In the name of God Amen, This is the last will and testament of me Susanna Barber of the Town of Newport in the County of Monmouth, widow, being of sound and perfect mind, memory and understanding praise be to God for the same, and being desirouse of settling my worldly affairs do make and publish this to be my last will and testament hereby revoking and making null and void all and every other will or wills by me heretofore made. First and principally I commend my soul into the hands of my Creator and my body to the earth to be decently interrd at the discression of my executrix herein after named, and as to my worldly estate I dispose of the same in the manner following (that is to say) I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann now the wife of Edmund Lewis of this Town the sum of one hundred pounds to be payd her within six months next after my decease as also one half of my wearing apparel, one plain gould ring, six pewter platters and one dozen of pewter plates, one pair of Holland sheets and one mourning ring. Item I give and bequeath to my grandson Henry Nicholas the sum of Twenty pounds to be paid him when he arrives to the age of eighteen years (the interest of which (if it can conveniently be put out to use) is and shall be paid to his mother now Ann Lewis to be layd out by her at her discression to his use untill he arrives to the above said age of eighteen years, and in case his mother should happen to dye before he attains the said age then in such case my will is that such interest shall cease and be for and to the benefit of my executrix, I also give and bequeath to my grandaughter Sarah Lewis the sum of twenty pounds, also to my grandson Edmund Lewis the like sum of twenty pounds to be payd them when they severally shall arrive to the age of eighteen years and if either of them shall happen to dye before they attaine to the age of eighteen years, I will that the legacy of him, her or they so dying shall be paid to the survivor or survivors share and share alike and if they all should happen to dye before they attain to the age eighteen years as aforesaid then in such case it shall (when become due as aforesaid) be paid to my said daughter Ann Lewis, the above legacy to bear interest in twelve months next after my decease (if they can conveniently be layd out) and to be paid to my said daughter Ann Lewis for and towards their maintenance and schooling. I also give and bequeath to my grandson John Thomas the sum of twenty pounds. And also to my grandaughter Susanna Thomas the like sum of twenty pounds and also one gould ring with my name engraved therein. And also to my grandaughter Sarah Thomas the sum of ten pounds. And to my grandaughter Hannah Thomas the sum of ten pounds. And to my grandson William Thomas the sum of ten pounds. And also to my grandaughter Charlett Thomas the like sum of ten pounds, which said several legacys shall be paid to each and every of them respectively by my executrix herein after named when they arrive to the age of eighteen years, the interest thereof from and after twelve months next after my decease shall be to and for their maintenance and education untill they arrive to the age of eighteen years as above specified. All other my ready money, mortgages, bonds, notes and securities for money, book debts, plate, jewells, goods, chattels and effects whatsoever and all and singular the rest, residue and remainder of all and singular my real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever I do hereby give and bequeath to my daughter Susanna the wife of John Thomas of the Town of Newport aforesaid, butcher, to her and her heirs and assigns for ever. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said daughter Susanna Thomas sole executrix of this my last will and testament. And lastly I nominate and appoint my two sons in law John Thomas and Edmund Lewis trustees for carying this my will into due execution. In witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this twenty eighth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four. Susanna Barber
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said testatrix Susanna Barber as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us who in her presence and at her request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses to the due execution thereof. David Jones, Offr; Richard Rodday; Griffith Williams
25th Febry 1777 Susanna Thomas (wife of John Thomas) the daughter and sole executrix in this will named was sworn to the truth thereof and to the faithful performance of the same. Before me T Evans, Surrogate
Proved at Landaff on the twenty fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven before the Reverend Thomas Evans, Clerk, the Chancellors Surrogate by Susanna Thomas (wife of John Thomas) the daughter and sole executrix in this will named who was first on the holy Evangelists personally sworn well and faithfully to execute the same to exhibit an inventory & to render a just account of her administration thereof when thereunto lawfully required
Transcribed from a photocopy by Dave Woolven, 2 Aspen Way, Malpas Park, Newport, South Wales.
NP20 6LB Tel 01633 858 359 14 August 2000
