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In the name
of God Amen, I John
Leeds of Stedham in the
county of Sussex,
blacksmith, being not
sound in body but of
good and perfect memory
praised be to God
therefore do make and
ordain this my last will
and testament in manner
and form following First
I give and bequeath my
soul in the hands of
Almighty God my creator
trusting in the ……of
Jesus Christ my Redeemer
to have free pardon and
forgiveness of all my
sins my body to be
buried in the Christian
burial place of Stedham
when so it shall please
God to take me.
Item I give unto Thos
Pratt my grandson the
son of John Pratt late
of Midhurst aforesaid
all that my messuage and
dwelling home wherein I
formerly lived in
Midhurst aforesaid
together with the
gardens parkside and
penthouse with the
appurtanances whatsoever
thereunto belonging and
all such goods and
household stuff as are
there let by lease as
standard William Cate(?)
of Midhurst aforesaid
blacksmith paying out
of………unto John Pratt ten
shillings within six
months after my decease
to have and to hold the
said messuage and
dwelling house with all
the appurtanances unto
the said Tho. Pratt and
his heirs but if it to
happen the said Thos.
Pratt do die without
heir of his body then my
will is the said
messuage and dwelling
house and all
appurtanances shall be
and remain unto his two
sisters Martha and Mary
Pratt or the longest
liver of them and their
heirs forever equally
between them my will
further is also that
Martha and Mary Pratt
aforesaid their
heirs……or assigns shall
pay or cause to be paid
issuing out of the said
house unto John Pratt
their brother ten pounds
of lawful English money
within one whole year
next after the decease
of the said Tho. Pratt
their brother dying
without issue as
aforesaid.
Item I give unto John
Pratt my grandchild
forty shillings within
six months after my
decease.
Item I give unto Martha
Pratt my grandchild
thirty pound.
Item I give unto Mary
Pratt my grandchild
eighteen pounds of
lawful money of England
to be paid unto them
within six months after
my decease. Item I give
unto Anne the wife of
Richard Mounfield of
Midhurst aforesaid forty
shilling.
Item I give unto Anne
the daughter of the said
Richard Mounfield ten
shillings to be paid
them within six months
after my decease.
Item I give unto Mary
Grist my daughter the
wife of William Grist of
Stedham forty pounds of
lawful money of England
which I did promise to
her marriage to be paid
after my decease for her
marriage potion.
Item I give unto Mary
Grist, Martha Grist and
Elizabeth Grist my
grandchildren twenty
pounds apiece.
Item I give unto William
Grist and Anne Grist my
grandchildren ten pounds
apiece my will further
is that the legacies of
my grandchildren the
children of my daughter
Mary Grist shall be put
out for the best
advantage for each of
them until they come to
full age.
Item I give unto
Elizabeth Smith my
kinswoman twenty
shillings and to her
daughter ten shillings
to be paid them within
six months after my
decease.
Item I give unto Anne
Winter of Midhurst,
widow, twenty shillings.
Item I give unto Anne
Verndett her daughter
twenty shillings to be
paid them within six
months after my decease
also if it happen that
any of my grandchildren
do die before they come
to age to receive their
portion or
portions…….shall remain
equally divided between
his or her brothers or
sisters then living at
my death, also that if
any sum or sums of money
which I have lent upon
any security shall …or
be…….and lost that any
one of these
grandchildren shall bear
their equal share on the
loss thereof according
to their several
legacies proportionately
wherein given.
Item to the poor people
ten shillings to be
distributed at my
funeral by the
discretion of my
executrix.
Item all the rest of my
goods and chattels not
given and unbequeathed I
give unto Mary Grist my
daughter the wife of
William Grist of Stedham,
blacksmith, my funeral
expences and other
necessary charges first
paid and deducted who I
make my sole and whole
executrix of this my
last will and testament
and I do hereby appoint
my said executrix to pay
all the legacies herein
given as they shall
hereby…..and I do desire
my executrix and………John
Shotters’s sons Thomas
and…………of Midhurst to
be overseers of this my
last will and testament
desiring them to see
that my last will…..do
hereby give them for
their….and pains in so
doing ten shillings
apiece to be paid them
by my executrix within
six months after my
decease. In witness
whereof I the said John
Leeds have hereunto set
my hand and seal the
five and twentieth day
of April in the nine and
twentieth year of the
reign of our sovereign
Lord King Charles the
Second by the Grace of
God of England,
Scotland, France and
Ireland defender of the
Faith etc, anno Domini
1677. The mark of Jo.
Leeds witnesses
hereunto the marks of
Thomas Challen and John
Pynoks.
Probate granted to Mary
Grist 1.1.1677 (1677/8)
STC1/26f1606 |
