Part of the will is illegible due to creasing in the lower half of the document - JM

• In the name of God amen this tenth day of May Anno Domini 1689: I Francis Ball of Burton Latimer in the County of Northampton yeoman being weak in body but of a sound mind and memory (praised be Almighty God for the same) Do make this my last Will and Testament in manner following And I most humbly Recommend and Resign my Soul unto Almighty God my Creator hoping by his grace to be saved thereon the precious merits of my dear Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ And my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried by my Executors hereafter named and As for that Temporal Estate which the Lord of his mercy hath bestowed upon me I do dispose thereof as followeth (that is to say) I give & devise unto James Sawyer the elder of Chelveston cum Caldecott in the said County of Northampton gent and William Pell of Burton Latimer aforesaid yeoman my Messuage or Farm house with all outhouses and the  homestead Orchard and Close of Pasture thereunto adjoining and also my four yard land thereunto belonging with all and every their appurtenances in Burton Latimer aforesaid and to their heirs and assigns for ever in trust and to the intent and purpose that they may sell the said Messuage with the Appurtenances and the said four yard Land and all other the premises with their Appurtenances to best value that they can and with the monies arising upon the sale to pay off all monies principal interest or charges due upon the Mortgage made to the said Mr James Sawyer and the Surplusage of monies Remaining after the discharge of the said Mortgage I will my said Trustees equally to divide to my wife and amongst all my Children (vizt) Anne, John, Thomas, Francis, Richard, William and Mary Bailey into equal portions share and share like and to put forth these monies ………… ………… being the c…. shares and portions until they attain their respective ages of one and twenty years and then to be paid to each of them their share and portion as they severally attain to that age and I will that the Legacy of either or any of them dying before such their attainment to be divided amongst the Survivors of them and I will and Bequeath that the Interest and increase of my said childrens portions annually  …………………………………………………………………… now wife by half yearly or quarterly payment  to be … …………  maintenance Item I give and Bequeath unto my loving wife all my house hold goods and house hold stuff and utensils whatsoever within my dwelling house and belonging to the same And also one cow that I bought of my brother William Smith All the rest of my Goods and Chattels Cattle Crop of Grain Implements for Husbandry Money Debts owing to me and ………… ………… ………… Estate whatsoever I Give and Bequeath unto the above named James Sawyer and William Pell whom I make Executors of this my will To the End they may sell and dispose of my said Goods and Estate and Imploy it to pay my Debts and Funeral Charges and divide the Remainder into Equal portions to my wife and children above mentioned and to put forth the childrens portions of money unto Interest with liberty for my wife to take the Interest thereof until they attain their respective ages of one and twenty years as aforesaid Item I Give unto the said James Sawyer and William Pell the sum of Five Marks In …. of their Trust about the sale and pains and care about selling my Goods and disposing of the monies arising thereupon And I make my loving brother Robert Smith supervisor of this my will and I give him the sum of Five Nobles for his pains And I Revoke and make a…… all Wills and Testaments by me formerly made and I declare this to be my Last Will In Witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal the day and year first above written

The mark of Francis Ball

Signed and Sealed and by the said Francis Ball declared to be his last Will. In the presence of us whose names are subscribed

Edward Ekins  Edward Eare  Edward Ginn

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(Latin Paragraph which I cannot transcribe.  JM)

The Condition of this Obligation is such that if the above bounden Susanna Ball the Widdow, Relict and Legatary named in the last Will and testament of Francis Ball lateof Burton Latimer above said Yeoman deceased doe make or cause to be made a true and perfect Inventary of all and singuler the goods Chattles and Debts of the said Francis Ball deceased which have shall or may come to the hands and possession of her the said Susanna Ball, or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for her, and thesame so made doe exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the Registry of the above named Archdeacon of Northampton ator before the sixt  -  - day of February next ensueing and the same goods Chattles and Creditts, and other the goods Chattles and Creditts of the said deceased at the time of his Death which at any time after shall come to the hands and possession of her the said Susanna Ball or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for her doe well and truly administer according to the tenor and effect of the last will and testament of the said Francis Ball deceased and further doe make or cause to be made a true and just accompt of her said Ad….. at  or before the ninth day of December which w… ….    yeare of our Lord 1690 and all          rest an…. …..   all and singuler the goods  ……………  Creditts   ……..…….    deceased which shall be found remain…..