Description:

Documents
1. Will: dated 28 December 1645
Beneficiaries:
To the Cathedral church of St Davids , 6d.
For forgotten tithes, 12d
[A long and complex will follows, the sense of which is conveyed below]
In consideration and full satisfaction for the sum of eight score and two pounds [£162] with interest for the past two years that the testator owes his brother Hugh George; he leaves Hugh, the messuage and tenement etc called 'Huntous' [Hunthouse] together with all its land lately conveyed unto Hugh from  William John William, lately deceased, and Katherine his wife by their deed of mortgage dated 2 February 1633 and since conveyed and assigned to the testator and his brother John by Hugh with all the paperwork. In addition there are all the rent arrears due on the land for the past two years.    
To his 2 sons Thomas and William, 'all that kitchen, house and land' called Ty Gwaire in Clodock, now in the testator's possession and occupied by Michael Price, tenant, lately mortgaged to the testator by William John William and Katherine his wife by a deed dated 1 March 1633; provided that the testator's wife, Blanch, receives £6 annually from the rent of the premises during the minority of the two sons. Afterwards Thomas and William are to continue the payments for Blanch to be able to maintain and support the 4 children, John, Thomas, William and Johan in lieu of her one third interest in the said premises in satisfaction of her widow's dower.
Should Katherine Williams, now widow, or Katherine, her daughter and heir pay to the executors the whole amount of £162 within 7 years in redemption, then the money is to be split between the Thomas and William, they receiving only the annual interest until reaching 21. However the executors are to maintain the £6 a year payment to Blanch as are the 2 sons after they take control of the capital.
To brother, Hugh, £20 plus interest in the hands of William Baron of Clodock, gent. and £12 more in the hands of Thomas Tancle, gent.
To the executors, towards the raising of six score and eight pounds [£128], one lease bearing date 20 June 1642 granted to the testator by Thomas Phillip Nicholl regarding certain lands situated in Clodock formerly granted to the said Thomas from William George and Sibell his wife and late in the tenure of the said William Baron. Of the £128, £60 with interest is to be paid to daughter Johan when she reaches 21 or earlier at the executors' discretion on her marriage.
To son, John, £20 with interest from  the £128 on his reaching 21.
To brother, Hugh George, £20.
If Blanch is with child then the remaining £28 with any interest to go to that child on reaching 21. But if she is not with child then sons Thomas and William are to share the £28, £14 each plus interest on reaching 21. 
To wife Blanch, £3 in the hands of sister-in-law, Katherine Williams, being rent due for part of the land of the aforementioned Ty Gwaire. £5 with interest which are in the hands of John Powell of Trewearne [Trewerne] and £8 with interest in the hands of Phillip Prosser of Clodock towards the payment of debts due by testator to the three children of his brother John and yet to be paid.
To wife Blanch, the best feather bed and bolster, 3 kine, 10 sheep  and all the corn  and grain both growing and in the barn together with all the pigs and poultry and the implements of husbandry for her and the children's maintenance.
To son, John, 2 oxen, the yellow horse, 2 kine and 6 sheep. Also the best brass pan, best brass pot and the new standing bedstead.
To cousin, David Gundy, £10 due from Thomas Delahay by bond.
To William Joyner, 20/-
To son, Thomas, the second best feather bed and bolster,
To son, William, the third best feather bed and bolster.
All the rest of his unbequeathed household stuff to be equally divided between his 3 children, Thomas, William and Johan. However wife Blanch is to have the use of it all during her widowhood.
[The next section deals with the possible deaths of one or more children before they reach 21.]
Finally
To 'every one of my poor Godchildren', 2/6d apiece.
6/8d to be distributed in bread to such poor people in Clodock parish 'as have most need'.
Towards the purchase of bell ropes for Clodock church bells, 5/-.
To the executors towards the payment of funeral expenses, legacies and execution of the will, £6  10  0d, due by bond from John Parrat, and all the rest of his cattle unbequeathed.
[then follow several lines of legalese to permit the executors to reimburse themselves   for expenses incurred in administering the will.]
To the 3 children of brother, John George, deceased, namely William, Mary and Katherine, all the money and cattle payable  to the testator as executor of his brother's will and as administrator of Elizabeth George  his brother's wife, from Bonds, leases, bills and specialties and without specialties in the hands of the under named:
Dato Wits, David James, John James,  David Gundy, Thomas Gundy, James Prichard,  Thomas Edward,  and Robert  David all of the parish Cwmyoy. William John Nicholls of Old Castle, Thomas Scudamor of Llancillo, Elizabeth Price of Clodock, John George and Robert James both of Old Castle, Watkin David of Llanvihangell [Michaelchurch], William George, my brother and all others whose names are in a certain note  hereunto annexed.
Also to be delivered to the 3 children is all the household stuff of John George. The children are to have the money and household stuff distributed proportionately.
The executors are to hold on to the 3 closes granted to the testator  by William Baron gent, until William Baron or his heirs discharge the bond in which the Testator stands bound as surety for William Baron in the matter of Ann Jenkins of Clodock, widow.
 
Executors: cousin, David Gundy of Cwmyoy and Phillip Prosser of Clodock 'my liefman'¹ .

No mark or signature as this is a contemporary copy only.

Witnesses: Phillip Watkins, Phillip Gwillim, Thomas Gwillim, Edward William and John Waters

Date of probate: 25 April 1647

This copy has the following attachment
'These are to testify those whom it may concern  that I have read over and examined this copy of the last will and testament of David George late of Clydocke in the county of Hereford and find it in each particular exactly agreeing wth the Origainal. Wch Original I have delivered into the hands of David Gundy the executor  thereof to the end hee may prove it at London according to his request made to me the 7 March 1653 . In witness whereof I subscribe
March 1653

Hugh George                                      Griffith Halley.'

2. Inventory:   dated 6 April 1646/7 ; value £236  7   0d. Appraisers Rice Prosser, William George and John George..

Observations:

This is a very long complex and legalistic will whose meaning is even more obscured because the testator is trying to ensure the administration of his late brother's will of which he is executor as well as being held bound in the matter of Anne Jenkins widow. The will is 6 sheets long. There is a bond dated 25 April 1647 with bounden David Gundy of Cwmyoy and Hugh George of Clodock, gent in a surety of £1000. Also 3 coversheets, list of creditors and an Inventory - 12 sheets in all.
In addition there is the annexed list of his brother's creditors reproduced below.
'Decimo or Tenth [month missing - damaged] 1645'.
The list provides a note of the several sums due to David George as executor of his Brother, John's, will and mentioned  as annexed to his, David's will.

* these figures are obscured or lost by damage to the document so have been estimated as '0'


The inventory of David George is reproduced below with modern spelling

                                                Inventory

                                                                                [comes to   £236    7   0d]
                                                                        Som   236^li   7^s
Rice Prosser
William George
John George.