This is the last Will and Testament of me Stephen Steptoe the Elder of the Parish of Bisley in 
the County of Surry Thatcher  I give and devise all that my Copyhold Messuage or Tenement 
Barn Yard Garden and one Close of arable Land containing by estimation one acre with the 
appurts situate lying and being within the Manor of Bisley in the County of Surry and now in 
my own occupation which I bought of Alexander Dover and also all that one Close of Land 
containing by estimation 2 acres more or less called or known by the name of Loompitts or 
Brickkiln Close situate lying and being within and held of the said Manor of Bisley which I 
purchased of Mr. William Wallden and now in the occupation of John Smither unto my 
Eldest Son James Steptoe his heirs and assigns To hold the same and every part thereof with 
their appurts unto and to the use of my said Son James Steptoe his heirs and assigns for Ever 
according to the custom of the said Manor Subject nevertheless to my Wife Ann Steptoe 
having the use and occupation of one Chamber and the joint use of the Kitchen and 
washhouse in the said Messuage or Tenement for the space of twelve Calendar months next 
after my decease rent free and also subject to and charged  and chargeable with the payment 
of the Sum of Seventy pounds of lawful money of Great Britain unto my Son Joseph Steptoe 
his Executors admors and assigns which said Sum of Seventy pounds I hereby give and 
bequeath unto my said Son Joseph to be paid by my said Son James within six months next 
after my decease and also subject to and charged and chargeable with the annuity or yearly 
rent or Sum of three pounds hereinafter directed mentioned and devised to my dear Wife Ann 
Steptoe and I do hereby give devise and bequeath unto my said Wife Ann Steptoe and her 
assigns for and during the term of her natural life one annuity or clear yearly Rent or Sum of 
three pounds of lawful money aforesaid free and clear of and from all Taxes and deductions 
whatsoever Parliamentary or others already imposed or hereafter to be imposed the said 
annuity to be charged and chargeable on and issuing and payable out of the said Copyhold 
Heredits hereinbefore given and devised to my said Son James Steptoe and to be paid and 
payable by him my said Son James Steptoe his heirs Executors admors or assigns by two 
equal and even half yearly payments that is to say on the feats days of the annunciation of the 
blessed virgin Mary and Saint Michael the Archangel in every year the first payment thereof 
to begin and be made on such of the said feasts as shall first and next happen after my 
decease and I do hereby charge and subject the said Copyhold heredits to and with the 
payment of the said annuity yearly Rent or Sum of three pounds accordingly and it is my Will 
and desire that in case the said annuity yearly Rent or Sum of three pounds or any part thereof 
shall at any time during the life of my said Wife Ann Steptoe be behind or unpaid by the 
space of twenty days next over or after any or either of the aforesaid feasts or days of 
payment whereon the same is hereinbefore directed to be paid as aforesaid being lawfully 
demanded that then and so often it shall and may be lawful to and for my said Wife and her 
assigns to enter upon the said Copyhold heredits hereby charged with the said annuity as 
aforesaid or any of them or any part or parcel thereof and to distrain for the said annuity or 
for so much thereof as shall be so in arrear and the distress or distresses then and there found 
to detain and keep until she shall be fully paid and satisfied all such arrears of the said 
annuity with Costs and Charges in and about the making and keeping the said distress for the 
same  I give and devise all those four acres of Land called Rasdells held by Copy of Court 
Roll of and situate and being within the said Manor of Bisley which I bought of James 
Livings and now in the occupation of John Smither and also all that my Copyhold Cottage or 
Tenement Turfhouse Garden Orchard and appurts situate lying and being within the said 
Manor and Parish of Bisley late Goodeners in the occupation of John Smither unto my Son 
Stephen Steptoe his heirs and assigns for Ever according to the Custom of the said Manor 
subject nevertheless to and charged and chargeable with the payment of the Legacy or Sum 
of one hundred and ten pounds to the children of my late Son John Steptoe and the Children 
of my late Daughter Elizabeth Ellott upon their respectively attaining the age of twenty one 
years with interest thereon in the meantime after the rate of five pounds per Centum per 
annum as hereinafter mentioned and also subject to and charged and chargeable with the 
annuity yearly Rent or Sum of three pounds hereinafter mentioned and devised to my said 
dear Wife Ann Steptoe and I do hereby give devise and bequeath unto my said dear Wife and 
her assigns for and during the term of her natural life one other annuity or clear yearly Rent 
or Sum of three pounds of lawful money aforesaid free and clear of and from all Taxes and 
deductions whatsoever Parliamentary or others already imposed or hereafter to be imposed 
the said last mentioned annuity to be charged and chargeable on and issuing and payable out 
of the said Copyhold Heredits hereinbefore given and devised to my said Son Stephen 
Steptoe and to be paid and payable by him my said Son Stephen Steptoe his heirs Executors 
admors or assigns at the same times and in like manner and with like power of distress as 
hereinbefore is mentioned with respect to the said first mentioned annuity payable out of the 
Copyhold heredits above given and devised to my said Son James Steptoe  and I give and 
bequeath the Sum of one hundred and ten pounds of lawful money aforesaid to be charged 
and chargeable upon and to be issuing and payable out of the Copyhold heredits above given 
and devised to my said Son Stephen Steptoe unto all and every my Grandchildren Sons and 
Daughters of my late Son John Steptoe and of my late Daughter Elizabeth Ellott equally to be 
divided between them share and share alike to be paid to them respectively at their respective 
ages of twenty one years and I direct interest thereon in the meantime after the rate of five 
pounds per Centum per annum to be paid by the said Stephen Steptoe to my Executors whom 
I direct to apply the same for the use and benefit of my said Grandchildren during their 
respective minorities and I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah the Wife of John 
Smither the Sum of Thirty pounds of lawful money aforesaid to be paid to her out of my Real 
and Personal Estate within six Calendar months after my decease to and for her own absolute 
use and benefit and I give and bequeath unto my said Wife Ann Steptoe all such part and 
parts of my Household Goods and furniture Plate Linen and China as belonged to her before 
my marriage with her to and for her own absolute use and benefit and as to all my Personal 
Estate and Effects of every sort and kind which I shall die possessed of I give and bequeath 
the same and every part thereof unto my Sons James Steptoe Stephen Steptoe and Joseph 
Steptoe upon Trust to lay out and invest the Sum of One hundred pounds of lawful money 
aforesaid part of my said Personal Estate in the purchase of Stock in some or one of the 
Public funds in the names of them the said James Steptoe Stephen Steptoe and Joseph Steptoe 
or the Survivors or Survivor of them or the Executors or admors of such Survivor and to pay 
apply and dispose of the dividends interest and annual proceeds of the said Stock so to be 
purchased as aforesaid as the same shall from time to time arise and be received unto my said 
Wife and her assigns or otherwise do and shall permit and suffer her and them to receive and 
take the same to and for her and their own use and benefit for and during the term of her 
natural life and from and after her decease I give and bequeath the Sum of Twenty pounds 
part of the said one hundred pounds to Ann the wife of Robert Thom a daughter of my said 
Wife before my marriage with her to and for her own absolute use and benefit and as to for 
and concerning the residue of the said Sum of one hundred pounds after payment thereout of 
the said Sum of Twenty pounds and as to for and concerning all the rest and residue of my 
said personal Estate and Effects not hereinbefore disposed of I give and devise the same unto 
the said James Steptoe Stephen Steptoe and Joseph Steptoe equally to be divided between 
them share and share alike and their respective Executors admors and assigns and I do hereby 
nominate constitute and appoint the said James Steptoe Stephen Steptoe and Joseph Steptoe 
joint Executors of this my Will and I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other 
Wills and all other Testamentary dispositions by me at any time heretofore made and do 
declare these presents only to be and contain my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof 
I the said Stephen Steptoe the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in 
five sheets of paper set my hand and seal that is to say my hand to each of the four preceding 
sheets and my hand and seal to this fifth and last sheet the 22nd day of November one 
thousand eight hundred and twenty three.  The mark X of Stephen Steptoe SS /  Signed Sealed 
Published and Declared by the said Stephen Steptoe the Testator 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 hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.  William Woods //  James Hone // 
Henry Hill
Proved at London 30th December 1823 before the Judge by the oaths of James Steptoe 
Stephen Steptoe and Joseph Steptoe the Sons the Executors to whom admon was granted 
being first Sworn (by Comon) duly to administer.//