This is the Last Will & Testament of me Thomas EAMES the elder of Dorchester in the County of Dorset maltster made the twenty ninth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty two

First: I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the merits and intercession of my blessed saviour Jesus Christ to obtain pardon of my sins

My Body: I commit to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my executrix hereinafter named

And as for the worldly estate and effects wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I Give devise and dispose of the same as follows

First: I Give and bequeath unto my two sons Thomas and Jonathan EAMES the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds a piece of lawful money of Great Britain in order to set them up in business and trade and to be paid them respectively at such time or times and in such parts and portions as their business may require and my wife shall think most for their advantage

Also: I give and devise unto my said two sons Thomas & Jonathan All that messuage burgage or tenement with the appurtenances situate lying and being in Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in the said County of Dorset called Humphrey's House To hold to them their heirs and assigns forever

Also: I give and devise All that my messuage burgage or tenement and malthouse wherein I now dwell with the appurtenances situate lying and being in a certain street or lane in Dorchester aforesaid called the Friary Lane unto Elizabeth my loving wife for and during the term of her natural life and from

And: after her decease I give and devise the same unto my son Thomas EAMES and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten

And: for want of such issue I give and devise the same unto my son Jonathan EAMES and the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten

And: for the want of such issue I give devise the same unto my daughter Elizabeth the wife of Thomas GARLAND her heirs and assigns forever.

PROVIDED: always and the devise hereby made of my said dwelling house and malthouse to my son Thomas after his mothers decease is upon this express condition that he doth and shall permit his brother Jonathan to enjoy an equal part of the Malthouse and trade carried on therein

He my son Jonathan paying to his brother Seven pounds a year for the same

And: I do recommend it to my sons to carry on the Malting Trade together in partnership

But: if my son Thomas shall refuse to permit my son Jonathan to enjoy half the Malthouse and trade with him Then I hereby charge my said dwelling house and the malthouse so devised to my son Thomas and the heirs of his body to be begotten as aforesaid with one annuity or yearly Rent Charge of Seven pounds to be issuing and payable out of my said dwelling house and Malthouse unto my son Jonathan and his assigns for and during the joint lives of my said sons by half yearly payments in lieu of such half entale? of the said Malthouse and trade The first payment thereof to begin and be made at the end of six calendar months next after my son Thomas shall be in possession under this devise with power of distress for non payment thereof or such arrears as may at any time happen to be

Also: I give and bequeath unto my said loving wife all that my messuage burgage or tenement with the appurtenances situate lying and being on the Bull Stake in Dorchester aforesaid called the Hole in the Wall to hold to her and her assigns during so many years of the term which I have therein as shall run out and expire in her life time

And: I give from and after her decease I give and bequeath the same unto my said son Jonathan and the issue of his body for the residue of the said term

But: in case he dies without issue of his body I give and bequeath the same unto my son Thomas and the issue of his body for the then residue of the said term

But: in case my said son Thomas shall also dye without issue Then I give and bequeath the same unto my said daughter Elizabeth her executors administrators and assigns for and during all the residue of the term and interest which shall be therein then to come and unexpired

Also: I give and devise unto my said loving wife All that my messuage burgage or tenement with the appurtenances situate in the High street in Dorchester aforesaid now in the possession of John EVOMY barber To hold to her, her heirs and assigns forever

Also: I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Elizabeth the sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain to be paid her by my said loving wife at such time and times and in such parts and proportions and in such manner as my said wife shall in her discretion think most convenient

Also: I give and bequeath unto my sister Mary OLD five pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain to be paid her at the end of two months next after my decease

All the Rest: residue and remainder of my goods chattels stock in trade ready money and securities for money book debts and personal estate whatsoever I give and bequeath unto my said loving wife whom I hereby constitute and appoint sole executrix of this my Will

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written

Thomas EAMES

Signed Sealed Delivered Published and declared by the said Testator as and

for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed

our names as witnesses hereto at his request and in his presence

Robert LODER

Nat [Nathaniel] STICKLAND

Thomas BRAGG

Elizabeth EAMES the Executrix of this will was sworn before me William LEIGH surrogate June 25th 1745

Genealogical Notes:-

(1). Thomas EAMES the subject of this Will was buried at St Peters Church Dorchester on 20th May 1745. He married his wife Elizabeth JACOB at St Peters Church Dorchester on 28th Jan 1718/9. His wife Elizabeth was a beneficiary under her fathers Will dated 19th June 1723 (proved 21st Sep 1725) as were her children Thomas and Jonathan EAMES. Her father William JACOB was buried at St Peters on 10 Feb 1724/5

(2). His daughter Elizabeth EAMES married Thomas GARLAND at Charminster on 19th April 1741

(3). His son Jonathan EAMES of Dorchester married under licence to Mrs Rebecca ELLIOTT of Dorchester at Upwey on 5th Jan 1746. Jonathan EAMES was buried at 31st Jan 1747 See transcription of his Will dated 27th Jan 1747

(4). His son Thomas EAMES of Dorchester married Elenor DOWL from Fordington at All Saints parish church 5th Nov 1746. Thomas & Eleanor Eames had 5 children baptised in the Presbyterian Meeting House in Pease Lane in Dorchester:- (1) Nelly Eames Bap 23 Sep 1750; (2) Jonathan Eames Bap 8 Aug 1759 and buried in St Peters church Dorchester 20 Nov 1761 (as the presbyterian church had no burial ground of its own) ; (3) Charlotte Eames Bap 25 Oct 1761; (4) George Eames Bap 26 Jan 1764; and (5) Honor Eames Bap 16 Sep 1767