In the Name of God Amen I Elizabeth Hannell of Hockliffe in the County of Bedford Widow being of Sound Mind Memory and Understanding praised be Almighty God for the Same And knowing the Uncertainty of this Human Life Do therefore make my last Will and Testament in the Manner and form following (that is to say) Whereas a Marriage is shortly to be had (by Gods Grace) between me and James Read of Battlesden in the Said County of Bedford Dairyman And previous to which Marriage it's agreed between me and the said James Read testified by his executing these presents That I shall have power to Give and Devise my real and personal Estate and dispose of the same to such during my Life And after my Decease as I shall think proper without his Intermeddling therewith or claiming any Right or Property therein or thereto Therefore in Pursuance of such Agreement Imprimis I Give and Devise unto Jonathan Crouch of Dunstable in the said County of Bedford Cordwainer All my Three Acres of Copyhold Land with the Appurtenances by Estimation be the same more or less lying and being in the Ffields of Heath and Reach in the Parish of Leighton Buzzard in the said County of Bedford and holden by Copy of Court Roll of the Manor of Grovebury To hold to him and his Heirs for and upon the several uses Trusts and purposes hereinafter mentioned and expressed of and concerning the same (that is to say) That he the said Jonathan Crouch and his Heirs do and shall from time to time and at all times here=after during the Life of the said James Reed my intended Husband - (in case the said marriage shall take effect ) receive the Rents Issues and Profits of my said Three Acres of Copyhold Land and pay the Same as he the said Jonathan Crouch or his Heirs shall receive the same into my own hands to and from my own sole and proper use and Disposal during my Life And from and after my Decease that such Trusts shall expire And I then Give and Devise my said Three Acres of Copyhold Land unto my Grandson Edward Hannell his Heirs and Assigns for ever Item I give unto the said Jonathan Crouch his Executors Administrators and Assigns In Trust as aforesaid One Note of Hand of Ten Pounds due and payable to me with Interest from my Daughter Rebecca Lindell Widow And all other my Personal Estate whatsoever upon the following Trusts (that is to say) Upon Trust thats use the said Jonathan Crouch his Executors and Administrators do and shall from time to time and at all times hereafter during my Life receive and take the Interest thereof or so much as Shall at any time be put out to Interest and pay such Interest or Proceed thereof as he or they shall from time to time receive the same into my own hands to and for my own Life and Benefit or Dispose of the Same as I shall Direct And after my Decease then I give and Devise the same Note of Hand unto my Rebecca Lindell Item after my Decease I give unto my Three Children Abraham Hannell John Hannell and Elizabeth Wife of Michael Reed Ten Pounds apiece to be paid to them respectively within One Year after my Decease out of my Personal Estate Item I give unto the said Rebecca Lindell and Elizabeth Reed after my Decease equally between them All my household Goods Linnen and Wearing Apparrell Item my Will is That my said Trustee shall be paid all Costs and Charges he shall be at or put unto and not be Accountable for any involuntary Loss or Accident Item I give unto the said Michael Reed Ten Pounds to bury me and prove this my Will And if any Overplus of my Personal Estate remains after my Legacies funeral charges and Probate of this my Will are paid and satisfied I give such overplus unto the said Michael Reed to and for his own life and Benefit and make him full and sole Executor and revoke hereby all former and other Wills by me heretofore made And declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness wherof I the said Elizabeth Hannell the Testatrix have unto this my Will contained in Two Sheets of Paper To the first together with the said James Reed set my hand and to the last together also with the said James Reed set my Hand and Seal this Twenty fifth Day of March in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Five The marke of Elizabeth Hannell
James Read Nehem Brandreth Timothy Anderson Saml Cradock Proved 22 September 1760 Archdeaconry of Bedford to Michael Reed sole executor. Goods did not amount to twenty pounds.
. Source:Bedford Record Office Maiden name of Elizabeth not known .
Submitter Rosalind Dunning
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