In the name of God Amen  I Benjamin Reading the Elder of the 
Parish of Woking in the County of Surrey Bricklayer tho' weak in 
Body, but of sound and perfect Mind and Memory blessed be 
Almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last Will & 
Testament in manner and form following (that is to say)  First I 
bequeath my Soul to God my Maker beseeching his most gracious 
Acceptance of it through the alt-sufficient Merits and Mediation of 
my most Compassionate redeemer Jesus Christ who gave himself to 
be an Atonement for my sins and who I trust will not reject me a 
repenting sinner, I give my body to the Earth from whence I was 
taken in full assurance of its Resurrection from thence at the last day, 
As to my Burial I desire I may be decent at the Discretion of my 
Executrix hereafter named who I doubt not will manage it with all 
requisite prudence  As to my worldly Estate I Will and positively 
order, that all my Debts be paid  I Give and devise to my Son 
Benjamin his Heirs and Assigns All that Messuage or Tenement with 
the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining 
wherein I now dwell situate lying and being in Shackleford in the 
Parish of Woking in the County of Surrey and in the Manor of Woking 
(the same being duly Surrendered to the use of my Will) to hold to 
him the said Benjamin Reading his Heirs and Assigns for ever, 
Provided notwithstanding I will and positively order, that my beloved 
Wife Catherin Reading shall and may live in the said Messuage or 
Tenement during her Life without the Let, Suit, Trouble, Molestation, 
Eviction, Expulsion, or Interruption of or by him the said Benjamin 
Reading his Heirs or Assigns, And after the Death of my said Wife I 
will and order that my said Son Benjamin Reading shall pay to my 
Daughter Kittey, Wife of William Harris the sum of Thirty pounds of 
Lawful Money I also give and devise to my Son Joseph Reading his 
Heirs and Assigns, All that Messuage or Tenement with the Land and 
appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining 
commonly called or known by the name of Furzen, situate lying and 
being in West Field in the parish of Woking in the said County of 
Surrey and in the Manor of Woking (the same being duly 
surrendered to the use of my Will) to hold to him the said Joseph 
Reading his Heirs and Assigns for ever, Provided notwithstanding I 
will and positively order, that my said son Joseph Reading shall pay 
unto my said Wife the sum of Six pounds of Lawful Money a Year and 
every Year for and during her Life And after the Death of my said 
Wife I will and order that my said Son Joseph Reading shall pay unto 
my Daughter Mary Reading, the sum of Fifty pounds of Like Lawful 
Money in full.  And lastly as to all the Rest Residue and Remainder of 
my personal Estate, Goods and Chattells of what kind or nature 
soever I give and bequeath the same unto my beloved Wife Cathern 
Reading whom I hereby appoint sole Executrix of this my last Will & 
Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me made  In Witness 
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Fourteenth day of 
November in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and 
eighty three.  Benjn Reading
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the above named Benjamin 
Reading the Elder to be his last Will & Testament in the presence of 
us who have subscribed our Names as Witnesses in the presence of 
the said Testator, and in presence of each other 
The word Fourteenth wrote on an Erasure  
 John Goring   John Marner his X mark   David Paice

Testator died 8 December 1784

This Will was proved at London the ninth day of May 1786 before the 
Rev.d James Weller Doctor and Surrogate of the Worshipful George 
Harris Doctor of Laws Commissary for the parts of Surry lawfully 
constituted by the Oath of Cathern Reading Widow the Relict and 
Sole Executrix therein named to whom Admon was granted having 
been first sworn duly to administer.

DW/PC/5/1786/3