In the name of God, Amen. The sixteenth day of June in the ninth year of the reign of our sovereign lord George, by the grace of God of Great Brittain , France and Ireland, King, defender of the faith, etc. annoq Dom, one thousand seven hundred and twenty three, I, John Morgan of Bridgwater in the county of Somerset, gent, being weak of body but of sound, perfect and disposing mind and memory, thanks be given to Almighty God for the same, and being desirous to settle such an estate as God hath been pleased to bestow upon me here by revoking and making void all wills by me heretofore made by word of mouth or in writing, do hereby declare this to be my last will and testament.

(Here follow certain private bequests, of which this is the most interesting item :- I give and devise unto my dear and loving wife Mellor Morgan my dwelling house wherein I now live in Bridgwater aforesaid, together with all gardens, courtilages, stables, outhouses, and appurtenances thereunto belonging, lyeing on the south side of a certain close there called or known by the name of Castle Field.)

I give and devise all my said mannour or reputed mannour of Hoccombe aforesaid, and all my lands, tenements, and hereditaments in Hoccombe aforesaid unto the mayor, aldermen, and capital burgesses of the borough of Bridgwater aforesaid, and to their successors for ever to the intents and purposes hereinafter limited and appointed, that is to say, that they do and shall out of the rents, issues, and profits of the said mannour or reputed mannour of Hoccombe, erect a said charity school in Bridgwater aforesaid, and keep and support one able and judicious schoolmaster for ever hereafter, to teach and instruct the sons of the inhabitants of the borough and parish of Bridgwater aforesaid, not receiving alms or relief of the said borrough and parish, to write well, to learn arithmetick, navigation, and the mathematicks, such schoolmaster to be payed out of the income of my said mannour, the sum of ten pounds and fifteen pounds on the five and twentyeth day of March and the nine and twentyeth day of September in every year, by even and equal proportions for ever, for his careful instructing and teaching ladds as the said mayor, aldermen and capital burgessor the major part of them, by their order of councell or convocation in the burgess hall of Bridgwater aforesaid, shall send unto him so to be taught and instructed.

Also, I will and direct that out of the rents, isues and profits of my said mannour, every ladd to be sent to the said charity school shall be cloathed with such distinguishing habit and cloaths as the said mayor, aldermen and burgesses shall direct and appoint; and that the parents of such ladds, at their own proper costs and charges, shall find and provide for them necessary and convenient meat drink, washing, lodging and cloathing, except stockings, shoes, a blue upper coat and blue capp, which is to be paid for out of the rents, issues and profits of my said mannour.

And I further will that my said trustees shall for ever procure two charity sermons to be preached every year for ever hereafter in the parish church of Bridgwater aforesaid, that thereby a charitable collection may be made for all well-disposed Christians to contribute their charity for the further advancement of these my charitable intentions.

Item, I further will an direct that the said mayor, aldermen and capital burgesses of the said burrough of Bridgwater, and the archdeacon of Taunton, the vicar of Bridgwater, the rector or minister of Chedzoy, the minister of North Petherton, the minister of Cotehurst, and the minister of Spaxton, in the said county of Somerset for the time being, shall be guardians and trstees to see this my charity truly and justly disposed of, and that the said clergymen and ministers, or three of them at the least, shall, every day of the Ascension of our blessed Lord, commonly called Holy Thursday, in ever year for ever, meet in the chancel belonging to the parish church or Bridgwater foresaid, together with the mayor and aldermen or the burrough aforesaid, or one of the aldermen, to settle and adjust the receipts and disbursements that shall be annually be layed out and occasioned in distributing the said charity. (Here follow certain unimportant details).

Item, all the rest of my goods and chattles not hereinbefore by me given and bequeathed, my funerall expenses discharged, I give and bequeath the same to my said dear and loving wife Mellor Morgan whom I do hereby make and ordain to be the whole and sole executrix of this my last will and testament. In witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and year first above written.

Signed and sealed by the testator, John Morgan, on one sheet of paper and on part of another sheet, and by him published and declared to be his last will and testament, in the presence of us.

W. Hillyard

Edwd. Dennell

Samll Sweeting.