Proving the will:

"Appeared personally Mary Blachford (1723-1801) of Sandhall Farm in the parish of Fordingbridge in the county of Southampton, spinster; Francis Blachford (1764-1844) (lately called Francis Blachford the younger) of this same place, yeoman; Stephen Curtis (1758-1837) of the town of Fordingbridge in the same county, shopkeeper; Daniel Brixey of the same place, gentleman and Francis Pope of the same place, butcher, and severally made oath and first the said Mary Blachford, Francis Blachford and Stephen Curtis for themselves severally speaking say that some short time after the decease of Francis Blachford, late of Sandhall Farm aforesaid, yeoman, which happened on or about the fifteenth day of March now last past as these last named deponents were looking to see if they could find any will of the said deceased they found the last will and testament now hereunto annexed (whereof the said Mary Blachford is therein named and appointed sole executrix ) with the two several codicils or testamentary schedule hereunto also annexed, in a box in the said deceased dwelling house at Sandhall Farm aforesaid the same being wrapped up altogether in a paper or envelope one of which said codicils or testamentary schedules beginning "I do devise & give unto my sister Mary Blachford" and ending thus "my wearing apparel to go to Francis & Daniel Blachford, sons of F. Blachford" and thus subscribed "Francis Blachford" and the other of the said codicils or testamentary schedules beginning thus "And all the rest & residue of my goods & chattels, real & personal" and ending thus "the boys to have two parts and the girls one" and these last named dependents further make oath and say that the said two several codicils or testamentary schedules as well as the said will are in every respect in the same plight and condition as when they so found the same the first of the said codicils or testamentary schedules having the several words and figures on the back or other side thereof now appearing thereon and purporting to be an account or estimate of the said testator's estate and effects and of disposition of the same by his said will.

And the said Daniel Brixey and Francis Pope for themselves severally speaking say that they knew and were well acquainted with the said deceased in his lifetime and for several years before his death and also with his manner and character of hand writing and of writing and subscribing his name, having seen the said deceased write and also write and subscribe his name and that having now with care and attention viewed and perused the said two codicils or testamentary schedules they these deponents last named do in their consciences verily believe the said several recited beginnings and endings and the whole bodyseries and contents thereof respectively to be wholly wrote and to be the proper handwriting of him the said deceased. X The mark of Mary Blachford, (signed) Danl Brixey, Frans Pope, Francis Blachford, Stephn Curtis. (Mary & Francis being shown to be of) Sandhall Farm in the parish of Fordingbridge on the sixteenth day of August 1792.

The above named deponents were seen before me (signed) John Howes, Surrogate" In a statement sworn by Mary before John Howes, Vicar of Fordingbridge, on 16 August, 1792, it is attested that the "goods, chattels and credits" of the testator amounted in value to less than £3000 - a huge sum for that time.

The tabled document reads as follows (dates inserted in brackets to assist identification):

"This is the last will & testament of me Francis Blachford of Sandhall Farm in the parish of Fordingbridge in the county of Southton bequeathing and disposing of such worldly goods & estate wherewith God has been pleased to bless me.

First, I give devise and bequeath unto my sister in law Mary Blachford (1723-1801), spinster (now living with me) all that my stockhold, tenement or dwellinghouse with its rights & appurtanances situated lying & being in the town of Fordingbridge in the tenure of Wm Harris during her natural life & when she dies to go to my kinsman Francis Blachford (1786-1869) (son of Francis Blachford (1743-1825) who now rents my dairy ) & his heirs for ever.

Also I give to my abovesaid sister in law my lease hold estate at Cri tle & House & plot in Marl Estate, during her natural life & when she dies to go to Francis Blachford who now rents my dairy for all my estate therein. Also I give to my abovesaid sister in law one hundred pounds of good & lawful money and such part of my household goods as she thinks proper & all my plates of whatsoever sort it is. Also all my linnen.

Also I give to Francis Blachford (1743-1825) who now rents my dairy, three hundred pounds of good & lawful money.

Also I give to Richard Blachford (1761-1834) son of Richard Blachford (1728-1799) of Fordingbridge, twenty pounds of good & lawful money.

Also I give to Mary Blachford twenty pounds of good & lawful money.

Also I give to the other four children of Richard Blachford (1728-1799)- John, Ann, Rob & Jane - twenty pounds each.

Also I give to Robert Blachford (1757-1833) son of Robert Blachford (1726-1810) of Gorely now living at the Gray Hound Inn in Fordingbridge my half part of that living called crop living lately purchased of his father paying thereout as follows to his brothers & sisters -

to Francis Blachford (1767-1844) one hundred and ten pounds of good & lawful money,

to Richard Blachford (1764-1835) sixty pounds of good & lawful money,

to Mary Curtis (1761-1818) wife of Stephen Curtis (1758-1837) twenty pounds of good & lawful money,

to Jane (1762 - ?) wife of William Viney twenty pounds of good & lawful money,

to Elizabeth Blachford (1769-1794) twenty pounds of good & lawful money,

to Catherine Blachford (1772 - ?) twenty pounds of good & lawful money.

Also I give to Robert Blachford son of John Blachford (1715-1773) of Fordingbridge five pounds of good & lawful money.

Also I give to the children of Francis Blachford (1743-1825) who now rents my dairy twenty pounds each - Jane, Charlott, Francis (1786-1869), Ann & Daniel (1788-1824).

Also I give to Fras Blachford of Gorely my part of that living called Brewers now between his father and me.

Also I give my wearing apparel between Fras Blachford who now rents my dairy & Fras Blachford at Gorely to be equally divided

& I do hereby will & declare the several and respective legatees herein beforementioned or either of them shall not be entitled to the several & respected legacies herein beforementioned or given to him her or them until he she or they shall severally attain to the age of twenty one years & if any of them dies under that age, the ..... shall not go or be any way claimed or demanded by his her or their representatives or next of kin but that the same & every part thereof shall go & sink into the residue of my personal estate hereinafter mentioned and all the rest and residue of my goods & chattels real & personal whatsoever & wheresoever of what nature & kindsoever (after paying my debts, legacies & funeral expenses I give devise & bequeath unto my sister in law Mary Blachford, spinster, who now lives with me )

And I do hereby appoint Mary Blachford spinster my sister in law who now liveth with me to be my whole & sole executrix of this my last will & testament

And I do also appoint Stpn Curtis of Fordingbridge, Robert Blachford at the Greyhound at Fordingbridge and Fras Blachford who now rents my dairy to be my executor in trust to see the said will is executed.

In witness whereof the said Fras Blachford the testator to this my last will and testament set my hand this fifteenth day of January in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.

Signed sealed published & declared to be the last will & testament of the said Fras Blachford the testator in the presence of us also at his request & in his presence & in the presence of each other have hereunto set our names as witnesses, the several interlineations obliterations being first made. Wm Dean Wm Barnes .... Chubb

I do devise & give unto my sister Mary Blachford spinster who now lives with me for her natural life & when she dies to go to the sons of Frs Blachford who now rents my dairy - I give devise and bequeath to my sister in law Mary Blachford spinster who now liveth with me for her natural life & when she dies to go to the two sons of Frs Blachford, Frs & Danl paym there three sisters £20 each - my wearing apparel to go to Frs & Danl Blachford that Fr Blachford is to pay £5 each to his natural children - Powel & Havcole out of legacy given by me.

Memmerandum: That if any person whatsoever that have any legacy left them by me on this will & not satisfied with its contents & tryed to make disturbance with the rest, note that person shall not be intitled but to ten pounds. Let the legacy be what it will.

My wearing apparel to go to Fras & Danl sons of F Blachford and all the rest & residue of my goods & chattels real & personal whatsoever & wheresoever or of what nature & kindsoever after paying my debts, legacies & funeral expenses I give the interim of it to my sister Mary Blachford who now liveth with me for her life & when she dies to go to the children of Fras Blachford, boys to have 2 parts & girls the one."