In the name of God Amen. I John Ballard D. D. and Rector of Langford Magna in the county of Wiltshire being (I thank god) in good bodily health and of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of life do make and constitute this my last will and testament in manner following. Imprimis I commit my soul into the hands of God my creator Redeemer and sanctifier trusting that through the merits of my blessed Saviour I shall at my death obtain remission of my sins and through the sanctification of the holy spirit be made meet to be partaker of the <Jubioulance> of the Saints in light and to enjoy the beatific vision of a reconciled creator. Item as to my body I desire my executor hereafter mentioned to bury it beside my dear wife’s grave in the chancel of Steeple Langford with as little charge as common decency will permit for of all vanities I think an expensive funeral one of the most absurd and I desire my said executors to put upon the chancel door for a monument for myself wife and children within a moulding of white a panel of black marble with the inscription which is contained in a paper folded up in this my last will with an Escutcheon of mine and my wife’s coat of arms under the middle of it. Item as to my worldly goods I dispose of them as follows I give and bequeath to my sister Dorothy Newman widow the sum of £20, and also the sum of £40 every year during her natural life to be paid her by my executors £10 every quarter from the day of my death for the payment of which quarterly sum I do hereby bind all of my personal estate for which purpose I do hereby empower my executors to sell my household estate at East End in the parish of Langford Magna which I hold under the Lord Chadworth. And I do hereby order them to offer it for the price of £1000 (which I think the remainder of the lease after my decease to be honestly worth) to my successor in the victory of Langford Magna and if he refuse to give the said sum then to sell it to the best purchaser they can get. Item I give and bequeath to the poor of the parish of Langford Magna the sum of £10 to be distributed amongst them on Christmas day next after my decease and the sole discretion of my executors. And item I give and bequeath to every one of my servants that shall live with me at the time of my death one years wages more than shall be at that time then due to them besides what clothes or linen of mine that my executors shall think proper. Item as to my papers and manuscripts I give them to my brother Dr Edward Ballard to be preserved or destroyed at his discretion. Item has to my and plate pictures books and household goods which my executors shall think worth keeping (and I leave it outright to their judgement to sell whatever they think proper) I desire they may be divided among all my children at the discretion of my executors only my will is that my eldest son shall have my large figured salver and cup and cover over and above his share with the other children. Item whereas on my marriage with my late dear wife all my lands of <Juborilante> lying and being in the parishes of Odstock and Bishopstone were settled on her by way of jointure and on my issue by her now if out of my death and there should be no such issue living all such issue then living should die before he or she arrived at the age of one and twenty years or marry and have issue then and in that case or cases I give devise and bequeath all my said lands of <Jubiocilancre> lying and being in Odstock and Bishopstone aforesaid without <Imp??h??> out of <Wast> to my brother Dr Edward Ballard for and during the term of his natural life and immediately from and after his decease to Mr Richard Barford Rector of Chilmark and his heirs to the use of the heirs male of the body of my said brother Edward and in case my said brother Edward shall die not having any issue male then to the use of my brother Robert Ballard for and during the term of his natural life and immediately from and after his death to the use of the heirs male of the body of my said brother Robert and in case my said brother Robert shall die not leaving issue male then to the use of my brother Charles Taylor Ballard for and during the term of his natural life and immediately from and after his decease to the use of the heirs male of the body of my said brother Charles Taylor and in case my said brother Charles Taylor shall die not leaving issue now then to the use of my own and right heirs for ever. And my will is that notwithstanding this entail it shall and may be lawful and in the power of my said brothers Edward Robert and Charles Taylor whenever any one of them comes to be in possession of the estate above mentioned to sell the estate at Odstock by end with the consent of the other brother or brothers then living. On the condition that nevertheless that they freehold estate of at least have and equal yearly value be purchased with the money arising from such sale subject to the same entail or till such estates is purchased that the said money itself be settled in trust to the same uses. Item after all of my funeral expenses debts and legacies before mentioned half paid the hands satisfied of (for the payment of Richard within the space of six months after my death if not otherwise before ordered high blank and oblige all my personal estate and not before bequeathed) is. I give and devise and bequeath to my brothers Doctor Edward Ballard the vicar of Old Windsor Robert Ballard merchant in Southampton and Charles Taylor Ballard druggist in London or at the residue of my estate real and personal in trust nevertheless and for the use of my dear younger children which shall be alive at the time of my death (if my eldest son and being sufficiently provided for by my lands before mentioned being settled on him) and to be equally divided between my said the younger children at the remainder of the interest or income thereof if any shall be after the payment of the before mentioned annuity to my sister Newman and the principle on the ceasing of the said annuity desiring them to take care of three worldly goods and also of the education of all my said children till they severally arrived at the age of one and twenty or be married. And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my said three brothers all the survivors or survivor of them joint executors or executor of this my last will and testament of entrust as aforesaid and for this their trouble and as a small token of my love and kindness to them I give and bequeath to every one of my said brothers Edward Robert and Charles Taylor as will be so kind as to act in this trust and executorship the sum of £100 to be paid out of my personal estate within six months after my decease has the other legacies before bequeathed. And whereas I have in this last clause given to each of my executors £100, my meaning as to my brother Edward is to forgive him the hundred pounds which he owes me and that to be reckoned for his said legacy and this I declare to be my last will and testament of dated the 25^th day of July in the year of our Lord 1700 fifty and two hereby revoking and and Nottingham all former wills made mind the – John Ballard – signed sealed and declared to the his last will and testament by the testator John Ballard in our present and witnessed in the presence of the said testator end of each other – Thomas Clifton – John Hall was – Thomas Wilmot case

Whereas I have in this my last Will ordered my executors to offer my household estate at Eastend for the price of £1000 to my successor in the rectory of Langford Magna and if he refuses to give the said sum <??????> or to make good the purchase on or before the Michaelmas twelve months after my decease then to sell it to the best purchaser they can get. 7^th July 1755.

This will was proved at London the 8^th day of March in the year of our Lord 1763 before the right worshipful said Edward Simpson knight Doctor of laws Master keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of the Rev Edward Ballard Doctor in divinity Robert Ballard and Charles Taylor Ballard the brothers of the deceased and executors named in the said will to whom had administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased they having been first sworn by commission duly to administer.