This is the last will and testament of me the Reverend John Ballard clerk one of the fellows of the college near the city of Winchester in the county of Southampton. Whereas I am now possessed of or entitled unto all that messuage or tenement and premises with the appurtenances in which I now live situate between the Close Gate and Kings Gate near the said city of Winchester under and by virtue of the lease granted by the Dean and chapter of the cathedral church of Winchester to Thomas <Morphin?> for the term of thirty years (renewable as in the lease is particularly mentioned) and by him assigned to Oliver Bartlett Esquire and since assigned by the said Oliver Bartlett to me now I do hereby give devise and bequeath the said messuage or tenement and premises comprised in the said lease and all my renewable and other estate term and interest therein unto my dear wife Mary. To hold the same unto my said wife Mary and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after the decease of my said wife I give devise and bequeath the same messuage tenement and premises and all my renewable and other estate and interest therein to and amongst all and every the child and children which I may have by my said wife and who shall be living at the time of her decease in such parts shares and proportions as I may by any writing under my hand and seal attested by two or more credible witnesses direct and appoint and in default of such appointments I then I give devise and bequeath the same messuage tenement and premises to and amongst such children if more than one in equal shares and proportions and if one then to such only child provided and my will is that in case there shall not be any child or children living at my decease and my wife shall not be <pregnant> with any child or children which shall afterwards be born I then give devise and bequeath the same messuage tenement and premises and all my renewable estate and interest therein unto my said wife her executors administrators and assigns it being my intent and meaning that in case I shall not have any issue by my said wife my said wife shall enjoy the same premises of her own free will and disposal. I give and bequeath unto the Reverend George Wells Rector of Manningford <Bruce> in the county of Wilts his executors administrators and assigns the sums of £1400 and £2000 of lawful money of Great Britain upon the trusts nevertheless and to and for the intents and purposes following (that is to say) upon trust to put and place out at interest the same two sums of £1400 and £2000 and to pay from time to time the interest thereof unto my said wife Mary during the term of her natural life and from and immediately after the decease of my said wife to call in the said sums of £1400 and £2000 and pay and divide the same to and amongst all and every the child and children which I may have by my said wife and who shall be living at the time of her decease in such parts shares and proportions as I may by any writing under my hand and seal and attested by two or more credible witnesses direct or appoint and in default of such appointments then upon trust to pay and divide the said sums of £1400 and £2000 to and amongst such children (if more than one) in equal parts shares and proportions and if but one then to such only child provided and my will further is that in case there shall not be any child or children living at my decease and my wife shall not be <pregnant> with any child or children which shall afterwards be born then as to the said sum off £1400 upon trust to pay the same to my said wife Mary to whom I give and bequeath the same and as to the said sum of £2000 after the decease of my said wife upon trust to pay and divide the same to and between George Wells and John Wells the two sons of the said George Wells in equal parts shares and proportions to whom I give and bequeath the same respectively. I give and bequeath to my dear wife Mary all and singular my household goods plate linen China and furniture of what kind or what nature so ever to and for her own use and at her own disposal. And as to the rest residue and remainder of my goods chattels <Hor?????oinds> and securities for money and all other my real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever the same may be not by me already disposed of I give devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof and all my estate and interest therein unto my said wife Mary her heirs executors administrators and assigns and I do hereby make constitute and appoint my said wife Mary sole executor of this my will and I do hereby revoke all former and other wills by me heretofore at any time made declaring this only to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I the said John Ballard have to this my last will and testament contained in this and the two preceding sheets of paper set my hand and seal to wit my hand at the bottom of each of the said two preceding sheets and my hand and seal to this last sheet on the tenth day of May in the year of our Lord 1781 – J. Ballard signed sealed published and declared by the said testator John Ballard as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto in his presence and in the presence of each other – F.G.Waller – T.Ridding.

This will was proved at London the 23^rd day of January in the year of our Lord 1788 before the worshipful Thomas Boyer Doctor of laws and surrogate of the right worshipful Peter Calvert Doctor of laws Master keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Mary Ballard widow the relict and sole executrix named in the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer.