In the name of God amen I, Kenelm Mearson of Tewkesbury in the county of Gloucester, gent, being sick in body but of sound and perfect memory, thanks be unto Almighty God therefore, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First, I committ my soul unto the hands of Almighty God my maker, assured in hoping to be saved by the ------, death and passion of Jesus Christ my blessed Saviour and Redeemer. And my body to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named. And for the worldly estate which God of his infinite mercy has bestowed upon me. I dispose of it in manner and form following. First, I give and bequeath unto two hundred poor aged men and women of the borough of Tewkesbury ten pounds to be equally distributed amongst them at the discretion of Robert Plevy, gent, Edward Jennings and my executors hereinafter named. Item, I give and bequeath to my wellbeloved wife, Elizabeth Mearson fourscore pounds to be paid her by my executors hereinafter named within three months next after my decease. Item, I further give and bequeath unto my said wife all the household stuff and goods of what kind soever which were hers at the time of her intermarriage with me. Item, I give and bequeath unto my said wife all the corn, -----, barley now growing upon the three acres of arable lands in the Oldbury which I heretobefore bought of one Richard Wodley. Item, I give to my said wife all the ------ and other goods now being in and about the said messuage or tenement I now dwell in. Item, my will and meaning is gthat my said wife shall have the free use of the table boards, side cupboards, bedsteads, chairs, stools, forms ------- and such like standard term of her natural life, my intention being not to deface the said house. Item, I give and bequeath unto Nicholas Mearson the elder of Tewkesbury, my brother, all that messuage or tenement and garden with the appurtenenaces, situate and being in Tewkesbury aforesaif, in a certain street there called Barton Street wherin I now dwell, and all those three acres of arable lands with the appurtenances lying and being in the Oldbury which I heretofore purchased of one Richard Wadley ------ in the middle furlong and the other in the lower furlong, to have and to hold the said messuage and garden and arable lands with the appurtenances to the said Nicholas Mearson the elder and his assigns from and after the decease of the said Elizabeth my wife for and during the term of her natural life I having herebefore made a ------- of the said house and lands to Elizabeth my said wife. Item, I give and bequeath unto Nicholas Mearson the elder one little parcel of meadow ground with the appurtenances being near adjoining unto a certain bridge called Salden bridge now in the occupation of the said Kenelm Mearson and heretofore purchased of one Richard ------- Clark to have and to hold the said meadow ground with the appurtenances unto the said Nicholas Mearson the elder and his assigns for and during the terme of his natural life. Item. I give and bequeath to Margery ----- , widow, my sister, one ----- of meadow ground or pasture with the appurtenances now in the occupation of --------- Collett, lying and being in the Oldbury to have and to hold the said meadow or pasture with the appurtenaces unto the said Margery ------ and her ------ for and during the term of her natural life. Item, i hereby give and bequeath unto Nathaniel Mearson eldest son of the said Nicholas Mearson the elder the reversion and inheritance all that messuage or tenement and garden with the appurtenances wherein I now dwell and which I formerly gave and bequeathed to the said Nicholas Mearson the elder. And after all the said three acres of arable land with the appurtenances lying in the Oldbury and to such as heretofore given to the said Nicholas Mearson for -------- of his life, after the death of Elizabeth my wife, to have and to hold the said possession, and -------- of the said messuage or tenement and premises and arable lands with the appurtenances from and after the decease of Elizabeth my wife and Nicholas Mearson the elder to the said Nathaniel Mearson his heirs and assigns forever, to and for the only use and benefit of him the said Nathaniel Mearson and of his heirs and assigns for evermore provided nevertheless and it is my true intent and meaning that if Nagthaniel Mearson in when he shall accomplish the full age of one and twenty years shall not absolutely by good assurance and --------------------unto Nicholas Mearson, his brother and his heirs all the estate, right, title and interest he has, or shall have in and to all and only of the dwelling houses I ----- herein the said Nicholas Mearson the elder now liveth, and also in certain other tenements of the said Nicholas Mearson the elder that then and in such case I hereby give and bequeath the reversion and inheritance of the said three acres of arable land with the appurtenances formerly given to Nicholas Mearson after the death of my said brother Nicholas Mearson the younger and his heirs, to have and to hold the ------- and inheritance of the said three acres of arable lands with the appurtenances unto the said Nicholas Mearson the younger, his heirs and assigns for ever, to and for the only use and behoof of the said Nicholas Meaerson the younger, his heirs and assigns for ever. And --- --- lands siezed of an absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple to --- and my heirs for ever, and one messuage or tenement and garden with the appurtenances situate and being in the Barton Street next adjoining to the dwelling house I now live in being in the occupation of Thomas Crumpe the elder ---- ----- ----- I have leased out the said mesuage or tenement to the said Thomas Crumpe for seven years from the feast of our blessed Lady the Virgin Mary last past before.the date hereof at the yearly rent of six pounds eight shillings at the feast of St. Michael and our blessed Lady the Virgin by equal portions --------- And i give and bequeath the said years rent of six pounds eight shillings for the ----- aforesaid unto my said brother Nicholas Mearson (if he so long live). And from and after his decease I freely give and bequeath all the residue of the said rent of six pounds eight shillings to the said Nicholas Mearson the younger. Item, I give and bequeath unto the said Nicholas Mearson the said messuage or tenement with the appurtenances now in the occupation of the said Thomas Crumpe for and during the term of his natural life. Item, I give and bequeath unto the said Nicholas Mearson the ypounger and his heirs the ----- and inheritance of the said messuage or tenement and garden unto the said Nicholas Mearson the younger, his heirs and assigns for ever to and for the only use and behoof of the ssaid Nicholas Mearson the younger, and of his heirs and assigns for ever, provided nevertheless, and it is my true intent and meaning that if at any time within the space of seven years from the feast of Blessed Lady the Virgin Mary, last past, the said Thomas Mearson the elder or Thomas Crumpe the younger shall pay or cause to be paid in the sum of four score pounds of ----- of my ----- money to Nicholas Mearson my brother (if he be living), or to Nicholas Mearson the younger after the death of the said Nicholas the elder, that then the said rents of six pounds eight shillings shall cease. And an absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple, and all my estate right, title, claims or demands whatsoever ---- to the said messuage or tenement and garden with the appurtenances shall go --------- to the said Thomas Crumpe the elder and Thomas Crumpe the younger, their heirs and assigns for evermore. All the costs and charges of the said Thomas Crumpe the elder and Thomas Crumpe the younger or out of them, then my will and meaning is that the sum of four score pounds shall be paid -------- the said Thomas Crumpe the elder and Thomas Crumpr the younger or any other for them to my executors hereafter named, then freely give the use and benefit of the said four score pounds to my said executor for his life. And after his decease I freely give and bequeath the said four score pounds to the said Nicholas mearson the younger. Item, I give and bequeath to Anne Mearson, daughter to my brother Nicholas Mearson the elder the sum of twenty pounds to be paid her at the age of twenty and four years. Item, I give to Hannah ----- daughter of Margery Ockey the sum of twenty pounds when she shall come to the age of thirty years. Item, I give to Elizabeth -------- wife of Francis ------ five pounds. Item, my will is that my executor and his agents shall at all times convenient have free egress and regress unto my said dwelling house for the disposing and taking away of all goods and household stuff and other things undisposed of . Item, my will and meaning is that my beloved wife shall have the orderings of my funeral both for invitation of friends and providing decent entertainment, and at the charge of my executor. All the rest of my goods, cattels ande chattels, my debts and funeral expenses discharged, I freely give and bequeath unto the said Nicholas Mearson the elder, my brother ----- I do make and ordain the sole executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I, the said Kenelm Mearson, have hereunto set my hand and seal the fourteenth day of May Anno In one thousand six hundred forty and two. ------ subscribed, sealed and published in the presence of Richard Beale, George Dowdswell.

Proved 1642