In the Name of God Amen. I Charles Ballard of East Bourn in the County of Sussex Taylor being sick and weak in Body but of sound and perfect mind and memory praise be therefore given to Almighty God for the same do make and ordain this to be my present last will and Testament in manner and form following ffirst and principally I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my heavenly creator hoping through the merits death and passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and to inherit everlasting life and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named and as touching the disposition of all Temporal Estates as it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me I give and dispose thereof as followeth Imprimis I will that all my debts and ffuneral charges be satisfied and paid Item I give devise and bequeath unto my son George Ballard one Guinea and all my wearing apparel Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Ballard my grandaughter the sum of ten pounds Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandson John Ballard my watch Item to George Ballard my grandson I give and bequeath the sum of six guineas which sum is to be put to the use of giving him my said Grandson a Trade or calling at the will of my beloved son Charles Ballard of London in Middlesex Taylor to whom I give and bequeath all that my cottage or tenement and garden laying in South Street East Bourn together with all my household furniture Bills Bonds and <Esporialtys> and I do hereby nominate and appoint my aforesaid loving son Charles Ballard sole executor of this my present last Will and Testament witness my hand and seal to this my present last will and Testament this 9th day of Ffebruary in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six Charles Ballard (LS) sealed and delivered being first duly stamped in the presence of us 9th Ffebr 1786  Geo: Chapman -- Geo Payn -- John French

This Will was proved at London the twenty ninth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and five before the Worshipful Charles Coote Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of the Right Honourable Sir William <Wy???> knight also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Charles Ballard the son of the deceased and the sole Executor named in the said will to whom administration was granted he having been first sworn duly to administer.