In the name of God Amen – The thirty day of December one thousand seven hundred nineteen I James Marshall of Harpendon in the County of Harford yeoman being in health in Body and of perfect and sound memory blessed be God do make ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following, first I do bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God my maker my body I do bequeath to earth to be devoutly buryed according to the discretion of my Executrix hereafter named and as touching the disposing of my worldly estate I do give and bequeath as followeth Imprimis my will is that First all my debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged Item I do give and bequeath unto Anna my loving wife, all my houses and Tenements Arable Lands Woods Meadows and Pastures with all and every of their Appurtenances situate lying and being in the parish of Luton in the County of Bedford Item I do also give and bequeath unto the aforesaid Anna my loving wife all my Houses and Tenements Arable Lands Woods Meadows and Pastures with all and every of their Appurtences situate lying and being in the parish of Harpenden in the County of Hartford to have and to hold all the before given premises both in Bedfordshire and Hartfordshire for and during the terme of her natural life but upon condition notwithstanding that Anna my loving wife shall pay to my brother Phillip Marshall out of the premises before given her the sum of sixteen pounds a year in manner following, that is to say four pounds a Quarter and every Quarter Day yearly and every year for and during the term of his natural life. And from and immediately after his decease, I do give and order the said sixteen pounds a year to be paid to my cousin Phillip Marshall Son of my Brother Phillip Marshall by the Quarter as before given to his Father yearly and every for and during the term of his natural life. But if my Brother Philip or his Son Phillip, them or either of them shall molest Anna my loving Wife in her peaceable possession of any part of the premises before given her, either by Supena, arrest or any other Prosecution in Law whatsoever (they having their Quarterly money paid them) That then my will is that their Quarterly payment before given shall cease and be paid no more, any thing contained in this my Will to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding, Item after the decease of Anna my loving wife I do give an bequeath all my estate both in Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire with all and every of their appurtenances unto my Cousin Phillip Marshall Son of my Brother Phillip Marshall to have and to hold for and during the term of his natural life provide he shall pay his Father if then living the Quarterly payment of Sixteen pound a year before given him for his natural life and from and immediately after his decease I do give and bequeath all the aforesaid premises both in Bedford and Hartfordshire with the appurtenances unto the Son of my aforesaid Cousin Phillip Marshall that be by him lawfully begotten by his lawful Wife to have and to hold to him and his heirs and assigns for ever. But if my aforesaid Cousin Phillip Marshall shall happen to have noe Son but a daughter that shall be begotten him upon his lawfull Wife That then I doe give and bequeath unto that Daughter all my estate in houses Lands with their appurtenances situate in the parish Harpenden in the County Hartford (Except two closes esteemed Eight acres because they do belong to my Farm in Bedfordshire) to have and to hold all the premises in Harpenden except the two closes aforesaid, to her and her heirs and assigns for ever. Item I do give and bequeath all my estate in Bedfordshire with the aforesaid excepted two Closes with all and every of their appurtenances unto the Church Wardens and overseers of the poor of the parish of Wheathampstead and Harpenden and their successors in Office for the uses following after the premises are repaired and imposition paid, the clear profits and rents shall be equally divided between the two parishes for the Church Wardens and Overseers to put out poor Men Children out aprentice to some trade and to no other use whatsoever. But if it shall soe happen that my aforesaid Cousin Phillip Marshall shall have neither Son nor Daughter That then and immediately after his decease I doe give and bequeath unto the Church Wardens and Overseers of the poor of the Parish of Wheathampstead and to Harpenden and to their Successors in their said office all my Estate of Houses Tenements Arable Lands Woods Meadows and pastures with all and every of their appurtenances lying and being the parish of Luton in the County of Bedford, and also in the Parish of Harpenden in the County of Hartford with the appurtenances To have and to hold to them and their Successors in their Office for ever. But to this use following, after the Repaires of the premises and all Impositions paid, the clear profit of Rents arising shall be divided between the two parishes aforesaid, to put poor Mens Children out apprentice to some trade and to no other use intent or purpose whatsoever. Item I make and ordaine Anna my loving wife sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament giving and bequeathing to her all my Goods and Chattells whatsoever upon Condition that she shall pay my debts and Funeral charges and fulfil this my will according to her powers. Lastly I desire Mr. Thomas Marsom Jun of Luton aforesaid [Croter?] and Hugh Smith of St. Albans Maltster to assist my Executrix in the lawfull Execution of this my last Will and Testament, my Will is they shall have their Charge born and be satisfied for loss of time, soe making this my last Will and Testament revoking all others heretofore made In Witness whereof I do hereunto Set my hand and seale (James Marshall) signed sealed and published to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of Mary Hill Thos. Seabrooke John Kentish his mark Hugh Smith.
(Proved at London 10 July 1722 with Anna Marshall as executrix.)
