[paragraph breaks added for comprehension] [visual emphasis added e.g. Watson]

This is the last Will and Testament of me John Watson of Ling Rigg in the parish of Stanhope in the County of Durham Yeoman

I give devise and bequeath unto my son George Watson all my customary freehold Estate Hereditaments and premises situate at Ling Rigg aforesaid and all other my Hereditaments and premises whatsoever situate in the parish aforesaid To hold the same unto and to the use of my said son George Watson his heirs and assigns subject to the mortgage debt and Interest now charged thereon upon the Trusts nevertheless and to and for the intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) Upon Trust out of the Rents and profits thereof to pay the Interest of all mortgage monies charged upon the same Estate Hereditaments and premises as the same shall become due and also to pay to or permit and [?] suffer my dear wife Phebe Watson to receive the remainder of the Rents and profits of my said Estate Hereditaments and premises to and for her own use and during the Term of her natural life and in case of such remainder of the said Rents and profits proving insufficient for the maintenance and support of my said dear Wife then I do hereby authorize and empower my said son George Watson his heirs and assigns by mortgage of my said Estate Hereditaments and Premises to raise such further sum or sums as he or they may think necessary or needful for that purpose

and from and after the decease of my said dear Wife Phebe Watson then upon Trust that he the said George Watson his heirs or assigns shall and do with all convenient speed absolutely sell and dispose of my said Estate Hereditaments and premises either by public auction or private contract and either together or in parcels for the most money and best price or prices that can be reasonably had or obtained for the same and shall do in the first place out of the purchase money pay off and discharge the mortgage debt and Interest and all other incumbrances that may then be due and charged upon my said Estate Hereditaments and Premises and all expenses and charges attending the execution of the Trusts hereby in him and them reposed and also any debt or debts that may then be and remain justly due from my Estate and Effects (if any such there shall be) and shall and do in the next place pay and divide what shall then remain of such purchase monies equally to and amongst all and every my children (including himself the said George Watson) share and share alike and in case of any of them dying in the meantime without leaving any lawful issue then the share of each so dying without issue to be equally divided or paid to and amongst the survivors or survivor of them but in case of any of them dying leaving lawful issue shall stand in the place of their deceased parent and be jointly and equally entitled to the same share that such parent would have been entitled to if he or she had been living to be paid on their attaining their respective ages of twenty one years and the Interest thereof in the meantime to be applied towards their respective maintenance

Provided always and I do hereby declare that the Receipt of the said George Watson his heirs or assigns shall be a good discharge for all the monies which in such receipt shall be [?] to be received and that all purchasers or Mortgagees or other persons paying any money to the said George Watson his heirs or assigns for the purposes of this my will and taking a receipt from him or them accordingly shall not be obliged to see to the further application of the same monies nor be accountable for the misapplication thereof and that the said George Watson his heirs or assigns shall not be answerable for involuntary losses and that he and they shall and m[a]y reimburse himself and themselves out of the said Trust Premises or out of any monies that m[a]y come to his or their hands by virtue of this my Will all costs and expences to be incurred by him or them in the execution of the Trusts aforesaid or any wise in relation thereunto

I give and bequeath unto my said dear Wife Phebe Watson all my household furniture and implements of household and all other my personal Estate and Effects goods and Chattels whatsoever and wheresoever She paying all my just Debts (Except the mortgage upon my said Estate and premises) and funeral and other expences and the charges of proving this my Will and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said dear Wife Phebe Watson sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this to be and contain my last Will and Testament

In witness whereof I have hereunto set and [...] hand and seal this eighteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty nine John Watson L. S. __________ Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Testator John Watson as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses George Watson, Stephen Watson, Joseph Watson

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Proved at Durham 13th August 1831 by George Watson the natural and lawful son and one of the next of Kin of the said deceased (Phebe Watson the wife of the said Testator and sole Executrix having died in the lifetime of her husband) to whom admon was granted he having been first sworn as usual. (Under £100) Folios 10 & 42