In the name of god amen I William Bird of Pouxley in the parish of Cosgrave in the county of Northampton Yeoman being both healthfull in body and perfect and Sound memorie have made Constituted or ordained And by those presents doe and make Constitute and ordaine this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following Viz Imprimis and most especially I will and bequeath my Soule to Allmighty god from whom it was inspired into this bequeath my fraile body my body I desired maybee interred in the churchyeard of Potterspury in the said county of Northampton as neare to the body of my late to beloved wife Alice Bird as with Conveyniencie they may lay mee there to remain in expectation of the resurrection And as for the Disposing and Setlinge of such Lands and Temporal Estate as it hath pleased god out of his great mercy to bless and endowe mee with all in this world I have uppon good deliberation doe this bestowe them as is here after Sett downe Lymitted and declared in this my last will and Testament Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Sonne John Bird All that my Land which came by my wife Alice his mother lyinge and being in Yardley Gilborn [Yardley Gobion] in the parish of Potterspury in the Sayd County of Northampton and to his heires and Assigns forever Item I do further give and bequeath to the said John Bird my Sonne a house in Yardley Gubon [Yardley Gobion] aforesayd adjoininge to the premises before in these presents bequeathed which I the Sayd William Bird purchased all of Henry Whitmeale of great Horwood in the County of Bucks Yeoman with all the premises thereto belonginge and all and singular their appurtenances with all Commons proffitts and Commodities whatsoever thereto belonginge or appertaininge for and duringe his naturall life And after his decease shall remaine and Confirme and bee to the use of my beloved daughter Frances Bird her heires and assignes forever Item I give and bequeath unto my youngest daughter Frances Bird all that Messuage Cottage or Tenement which I the Sayd William Byrd dwelleth in Situate and beinge in the parish of Cosgrave in the Sayd County of Northampton together with all barnes stables outhouses and all other the premises thereto belonginge or appertaininge with all and Singular their appurtenances And all other my Messuages Cottages Lands Tenements meadowes pastures Feedings woods and underwoods Commons proffitts and Commodities whatsoever to them or any of them belonginge Situate and being in the parrishes feilds Towns Hallett’s and territorials of Potterspury Yardley Gubon [Yardley Gobion] Cosgrave Pouxley and Passenham which are yet unbequeathed  To have and to hould unto her the Sayd Frances Bird my daughter youngest and to her heires and assignes Forever all the Saide Messuage Cottage or  Tenement wherein I the Sayd William Bird now dwell in and all other the Lands Tenements premises herein these presents mentioned to be given unbequeathed unto my Sayd daughter Frances her heires and assignes Forever provided allwaies that in Case my Sayd daughter Frances Should happen to dye without heires either male or female That then the Sayd Messuage or Tenement or Cottage with all other the premisses to her in these presents bequeathed Shall Continue remaine and bee to the Survivor of my two Eldest daughters Alice and Elizabeth and assignes Forever equally to bee divided betwixt them I give and bequeath to the repair of the parrish Church of Potterspury two Shillings lawfull English monie And whereas Cuthbert Ogleby of Wakefield lodge in the Forest of Whittlewood in the County of Northampton did by his last will and Testament give unto mee the Sayd William Bird the Somme of Twenty pounds of lawfull monie of England to bee bestowed upon Lands for and towards the mainteyance of a Preacher at Potterspury Soe that Such preacher may have and receive Fifteen Shillings of lawfull English monie every halfe yeare that is to Say at the Feast of our blessed Lady Mary the Virgin And Saint Michaell Tharchangell which Sayd monies I the Sayd William Bird have and receaved towards the use aforesaid Now my will and intent and meaning is that my Executrix here after named shall truly and Faithfully pay unto the preacher of Potterspury every halfe yeare the Somme of Fifteene Shillings of lawfull English monie That is to Say at the Feast of our blessed Lady Mary the virgin Commonly Called the enunciation of our blessed Lady And at the Feast of Saint Michaell tharchangell by even and equall portions Chargeinge and Commandinge her that Shee with all care See Soe good a worke and pious a deeds and bequest of the Sayd Cuthbert Ogleby noe meanes by her carelessness and dishonesty to bee neglected or unsatisfiyed And alsoe futher Concerning her that if Shee shall Continue the Sayd Twenty five pounds in her hands and leave the Sume to her posterity that Shee give the Sume in Charge to them for the permanence thereof as Shee will an sweare the Same at the dreadfull day of Judgement Item I give and bequeath to the Sayd John Bird my Sonne the Sayd Alice and Elizabeth my two elder daughters the Somme of Five pounds a peece of lawfull English monie as in case of theire portions to be payd by my Executrix within one yeare after my decease either they bee then living Item I give to the poore widdows of Potterspury twenty pence a peece to bee payd at my buriall by my Executrix Item I give to the Minister of Potterpury six Shillings and eight pence to preach a Sermon at my buriall otherwise not to have it Item I give and bequeath unto my two Servants John Sanders and Anne Watts in Case they staye and Continue to bee my servants untill my decease the Somme of five pounds a peece of lawfull English monie to bee payd unto them by my Executrix within one yeare after my decease If they shall go away before then to bee voyd ceased and to bee Co[n]verted to the use of my Executrix The Residue of my goods and Chattles monies Lands and Tenements or other personall Estate hereby not disposed of I freely give and bequeath unto my youngest daughter of Frances whom I make my Sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament and to her heires and assignes Forever Allwaies xoied?  and my will true intent and meaninge is that in Case my Sonne John Bird my daughters Alice and Elizabeth or Frances or either of them or their heirs or Assignes shall at any time after my decease begin Commence or bring or cause to bee Commence all brought any manner or any action Suite or Suites in law or trouble incumbrance whatsoever Concerninge any of the Lands Tenements or other premisses hereby bequeathed or for aniethinge Concerninge this my last will and Testament That then and from then s..th neither they who shall Soe disturb molest or trouble one the other there heirs Shall receave anie benifitt of this my last will and Testament but what I have herein  bequeathed to them to be voyde and of none effect And the Sume to retaine to the use of my Executrix Shee beinge noe Suite except in her own defence Shee being questioned by the other Alsoe I doe heartily pray and requesting Loveing Friends Richard Scrivener the elder of Potterspury and Thomas Caves of Yardley Gubon [Yardley Gobion] in the said County of Northampton yeoman to bee Overseers of this my last will and Testament intreating them to bee aydeing assistinge and directing to my Sayd Executrix in the due performance of this my last will and Testament to whom I give two Shillings and Six pence apeece to buy them gloves In witness where of I have here unto put my hand and Seal The Sixteenth day of September in the yeare of our Lord according to the English account one thousand Six hundred Fifty and foure William Bird his marke Sealed Signed and published and Declared by the Sayd William Bird as his last will and Testament in the presence of us whose names are Subscribed after the enterlyninge of the words William Ruffe William Goodman his marke William Woodell his marke

The fourth day of February in the year of our Lord god according to the Computation of the church of England one thousand Six hundred Fiftie and foure A Commision or Letters of Administration with the will annexed issued out to Frances Bird the younger the natural and lawfull daughter of the Sayd deceased and Sole Executrix named in the last will and Testament of the Sayd deceased To Administer all and Singular the goods Chattles and debts of the Sayd deceased according to the tenour and effect of this will of the Sayd deceased She the Sayd Frances Bird the younger beinge first legally Sworne by vertue of a Commission will and truly to Adminster the Same