In the name of god Amen. The four and twentieth day of February one thousand six hundred and forty I Richard Ballard of Lamberhurst in the County of Sussex gent being in good health and perfect memory thanks be given to Almighty god do make my last will and testament in manner and form following. First I bequeath my soul to Almighty god who did grant it me And my body I commit to the Earth from whence it came to be decently buried. Item I give to the poor people of Lamberhurst aforesaid five pounds to be distributed amongst them within one quarter of a year next after my death. Item whereas my <uncle> Richard Bishopp of Sedlescombe did about twenty years ago give unto my daughter Elinor Ballard ten pounds which is in my hands, And also in lieu of other money when she hath passed out of <?????> all money which she hath left in my hands and in lieu thereof I give to Elinor my daughter one bedstead, one feather bed, four bolsters, two pillows, four pillowcases, three pair of good sheets and a coverlet or a <????><????> standing and being in the chamber where she now lyeth. Also I give to my daughter Elinor one hundred pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid her within one <year?> next after my death. Item I give and bequeath unto Richard my son my lease and term of years yet to come and not expired in the lands and tenements which I hold by <?????> of  <Barnaby> George Denton of the <?????> and William <Dorrell> esquire and Elizabeth his wife. And also I give unto my said son all my iron and brass pots, pans kettles, <crafing> <de???> candlesticks and all other my household stuff of brass and iron and also all my <trestles> trestle tables <f????> chairs <st???> and all other my household stuff bedding <lymon> plate and pewter I give and bequeath unto Anne my loving wife and to the said Richard my son to be equally divided between them. And I give unto my said wife fifty pounds of lawful money of England to be paid unto her within one year next after my death. And I will and appoint that my said wife shall have the use of all my house wherein I now dwell for and during three months next after my decease for her dwelling <chest>. And my executor shall pay and discharge all her <?????> charges for <?????> for housekeeping and servants wages during that time. Item I will <?????> and <???> my said wife shall have her <dwelling> in such part of my house wherein I now dwell as hereafter is <?????> during her life if she continue widow, if not, then until the time of her being married again that is to say the hall the <????> the hall chamber the parlour, the parlour chamber and also the use of the beds and bedsteads and <some> of the tables and chairs and stools in those rooms the <????> of her being <that> <the> buttery and the chamber on the buttery. And also I will her during that time the garden and orchard adjoining to my said messuage and liberty to <demand> and take water at the drawer well and <p??tt> and liberty to bake and <brew> in the bake house and brew house of my said messuage as often as occasion shall require my said wife fro time to time to repair and mend withal manner of needful and necessary <repairs?> such parts and <so much> of my said messuage as I have before herein willed unto her for her dwelling during her widowhood. And I will that my wife shall have <twenty> <chords> of wood quarterly on my lands so long as she shall live in my said messuage as aforesaid for her firewood to be <????> <?????> to be assigned unto her by my said son Richard upon reasonable request. And for want of assignment hereof within one month after request or payment of three pounds to my said wife by my said son in lieu of the <twenty chords>of wood I will that my said wife shall without assignment fell and take <twenty> chords of wood in my land where she shall think fit making no waste or spoil. And I will give unto my said wife one quarter of wheat, one quarter of malt and one quarter of oates to be delivered unto her after the expiration of the first three months next after my death for and towards her provision of housekeeping when she first beginneth to keep house at her own charge. Item I give unto Mary Maplisden my daughter now wife of Samuel Mapilsden <ten> shillings and to my god son Richard their son twenty pounds of lawful money of England to be paid unto him when he doth come to the age of one and twenty years. Item I give unto Anne Ridout my daughter twenty pounds of lawful money of England to be paid unto her within two years next after my death. All the rest of my goods and chattels I will and bequeath unto Richard my son whom I make my executor of this my lat will and testament. And I would instruct my brother in law Mr. William Bishop of Sedlescombe and my son in law Samuel Mapilsden to be helpful unto my son and for their pains I will give them forty shillings a piece and all their charges <???> for my <???> they shall take about this my will.

This is also the last will and testament of me the said Richard Ballard the older concerning the disposal of my lands and leases First I will and give unto the aforesaid Elenor my daughter all my messuage lands and tenements with the appurtenances both freehold and copyhold containing in all by estimation four score acres be it more or less which I bought and purchased of Joseph Baker situate lying and being in Wadhurst in the said county of Sussex now in the occupation of Thomas Ford's widow or her assigns to have and to hold to the said Elinor my daughter during her life And if my said daughter Elinor shall happen to be married then I will that Richard my son shall pay unto my said daughter Elinor, four hundred pounds of lawful money of England within two years next after her marriage my son having notice of the marriage. And I will that upon payment of the said five hundred pounds to my said daughter or her husband that my said son Richard and his heirs shall and may enter into the aforesaid messuage lands and appurtenances before <????> willed to my said daughter during her life. And my son and his heirs shall and may from thenceforth hold and <????> to his and their own use my <????> before in this my will contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding, And my will is that my said son Richard shall have all other my messuages and lands whatsoever to him and his heirs <???> In witness whereof I the said Richard Ballard the older to the twofirst leaves of this my last will and testament have set my hand and to this last leaf I have set my hand and seal the day and year first above written Richard Ballard <???????> the younger, Thomas Ballard, Samuel Mapilsden and Richard <Riads>.

 Probate granted; London, 16 May 1641 to Richard Ballard, son.