NLW Ref: LL/1798/27

Thomas Jones – Goytrey

In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Jones of the parish of Goytrey in the County of Monmouth, yeoman, being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say)

First I commend my precious never dying Soule into the hands of God that gave it and my body to the earth to be buried with a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named.

As to what wordly goods the divine Providence has bestowed on me, I dispose the same as follows:

I give and devise to my nephew Vaughan Jones, son of my brother William Jones deceased, all my freehold estates, lands and tenements in possession or reversion wth all and every their respective appurtenances situate or lying or being within the parish of Goytrey in the County of Monmouth aforesaid or elsewhere, to have and to hold all and every the said mentioned tenements, land, hereditaments and premises with their and every of their appurtenances (subject to and charged or chargeable with the payments of all my just debts and funeral charges, together with the several legacies hereinafter specified) unto my said nephew Vaughan Jones and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life.

And after his decease I give, devise and bequeath all and every the same messuage, tenements, lands and hereditaments unto the heirs of his body lawfully to be gotton for ever and for default of such heirs he may lawfully settle the said premises upon his widow during her widowhood or for her life & afterwards to be equally divided into two equal parts between the right heirs of my brother John Jones and my late brother William Jones aforesaid forever.

I also give and bequeath these following legacies (that is to say)

To my brother John Jones the sum of one shilling of good and lawful money of Great BritainTo my nephew William, the son of my said late brother William Jones the sum of one shilling

To Charles, brother to my last mentioned nephew William Jones the sum of one shilling of like money

To his cousin Germain William the son of my aforesaid mentioned brother John Jones the sum of ten pounds of like money

To John Jones brother to the last mentioned William Jones, to my niece Mary Jones, daughter to my late brother William Jones; to my niece Margaret, daughter to my brother John Jones now or late wife of Abraham Fisher of Somerset, labourer; and to my niece Grace her sister, now or late wife of James Evans of Radnorshire taylor, the sum of two pounds and ten shillings of like money apiece.

My will is that all these several legacies be paid to all and every one of my legatees within twelve kalendar months of my decease if they to whom the legacies become payable respectively will be alive at the time the said legacies are to be paid.

But if any or all of the legatees above mentioned shall happen to die before their respective legacies shall become due unto them, then and in that case the legacy that is here mentioned to the contrary notwithstanding.

Item: I give and devise and bequeath to my sister Elizabeth Jones, spinster, all my leasehold estate of and in that messuage, tenement and lands with their appurtenances, lying and being within the said parish of Goytrey in the County of Monmouth to hold to her my said sister and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and more over to be sufficient besides with whatever she wants out of my real and personal estate. And from and immediately after her decease I do hereby give, devise and bequeath the same unto my before mentioned nephew Vaughan Jones, his heirs, executors, administrators and assigns for the term then to come and unexpired of the said lease.

And lastly as to the rest, residue and remainder of my personal estate, goods and chattels of what kind or nature soever I give, devise and bequeath the same to my nephew Vaughan Jones.

I hereby appoint the said Vaughan Jones and my friend William Morgan of the parish of Goytrey aforesaid freeholder, to be joint executors of this my last Will and Testament and do hereby revoke and disannul all former Wills and Testaments by me made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the eighteenth day of June in the thirty fourth year of the reigne of our sovereign Lord George the third by the grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, defender of the faith and so forth, and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four.

The mark of Thomas Jones

Witnesses:

Josh Davies clk

Evan Meredith clk

Francis Morgan

William James

Howel Howel freeholder his mark