her fifty pounds more of like money being residue of the said one hundred and fifty pounds. And if the said Hannah or her husband in case she shall be married shall refuse to give such bond as aforesaid and to make such surrender as is afore declared and expressed then my will is that the said James shall not be obliged to pay the said Hannah the said one hundred and fifty pounds nor any portion thereof.
Item. It is my will that in case the said James shall neglect or refuse to pay the said Hannah the said hundred and fifty pounds in manner and at such times as is aforesaid limited and appointed for payment of the same that then the said estate called Edgehill and Peart shall be and remain to them both equally. Item. All the rest residue and remainder of my goods chattels and debts I give and bequeath unto my said two children James and Hannah equally to be divided.
Item. I do hereby make and ordain my trusty and well beloved friends Nathaniel Harris of North Bradley in the County of Wilts Clothier and John Allen of Berkley in the said County of Somerset Broadweaver Executors in trust of this my last Will and Testament and for their pains herein I do hereby give to each of them twenty shillings apiece.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this two and twentieth day of July in the tenth year of the reign of King William over England etc. Anno D one thousand six hundred and ninety eight.
James Parsons
Signed sealed and published in the presence of us
B Crabb signum John Whittock Ann Crabb