ABSTRACTS OF WILLS AND ADMINISTRATIONS JOSEPH MELLARD, of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs., skinner. Will dated 26 July 1768. My dwelling house situate in Lower Street, Newcastle, in the holding of John Hill, feltmaker, to my wife Elizabeth Mellard for life, and after her death to my daur. Ellen Mellard. To my said wife a Page 189 rent charge of œœ20 yearly out of all my messuages, etc., hereafter devised to my four sons, Joseph Mellard, John Mellard, Thomas Mellard and Samuel Mellard, œœ10 of said annuity to be paid from messuages, etc., devised to my son Joseph, œœ2 from lands devised to my son John, œœ6 from messuages and lands devised to my son Thomas, and œœ2 from lands, etc., devised to my son Samuel; if my wife marry again her annuity to be œœ10 only. An annuity of œœ7 to be paid to my exors. for the maintenance and education of my four children Thomas Mellard, Ellen Mellard, Samuel Mellard and James Mellard, œœ5 out of messuages, etc., devised to my son Joseph, and œœ2 from lands, etc., devised to my son John. To my eldest son Joseph Mellard the messuage, etc., in Lower Street, Newcastle, where I now live; also a messuage, etc., near to it where Henry Strover, officer of excise, now dwells; also a messuage near to both wherein John Clark, joiner, dwells; and also a house standing in the yard of the messuage where I dwell, lately erected and not yet inhabited. I also give to my said son Joseph my pew in the north gallery of Newcastle church, he paying œœ20 to my son John; if he do not pay, then my said son John to have the pew. To son John a piece of land in Newcastle called the Hodge Croft and two days' work of land in the Common Field of Newcastle called the Port Field, adjoining land of Mr. Joseph Adams and John Bucknall. To my son Thomas Mellard a piece of land near to the Pool in Newcastle and within the parish of Stoke, which has been used as a tan yard and was lately purchased by me from the heirs of Mr. John Moss, late of Eccleshall, with the houses and buildings on the same. To my son Samuel Mellard two days work of land in the Common Field of Newcastle, called the Stubbs, which I purchased from the exors. of Mr. James Taylor, and two days work of land in the Pool Field aforesaid purchased from John Harding, and a pew in the west gallery of Newcastle church, now in the holding of James Bourne, and the sum of œœ20. To my daur. Ellen, œœ100 at 21. To my son James Mellard, œœ140 at 21. Residue to be divided amongst my wife and my five younger children, John, Thomas, Ellen, Samuel and James at 21. Exors., my wife Elizabeth Mellard, my eldest son Joseph Mellard, and my friend William Carr of Newcastle, feltmaker. Wits., Anthony Drecoat, Jas. Massey and Thos. Fenton. Proved at Lichfield 26 April 1770 by Joseph Mellard and William Carr, power reserved for Elizabeth Mellard. JOSEPH MELLARD, the elder, of Newcastle, Staffs., tanner, a widower. Admon. granted 26 Dec. 1797, at Lichfield, to John Blurton, of Fieldhouse, Staffs., farmer, the guardian lawfully elected by Joseph Mellard, the younger, aged 18, Mary Mellard, spinster, aged 15, Maria Mellard, spinster, aged 13, and Ann Mellard, spinster, aged 11, the natural and lawful and only children of the decd., for their benefit, until they attain the age of 21. Estate sworn under œœ10,000. Sureties, Ellen Jenkinson, of Stone, Staffs., spinster, and Jane Jenkinson, of Stone, spinster. Admon. de bonis non granted 7 May 1806, at Lichfield, to Joseph Mellard, of Newcastle, tanner, the natural and lawful son of the decd.