In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Cam of Mosbrough moore Top in the parish of Eckington in the County of Derby being weak and infirm in body but of sound and perfect minde and memory (praise be given to Almighty God for the same) Therefore considering the frailty and Uncertainty of this human Life do make and ordain of this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following First I principally commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping assuredly through the merits and mediation of the Death and Passion of Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer to obtaine free pardon and remission of my sins And my Body I commit to the Earth from whence it came to be decently Buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named And as for my Temporal and Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God of his goodness to bless me I Give and Devise thereof as followeth Imprimis whereas I have surrendered into the hands of the Lady of the Manner of Eckington aforesaid according to the Custome of the said Manner All my Copyhold or Customary Messuages Tenements Cottages Closes Lands Meadows Pastures Woods Underwoods and Hereditaments Situate lying and being anywhere within the Manner of Eckington aforesaid with their and every of their appurtenances Except the House I now dwell in and the Housing adjoining to it which is standing in the North side of the Fold and Moyety of half part of the said fold to the Use of me during my Life and after my decease then to the use and behoof of Thomas Stones of Mosbrough in the parish of Eckington aforesaid Gent. And Samuel Gardiner Rector of Eckington aforesaid and their Heirs for ever upon this special trust and Confidence nevertheless in them reposed That they the said Thomas Stones and Samuel Gardiner and their Heirs together with the Parson of Eckington aforesaid for the time being shall within the space of Two Years next after my decease with the Rents Issues and profits thereof cause a Schoolhouse to be Erected and Built in some convenient place within the parish of Eckington aforesaid and shall maintain a Schoolmaster to teach the poorest children within the said parish of Eckington free and without paying any thing for teaching and learning for ever and for no other use whatsoever the said Schoolmaster and poorest children to be nominated and chosen by the said Thomas Stones and Samuel Gardiner and their Heirs together with the Parson of Eckington aforesaid for the time being for ever which they shall think most fit which said Surrender I do hereby Ratifie and confirm And my Will and mind is that my said Copyhold Lands and Tenements which I have Surrendered aforesaid shall go and be to and for the Uses mentioned and Expenses in the recited Surrender And I do hereby further declare and desire that the said Thomas Stones and Samuel Gardiner and their Heirs together with the Parson of Eckington aforesaid for the time being do make choice of Virtuous learned men to be Schoolmaster in the said place And my will and mind is that they shall pay to the Schoolmaster for the time being for his maintenance and pains all the yearly Rents arising out of my said Lands Surrendered as aforesaid (Except Forty Shillings a year) which said Forty Shillings a year my will and mind is shall be imployed and laid out in repairing the said Schoolhouse and if it shall happen at any time that there shall be any Money spared in repairing thereof that then Money so spared shall be laid out in buying School books for the use of the poorest children which shall be Scholars. And further my Will and mind is and I do hereby Impower and Authorise them the said Thomas Stones and Samuel Gardiner and their Heirs together with the Parson of Eckington aforesaid for the time being at any time to displace and put out any Schoolmaster which they shall find either negligent or unfit for the said place of a Schoolmaster and to make choice of any other in his Room and stead And whereas I likewise have Surrendered into the hands of the Lady of the Manner of Eckington aforesaid according to the Custome of the said Manner the aforesaid House I now dwell in and the Housing adjoin to it which lyeth next to the North side of the fold and the Moyety and half part of the said Fold which lyeth next to the said House and Buildings which stands on the North side thereof with their appurtenances (Except in the above recited Surrender to the Use of me During my Life and after my decease to the use and behoof of the said Thomas Robinson his Heirs and Assigns for ever which said Surrender I do hereby likewise Ratify and Confirm and my will is that the said House and Buildings thereto adjoining and the half of the Fold therin mentioned shall go to be after my decease to the Use and Behoof of the said Thomas Robinson his Heirs and Assigns for ever according as the said Surrender doth Express Also I do hereby give and Bequeath unto my Cousin Ellen Savage and her children George Savage John Savage Paul Savage Mary Savage to Each of them Twelve Pence a piece Also I do hereby give and Bequeath unto my children to Each of them Twelve Pence a piece Also I do hereby Give and Bequeath unto Mary Ash wife of Thomas Ash for the care and pains which she hath and doth take about me Twenty Shillings all the rest Residue and Remainder of all and singular my Goods Cattles Chattle and Personal Estate whatsoever (after my Debts Legacies and Funeral Expenses are discharged) I Give and Bequeath unto the poor people of the parish of Eckington aforesaid to be Imployed and disposed of by my Executors for their use as they shall think most fit and Convenient and I do hereby ordiane and make them the said Thomas Stones and Samuel Gardiner Ext’s of this my last will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Eighth and Twentieth Day of April in the Second year of the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lady Anne by the Grace of God Queen over England &c. Anno Dom’ 1703
The Mosborough One-Place Study 