In the Name of God Amen I John Aldred of Great Harwood in the parish of Blackburn and County of Lancaster , yeoman, being of sound and Disposing mind and memory do make publish and declare this my last will and Testament, in manner following: first and principally I commend my Soul to God who gave it and my Body I commit to the earth to be decently interred at the Discretion of my Executors hereinafter named and as to such worldly estate as god of his Goodness hath bestowed upon me I give and Dispose thereof as follows; that is to say I give Devise and Bequeath uno Thomas Mercer of Great Harwood Tanner and Thomas Leeming of Harrop Fold in the forrest of Bowland Farmer all their heirs and Executors administrators and assigns interest nevertheless hereafter declared of and concerning the same all and every my fee hold and copy hold estates upon the trust nevertheless hereinafter declared of and concerning the same and I give devise and bequeath all my Cottages or Dwelling Houses situate in Penney Street Blackburn or else were together with all my personal estate of what nature or kind soever unto the said Thomas Mercer and Thomas Leeming and their heirs Executors administrators and assigns respectively according to the Nature of the several estates upon the trusts nevertheless and to and for the several interests and purposes hereinafter expressed and Declared of and concerning the same that is to say First I order and Direct my said trustees to pay and apply unto my wife Nancy Aldred and her two sons Richard and Ainsworth Aldred all the Benefits and profits arising or belonging to me for and until my younger son attains the age of twenty one years Also so soon as my youngest son arrives to the age of twenty one years I order and Direct my said Trustees to sell and Dispose of all my fee hold and Copy hold estates together with all my Cottage houses in Blackburn aforesaid Also I order and Direct that the signature or receipt of Thomas Mercer and Thomas Leeming for any sum or sums of purchase money shall be sufficient Discharge both in Law and Equitty also after my just debts being paid and any Executors paid for all their trouble in Executing the same I order and Direct my Executors to Divide the remainder of the purchase money aforesaid into eight Equall parts or shares Also I give and Bequeath unto my six sons and two Daughters each one of the said eight Equall part or shares. Lastly I nominate, constitute and appoint Thomas Mercer and Thomas Leeming aforesaid Trustees and Executors of this my last will and Testament In Witness thereof I have set my hand and Seal this third Day of April in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight Hundred and Nineteen.
The mark of John Aldred.
Witnesses
Robert Baron
Joseph Clayton
James Baron
Codicil 6 June 1819
Leaves bed and bedding to wife Nancy and any furniture she owned before marriage and other items necessary. Rest of goods to be sold and divided into nine equal parts – one part to Nancy the other parts to his six sons and two daughters.
Accessed from Family Search
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-D1S3-5F2?i=151&cat=126866
Transcribed by B. Youds April 2021