This is the Last Will and Testament of me CHARLES HOUSE of Rotherfield Grays in the County of Oxford farmer

I direct all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses and the arranging and settling my affairs to be duly paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently can be after my decease

I give and devise unto my dear wife ANN HOUSE all that my freehold dwelling house shop and business situate at Henley upon Thames in the said County of Oxford now in the occupation of JOHN COTTRELL Coach Maker to hold the same with the appurtenances thereunto belonging unto my said wife ANN HOUSE her heirs and assigns for ever

I also give and bequeath unto my said dear wife ANN HOUSE the Legacy or sum of one hundred pounds sterling for mourning and other necessary purposes the same to be paid her by my Executors herein after named within six months next after my decease

I give to and bequeath unto my two sons CHARLES HOUSE and THOMAS SMITH HOUSE all my Business and occupation of a farmer as the same is now carried on by me at Rotherfield Grays aforesaid And all and every my live and dead farming stock and implements of husbandry of every description belonging to me at the time of my decease equally between my said two sons to the extent in value of four thousand pounds for their own separate use and benefit as in the nature of legacies of two thousand pounds each

But in case the whole of my aforesaid live and dead farming stock and implements in husbandry should not amount in value to the said sum of four thousand pounds then I do hereby will order and direct that the deficiency thereof shall be raised and made up by my executors hereinafter named out of all or any other items of my personal estate property and effects and paid to my said two sons accordingly and in case the valuation of all my aforesaid live and dead farming stock and implements in husbandry should exceed in amount the said sum of four thousand pounds sterling then I do hereby will order and direct that my said two sons shall pay to or account to my Executors and Trustees for the amount or sum being the excess of such valuation (if any) beyond the said sum of four thousand pounds and which I hereby direct shall be considered as part of my Residuary estate hereinafter bequeathed

And in order to the valuation of all my aforesaid live and dead farming stock and implements in husbandry I do hereby will order and direct that immediately after my decease the same shall be done by two competent persons one to be named by said two sons and the other by my Trustees hereinafter named and in case of their disagreement then by an Umpire or third person to be named and appointed by my said two sons and my said Trustees as above mentioned whose decision shall be binding upon all parties interested in such valuation and I direct that such Umpire or third person so to be appointed shall be named and agreed upon previous to the Valuers entering upon their valuation as above directed

I give and bequeath unto my friends WILLIAM HOBBS of Bartmore Farm in the Parish of Medenham Bucks and HUGH BARFORD of Henley upon Thames aforesaid Maltster and the survivor of them the sum of two thousand pounds sterling the same to be raised out of all or any part of my personal estate and effects within six months next after my decease upon trust to put and place the same out at interest in their names or the survivor of them in the public stocks or funds of this Kingdom or upon Mortgage security or property of ample value at their discretion and shall and to pay the dividends and interest money to become due thereon from time to time as the same shall become but and received by them into the hands of my daughter SARAH FRANCES HOUSE for her own absolute use and benefit during the term of her natural life

Nor shall the same or any part thereof be in any manner subject or liable to the debts control forfeiture intermeddling or engagements of any husband she may thereafter happen to intermarry with and that the receipt and receipts of her my said daughter alone whether covert or sole and notwithstanding her coverture shall at all times by good and sufficient discharges to my said trustees and the survivor of them for the same Nor shall it be lawful for my said daughter to sell mortgage share or otherwise dispose of or incumber the said dividends or interest money or any part thereof by way of anticipation or otherwise howsoever

And from and immediately after the decease of my said daughter then I give and bequeath the said principal sum of two thousand pounds and all dividends and interest money then due and thereafter to become due thereon unto all and every the child and children of her my said daughter lawfully begotten equally between and amongst them share and share alike upon their attaining their respective age and ages of twenty one years and to the issue of such of them as shall be dead leaving lawful issue such issue to have and take a parent's share only equally amongst them

And in case of the decease of my said daughter without leaving any child or children of her body lawfully begotten then I do hereby will order and direct that the aforesaid Legacy or sum of two thousand pounds shall be subject to the disposal of by any Deed or Will in writing to be duly executed and attested by my said daughter to such person and persons and in such manner and form as she shall order and direct give or dispose of the same

And in default of any such deed or Will to be made and executed by my said Daughter in manner aforesaid then I give and bequeath the said sum of two thousand pounds sterling unto her next of kin in due course of Administration

And as to all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my estate property and effects whatsoever and wheresoever both real and personal that I may be professed of interested in or in any manner entitled unto at the time of my decease not hereinbefore given and disposed of I do hereby give and bequeath the same unto the said WILLIAM HOBBS and HUGH BARFORD and the survivor of them upon trust nevertheless and to and for the ends intents and purposes hereinafter expressed and declared of and concerning the same (that is to say) upon trust immediately after my decease to sell and dispose of such part and parts of my estate and property as shall not consist of money or securities for money and collect receive and get in all such sum and sums of money as shall be due and owing unto me at the time of my decease and shall and do immediately thereafter put and place out at interest the whole of my said residuary estate trust monies funds and premises in their names and the survivor of them in some or out of the public stocks and funds of this Kingdom or upon Mortgage security or real estates of ample value at their discretion and shall and do pay the dividends and interest money to become due thereon from time to time as the same shall be received by them into the hands of my said wife ANN HOUSE during the term of her natural life to and for her own absolute use and benefit

And from and immediately after the decease of my said wife then I give and bequeath the whole of my aforesaid Residuary estate monies and property as aforesaid placed out at interest for the benefit of my said wife during her life unto my four children JOHN HENRY HOUSE  CHARLES HOUSE  THOMAS SMITH HOUSE and SARAH FRANCES HOUSE equally between them share and share alike and to the issue of such of them as shall be dead leaving lawful issue such issue to have and take a parent's share only equally amongst them to and for their own absolute use benefit and disposal

And I do hereby will order and direct that all and every sum and sums of money that I already have or may hereafter have during my life advance and pay to any or [other] of my said children and for which I do or may hold their securities or Memorandums in writing shall be deducted out of their respective shares claim and interest under this my Will

And I do hereby authorise and empower my said trustees and the survivor of them from time to time as often as they shall think proper and alter and change the securities on which my said trust monies estate and property or any part thereof now is or shall hereafter be placed out at interest and from time to time as often as they shall think fit again to place out the same upon Government or Mortgage or such other good and sufficient security or securities as they shall think proper

And I do hereby declare that neither of them my said trustees or the survivor of them his executors or administrators shall be answerable or accountable for the other or others of them or for the acts deeds receipts neglects or defaults of the other of others of them not for any Banker Broker or other person with whom any part of my said trust monies shall be deposited or lodged for safe Custody or otherwise in the execution of the trusts hereinbefore mentioned nor for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security stocks or funds in or upon which the said trust monies or any part thereof shall be placed out and invested in manner aforesaid nor any other misfortune loss or damage which may happen in the execution of the aforesaid trusts without their or either wilful neglect or default

And my will further is that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said trustees and Executors and the survivor and survivors of them by and out of the monies which shall come into their hands respectively by virtue of the trusts aforesaid to retain and reimburse himself and themselves and also to allow to each other all reasonable costs charges damages and expenses which they or either of them shall or may expend disburse or be put unto in or about the execution of all or any of the aforesaid trusts or in relation thereto

And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said sons CHARLES HOUSE and THOMAS SMITH HOUSE and the said WILLIAM HOBBS and HUGH BARFORD to be joint Executors of this my Will and give and bequeath unto the said WILLIAM HOBBS and HUGH BARFORD the Legacies or sums of fifty pounds each as a small mark of my esteem and respect for them and the trouble they may have in the execution of the trusts of this my Will and hereby revoking and making void all former and other Will and Wills by me at any time heretofore made do declare this alone to be and contain my only last Will and Testament

In witness whereof I the said CHARLES HOUSE the testator have to this my last Will and Testament in five sheets thereof set my hand and to this fifth and last sheet thereof set my hand and seal this sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty - CHARLES HOUSE - signed sealed published and declared by the said CHARLES HOUSE the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us both present at the same time who in his presence and in the presence of each other at his request have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses - JOHNATHAN HOFFMAN - solicitor - Reading, CHARLES W HOFFMAN - Reading Solicitor.

This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me CHARLES HOUSE of Rotherfield Grays in the County of Oxford farmer which bears date the sixth day of April in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty

Whereas I have in and by my said Will given and bequeathed unto my son CHARLES HOUSE the Legacy or sum of two thousand pounds sterling the same to be raised and paid to him by my Executors and Trustees therein named out of all my live and dead farming stock and implements of husbandry of every description in manner mentioned and directed by my said Will

And whereas my said son CHARLES HOUSE having lately taken and entered into the occupation of a farm and lands upon his own account and for his own use and benefit and I having in consequence advanced and paid to him the sum of two thousand pounds to assist him in carrying on and conducting the said farm

Now therefore I do hereby revoke and make void the said Legacy of two thousand pounds sterling so as aforesaid given and bequeathed to him my said son CHARLES HOUSE in and by my said Will

I hereby give and bequeath unto my oldest son JOHN HENRY HOUSE the Legacy or sum of five hundred pounds sterling to and for his own use and benefit absolutely

And I do hereby nominate constitute and appointment my said son JOHN HENRY HOUSE to be an Executor of my said Will jointly with the other Executors therein named and appointed

And I do hereby ratify and confirm my said Will in all other respects

In witness whereof I the said CHARLES HOUSE the testator have to this Codicil to my said Will set my hand and seal the twenty eighth day of October one thousand eight hundred and fifty four - CHARLES HOUSE - signed sealed published and declared by the said CHARLES HOUSE the testator for as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us both present at the same time who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses - JNO. HOFFMAN - Solicitor - Reading, CHAS. W HOFFMAN - Solicitor - Reading