In the name of God Amen I John Ballard of the parish of Christchurch within Newgate Linen Draper Citizen and Skinner being at present in good health of body and sound of mind and memory praise be therefore given to almighty god yet knowing that nothing is more certain than death and nothing more uncertain than the hour and time thereof do therefore by this my present writing make and declare my last will and testament in manner and form following. That is to say first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of God my creator and of Jesus Christ my only saviour and do <?????> by the alone merits of whose precious death and bitter passion my only trust and confidence is that I shall in this life obtain remission and pardon of all my sins and in the world to come be made partaker of eternal life and happiness both in soul and body in the kingdom of glory for ever the which my body I commit to the earth in hope of a joyful and glorious resurrection and touching that portion of temporal blessing that the Lord out of the rich Treasury of his abundant mercies hath assigned me with in this life I dispose thereof as followeth that is my will and mind is that after my debts which I shall owe at my death shall be paid or set in order and <???> to be paid and my funeral expenses discharged my personal estate shall according to the custom of the said city of London be divided into three equal and proportionable parts and portions one third part whereof I give and bequeath unto my dear and well beloved wife Sarah Ballard in lieu and satisfaction of all such third and customary part as by the said custom is or shall be due unto her. One other third part thereof I give and bequeath to be equally and proportionably according to the custom aforesaid shared and divided between my two daughters Anne and Sarah and such child and children as my said wife doth or before my death shall get withal and to be paid unto them and either and <?????> of them parts and part <?????> at their several ages of one and twenty years or days of marriage which shall first and next happen after my death and in case either or any of my said children shall in the meantime happen to die or depart this life then my will is that the part or portion of her or them so deceasing shall go and be paid to the survivors and survivor of them at the days & times aforesaid. And the other or last third part of my said personal estate I do will shall be distributed as followeth vizt. I devise and bequeath unto my son John Lambert my apprentice and heretofore my <ensign> £20 in money to be paid within three months next after the expiration of his apprenticeship in case he shall duly and <?????> serve the now remainder of his <term> whereof  I make not any question. Item I bequeath unto my apprentice Daniell Manor and to my <?????> Francis Aynard forty shillings apiece in money and to my servant Elin in case she shall be living with me at my death twenty shillings in money. Item whereas I am now by the providence of God called to go forth as a commander in the service of the King and parliament my will is and I do declare that in case I shall die in the said service and shall be bought home to be buried in the said parish of Christchurch that then that my worthy and good friend Mr William Jenkyns vicar of the said parish will be <?????>  to preach at my burial and I also bequeath unto him for his payment to be thereon taken and for mourning five pounds in money but in case it shall happen that I shall not be buried in the said parish of Christchurch then my will is that the said legacy or of five pounds shall be void and in this case I do bequeath unto the said Mr Jenkins forty shillings in money. Item I bequeath unto the churchwardens of the said parish of Christchurch for the use of the poor of the said parish of five pounds in money. The rest and residue of the said last mentioned third part of my said personal estate after that my legacies herein expressed shall be satisfied and paid I give and bequeath unto my said loving wife Sarah Ballard in lieu and satisfaction of her widows chamber and in token of my love unto her. And also for and towards the maintenance and education of my said children and I do make and ordain my said wife the sole executrix of this my last will and testament nothing doubting but that she will carefully and conscientiously discharge that trust which hereby I do entrust unto her and I do desire and appoint my loving friend hereafter mentioned namely my brother-in-law Mr Daniel Playrant my <Dos???> Mr Anthony Bickerstaffe and my neighbour John Hayne to be the overseers of this my will entreating them to assist my said wife as I doubt not that they will in the execution of this my will and in whatsoever <use> they or any of them to stand her in steed and for their pains to be so taken and as token of my love I bequeath to either of them five pounds apiece in money item my will is that such of my legacies herein bequeathed for payment whereof <I have not limited> any time shall be paid within twelve months next after my decease. Item that my will is that all and singular my messuages lands and tenements with the appurtenances <with> <copy hold>  and free <??> I having before the day of the date hereof surrendered my copyhold lands and tenements to the use of my will shall be disposed of as followeth that these I give devise and bequeath unto my said wife for and during her natural life the rents issues and profit of all and singular my copy hold lands and tenements and lease land lying and being in Horton in the county of Surrey in lieu and satisfaction of such dower and thirds as she is or shall be due and payable unto her out of my lands and tenements item I do give devise and bequeath unto my said two daughters Anne and Sarah Ballard and to such child and children as my said wife doth or before my death shall get withal the said copyhold lands and tenements and lease lands in Horton aforesaid and all and every my copyhold lands lying and being in the parish of Barnes in the said county of Surrey and also my freehold lands in the parish of Sutton in the same county to have and to hold the said lands and tenements in Horton aforesaid unto my said children and their heirs from and after the death of my said wife pounds to have and to hold the said lands and tenements in Barnes and Sutton aforesaid unto my said children and their heirs from and after my decease for ever provided always and my will is that my wife shall during the minority of my said children for and towards the better education and maintenance of them my said children have receive and enjoy all and sundry the rents issues and profits of my said lands and tenements in Barnes and Sutton aforesaid item whereas according to the act of this present Parliament I have disbursed £200 for the buying of land in Ireland and my will is that my said wife shall during her life have and enjoy the moiety or one half year of all such benefit and profit as shall grow and arise thereby. The which moiety from <and> after her decease and also the other moiety or half part thereof from and after my death I give and bequeath to my said children and the survivor of them and the heirs of the said survivors for ever in witness whereof I the said John Ballard have to this my last will and testament contained in six <leaves> or sheets of paper set my seal and subscribed my name to every leaf or sheet thereof dated the seven and 20^th day of June in the year of our Lord God according to the account of the Church of England 1600 forty and four John Ballard signed sealed published and acknowledged by the testator for his last will and testament on the day of the date hereof in the presence of John Bennett Bartho. Lambe and of me Edward Wright.

Probate granted in London to Sarah Ballard widow relict of the deceased on 11^th January 1645.