Will – Joseph Emerson – 28 May 1750

In the Name of God Amen I Joseph Emerson of Crossgill in the parish of Garrigill County of Cumberland and Diocese of Durham Gentleman being out of Health at present but of sound perfect and desposing of Mind and Memory thanks be to Almighty God for the Same Doe make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following First I give to Isabel Chapman Hannah Natrass John Natrass Ann Winskill Mary Hetherington Isabel Dickinson John Dickinson Ann Evans to each and every of them the Sume of Tenn Pounds also I give to Mary Watson and Ralph Watson Daughter and Son of Mary Armstrong to each of the them the Sume of Tenn Pounds I also give to my Nephew Thomas Dickinson the Sume of Fifty pounds I likewise give to my Brother in Law John Stephenson of Nentsberry all my Houses in Aldstone Town one part holden under the Lord of the Manor by payment of the yearly rent of Ninepence and other part holden by payment of the yearly rent of One Penny to the owners of Aldstone House with all Priviledges and Properties thereunto belonging the Same being now rented and farmed by John Vipond and Joseph Armstrong To hold to the said John Stephenson his Executors Administrators and Assignes for and during the residue and remainder of a term of One thousand years granted for the Same  I also give my Freehold Estate called Eshgill in Garrigill aforesaid to my Nephew Evans Emerson with all Properties and Priviledges thereunto belonging To hold to him his Heirs and Assignes for ever And I also give to the said Evan Emerson One Pry field part of upper Lee House Tenement lying and being on the west side of the river Tyne to be holden by the payment of the yearly rent of Two Shillings and a penny with all Commons rights of Commons turbary Sheepheaves Cattle Gates and other Properties and Priviledges thereunto belonging to enter upon the Same twelve months after my Decease and to pay to my Executrix hereafter named at his Entring the Sume of One hundred and twenty Pounds And if he refuse payment of the Same or any part thereof that then and in such Case it shall and may be lawfull to and for my said Executrix to sell or Mortgage the same or any part thereof for payment of the said Sume  I also give and bequeath to John Emerson Son of Thomas Emerson the remainder of my Estate at Lee House with all Priviledges and Appurtenances thereunto belonging to enter upon when he attains the Age of twenty One Years to be holden by the payment of the yearly rent of Two Shillings The said Thomas Emerson to have and enjoy the Same till his said Son attain the said Age of twenty one years And if the said John Emerson live to enter upon the Same then and in such Case he shall pay to Susannah Emerson third Daughter of the said Thomas Emerson to his Second Wife the Sume of Forty Pounds And if the said John Emerson happen to die before he attain the said Age then the said Estate shall descend to the eldest Son of the said Thomas Emerson he paying at his Entry thereupon the above mentioned Legacy And for want of Male Issue to the Daughters of the said Thomas Emerson equally among them when the youngest attains the Age of Sixteen Years I also Order that my Executrix hereafter named pay to John Vipond of Middle houses and James Bell of Upper Redwing the Sume of Thirty Pounds towards the payment of a certain Debt which we stand bound for  I Also give to my said Nephew Evans Emerson my Estate called Aldstone House being part freehold and part Leasehold now in the Possession of Jonathan Hilton Anthony Pattinson and John Vipond with all Priviledges Properties and Appurtenances thereunto belonging To hold to him and his Heirs for ever he paying out of the Same at his Entring upon it the Sume of Five hundred Pounds to my said Executrix I also give and bequeath my Estate at Crossgill enjoyed by myself Robert Bell and Robert Harrison with all Intacks or other Enclosures called Eshgill Side as now enjoyed with Crossgill Tenement and all other Properties and Priviledges thereunto belonging to my dearly beloved wife Susanna to have and enjoy peaceably for and during her natural Life and I also give to my said wife One hundred and twenty Pounds Chargeable upon and Payable out of the said Estate to despose of at her Decease as she Pleases And at the Death of my loving wife I order that the said Estate shall be desposed of and left to such of my own Relations as my sd. wife shall think Proper and accordingly as she in her life-Time shall despose of it.  And I further order that my said wife shall enjoy all my said Estates for one whole year after my Decease by and after which time they shall be enjoyed by the Persons before mentioned they paying the above Sums to my Executrix at and Upon Entring upon the said Estates  I also give to my said dearly beloved wife all my Goods Chattles ready Money Household Goods and Husbandry Geer and all other my Effects whatsoever whether moveable or immoveable of what kind or nature soever they be or wheresoever they be found making her full and Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament she paying all my just Debts and all the before mentioned Legacies twelve Months after my decease and also my funeral Expences And I also appoint my Friends Nicholas Walton of Ravensworth Castle Jonathan Hilton of Aldstone House and James Bell of Redwing Trustees to see my Will performed according to this my desire and to assist my said wife in mannaging the Executorship And I hereby revoke all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do ratifie and confirm this to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this twenty eight Day of May in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Fifty.

							Joseph Emerson

Signed Sealed published and declared to be my last Will and Testament in the presence of us The words Sixteen Years being first interlined. – 

Robert Bell	Anne Walton her mark		Jose. Stagg



June the 30th – 1750



Joseph Stagg one of the Subscribing Witnesses was sworn to the due Execution, and Susannah Emerson, sole Executrix was also sworn well and faithfully to execute and perform the same before me

			John Toppin Surrogate



Test. 1750

Joseph Emerson late of Crossgill in the par. of Garrigill in the County of Cumb’land Gentleman Deced.