Joseph Males In the Name of God Amen the eight day of March 1774 I Joseph Males of the Parish of Codicote Being in very good health and in perfect Mind and Memory thanks be given unto God for it therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is principally and first all I give and recommend my Soul to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executors not doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God to bless me in this Life I give demise and dispose of the same in the following Manner and from [sic] Imprimis I give and bequeath to Honour Elizabeth my Wife with all that I have but to pay Ann Pearce the sum of Five Pounds of good and lawful money of England ["and to pay my daughter Sarah Males the sum of one hundred and Five Pounds of good and lawful" interlined with note beside saying "this is my Cross - Joseph Males"] Money of England and to pay my daughter Mary Males the Sum of one hundred and Five Pounds of good and lawful Money of England and to pay my daughter Elizabeth Males the Sum of one hundred and Five Pounds of good and lawful Money of England and pay my daughter Sausaner [sic] Males the Sum of one hundred Pounds of good and lawful Money of England whom I likewise constitute make and alter if wife marries again to have but one pounds and one shilling in the whole but if not to pay the children the sums mentioned at the age of 23 years and to have rest of her life and then to be parted equally between them and I do hereby utterly disavow revoke and disannul all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies and Bequests and Executors by me in any ways before named willed and bequeathed satisfying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written - Joseph Males (LS) Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and declared by me Joseph Males as my last Will and Testament in the Presence of us the subscribers - Francis Jepps - Sibley Jepps - Joseph Males
27th May 1782 Appeared Personally Joseph Males of the Parish of Knebworth in the County of Hertford Farmer and made Oath that Joseph Males late of Codicote in the County aforesaid deceased was this deponents uncle and that some time about Four years ago he the deponent being with the said deceased at his dwelling house in Codicote aforesaid he produced and shewed to this deponent the Paper Writing hereto annexed bearing date the eighth day of March one thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Four and purporting to be the last Will and Testament of the said deceased and told this deponent that as his daughter Sarah was married and he had given her one hundred Guineas he would cross her out of his Will and thereupon the said deceased did in this deponents Presence with his own hand run his Pen through the word "and to pay may daughter Sarah Males the Sum of one hundred and Five Pounds of good and lawfull" now appearing to be obliterated in the said Will and when the deceased had so done he did with his own hand write the word "this is my Cross Joseph Males" now appearing to be written in the said Will near the said obliteration and that he well knows that the said words are of the said deceaseds Hand Writing by reason that this deponent saw him write the same - Jos[eph] Males - Same Day the said Joseph Males was duly sworn to the Truth of this Affidavit before me - John Fisher Surrogate present J.B. Bicknell Not[ar]y Pub[li]c
On the 27th Day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and Eighty two administration with the Will annexed of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of Joseph Males late of the Parish of Codicote in the County of Hertford deceased was granted to Elizabeth Males Widow the Relict of the said deceased and residuary Legatee for Life or during Widowhood named in the said Will having been first Sworn duly to administer no Executor being named in the said Will.
The Joseph Males nephew of the deceased mentioned as appearing personally after this Joseph's death would appear to be Joseph Males who at the time lived at Three Houses Farm in the parish of Knebworth, which is very close to this Joseph's farm at The Node in the parish of Codicote.
