Michael Brown of Nether Broughton 1785 Will

Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives PR/T/1785/30

In the Name of god Amen, I Michael Brown of Nether Broughton in the County of Leicester Labourer being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God, and knowing the mortallity of my Life and the scertenty of Death do make and order this my Last will and Testament

And principally and first of all I Recommend my Soul into the hand of God that Gave it and my Body I Recomend to the Earth to be buried in Christian burial at the Descretion of my Executors hereafter named and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me within this Life I give and Divise and Dispose of the same in the following manner and form

And first I give to my Dearly beloved wife Elizabeth Brown and to my son George Brown whom I Constitute make and Ordain the full and sole Executors of his my Last will and testament all and singular my Houses Messages and tenements, with my Homestead and Orchard adjoining there unto with all my Household goods Cattle and Chattles of all things whatsoever and wheresoever they be to me belonging by them freely to be possessed and enjoy’d Dureing there natural Lives also my mind and will is that the said Executors do discharge and pay all my Lawfull Debts whatsoever

Also I give to my eldest Daughter Mary Brown the sum of ten pounds

Also I give to my Daughter Elizabeth Brown the sum of ten pounds

Also I give to my Daughter Ann Brown the sum of ten pounds

Also I give to my Daughter Sarah Brown the sum of ten pounds

Also I give to my Daughter Rosamond Brown the sum of ten pounds

Which each sipperate sumes to be paid by my son George Brown in the following manner my three eldest Daughters Mary Brown Elizabeth Brown and Ann Brown to be paid when my son George Brown arrives at the Age of twenty one years, also my two youngest Daughters Sarah Brown and Rosamand Brown to be paid when each of them comes to the Age of twenty one years

Also my mind and will farther is that my two youngest Daughters shall be provided for by the Executors till they arrive at the age of Nineteen years but in case either of the Executors Decase before that time then the other to provide for them

And I further will that after the Decease of my wife and the dischargeing the above mentioned Legesies I then give to my son George Brown all my Houses Lands Cattle and Chattles to him and his heairs and Assignes for ever

And I do hereby disallow all former Wills and Confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Eighteenth Day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and Eighty four

                                                                                                         Michael Brown

Sighned sealed and Declard by the said Michael Brown as his Last Will and testament in the presance of us who in this presance and in the presance of Each Other have hereunto Subscribed our Names

Henry Brown

Henry Man

William Wright

5^th October 1785

Let a probat be made Elizabeth Brown Widow the Executrix within named with power of making the like Grant to George Brown the Executor when he shall attain the age of seventeen Years

She being duly sworn as well to the faithful Execution of the Will as that the Testator’s Goods Chattels and Credits do not amount in value to the Sum of One Hundred pounds

                                                                                                         Before me Tho. Ford Surrogate