In the ame of God Amen. The third day of August Anno Dmi 1677 and in the nine and twentieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King Charles the second etc. I Thomas Ballard of London Gent being ill in body but of sound and perfect memory praised be God and knowing the uncertainty of this life on earth and being desirous to settle things in order do make this my last will and testament in manner following. First and principally I commend my soul to Almighty God my creator assuredly believing that I shall receive full pardon and free remission of all my sins and be saved by the precious death and merits of my blessed Saviour and Redeemebr Jesus Christ. And my body to the earth from whence it came decently to be buried in such Christian manner as by my instructions to my executor and overseer hereafter named I have appointed. And touching such worldly estate as the Lord in mercy hath lent me my will and meaning is the the same shall be employed and bestowed as hereafter by this my will is expressed. And I do hereby frustrate and make void all other wills by me formerly made and declare this only to be my last will and testament. Imprimis I give to the minister that preached my funeral sermon thirty shillings and a mourning ring. Item I give to the poor people of the parish where I shall be buried ten shillings to be distributed among them by the churchwardens at the time of my burial. Item I give unto my cousin Samuel Morle forty shillings and to my cousin John Morle twenty shillings. Item I give and devise unto the Mayor and Burgesses of the Borough of Arundel my little house and parkside containing one roode of land be it more or less thereto belonging situate and being in Sheene to have and to hold the same to them and their successors forever. And my will is that they or the major part of them shall sell the same as soon as conveniently they can and with the money made thereof they or the major part of them shall buy one silver bowl and engrave thereon as followeth viz. The Gift of Thomas Ballard sometimes Mayor of Arundell which said bowl shall be and remain for the use of the Mayor of Arundel for the time being and his succesors forever. Item I give unto the Mayor Churchwardens and Overseers for the Poor of Arundel one parcel of arable land lying in Sheene aforesaid adjoining to the house and parkside by estimation three roodes be it more or less now in the occupation of William Chatham to and for the use following viz. to the only proper use and behoof of the poor people of Arundel for the time being that take alms and receive doles and to such best advantage they can And the rents and profits that shall yearly arise and be made of the same shall be given unto the poor people of Arundel for the time being by the said Mayor and Churchwardens or some of them at the Church in Arundel on the day of Pentecost alias WhitSunday in money yearly forever. And my will is that this clause of my will concerning my gift to the poor shall be entered in a Table at Arundel among other former gifts to the poor and be kepy hung up in Arundel church and a copy thereof at the Mayors house for the time being and his succesors forever. Item whereas my eldest son Thomas Ballard hath had of me already alone Three Hundred pounds Item I give and devise more unto my said son Thomas and Sarah his wife all that my freehold lands in <Denton> called Ambros's Brookes and Ambros Acre during their natural lives and after their decease to the heirs of the body of the said Thomas and for want of such heirs to my son Arthur and his heirs forever. Item I give and devise more unto my said son Thomas by virtue of a surrender hereunto annexed all those my copyhold land lying in <Layton> to him and his heirs forever for the uses following viz. My will and meaning is the said copyhold shall not be sold until his oldest child living shall attain to its age of twelve years and then my will is it should be sold and that two third parts of the moneys made thereof shall be for the benefit of his children some of it to put them apprentice and the remainder of it to be into the Chamber of London to be improved there for their portions when they attain their ages of eighteen years. Item I give more unto my said son my seal ring and silver <chain box> to wear in remembrance of me. Item I give and devise unto my son Nathaniel all that messuage or tenement Barne and Malthouse together with Eighteen acres of meadow arable and pasture lands to the same belonging situate and being in the parish of Broadwater called Troyes alias Brasiers and all writings to the same belonging to him and his heirs forever. Item I give and devise more unto my said son Nathaniel all that my freehold lands in Worthing with the <leasures> writing and appurtenances to the same belonging to him and his heirs forever to and for the uses following viz. that the said Nathaniel his heirs executors and assigns shall well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto Mr <Eastell> of Lombard Street Goldsmith or to his heirs executors or assigns the sum of ten pounds sterling within three months next after my decease and also satisfy himself ten pounds both which sums I stand bound for my heirs to pay for my son Thomas' debts within three months next after my decease. Item I give more unto my said son Nathaniel my silver Tankard with my arms thereon and my biggest silver wine cup and my silver ring with a blue stone therein to keep and wear in remembrance of me. Item I give and devise unto my youngest son Arthur all that my messuage or tenement barn and three and thirty acres of meadow arable and pasture land to the same belonging situate and being in the parish of Ffurle neer Glyne called New Elme Farm now in the occupation of Jo: Harris with all sheep <??a???es> bullock <leasures> writings and appurtenances to him and his heirs forever. And my will and desire to my said son is that he do not alienate or sell the said farm but if he should die without issue of his own body then to leave it to his brothers and their children or to some or one of them. Item I give more unto my said son Arthur my two acres of meadow land in Sheen or Tarring called <Mill> Croft and copies of the writings concerning the sam to him and his heirs forever. Item I give more unto my said son Arthur my silver bowl and four silver spoons and my silver seal with a blue stone therein and two pair of sheets two table clothes five napkins and two large pewters dishes and my little pocket book of theology. Item I give and leave unto Susanna my loving wifeall the house and lands and household stuff that was hers before our intermarriage. And also the old hospital lease that came by her during the residue of years yet to come and unexpired. Item I give unto my said wife my new hospital lease commencing the twenty ninth September 1679 for nine years next following and all the rents and profits thereof during the term therein to come if she so long live she paying doing and performing whatsoever I and my executors stand <engaged> to do and save my executors harmless from the same whilst she enjoy it and my will is that whilst she holds the said lease that she pay unto her daughter Margaret <Watson> the moiety or half part of the yearly rents and profit that she makes thereof the same every half year by equal portions. And my will further is that if my wife die and depart this world before the expiration of the said lease that from and after her death I give the said lease and all the residue of years then to come and unexpired unto my son Nathaniel for the uses following he yielding and paying and performing what I and my executors stand therein <engaged> to pay do and perform viz. to pay unto William Chadwell my son in law to pay unto my son Arthur to pay unto my daughter Mary <????> Watson and to Sarah Ballard my grandchild to buy her clothes each of them twenty shillings yearly out of the rents and profits he makes of the said lease during the term thereof. Item I give more unto my said wife my new silver salt seller and eight pounds sterling to buy her mourning to wear at my funeral. Item I give unto my first wife's brothers and sisters and to <Doctor> Meggott Doctor Lynell Mr Edward <Alenbry> Mr Nathaniel and Samuel Turner and to my cousin <Colbury> to every and each of them one mourning ring worth eight shillings a piece to be sent them within a week after my decease to wear in remembrance of me. And all those men and women that I have set down in my instructions to be invited to my funeral shall have each of them a mourning ring worth eight shillings and to all <????> and my wifes grandchildren that are children I give to each of <??????????????????> <slide> seal her <s?o???> of the best as by my instructions more fully appears only. I give to the servant that dwell with me at my decease ten shillings and my will is that my three sons shall put themselves in mourning at their own charge to wear at my funeral. Item I give to William Brightman towards a debt my son Thomas owes him all that my large acre of arable land lying in Sheene which cost me seventeen pounds to him and his heir s if that do not satisfy him my executors must. Item I make and ordain my son Thomas to be my whole executor of this my will and I desire my son in law William Chadwell to be overseer thereof to see all things legally and honestly <conveyed> between my wife and my executor and to see me buried according to my instructions and to see my legacies and my funeral expenses paid and discharged which for his <inse> and faithful endeavours is the premises I give him twenty shillings in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written. Tho: Ballard signed sealed published and declared to be the last will and testament of Thomas Ballard above said in the presence of William Harris, Bartholomew Vicary Edward Miles of Golding Lane John Bradsoll.

 Probate London 2^nd November 1677 to Thomas Ballard.