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In the name of God, Amen.
The fifteenth day of December in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand six hundred fiftie five.
I, Henry Hearder, of South Molton, in the Countie of Devon, being sicke and weake of Bodie but of perfect minde and memorie, praise to God be given for the same, and knowing the uncertaintie of this life upon Earth, and being desirous to settle things in order, doe make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following, That is to say,
First and principallie I Commend my Soule to God my Creator, assuredlie believing That I shall receive full pardon and free remission of all my Sinns, and to be saved by the pretious death and merritts of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Christ Jesus, and my bodie to the Earth from whence it is taken, to be buried in such decent and Christian manner as to my Executrix hereafter shall be thought meete and Convenient.
And as Concerning such estate as God out of his mercie hath lent me, my will and intent is, That the same be imploed and bestowed in such manner as hereafter in this my present Will and Testament is expressed.
And first I give and devise unto Marie my now Wife the dwelling house I live in, with Th'appurtenances, Called the Falcon, for time of her life.
And after her death to Henry Hearder my Sonne and the heires males of his Bodie lawfully begotten.
And for default of such issue to William Hearder my Sonne and the heires males of his Bodie lawfully begotten.
And for default of such issue to the right heires of me, the said Henry Hearder for ever.
Also. whereas I have an estate and Lease in the house, Courtlage and Garden, late in the possession of William Morley, by the graunt of Thomas Hatch Esquire.
The same house, Courtlage and Garden I give and devise unto the said Marie my Wife during her Widdow hood, and in case she shall marrie,
Then the same House, Courtlage and Garden I give and devise unto Mary Hearder my daughter, for and during all my whole Estate That shall be then to Come of in and to the said house, Courtlage and Garden, after the death of the said Mary my Wife, or after her marriage, or either of which of them shall first happen.
Also, whereas I have an Estate and Lease in parte of Common Moore, parcel of the Lands of the Comminaltie of South Molton,
The same Estate and Lease I give to Mary my now Wife during her Widdow hood, and in case she shall marrie,
The same Lease and Estate I give to Henry Hearder my Sonne during all the residue of my Estate then to come.
Also, whereas I have an Estate and Lease of and in all that Two Closes of Land Called Rock Close and Long Close, for a greate number of yeares, to Commence after the death of  Humphry  Shobrooke, if my said Sonne Henry Hearder, and my said daughter Mary Hearder, or anie or either of them, soe long live,
The same Estate and Lease I give and devise to William Hearder my Sonne, and if he fortune to die before he be married,
The same Lease and Estate I give unto the said Henry my Sonne during all the Estate Then to Come after the death of  my said Sonne William.
Also I give to the said Henry my Sonne, The best Bedd which I now have, with all the furniture thereunto belonging.
Will of Henry Hearder of South Molton. 1655, continued.
I give unto the said Henry my Sonne, after the death or marriage of the said Mary my Wife.......(not specified).
Also I give unto the said Henry my Sonne Twentie poundes, to be paid him when he shall attaine to the age of one and Twentie yeares.
Also I give unto the said Mary my daughter my second best bedd, with all the furniture thereunto belonging, after the death of the said Mary my Wife.
Also I give unto the said Mary my daughter Tenne poundes, to be paid her after she shall attaine to the age of one and twentie yeares.
Alsoe I give unto my said Sonne William and my said daughter Mary all my goodes now being in my Easter house, to be equallie devided amongst them after the death or marriage of the said Mary my Wife.
Also I give fortie shillings to the poore of South Molton, to be distributed amongst them  att the day of my funeral.
Alsoe I give unto Henry Hearder my Nephew Tenne shillings, to be payd him Three monthes after my death.
All the rest of my goodes and Chattelles not given and bequeathed I give and bequeath unto Mary my said Wife, whome I make my whole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament,
And I doe ordaine and appoint my verie good friends Mr Thomas Allen of Stock Rivers and Mr Henry Hearder of Buckland to be my Overseers of this my last Will and Testament intreating them to see this my last Will and Testament performed.
In Witnes whereof I have hereunto putt my hand and Seale The day and yeare above written.                              Henry Hearder
Signed, sealed and published in presence of Thomas Allen, Henry Hearder, Roberte Pollard.
Probate. This Will was proved att London, the One and Thirtieth day of March In the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand six hundred fiftie and six, before the Judges for probate of Wills and granting Administrations, lawfully authorized,
By the oath Mary Hearder, the Relict and sole and only Executrix named in the above written Will,
To whome Administration of all and singular the goods, Chattelles and debts of the said deceased was Committed,
She being first Legallie sworne trulie and faithfully to administer the same. Examined.

Presumably this was the Henry Hearder who was innkeeper of the Angel Inn, and was Mayor in 1650. See Records of the Ancient Borough of South Molton, by John Cock, 1893. The Angel Inn was in Broad Street. Henry Hearder refers in his will to his dwelling house called The Falcon, this was also an Inn. This was in Church Street.

Last updated: 25 Feb 2009 - Brian Randell