In the name of God Amen I Laurence Skilder of the Parish of Prittlewell in the County of Essex being in good health of body and of sound and perfect mind and memory praise be there given to Almighty God do make and ordain this my p'sent Last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the merits death and passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon and forgivings of all my sins and to inherit everlasting life and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executrix hereafter named and as touching the disposition of all such temporal estate as it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me I give and dispose thereof as followeth first I will that all my debts and funeral charges shall be paid and discharged

Item I give unto Susan now my welbeloved wife my two houses and land with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging lying and being in the Parish of South Benfleet in the County of Essex all my house and land called the Crown lying and being in the Parish of Raileigh in the County above that is to say during her natural life and I bequeath afterwards unto my daughter Mary and all her sons and daughters to be equally divided after the decease of my daughter Mary now the wife of John James to the said Mary and her sons and daughters lawfully begotten forever

And all the rest and residue of my personal estate goods and chattels is soever I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Mary and her son and daughters lawfully begotten forever equally to be divided amongst them after the decease of Mary their mother

And if it should please God that my daughter Mary should die and leave no issue lawfully begotten of her body behind her or if she should leave sons and daughters after her decease and none of them live to come to age then it is my will and desire I do hereby will an bequeath all of my goods and chattels which shall be left after their decease unto my brothers George and John Skilders sons and daughters to be equally divided between them and their heirs forever

And I do hereby this my Last Will and Testament make my daughter Mary now the wife of John James my full and sole executrix of this my Last Will and Testament

And I do hereby will and bequeath that my daughter Mary shall pay unto John Libard eight pounds and five shillings and a sheep to the value of eight shillings the which is his one and also to deliver unto Peter Vanrining and Mary Vanrining all their own money and goods which I have in my custody now that is when either of them shall attain to age or be married

And I desire that my body may be buried in the Parish churchyard of South Benfleet

And I do hereby revoke disannul and make void all former wills and testaments by me heretofore made

In witness whereof of the said Laurence Skilder to this my Last Will and Testament being contained within this sheet of paper set my hand and seal hereunto in seventh year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord William the third over England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the faith 1695 and on the thirtieth day of April
the mark of Laurence Skilder

Sealed and delivered and signed on the presence of us
the mark of Peter Noble the mark of Mary Assa Stephen Pocock

Probate 14 June 1695