Will of Thomas Harrison, 18 September 1654

In the name of God, Amen.

The eighteenth day of September in the year of our LordGod one thousand six hundred fifty and four, I, Thomas Harrison of Little Crakehall in the County of York, yeoman, sick in body but of good and perfect memory (praised be God) do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following.
First I give and bequeath my soul to Almighty God my creator hopeing through the merits, mercies and death of Jesus Christ my redeemer to obtain pardon of all my sins, and after this life ended, life eternal. And my body to be buried in decent sort in the parish church of Bedale. And for the temporal estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I dispose of in manner and form following.
First, for the discharge of my conscience and the speedy satisfaction of all my ....... debts whatsoever I give and bequeath unto my executor John Johnson of Newton in the Willows in the said County of York, yeoman, all my lands lying and being in Little Crakehall, and also all my lands in Great Crakehall, for the payment and discharge of my debts. And in case my personal estate will not arise or amount to such a sum as will clearly and truly satisfy my said debts then my mind and will is ..... doth hereby give and bequeath unto the said John Johnson my messuage, tenement and farm in Little Crakehall which I hold of the manor or Lordship of Middleham during the term of six years after my decease. Item my mind and will is that Margaret my now wife shall have my grey gelt nag, who as a testimony of her true affection to me and out of her earnest desire that my real debts should be satisfied and paid, is contented and doth now declare to ...... accept thereof in barr of her thirds till my personal and real estate fully discharge them. And after their payment that she shall enjoy her thirds of my said estate.
And the rest of my goods and chattels moveable and imoveable of what nature quality or kind whatsoever I give and bequeath unto the said John Johnson my nephew, whom I make sole executor of this my last will and testament. Provided always that if John Johnson my nephew shall not accept of my executorship within fourteen days after my decease and declare the same unto John Hags of West Brunton, clerk, and Joseph Chapman of Great Crakehall, yeoman, that then my mind is that William Plews of Thornton Watlass, yeoman, shall be my executor if he declare the same unto the said Hag and Chapman upon the said John Johnsons refusal within the next fourteen days. That then my mind and will is that' William Clapon of Great Crakehall shall be my executor upon the said William Plews refusal provided always that upon the accepting of the said executorship the said party so accepting shall secure or pay all my just debts whatsoever.
And my mind is that this shall not charge my executor to pay any notes or writing which I have really and fully discharged whereof some notes lyeth in Richard Raper' s hands of Langthorne upon the borrowing of fifty pounds which I received in several sums and upon each receipt gave a note under my hand for the same after which I entered bond for the whole, which moneys I have justly repaid to the said Richard Raper but have not received my said notes.
Lastly my mind and will is that what is given or granted and bequeathed unto John Johnson as abovesaid for the payment of my debts, which if the said John Johnson shall refuse as above expressed, that then all the gifts grants and bequests to the said John Johnson shall be void and nill, but shall stand in force and be in ..... to the said William Plews or William Clapon upon the acceptance of their executorship as is above limited and expressed, anything contained to the contrary hereof not withstanding.
In witness whereof in the presence of :
W.Metcalfe,
John Lucas,
James Jagar,
William Clarke.