Thomas Croxen 29th August 1815.

Know all men by these present that we William Baker Croxen of Finedon in the County of Northampton - farmer, Joseph Clapham of Finedon also , draper and John Mee of Higham Ferrers in the said County - farmer are held and firmly bound unto the right Reverend Father in God John by Divine Permission Lord Bishop of Peterborough in the sum of nine hundred pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain to be paid unto the said Lord Bishop or to his certain Attorney, his Executors , Administrators  or Assigns. To which payment well and truly to be made. We oblige ourselves and each of us by himself for the whole our and each of our Heirs , Executors and Administrators firmly by these Presents Sealed with our Seals date the twenty sixth day of August in the fifty fifth year of the Reign of Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , King Defender of the Faith and in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and fifteen.

The Condition of this Obligation is such that if the above bounden William Baker Croxen the eldest son and next of kin and Administrator of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of Thomas Croxen late of Burton Lattimer in the said county of Northampton deceased do make or cause to be made a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said deceased which have or shall come to the hands Possession or Knowledge of him the said  William Baker Croxen - or into the Hands and Possession of any Person or Persons for him and the same so made do exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the Registry of the above named Lord Bishop at or before the last day of November next ensuing and the same goods Chattels and Credits and all other Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased at the time of his death which at any time after shall come to the hands or Possession of the said William Baker Croxen or into the hand and Possession of any other Person or Persons for him to well and truly administer according to Law. And further do make or cause to be made a true and just accompt of his said Administration at or before the last day of August 1816 and all the Rest and Residue of the said Goods, Chattels and Credits which shall be found remaining upon the said Administrator. Accompt the same being first examined and allowed of by the Judge or Judges for the time being of the said Court shall deliver and pay unto such Person or Persons respectively as the said Judge or Judges by his or their Decrees or sentence pursuant to the true intent and meaning of a late Act of Parliament made in the two and twentieth and three and twentieth years of the reign of our late Sovereign Lord King Charles the second entitled an Act for the better settling of Intestates Estates shall limit and appoint. And if it shall hereafter appear that any last Will and testament was made by the said deceased and the Executor or Executors therein named do exhibit the same into the said Court making Request to have it allowed and approved accordingly if the said William Baker Croxen above bounden being thereunto required do render and deliver the said Letters of Administration, Approbation of such Testament being first had and made in the said Court then this Obligation to be void or else to remain in full Force and Virtue.

Signed: William Baker Croxen

           J.V. Clapham,    John Mee  and  Geo. Malin

On the 29th day of August 1815 the within bounden William Baker Croxen the eldest son and next of kin was then sworn well and faithfully to administer the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the within named Thomas Croxen deceased, according to law and that the same Goods, Chattels and Credits do not amount in value to the sum of Four hundred and fifty pounds.

Before me:  Geo. W. Malin (R.A.?) Surrogate

On front page of will:

Bond of Administration to Thomas Croxen late of Burton Lattimer farmer deceased dated 29 Aug. 1815.