In the name of God Amen. I Henry Brind of Highworth in the County of Wilts, Innholder, being at this time in perfect memory (thanks be to my good God) but considering my age & the indisposition of my body & the frailty of human nature & being minded to make a settlement for my wife and children whilst I am in perfect memory make this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First I bequeath my soul into the hands of my good God and Creator, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ my saviour that he will have mercy upon my soul, and my body to be buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named. Item I give to my wife Elizabeth during her widowhood the sum of twenty pounds a year to be paid her half yearly out of the interest of two bonds of two hundred pounds each the one due from Roufe Freke* of Hannington Esq the other from Mr Anthony Goddard of Purdon & Mr Spencer of Malmsbury. Upon the marriage or decease of my said wife the said four hundred pounds to go to my grandson Henry Brind, son of William Brind. Item I give to my said wife Elizabeth all the stock I shall leave in my cellar and at my decease. Item I give to my said wife Elizabeth the use of all my household goods in my dwelling house at Highworth so long as she shall continue a widow; but upon her marriage or death to go to the children of my son William Brind. Item I give to my grandson Henry the son of William Brind the sum of one hundred pounds. Item I give to my grandson William the son of William Brind the sum of one hundred pounds. Item I give to my grandson Walter the son of William Brind the sum of one hundred pounds. Item I give to my grandson Henry the son of Thomas Brind my house at Cirencester in the County of Gloucester when he shall arrive at the age of twenty one years; but if he die before he arrive at that age then to the heirs of my son William Brind. Item I give to my said Grandson Henry the son of Thomas Brind the sum one hundred pounds to be paid him when he shall arrive at the age of twenty one years. Item I give to my grand daughter Mary the daughter of Thomas Brind the sum of one hundred pounds when she shall arrive at the age of twenty one years. Item I give to my grandson Henry the son of William Brind my house at Westrop in the Parish of Highworth now in the occupation of John Fuller. Item I give my largest silver tankard to my grandson Henry the son of William Brind, the next biggest to my grandson Henry the son of Thomas Brind, & the least to my grandson William the son of Will Brind.
Item if either of my grandsons Henry or William or Walter the sons of William Brind shall die before they arrive at the age of one and twenty years then what I have bequeathed them in this my last will and testament to be equally divided between the survivors. Item I give to my son William Brind the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds to be paid him within twelve months after my decease. And I likewise discharge him from all debts due from him to me. Item I give to my son Thomas Butcher the sum of twenty shillings and to his wife my daughter Elizabeth Butcher the sum of twenty pounds to be paid them within twelve months after my decease. Item I give to Mary the wife of my son William Brind the sum of twenty pounds to be paid her within twelve months after my decease. Item I give to my brother Thomas Brind the sum of ten pounds to be paid him at two equal payments within two years after my decease. Item I give to every son of my nephew John Brind twenty shillings each. All the rest of my goods chattels & debts not herein by me bequeathed I give to be divided between all the children of my son William Brind. But if it should so happen that he should have any more children than what are mentioned in this my last will & testament I desire that they may have a larger share than those already herein provided for which I leave for the discretion of my executors. Item I make my said wife Elizabeth & my said son William Brind joint executors in trust for my said Grandchildren herein before mentioned & executors of this my last will and testament. Lastly I constitute & appoint the Revd James Ayscough** Vicar of Highworth, Thomas Brunsden of Marlborough Draper & Thomas Coleman of High Chyruryson, Trustees & overseers of this my last will & testament & revoke all former wills. In this will whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of December in the ninth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord George by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France & Ireland, King Defender of the Faith &C Anno Domm 1722. Signed sealed published and declared (being writ upon two sheets of paper marked 1,2 in the presence of
John Pannell Thos. Haggard Henry Coleman
Henry Brind
(gap) 1723 (gap) Highworth) (gap) in me Geo. Stephens.
*Note Raufe and William Freke built Hannington Hall in 1653. They each married sisters, the daughters of Sir Thomas Culpeper. There seems to have been a pub in Highworth called the Freke Arms.
**Ayscough, was incumbent from 1719 to 1742.
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