In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Baily of the Parish of Ashwell in the County
of Hertford Blacksmith being but weak and Infirm in Body tho of Sound mind and
memory - blessed by God for it: Do make this my Last Will and Testament in
Manner and form following. First I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God hoping for a
happy resurrection to life Eternal, my body I bequeath to the Earth therein to
be decently buried by the discretion of my Executor hereafter named and in
respect of those worldly goods and possession that it had pleas'd God to bless
me with I give and bequeath them as follows My Funerall expences being first
paid. Imprimis to my son William the sum of forty shillings Lawfull mony of
England to be paid to him within one year after my decease. Also I give &
bequeath to my sister Ann Waldock wife of Richard Waldock the sum of forty
shillings Lawfull mony of England to be paid to her within one year after my
decease. Also I give and bequeath to my Daughter Martha five pounds Lawfull mony
of England A Gold ring that was her Mothers and half of my household goods to be
all delivered and paid to her my said Daughter Martha Baily Within five years
after my decease expecting and it is my Will that my son Thomas aforesaid shall
bring her up and take care of her till that time at least is expired the
household Goods to be divided share and share alike between the said Thomas and
Martha Allso I give and Bequeath to my Son Thomas abovementioned Whome I hereby
Nominate Constitue Ordain and appoint my Sole and whole Executor of this my last
Will and Testament the House I now live in allso what right and property I have
or may have in the house where my late Brother William Bayly lived allso the
orchard joyning to it Allso I give him the Close lying or being in north field
near some Land of Peter L'Heup Esqr called by the name of Notch Close Allso I
give him that half Acre of Land be it more or less lying or being at Bacon Legg
near Pheasant Grove together with all their outhouses rights liberties and
properties. Allso I give and bequeath him all my working tools and the half of
my Household goods as before Specify'd all to Him and his Heirs for ever. And I
do hereby revoke disanull and make void all other Wills and Testaments and do
Acknowledge this and this only to be my last Will and Testament in Witness
whereof I have sett my hand and Seal this Tenth day of July in the Year of Our
Lord God One Thousand seven hundred and forty six and in the nineteenth Year of
the Reign of Our Soevreign Lord King George the Second.
thomas Baily
Sign'd Seal'd publish'd and declar'd as the last Will and Testament of Thomas
Baily, done by his own orders without Compulsition in the presence of us
Jonathan picking
James Everard
the mark X of Thomas Bennit
At Baldock Augst ye fourteenth One Thousand seven hundred & forty six. Thomas Baily only Executor was there & then admitted to Administer & so forth upon the Goods Chattels &c of his Father Thomas Baily late of Ashwell in ye County of Hertford Deceased being first sworn in due Form of Law before me Tho Smith Surrogate