In the Name of God Amen I Susanna Gregory of Leighton Bussard in the County of Bedford Widow being of Indifferent health in Body but of Sound & Disposing Mind Memory and Understanding ( thanks be to God ) Do make and ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner and form following (that is to say ) ffirst and principally I Comend my Soul unto the hands of Almighty God my Maker hoping through the Sole Meritts of Jesus Christ my Saviour to have my Sinns remitted & to be made Partaker of Eternall Life & as for that Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleaed Almighty God to Bless me I Give and Dispose therof as follows Whereas I have surrendered All and every my Coppyhold Messuages Cotages Closes Lands & Tenements holden to the Mannor of Leighton Bussard otherwise Grovebury in the County of Bedford To the use of my last Will & Testament Now I do hereby Give Devise & Bequeath unto James Gregory my only Son his heirs & Assigns All & Singular my Ffreehold & Coppyhold Mesuages Cotages Closes Lands Tenements and hereditaments whatsoever & wheresoever with their Appurtenances To Hold the same unto the said James Gregory my Son his heires and Assigns forever Provided always & upon this Condicon That he the said James Gregory my son his heires & Assigns ( by with & out of the Lands & Tenements & also out of the Residue of my personall Estate hereafter devised to him ) do & shall well & truly pay or Cause to be paid unto Anne Lucas my Daughter now Wife of John Lucas of Simpson in the County of Bucks Butcher for & During the Term of her Naturall Life One Annuity or Yearly Sume of Three pounds of Lawfull money of Great Britain the same to be paid monthly & every Month at Five shillings atime on the first Monday in every Calendar Month throughout the year into her own seperate hands & Apart from her present & any future husband & to be payed & Applyed to & for her own seperate Support use & maintenance & not to be under or Subject to the Control or management of her present or any future husband or any of his or their Debts & her Receipt alone from time to time for the same Notwithstanding her present or any future Coverture shall be A Sufficient Discharge for the same But in case of her present or any future Husband or his or their Creditors intermeddling therewith then the same to sink & not be paid & the first payment therof to be made on the first Monday that shall happen to be in the first Calendar Month which shall first & next happen after my decease Also I give devise & Bequeath the severall Legacys following ( that is to say ) To Elizabeth Hannell my Daughter now Wife of Abraham Hannell of Kislingbury in the County of Northampton Gingerbread Baker the Sume of Thirty pounds of Lawfull money of Great Britain To my Daughter Susanna Fox now Wife of John Fox of Brogborough in the County of Bedford Grazier the Sume of Fifty pounds of like money To my Daughter Mary Fox now Wife of Benjamin Fox of Leighton Bussard in the County of Bedford Grazier the like sume of Fifty pounds of like money All which Legacys I do hereby Direct shall be paid within Twelve Months next after my Decease by my Exec herenafter named out of my Personall Estate Also I Give & Bequeath to my Grand Daughter Susanna Hannell & Daughter of the said Abraham Hannell the Sume of Twenty pounds of Lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid to my said Grand Daughter Susanna Hannell at her Age of One & Twenty years by my Extor out of my personall Estate & in the meantime to remain in my Exctor's hands without paying any Interest for the same Also I Give Devise & bequeath Unto my said Four Daughters the said Elizabeth Hannell Susanna Fox Anne Lucas & Mary Fox All & every my Wearing Apparell both Linnen & Woollen & of all kinds whatsoever to be equally Divided between them my said Four Daughters Share & Share Alike within One Month next after my Decease Also I Give Devise & bequeath unto the said James Gregory my Son All & every the rest & Residue of my moneys Debts household Goods Chattells & Personall Estate whatsoever & wheresoever To hold the same unto the said James Gregory my Son my Exectrs Admors& Assigns he thereout paying all my just Debts that I shall owe at my Decease & the said Legacys & Annuity hereinbefore Devised & also my Funnerall Expences And I Do hereby make ordain & Appoint the said James Gregory my son full & Sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament And I doe hereby revoke & make Void All former earlier Wills by me heretofore made
19 September 1748
Thos Higbid Hannah Collins B. Pyne
Source:Bedfordshire Record Office
Susannah Gregory nee Worrall, daughter of Beneduct Worrall of Leighton Buzzard
Submitter Rosalind Dunning
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