In the name of God Amen John Dowse of Hamstead Marshall in the County of Berkshire Victualler being of Perfect Mind and Memory, thanks be given unto God and calling to mind the Mortality of my body do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say, principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of almighty God and my body I Recommend to the Earth to be Buried in a decent Christian Burial at the Direction of my Executrixes herein after named. And as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form, that is.

First I give to my two Daughters Hannah and Mary Dowse the sum of Forty pounds each, and also all the Household Goods and Furniture and Stock in Trade including all my Cattle and Tools in Husbandry to be equally Divided between my two daughters foresaid.

Also I give Devise and Bequeath to my son John Dowse a Leasehold Estate allaying and being in the parish of Greenham in the County of Berks late William Andrewes held under Mr Crofts, I say I give the said Estate for and during my said lease unto my Son John Dowse by him to be possessed and injoy’d.

Also I give to my grandson John Matthews Son of George Mathews the sum of twenty pounds of lawful Money of England to be paid by any executrixes to put the said John Mathews an apprentice, if the Fathers and Mother of the said John Mathews approve of it.

Lastly my Will is that if there shall any of My Money Remain or be left, after payment of all my just Debts, Funeral and testamentary Charges and Expences that money so left and remaining shall be equally divided between my four Children; and I do hereby Constitute make and ordain my two Daughters Hannah and Mary Dowse my Joint Executrixes of this my last Will and Testament. and I do hereby utterly disallow Revoke and Disannul all and every other former Will Leagacies Bequests and Executors by me in any ways before named; Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto let my Hand and Seal this Sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six.

Signed, Seal’d publish’d pronounced and declared by the

Said John Dowse as his last Will and Testament

In the presence of us at his request, in his presence   

John Dows

and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names

as Witness here to

William Lawence                                                             At Newbury on the 21st  day of June 1779. the

Sally Lawence                                                               Joint Executrixes above named were duly sworn

Jonathon Love                                                              before me