In the name of God Amen I, Bartholemew Read of Tewkesbury in the county of Gloucester, glover, being weak in body but in perfect memory (blessed be God) yet remembering the frailty of man and the uncertanty of his life do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following. Imprimis, I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator, and in Jesus Christ my only Redeemer, by whose meritorious death and merits I trust only and alone to be saved, and I commit my body to the earth whence it was taken, when it shall please the Lord to take me up from hence. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son, Samuell Read, after the death and decease of Katherine, my now wife, all my house and tenement with the appurtenances thereunto belonging, situate, lying and being in a lane called the Smiths Lane in Tewkesbury aforesaid, and to the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten, and for default or want of such issue, then to the use and behoof of John and James Read my second and third sons, equally to be divided between them and the heirs of their bodies lawfully to be begotten, and for default or want of such issue, then to the use and behoof of Hester, Elizabeth, and Mary Read, my daughters to be equally divided between them and their heirs for ever, provided my son Samuell do pay unto my daughter, Elizabeth Read, the sum of fifty pounds of lawful money of England within six months next after the death and decease of Katherine my now wife, and in case my son Samuell shall neglect or refuse to pay the said sum of fifty pounds, then my will and meaning is that my said daughter Elizabeth shall by virtue hereof enter upon all the said houses or tenements and premises hereinbefore bequeathed and receive the rents, issues and profitts thereof until she shall have fully received the said sum of fifty pounds. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son, John Read, after the death and decease of Katherine, my now wife, the fore part of my house in the Church Street in Tewkesbury aforesaid, that is to say, the hall, the shop, two chambers and two cocklofts over the shop, the cellar under the shop and the shop and the room now in the possession of Anne Tench, widow, and to the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten, and for default or want of such issue then to the use and behoof of Samuell and James Read, my sons to be equally divided between them and the heirs of their bodies lawfully to be begotten, and for default or want of such issue, then to the use and behoof of Hester, Elizabeth and Mary Read, my daughters, to be equally divided between them and their heirs for ever. Provided that my son John do pay unto my daughter Mary, the sum of fifty pounds of lawful money of England within six months next after the death and decease of Katherine, my now wife, and in case my son John neglect or refuse to pay the said sum of fifty pounds, then my will and meaning is that my daughter Mary shall enter upon the said premises by virtue hereof and receive the rents, issues and profits thereof until she shall have fully received the said sum of fifty pounds. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son James Read, after the death and decease of Katherine, my now wife, the tenement now in the possession of Samuell Mannsell, cordwainer, in Tewkesbury aforesaid, that is to say, the kitchen, a little buttery, the chamber over the hall, all the malt rooms, the two little tenements adjoining to the malt rooms, now in the possession of Anne Kingsbury and James Holdshippe with free iberty of ingress, egress and regress, to and for my said son James and his assigns to the alley or court to go to and from the said tenements as is now enjoyed by my tenants without let or molestation, and to the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten, and for default or want of such issue, then to the use and behoof of Hester, Elizabeth, and Mary, my daughters, to be equally divided between them and their heirs for ever. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Hester, after my decease, during her natural life, all those three tenements lying and adjoining one to the other in Tewkesbury aforesaid now in the several possessions of one Anthony Lane, Thomas Surman, and Stephen Tench, with free liberty of ingress, egress and regress, to and for the said Hester and her assigns to the alley or court to go to and from the said tenements as is now enjoyed by my tenants without let or molestation, and from and after the death and decease of my said daughter, Hester, then I give and bequeath the said three tenements to my said three sons Samuell, John and James, to be equally divided amongst them or so many as shall be then living, and the heirs of their bodies lawfully to be begotten, and for default or want of such issue, then to the use and behoof of Elizabeth and Mary Reade, my daughters and their heirs for ever. Item, I give and bequeath to my said daughter, Hester, my stable adjoining the said three tenements before bequeathed to my said daughter Hester and now in the possession of one Edward Pearce and the pigscoate, lime pits and court leading from the said tenement to the lane called Poulons Lane and also I give and bequeath to my said daughter Hester, my garden and work house thereon standing, with all appurtenances thereunto belonging, which said garden I formerly purchased of, and from, Mr John Wyate, and extends in length from the said Poultons Lane to the River of Avon, to hold to my daughter Hester and her heirs for ever. Item, my will and meaning is that the pump now in my backside or alley shall be for the use of all the tennants that shall inhabit or dwell in the several tenements in the said alley before bequeathed, and that the said pump shall from time to time be repaired equally at the cost and charges of the several owners of the said several tenements in the said alley being. Item, I give and bequeath unto Katherine, my well beloved wife, whom I make and ordain my sole executrix of this my last will and testament, all my freehold lands and tenements whatsoever, situate, lyeing and being in Tewkesbury aforesaid or elsewhere in the County of Gloucester and not herein before bequeathed, for and during the term of her natural life and, all my household goods and cattles not before given and bequeathed, she discharging all my debts and funeral expenses. And I do make and ordain my two loving friends Mr William Dawson and Mr William Millington the overseers of this my last will and testament, enjoining them according to that special trust and confidence that I place in them to be ---- and ------- to my wife and children for the better performance of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby revoke all former wills heretofore by me made. In witness whereof I, the said Bartholernewe Reade, have hereunto put my hand and seal this five and twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty.

Sealed, signed and published in the presence of William Davison, Thomas Symes, Stephen Tench, the mark of Anne Tench.

Proved 1881.