This is the last will and testament of me John Ballard of the parish of Sevenoaks in the county of Kent gentleman first I desire that all my just debts funeral expenses and proving of this my last will and testament may be paid and satisfied out of my residuary property hereafter named. I give unto Mrs Mary Parker of the parish of Sevenoaks widow of the late John Parker £100 lawful money of England. I give unto my cousin Mrs Elizabeth Smith widow of the late John Smith of the parish of Brighton in the county of Sussex my first cousin £100 lawful money of England. I give unto Anne Ashton the wife of William Ashton of the parish of Peckham in the county of Kent my cousin £100 lawful money of England. I give unto John Meadows of London seal carver and William Brown of London Ironmonger my first cousins all the rest and residue of my Realty that I may be possessed of and appoint Mrs Mary Parker of Sevenoaks widow as aforesaid my executrix and Mr Samuel Green of Sevenoaks surveyor my executor dated this fifth day of June in the year of our Lord 1849 – John Ballard – signed published and declared as the last will and testament of me John Ballard whom in his presence and in the presence of each other and at his request have subscribed our hands as witness – Samuel Green <?????> surveyor – Thomas Wardens <?????> <?????> maker.

This is a codicil to the last will and testament of me John Ballard of Sevenoaks in the county of Kent gentleman which will bears date on or about the fifth day of June 1849 whereas by my said will after directing the payment of my just debts funeral expenses and the proving of my said will out of my residuary property therein after named and after giving to Mary Parker Elizabeth Smith and Ann Ashton therein respectively described the sum of £100 each I gave unto John Meadows of London seal engraver and William Brown of London Ironmonger my first cousins all the rest and residue of my property that I might be possessed of and appointed the said Mary Parker and Mr Samuel Green of Sevenoaks aforesaid survivor executrix and executor of my said will and whereas the said John Meadows is lately dead now I direct that all legacy duty on the said three legacies of £100 each to the said Mary Parker Elizabeth Smith and Ann Ashton respectively shall be paid free from legacy duty which I hereby charge of my residuary estate <????>  the bequest of my residuary estate contained in my said will and I bequeath one equal moiety of my residuary estate unto the said William Brown and the remaining equal moiety of my said residuary estate to Matilda Devonshire formerly Matilda Meadows daughter of the said John Meadows and I direct that the share of residue hereinbefore bequeathed to the said Matilda Devonshire shall be for her own separate and exclusive use free from the debts control and engagements of the present or any future husband and that the receipt or receipts of the said Matilda Devonshire alone for the said share or any part thereof shall notwithstanding her present or any future coveture be sufficient discharge to my said executrix and executor for the share and amounts therein comprised to be received. In all other respects I confirm my said will in writing whereof I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of March 1850 – John Ballard signed by the said testator John Ballard as and for a codicil to his last will and testament and to be deduced and taken as part thereof in the presence of us present at the same time in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses. The word “unto” having been first substituted for the word “until” in the first side hereof – Robert Adams Surgeon Sevenoaks – Samuel Thomas Hill Sevenoaks Postmaster.

Proved at London with a codicil 13^th July 1850 before the worshipful William Calvey Curties Doctor of laws and surrogate by the oath of Samuel Green one of the executors to whom administration was granted having been first sworn duly to administer. Power reserve of making the like granted to Mary Parker the widow the other executor when she shall apply for the same.