In the name of God Amen I John Ballard of the parish at Ticehurst in the county of Sussex brick maker being of sound mind memory and understanding praised be God for the same do this 23^rd day of May in the year of our Lord 1834 make and published this my last will and testament touching the disposition of all such temporal estate as it hath pleased Almighty God of his goodness to bestow on me in manner and form following that is to say first I give and bequeath my cottage garden and premises belonging thereto called or known by the name of Summer Hill cottage situate in the parish of Ticehurst in the county of Sussex and all other my estate both real and personal whatsoever and wheresoever it is deposited together with my book debts unto William Smith Farmer and Gideon Wenham Farmer of the aforesaid parish their heirs executors administrators and assigns for ever whom I nominate and appoint executors of this my last will and for to dispose of by them in manner and form following that is I desire that all my just debts funeral expenses and <???> proving this my last will be lawfully made and satisfied as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and of my personal estate <????> my afore named executors <????> my will is that my wife Elizabeth shall have the use of my cottage and six pounds a year towards her maintenance during the term of her natural life next I give to my son Frederick William the sum of £15 together with the use of such part of my household furniture as my executors shall think suitable for the term of five years next I give the sum of £10 to the trustees of Wadhurst Wesleyan Methodist chapel to be appropriated to whatever purpose they may think proper in order to be carrying on the worship of Almighty God in that place next I give a suit of mourning to Mary the wife of Samuel Gillham next I give to Eliza daughter of Samuel and Mary Gillham a suit of mourning next I give my watch together with two volumes of Mr Wesley’s Sermons two volumes of Martindale’s dictionary Josephus’s history of the Jews and Birkett Testament to William Burden of the parish of Mayfield labourer. Next my will is that if any property remain after this my will is executed that they be given to my aforesaid son Frederick William and after the decease of my wife Elizabeth that the whole of my property be given to my aforesaid son Frederick William his heirs executors administrators and assigns for ever. Next I nominate and appoint William Smith and Gideon Wenham executors their heirs executors administrators and assigns of this my last will by being allowed all necessary expenses for their time and trouble and lastly I revoke all former wills by me made and declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I the said John Ballard the testator have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written – John Ballard signed sealed published and declared by the said John Ballard the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses here to – Peter Powell – Joel Oliver – Henry Waters.

In the goods of John Ballard deceased in the prerogative Court of Canterbury on the fifth day of December 1834 appeared personally Joseph Petit and Davis Wilsher both of Ticehurst in the county of Sussex Draper’s and made oath that they knew and were well acquainted with John Ballard late of Ticehurst in the county of Sussex brick maker deceased for several years and before and to the time of his death and have several times seen him write and write and subscribe his name to writings whereby they have acquired a knowledge of his manner and character of handwriting and subscription and having now viewed and perused the paper writing <?????> annexed purporting to be and contain a codicil to the last will and testament of the said deceased the said codicil being in the following words “Balance due to Mrs Gilham up to 1834 £5 for housekeeping or twelve months after date paid to Mrs Gilham the sum of £10 May 31^st 1834 John Ballard also pay to Eliza Gilham daughter of the above Mrs Gilham five pounds when she arrives at twenty one years John Ballard to Mr Wenham and Mr Smith executors of John Ballard” these deponents say that they verily and in their consciences believe the whole body <????> and contents of the said codicil and the names John Ballard and the words to Mr Wenham and Mr Smith executors of John Ballard written underneath the same signature to have been written and subscribed by hand with the proper hand of the said deceased – Joseph Petit – David Wilsher the same day the said John Petit and David Wilsher were duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit in <????> of the <?????> commission before me – Samuel Boydell Beckwith clerk and Commissary

Proved at London with a codicil 20^th December 1834 before the charge by the oaths of William Smith and duty in the one and that the executors etc …