(DATED 30 AUGUST, 1792)
This is the last Will and Testament of me, James Ball of Nuneaton in the County of Warwick, ribbon weaver.
First, I will and direct that all my just debts, the expenses of my funeral and of proving my will, be fully paid and satisfied and from and after the payment thereof, I give, devise and bequeath, all and singular, my real and personal estates of every kind and sort whatsoever whereof or wherein I shall be seized, possessed of or in anywise entitled unto at the time of my decease, unto my friends Robert Goodby of Nuneaton aforesaid, perukemaker, and Thomas Ball of the Church Street in Nuneaton aforesaid, baker, and unto their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns upon trust and confidence that they, the said Robert Goodby and Thomas Ball or the survivor of them or the heirs of such survivor shall and do receive and take the rents, issues and proceeds of the said real and personal estates and every part thereof, for so long as they shall judge expedient and advisable, and pay and apply the same at such times and in such manner as they shall think fit (after keeping down the interest affecting the said real estate) unto my wife Ann, so long as she shall continue to be my widow, towards educating, taking care of and bringing up in the world, my children Ann, James, Martha and Mary Ball or otherwise shall and do at the discretion of the said Robert Goodby and Thomas Ball or the survivor of them or the heirs of such survivor, sell and dispose, grant, release and convey the said real and personal estates or such part or parts thereof as they shall think proper to any person or persons whomsoever for the most money and best price or prices that can be reasonably had or gotten for the same.
And shall and do put and place out the moneys arising therefrom at interest upon good security and pay and apply the interest thereof towards the support of my said wife and children, in case she continues my widow and unmarried, in such way and during such time as they shall judge most proper, and also pay and apply the principal monies arising from such sale or sales unto and amongst my said wife, in case of her continuing to be my widow, and my said children at such time or times and in such manner and proportions as they or the survivor of them or the heirs of such survivor shall judge most proper and convenient.
And my will is that the receipt of my said trustees or the survivor of them or the heirs of such survivor shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of my said real and personal estates or any part thereof, and that after such receipts given the purchaser or purchasers shall not be answerable or accountable for the application, nonapplication or misapplication thereof or of any part thereof I hereby nominate and appoint the said Robert Goodby and Thomas Ball executors of this my said will and guardians for my children during their respective minorities.
And in case my said trustees shall not exercise the power herein before given to them for the sale of my said real estate but shall think it more prudent to let the same continue in my family; then I hereby authorise my said trustees to convey assign and assure the whole of my said real and personal estate at such times as they shall judge proper unto and amongst my said wife in case she continues my widow but not otherwise and children in such proportions as they shall judge most proper and convenient.
I hereby revoke and make void all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made, and declare this and this only to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I, the said James Ball, the testator have to this my said will set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety two. Signed, sealed, published and declared James Ball by the said James Ball the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses - Edward Green ;
The mark X of James Jacombs; Geo. Greenway
Submitter John Ball