Transcription of the Will of William Watts of St Genny’s Cornwall

[Note: punctuation has been added to assist comprehension. Italics are used when the word is unclear and xxx is used when a word is unreadable]

In the name of God Amen the first day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and twenty five William Watts of the tythe of St. Ginnis in the county of Cornwall yeoman are in good health thanks be given to God therefore calling into mind the mortalities of my body and knowing that it is appropriate for all men once to die I 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 God that gave it for my body recommending it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like and xxxxx manner at the discretion of my executrix nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall regain the same again by the mighty honour of God as touching such worldly estate as goods werewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give xxxxx and xxxxx of the same in the following manner

In primas [first] I give unto my brother Richard Watts five shillings to be paid by my executrix two months after my death. Item, I give to Thomasina Parkin my sister ten shillings to be paid by my executrix two months after my death. I give unto my sister Mary Nichols ten shillings to be paid by my executrix six months after my death.  Item, I give to Johan Gayer my niece who lives with me twenty pounds to be paid by my executrix within three years after my death. Item, I give unto Onesimus Watts my brother in law five pounds to be paid by my executrix two years after my death. Item, I give to Johan Watts my wife the estate called Flaunders lying in the Parish of St. Ginnis with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging during her natural life and after her death. Item, I give unto Philip Gayer the son of John Gayer of the Parish of Derriaghy in the county of Antrim in the kingdom of Ireland my nephew the xxxxx xxxx of the said messuage, lands and tenements after the death of Johan Watts to have and to hold the said messuage, lands and tenements of Flaunders for Philip Gayer aforesaid to him and his xxxx for ever only when he is possesant of the estate he shall pay one hundred pounds out of it to his sister Sarah Gayer my niece. Item, I give unto my dear beloved wife Johan Watts whom I likewise xxxxxxxx do make and ordain my only and sole executrix of this my last will and testament all xx singular all my goods and chattels quick and dead to her to be xxxxx possessed and enjoyed, willed and bequeathed, ratified and confirmed this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have xxx unto set my hand and xxx the day and year first a xxx written, signed and sealed in the presence of us.

John Bayly

Benjamin Arthurs

The xxxx of Nicholas Woods

Signed William Watts

Aug 5^th 1725

This is to certify those whom it may concern on the day of the year above we Richard Crews and John Cock found in a xxxxx box or Frank this paper or parchment among other writings which do believe to be the last will and testament of William Watts lately deceased. Witness our hand:

Richard Crews

John Cock