THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ME JOSEPH ELSMORE

of Ellwood in the hundred of St Briavels in the county of Gloucester. Collier.

I give and devise unto Joseph Aston (commonly known by the name Joseph Elsmore) natural son by Elizabeth Aston who now lives with me all that cottage or dwelling house wherein I now dwell situated at Ellwood in the hundred
of St Briavels aforesaid with the garden or piece or parcel garden ground thereto adjoining which is occupied by me.  I herewith and
also so much of the garden adjoining thereto now occupied by Joseph Howell as follows namely I direct that a line be drawn from the
south east corner of the dwelling house occupied by the said Joseph Howell in continuation of the line formed by the South side of the
said dwelling house straight to the hedge separating my land from that now in the occupation of Mr Simmons and I give and devise
unto Joseph Aston so much of the garden ground now occupied by the said Joseph Howell and as lies on the south side of the line to
be so drawn to hold all and singular the said cottage or dwelling house garden and parcel of garden ground unto the said Joseph Aston
and his heirs subject to and charges with the payment of the sum of fifteen pence weekly and every week unto the said Elizabeth Aston
during her life with powers of entry and distress for recovery thereof such as the law gives for the recovery of rent  reserved on a lease
for years. The first payment of the said rent to commence and be made on the seventh day next following my death. 
I give and devise unto Sarah Aston (commonly known by the name of Sarah Elsmore) my natural daughter by the said Elizabeth Aston all that
my cottage or dwelling house situated at Ellwood in the hundred of St Briavels aforesaid now in the occupation of Joseph Howell
together with the piece or parcel of garden ground now occupied by him and lying in front thereof and so much of the garden ground
occupied by him and lying at the back or east end of the said cottage or dwelling house as is equal in breadth to the said cottage and
shall lie on the north side of a line to be drawn from the south east corner of the said cottage in a direct line in continuation of the line
of the south side of the said cottage to the hedge separating my land from that now occupied by Mr Simmons and also all that small
close or parcel of arable land called the Little Patch containing about a quarter of an acre more or less lying at Ellwood aforesaid near
to the dwelling house now in my occupation but separated there from and having the waste land of Dean Forest on all sides to hold the
said Sarah Aston and her heirs subject to I thereby charge the same with the payment of the sum of fifteen  pence weekly and every
week unto the said Elizabeth Aston during her life for the recovery of rent reserved on a lease for years the first payment of the said 
on a lease for years.  The first payment of the said rent charge to be made on the seventh day next following my death.  
I give and devise unto Edwin Aston (commonly known by the name of Edwin Elsmore) my natural son  by the said Elizabeth Aston all
that Stable adjoining to the cottage or dwelling house now in my occupation situate at Ellwood in the hundred of St Briavels aforesaid
and also all that those or parcel of meadow or pasture land called the Large path containing about one acre and a quarter (be the same
more or less)lying opposite  to the said stable bounded by an inclosure of Dean Forest on one side and by land of Mr Yarworth and
contain waste land parcel of Dean Forest on all other sides to hold the said stable and close of land unto the said Edwin Aston and his
heirs.  Subject to and I hereby charge the same with the payment of the sum of fifteen pence weekly and every week unto the said
Elizabeth Aston during her life with powers of entry and distress for recovery thereof such as the law doth give for recovery of  rent
charged on a lease for  years.  The first payment of the said rent charge to be made on the seventh day next following my decease.  
I give and devise unto Elizabeth, the wife of William Landers of Cleverend Green in the hundred of St Briavels aforesaid nailor and
her heirs all that piece or parcel of land situate at the Slade near bream in the hundred of St Briavels aforesaid now belonging to my
Mother Mary Elsmore, widow for her life and in the occupation of her or her tenants to hold the same unto the said Elizabeth
Landers and her heirs. 
I give and devise unto the said Elizabeth Aston who now lives with me for and during so long a time of her
natural life as she shall happen to remain unmarried. All that small cottage now occupied by John Grimsell as my tenant and adjoining
to the dwelling house in my own occupation situate at Ellwood in the hundred of St Briavels aforesaid and from her decease or
marriage which shall first happen 
I give and devise the said cottage unto the said Joseph Aston (otherwise Elsmore) and his heirs. 
I also give and devise unto the said Elizabeth Aston during her life an annuity or sum of five shillings a week being the same sum
charged by me in four several portions of the hereditament hereinto devise or some of them I give and bequeath the said Sarah Aston
otherwise Elsmore ten ewe sheep to my Granddaughter Maria Landers twenty five sheep. I give and bequeath to the said Elizabeth
Aston the use of my best bed and my Clock during her life and after her decease I give and bequeath the said bed and clock unto my
Granddaughter Maria Landers.  I give and bequeath to the said Joseph Aston (otherwise Elsmore) John Aston (otherwise Elsmore) and
Edwin Aston (otherwise Elsmore) all the residue of my personal estate and Effects absolutely for their own use in equal shares. I
appoint the said Joseph Aston (otherwise Elsmore) executor of this will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the
sixth day of September One thousand eight hundred and thirty four.  The Mark X of Joseph Elsmore 
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Estator Joseph Elsmore as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witness   Richard Powell, Benjamin Aston X, John Rosser X.
Attached Seal
By the tenor of these presents we Edward Thomas March Phillips, Clerk all a Vicar General in Spirituals of the Right Reverend Father in God James Henry by divine permission Lord Bishop of Gloucester and of his Episcopal Consistory Official lawfully constitutes. make known to all Men that on the twenty fourth day of April in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and thirty five. Before us the last will and testament of the Joseph Elsmore late of Ellwood, Newland, Gloucestershire Collier, decease – hereunto annexed, proved, approved and registered and Administration of all and Singular Goods, Chattels and Credits of the deceased and any way concerning his will was granted to Joseph Aston otherwise Elsmore the sole Executor named in the said Will he having been already sworn well and faithfully to administer the same and make a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the said goods, chattels and credits and to exhibit the same into the registry of the Consistory Court of Gloucester on or before the last day of October next ensuing and also to render a just and true account thereof when lawfully required given under the seal of office the day and year of aforesaid.
B Bonnor
Thos. Holt.   Dep Reg.

Updated last October 2008