In the Name of God Amen I John Byewood of the parish of Chidingstone in the County of Kent Husbandman being at the present time in good health of Body and of sound perfect and disposing mind and memory praised be God most mercifull for the same but considering the certainty of Death and the uncertainty of the time thereof hath though convenient to settle and Dispose of my Temporall Estate which it hath pleased God to bestowe on me in such manner as no Contention or Trouble may happen or arise about the same after my Decease therefore I make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following Imprimis I commend my soul into the Hands and Gracious Acceptance of Almighty God who gave it hoping and firmly trusting to obtain the salvation thereof by and thro the alone Meritts and Mediation of Jesus Christ the Righteous my Dear Redeemer and Saviour and my Body I committ to the Earth from whence it was taken to be therein decently buried according to the discretion of my Executrix herein after named Item I give devise and bequeath unto Elizabeth my Wife all that Messuage or Tenemt in which I now dwell and the Ground thereto belonging (being ffreehold with the Appurtenances which was lately purchased of John Harrison and are situate lying and being at Rennsley Heath Chidingstone aforesaid in the said County of Kent To hold all the said Messuage or Tenement Ground or Premises with the Appurtenances unto the said Elizabeth my Wife for and during the full Term of her naturall life she keeping and leaving the same in good repair and from and after her Decease I give all the same Messuage or Tenement Ground or Premises with the Appurtenances to my Sister Ann (the Wife of John Bridger of Rotherfield in the County of Sussex Yeoman) for and during the Term of her natural life she keeping and leaving the same all the same in good and sufficient Repair and not committing or doing or permitting or suffering to be committed or done and manner of Waste or Spoile in and upon the premises or any part thereof and from and after the Decease of my said Sister Ann Bridger, then I give devise and bequeath all the same before mentioned Messuage or Tenement Ground or premises with all and singular the hereditaments and Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto my Nephew John Bridger his heirs and Assignes forever to and for the only proper use and behoof of my said Nephew John Bridger his heirs and Assigns forevermore Item I give and bequeath unto my said loving Wife Elizabeth for her own benefitt and commodity of living and maintenance the use Interest and proffitts of all and singular my Goods Chattells Moneys and personall Estate whatsoever and wheresoever for and during the Term of her naturall life without being accountable to any person or persons for the same and from and after the decease of my said Wife then I give and bequeath my said Goods Chattells Moneys and personall Estate unto my said Sister Ann Bridger(if she be then living) for and during the Term of her natural life so farr as the use Interest and proffitts of the same only and not otherwise and fro and after the Decease of my Sister Anne Bridger then I give and bequeath all my said Goods Chattells Moneys and personal Estate unto my said Nephew john Bridger (Son of my said Sister Ann) and to his Executors Administrators and Assigns for ever upon this Condition nevertheless and my Will is and I do hereby order that whichsoever either of my said Sister Ann or her said Son John Bridges shall be living at the time of the Decease of my said Wife so as to claime and take my said Personal Estate as aforesaid she or he so claiming or taking the same shall immediately after the Decease of my said Wife pay unto my Nephew John Cole (Son of my Brother in Law John Cole) the full and just sum of five pounds of the like lawful Money of Great Britain and also the same person who shall so claime and take my personal Estate as aforesaid shall likewise immediately after the Decease of my said Wife pay unto my said Nephew William Cole (one other Son of my said Brother in Law John Cole) the further full and just Sum of five Pounds of like lawfull Money Item my Will further is and I do hereby order that in case my said Wife (after my Decease) shall intermarry with any person whatsoever then she (my said Wife) shall immediately after such her Second Marriage pay unto my said Sister Ann Bridger if she be living or unto her said Son John Bridger if she my said Sister be deceased before such intermarriage the full and just sum of ten pounds of like lawfull Money and I doe hereby constitute ordain and appoint my said loving Wife Elizabeth full and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and desire her faithfully to performe the same according to the true and express intent and meaning of these presents And Lastly I do hereby absolutely revoke renounce and make void all former and other Wills by me heretofore made and declare this present writing consisting of one large Sheet of paper to be and contain my only last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said John Byewood the Testator have hereunto sett my hand and seale this ffifth day of ffebruary in the first year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord George the Second by the grace of God of Great Britain ffrance and Ireland King Defender of the Faith Anno Dom one Thousand seven hundred Twenty and seven John Byewood his mark
John Constable Thos Grove Richd Taylor Junr
 
On the fourth Day of May in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and forty four Administration with the Will annexed of the Goods Chattells and Creditts of John Byewood late of the Parish of Chidingstone in the County of Kent deceased was granted to John Bridger the Nephew of the said Deceased and residuary Legatee substituted in the said Will (for that Elizabeth Byewood the Relict of the said Deceased and sole Executrix and universal Legatee)or like named in the said Will dyed before she had taken upon her the Execution thereof and Ann Bridger Wife of John Bridger the Elder (the Sister of the said Deceased and universal Legatee for life substituted in the said Will died in the life time of the Testator) being first sworne well duely and timely to Administer the same

6th March 1743/4

PCC
Prob11/733