Imprimis I bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it my body to the earth from whence it came to be decently buried according to the discretion of my executor hereinafter named and for my worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and bequeath as followeth that is to say

All that my messuage and marshland containing by estimation fifty acres be it more or less in the Isle of Candy sic. (Canvey) in the aforesaid County of Essex in the Parish of Prittlewell with the appurtenances thereunto belonging I give and bequeath to Moses Skilder son of Lawrence Skilder of the Isle of Candy sic. (Canvey) aforesaid and to his heirs forever Upon condition that the said Moses Skilder do pay and discharge unto Lawrence Skilder his father the sum of one hundred and twenty three pounds twelve shillings of lawful money of England which I owe unto him upon bond

and to Sarah Skilder and Mary Skilder the daughters of the said Lawrence Skilder the sum of forty pounds apiece of like lawful money at their several ages of four and twenty years or days of their several marriage which shall first happen

To Peter Lebord twenty shillings

To Jane Lebord twenty shillings

To the widow Amplit twenty shillings

To Donelino? Vandeverd thirty shillings

To Esther Richardson, Mary Malstaffe and John Malstaffe twelve pence apiece

all to be paid one year after my decease

All the rest of my goods and chattels unbequeathed I give and bequeath unto my father in law Lawrence Skilder whom I make my full and whole executor of this my Last Will and Testament and do hereby revoke all former wills and p’mises whatsoever

Witness my hand and seal this 15th day of September in the year of our Lord 1685
John Malstaffe

Sealed published and declared by the said John Malstaffe to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of
J Kinsman, Wm Swan, Richard Swan

Probate granted 1686

Essex Record Office reference :- D/ABR 12/22
Acknowledgment to Essex Record Office.

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