John Barke of Stathern 1777 Will

Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Archives PR/T/1777/16

In the name of God Amen I John Barke of Statherne in the County of Leicester Yeoman being weak and indisposed in mind and Body but of sound and disposing memory praised be God therefore do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form as followeth

First of all I give and bequeath my Soul into the Hands of God who gave it Hoping through the Merrits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be joyfull rec’d at the Day of my Resurrection And my Body to be decently interrd by my Executor hereafter mentioned and as for my worldly and temporal Estate Goods Chattles and Cattles which God has bestowed upon me I give and devise in the following manner

First I give and devise unto my Eldest Daughter Elizabeth the Sum of twenty Pounds of good and lawful Money of Great Britain and likewise I give and devise the said sum of twenty Pounds unto Mary my youngest Daughter which said sums to be paid after my Decease

My Debts my Legacies being first duely paid and discharged And then I give and devise all my Houses Lands and Crops of Corn Grain Cattles Chattles and all my Houshold Goods of any kind whatsoever unto my Loving Wife Anne and my only Son John making and ordaining them full and joint Executor and Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby utterly revoking and disannulling all former Wills heretofore made by me

In Witness whereof I John Barke the Testator have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Eight Day of February in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred seventy and five

                                                                                                         John Barke his Mark

Signed sealed and published and declared by John Barke the Testator as his last Will in the presence of us who at his Request and in his presence and in the presence of one Another have subscribed our Names as Witnesses to the abovesaid Will

Cibel Whittle her Mark

Thomas Wright

Robert Barke

On the 15^th May 1777 Anne Barke Widdow and John Barke the Joint Extors within named were sworn to the due execution hereof

                                                                                                         Before me George Turner Surte