How on Earth do I read this !!!!!

[Little Nell]

The bit in red actually reads "hundred pounds"    and the word before it is one, rather than our.

Nell

[Little Nell]

I think that Octavius' surname is Lawes.

[Little Nell]

This is what I can read, but the insertions at the side are a bit small for me to read

This is the last Will and Testament of me James Collins of Spital Square and of Stamford Hill both in the County of Middlesex
Esquire in the first place I give and bequeath to my wife Sarah Collins an annui
ty of two thousand pounds for and during her natural life payable quarterly the
first payment to be made on the first quarterly day of payment next after my decease
I also give her the use and enjoyment of my carriages Horses plate linen china
household goods and furntiure in my house at Stamford Hill during her life
I give and bequeath to my old and valued friend Octavius Lawes Esqr Serjeant
at Law the sum of one hundred pounds as a testimony of my continued and
uninterrupted esteem for him after an acquaintance and friendship of fifty years
and also a mourning ring and I give and bequeath to the several persons……

hereinafter named the several sums of money hereinafter mentioned that is to
say I give and bequeath to Sarah Morris who nursed my dear and invaluable?
son Archibald the sum of nineteen pounds nineteen shillings to Elizabeth
?Ner.er our Lady’s maid nineteen pounds nineteen shillings to Mary Morton
who nursed others of my children rhe sum of nineteen pounds nineteen shillings
(two lines crossed out with an insertion dated May 13 1828 at the side – too small for me to read here)
to
Richard .. ?Teal who has for many years shaved and dressed me one hundred
pounds (rest crossed out)
to Samuel Potter if he shall be in my office at the time of my decease three
hundred pounds to each of the clerks in my office at the time of my decease the
sum of ten pounds for mourning to my friend William Cooke Esqr and Mrs
Cooke his wife a ring of five guineas value to each (rest of line crossed out)

They were never hot on punctuation at this date and awfully repetitive!

Nell

[Emjaybee]

Part two - no guarantees

One hundred pounds - easy when somebody tells you 

[Janeada]

The writer doesn't seem big on punctuation ...

Hi,

Wills don't normally have any punctuation except for capital letters for names etc. and some of the old wills have those all over the place where one would normally not expect them!! 

Try enlarging the script on screen and see if that helps with reading the will

[fallingonabruise]

oh wow thank you Little Nell and the rest of you,
I shall have to study it and compare words and maybe within the next 10 years might actually be able to read the thing !!!

[Treelover]

Hi

I think the offer Dudley mentioned about giving you an email address to send it to might be your best option.  Once I saw the whole of the file you sent, I must admit its daunting and I don't want you waiting for me when - looking at it now - it could take me weeks, months or years to get round to trying to translate it and even then I won't have it all or necessarily correct 

Joan