In the Name of God Amen, I Thomas Napper of Horsham in the countie of Sussex, yeoman, beinge of perfect health and memorie (praised be God therefore) doe make and ordayne this my last will and testament in manner and forme following First and principally I comitt and commend my soule to the mercifull hands of Allmightie God my Creator and Redeemer and my bodie to the earth to expect a joyfull resurreccion. And as touchinge those worldly goods where with the Lord hath blessed me, I give and bequeath the same as followeth Imprimis I give and bequeath to the poore people of the parish of Horsham the some of three pounds to be distributed unto them at the discrecion of my Overseers hereafter named within one moneth next after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto Jane my wife, thirteen lambs, her wearing apparrell and all such household stuffe as she brought with her. Item whereas my wife is now with child, my will and meaning is that if it shall fortune to be a daughter, that then my Execututor hereafter named, shall within one moneth next after the birth of such daughter pay unto my now wife the some of one hundred pound to be by her imployed for the best advantage she can for and towards the bringing up of such daughter soe as my said wife become bound in two hundred pound to my Overseers hereafter named with sufficient securities for the payment or the one hundred pounds to the same daughter at her age of one and twentie yeares or daie of marriage which shall first happen with condicion likewise that if it shall fortune that the said daughter shall die before she shall accomplish the said age or be married, that then the said Jane shall repaie to my Executor hereafter named the said one hundred pounds. Item I give to my two daughters Ann and Mary which I had by my first wife one hundred and fiftie pounds of good and lawfull money of England apeece, to be paid unto them at their severall daies of marriage or of one and twentie yeares which shall first happen, the interest and increase thereof in the meane tyme to remaine and be for and towards the education and bringing up of them. And my will and meaning is that if the said child with my wife now travelleth which fortune to be a daughter shall fortune to die befor she shall accomplish her said age of one and twentie yeares or be married that then the said one hundred pounds to remaine and be payed to my said daughters Anne and Mary in such maner and forme as their porcions hereby lymintted to be paid or ought to be paid and soe to the survivors or survivor of them. And further my will and meaninge is that if either of my said daughters Anne and Mary or the child which my wife now travelleth with if it fortune to be a daughter shall fortune to die before the payment of theire said porcions as aforesaid that then the porcion of her or them soe dyinge shall remaine and be equally devided between the survivor or survivors of them. Item I give and bequeath unto my said daughters Anne and Mary, each of them three silver spoones apeece. Item I further give unto my said wife my best bedd and bedsteedle but one, one paire of tyer sheets, one paire of towen sheets, one paire of blanketts, one paire of pillowbeers, one paire of boulsters, the one boulster of feathers and the other of flockes, and I likewise give unto her all the hay which is now growinge upon my ground in Southwater. Item my will and meaning is that my Executor hereafter named shall leave to be forever hereafter uesd and imployed in and about my house wherein I now dwell such standards as are hereafter herein particulerly named viz one great joined chest in the chamber over the hall, one cupbord in the hall, and such other standards as in the discrecion of my Overseers hereafter named shalbe thought fitt to be left. And whereas my deed indented bearing date the nine and twentieth daie of December in the fifth yeare of the raigne of our most gracious Soveraign Lord Charles by the grace of God King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland &c with liverie and seisin thereupon duly executed, I did enfeoffe Nicholas Sheppard and Jeremie Alleward of all my lands and tenements called Blackstroodes to have and to hold to them and theire heirs to the only use and behoofe of mee the said Thomas and Anne my then wife and the longest liver of us and after our deceases to the only use and behoofe of the heires of mee the said Thomas upon the bodie of the said Anne lawfully begotten, and for want of such heire, to the use and behoofe of the right heires of mee the said Thomas forever as by the said deed reference being there unto had more plainely it doth and maie appeare and that because by virtue of the said deed and according to the course of the comon lawe, Thomas Napper my eldest sonne is heire to the said lands called Blackstroodes, my will and meaning is that if the said Thomas by good assurance and conveyance in lawe convey and assure the said lands and premisses called Blackstroodes to my sonne Henry Napper and his heires, that then the said Thomas shall have to him and his heires all that my messuage, barnes, lands and premisses with th'appurtenances in the parish of Rusper, otherwise if the said Thomas shall not nor doe not by good assurance and conveyance in lawe, convey and assure the said premisses called Blackstroodes as aforesaid to my said sonne Henry Napper that than my said sonne Henry shall have all my lands and premisses in Rusper aforesaid to him and his heirs forever. Item I give to my said sonne Henry Napper fower silver spoones. All the rest of my goods, chattells, cattells and household stuffe not formerly bequeathed, I give to my sonne Thomas Napper, whom I make full and whole Executor of this my will, payinge my debts, legacies and funerall expences. And I entreate my loving brothers James Napper and John Napper or the survivor of them to be Overseers of this my will and testament. And my will and meaninge is that my said brothers or the survivor of them shall have the full and whole managinge and orderinge of my estate duringe the minoritie of said Executor for the good of my said children. And it shall and maie be lawfull for them or the survivor of them to sell such woods and trees as they shall thinke fitt from my lands in Horsham for the good of them to whom the the lands whence it shalbe cutt belonge. And I give unto each of my said brothers five pounds apeece for theire pains. And my will and meaninge is that my said Executor shall beare theire charges in rideinge or goeing about any businesse for the helpinge or furtheringe of my said children. And now revokinge all former wills to this my last will and testament conteyninge three sheets of paper I have to each sheete thereof subscibed my name this sixteenth daie of August in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand and three and thirtie Anno nono Caroli RR.

Thomas Napper, sealed published and declared in the presence of us Nic Shappard, Matthew Napper, William Parker's mark

20th September 1633 administration was granted to James Napper and John Napper, brothers of the deceased and Overseers named in the said will during the minority of Thomas Napper the son and Executor named in the said will.

Transcribed from the original document held in The National Archives ref. prob 11/164