First all that messuage or tenement lands hereditaments and premises situate and being in Watlington in the County of Norfolk aforesaid with the appurtenances I give and devise unto my beloved wife Elizabeth her heirs and assigns forever

Also I give and bequeath unto my sister Frances Bywater of Fincham in the said County of Norfolk Widow and to her sons John Thomas and Samuel the sum of ten pounds each to be paid them respectively by my executrix and executor hereinafter named within twelve months next after my decease And in case any of them die I give the legacy or legacies of him her or them so dying unto the survivors or survivor in equal proportion

Also I give and bequeath unto my brother Thomas Thorpe of Wretton in the County of Norfolk aforesaid Yeoman and to his son William and daughter Mary the sum of ten pounds each to be paid them respectively by my executrix and executor within twelve months next after my decease And in case any of them die I give the legacy or legacies of him her or them so dying unto the survivors or survivor in equal proportion

Also I give and bequeath unto Susan the wife of Benjamin Leech of Saham in Norfolk aforesaid Cooper and to Mary Thorpe and William Thorpe the sum of ten pounds each and to Ann Thorpe Thomas Thorpe and John Thorpe sons and daughters of my brother William Thorpe late of Shouldham in Norfolk aforesaid Cordwainer the sum of fifteen pounds each to be paid them respectively by my executrix and executor within twelve months next after my decease And in case any of them die I give the legacy or legacies of him her or them so dying unto the survivors or survivor in equal proportion

Also I give and bequeath unto Ann Thorpe daughter of my brother Daniel Thorpe late of Necton in Norfolk aforesaid Yeoman deceased and to my sister Ann Grimes of West Dereham in Norfolk aforesaid Widow and her four sons the sum of ten pounds each to be paid them respectively by my executrix and executor within twelve months next after my decease And in case any of them die I give the legacy or legacies of him her or them so dying unto the survivors or survivor in equal proportion

Also I give and bequeath unto Thomas Hebgin son of Thomas Hebgin of Shouldham aforesaid Butcher the sum of twenty pounds to be paid by my executrix and executor within twelve months next after my decease

Also I give and bequeath unto my grandson Robert the son of Robert Dickerson of Shouldham Thorpe aforesaid Farmer the sum of fifty pounds to be put and placed out at interest by my said executrix and executor within twelve months after my decease upon good and sufficient security and the interest thereof together with the principal I give my said grandson when he shall attain his age of twenty one years if he shall be then living and in case my said grandson shall die before the age of twenty one years then I give the principal and interest to the said Robert Dickerson his father

Also I give and bequeath unto my kinsman Daniel Thorpe son of my late brother William Thorpe the sum of twenty pounds to be applied by my said executrix and executor or the survivor of them to put and place him out apprentice and to find him clothes during his apprenticeship

Also I give and bequeath unto my sons in law John Hebgin Thomas Hebgin William Hebgin Robert Dickerson and Robert Aylmer the sum of five pounds each to buy them mourning

Also I give and bequeath unto Robert Aylmer the further sum of five pounds for his trouble and care in assisting my said wife Elizabeth in the execution of this my Will

Also I give the sum of fifty shillings to be distributed on the day of my funeral amongst the poor of the Parish of Shouldham Thorpe aforesaid in such manner as my said wife Elizabeth shall think proper and direct

And all the rest residue and remainder of my ready money securities for money book and other debts goods chattels and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kind soever it consists after payment of my just debts legacies and funeral expenses I give and bequeath unto my said beloved wife Elizabeth her executors and administrators for her and their sole use and benefit

And lastly I do nominate and appoint my said beloved wife Elizabeth and the said Robert Aylmer executrix and executor of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former and other wills by me heretofore made and publish and declare this to be my Last In witness whereof I have to this my said Last Will and Testament contained on two sheets of paper to the first of which I have subscribed my name and to the other my hand and seal the day and year above written
John Thorp

Signed sealed published and declared by the said John Thorpe the testator as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in each others presence have subscribed our names as witnesses
Sam Farthing, Mary Farthing, Jn. Wakefield

Probate of this Will was made in common form on the twenty eighth day of March in the year of our Lord 1784 before the Revd. Joseph Forby Clerk Surrogate duly appointed of the right worshipful George Sandby D.D. Official principal of the Episcopal Consistorial Court of Norwich lawfully constituted and administration of all and singular the goods &c. of the within named John Thorp the testator deceased and any way concerning this his will was then duly granted to Elizabeth Thorp his widow and Robert Aylmer the executrix and executor within named they being first duly sworn &c, saving &c,.
Exam’d with the orig’l Rich’d Moss Depy Regr.

Acknowledgments to the Norfolk Record Office

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