In the name of God Amen in this nineteenth day of June in the seventh year of the reign of George the second of Great Britain etc king etc anno domini one thousand seven hundred thirty and three. I William Nookes late of Boars Grove in the county of Worcester in the Kingdom of England, but now of Middletown in the County of Chester & province of pensilvania, yeoman, (being sick and weekly in body but of good and perfect mind & perfect memory, thanks be given to almighty God therefore, calling to Remembrance the uncertainty of this transitory life and that it is appointed for all men wants to Die & that all mankind must yield unto Death whensoever eat shall please almighty God for to call,) to make, ordain, constitute, appoint and declare this my Last will and Testament in manner and form following, revoking & Disannulling, dislowing and making void all and every Testamt and Testaments, will and wills here to fall by me made & Declared, either by word of writing by these presents and this is to be taken only for my Last will & Testament and none other, and first being penitent for all my sins past, most humbly desireing forgiveness for the same, I give and commit my soul to God my Saviour & Redemer in whom I trust and most assured believe to be saved and to have full remission and forgiveness for all my sins of the meritts of Jesus Christ, in which due time by his might powerfull arm I firmly trust & believe I shall partake of the Resurrection unto life everlasting in the Kingdom of Heaven prepared for his elect and chosen, and I give my body to the Earth to be buried in such a decent manner and place as my Executor, whom I shall hereafter name, shall discreetly order and appoint: and now for the settleing of my worldly estate and such Goods and Chattels as it hath pleased almighty God far above my Deserts to bestow upon me, I do order, give and bequeath and dispose of the same in manner and form following, that is to say,
Imprimis, I will that first of all that all and every those Just Debts and Dutys which I justly owe in Equity, right or Conscience to any manner of pson all persons whatsoever shall be well and truly paid contented and Discharged who ordained so to be paid, contented and Discharged within convenient time after my Decease by my executor hereafter named.
Item, I do give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Ruth Nookes, whom I do by these presents Constitute and appoint my only and sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament, all & singular my Estates both Real and personal, be they of what nature all kind so ever, to be the only use and behoofe of my said wife Ruth Nookes, her heirs & Assigns forever.
Item, I do give and bequeath to my well beloved Sons Joseph Nookes, William Nookes, Moses Nookes and Thomas Nookes the full and Just sum of four shillings lawful currant money of the Kingdom of England, if demanded in England, if demanded in this province then the said legacies of four shillings (that is, the sum of 1 shilling to each of them, their heirs and Assigns) to be paid in the currency of this province by my said Executrix.
Item, I do give and bequeath to my well beloved Daughters Ann Nookes, Mary Nookes, Sarah Nookes, Susannah Nookes, Elizabeth Nookes and Jane Nookes the sum of 6 shillings, to be equally divided between them, that is, to each of them the sum of 1 shilling, and that to them their heirs and assigns, and that in lawfull Currant money of the Kingdom of England if demanded in the same Kingdom, Butt if Demanded in this province then each of the said payments so demanded shall be made in the currency of this province, and that by my said Executrix.
& to, touching and concerning the premises, in likewise in full and absolute Authority in conjunction with my set Executrix to sell, dispose, lett or sett at their discretion all and singular my Real Estates or any part or parcells of the same for ever or for any number of years If so be that need shall require by their not being personal Estate and effects Enough to Defray and pay all Just debts due Charges and payments which may happen to become payable out of the said Estates, provided that after
Item, I do by these presents nominate, constitute and appoint my Trusty and well beloved ffriend John Worral of Edgemont Township in the said county of Chester, Yeoman, and my Trusty and well beloved friend Philip Yarnall of Edgemont aforesaid, Yeoman, full & absolute Trustees of this my Last will and Testament, Giving unto my said Trustees all absolute and Lawfull Authority of inall such payments made and defrayed, all and singular the surpluses or remainders of the said Estate whether real or personal, be returned and redound only to the proper use and behoofe of my sd wife Ruth Nookes her heirs and Assigns for ever And likewise giving unto my said trustees, in case of their Deceased full power to Nominate and appoint and authorise other sufficient persons as Trustees aforesd of in to touching or concerning the premises. In witness where of I have here to set my hand and seal their Day and Date aforementioned.
William his W M Nookes mark Nookes [seal]
Signed sealed Declared Published
And pronounced by the sd
William Nookes as his last will & Testament
In ye presence of us the subscribers
John Edwards
Goldsmith Edward ffolwell
Dennesse ffolwell
Pd pace ye 5 of 7th 1733
