In the Name of God Amen I William Plater of the City of Oxford being of sound perfect mind and 
memory (Praise be given to God for the same) and knowing the uncertainty of this life on Earth and 
being desirous to settle things in Order do make this my last Will and Testment in manner and form
following that is to say ffirst and Principally I commend my Soul to Almighty God my Creator assuredly 
believing that I shall receive full Pardon and free remission of all my Sins and be saved by the 
precious Death and Merits of my blessed Saviour and Redeem Christ Jesus and my Body to the 
Earth from whence it was taken to be buried in such decent and Christian manner as to my Executrix 
hereafter named shall be thought meet and convenient in Saint Ebbs Church Yard as near to my 
Ancestors as may be possible And as touching such Worldly Estate as the Lord in his Mercy hath
lent me my Will and meaning is the same shall be employed and bestowed as hereafter by this my 
Will is expressed And first I do revoke renounce frustrate and make void all Wills by me formerly 
made and declare and appoint this my last Will and Testament Imprimis all the Debts that I do owe 
and my ffuneral Expences being first paid and discharged I do give and bequeath unto my sister 
Martha Prew Widow the sum of five Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain a Year Yearly for and 
during her natural life and the first five Pounds to be paid within a twelve Months after my decease 
and so on five Pounds a Year during her natural life Item I give and bequeath unto Rebecca and Ann 
Prew the Daughters of my said Sister Martha Prew Widow Twenty Pounds of like lawfull money a 
Piece to each of them and to be paid to each of them within a Twelve Month after my Wife's decease 
Item I give and bequeath unto my Nephew Thomas Plater the best of my Wearing Apparell both 
Linnen and Woollen and five folios of the Works of Mr Henry on the Old and New Testament and what 
other Books my Wife thinks Proper to betow on him and also one Bedstead Curtains.....Head Piece 
ffeatherbed Bolster two Blankets one Quilt and what Sheets my Wife thinks proper to bestow on him
Provided my said Wife Hannah will not keep on the trade after my decease Then I do give the 
aforesaid Thomas Plater all the Utensills belonging to my Trade and the Sum of one hundred Pounds 
of like lawful Money and to be Paid to the said Thomas Plater within one Year after my Wife's 
decease or before if my Wife thinks it proper Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Brother
Thomas Plater my Watch my Mourning Ring one Piece of Old Gold which formerly went for Twenty 
three Shillings and five Pounds of like Money to buy him Mourning Item I give and bequeath unto my 
Nephew William Plater the Sum of twenty Pounds of like lawfull Money and my small Silver two 
handle Cup marked WP at the bottom and to be paid one Year after my Wife's decease Item I give 
and bequeath unto my two Nieces Mary and Sarah Plater Daughters of my Brother Thomas Plater the 
Sum of Twenty Pounds of like Money a Piece to each of them and to be paid to each of them within a 
twelve month after my Wife's decease Item I give and bequeath unto my Nephew Thomas Plater the 
further Sum of five Pounds of like lawful Money to buy him Mourning Item all the rest and residue of 
my Substance Goods and Chattells and all that I shall die Possessed with (and not before given and 
bequeathed) I do give and bequeath unto my dear and loving Wife Hannah Plater freely to be 
Possessed and enjoyed by her for ever And I do hereby nominate make ordain and appoint my said 
Wife Hannah Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament whom I desire to perform the same In 
Witness whereof I the said William Plater to this my last Will and Testament have set my hand and 
seal this first day of April in the fifteenth Year of the Reign of Our Sovreign Lord George the second 
by the Grace of God of Great Britain ffrance and Ireland King Defender of the ffaith and so forth and in 
the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty two Wm Plater

John Horn
James Parker
Edw Prickett

Proved 20th June 1755
PCC
Prob11/816