The Will of John Leeds
In the name of God Amen the six
and twenteith day of September
nn the the fourteenth year of
his Majesty reign of England
that…………and of Ireland the
fiftieth Anno dm. 1616 I John
Leedes of the town and parish of
Hastings in the county of Sussex
yeoman being weak in body but
whole and perfect in memory
thanks be given to Almighty God
therefore do make and ordain
this my last will and testament
in manner and form following
that is to say First I bequeath
my soul into the hands of
Almighty God my maker hoping
through the only merit of Jesus
Christ my saviour and redeemer
to be made partaker of life
everlasting Item I give unto
Elizabeth my loving wife yearly
and for every year during her
natural life Ten pounds to be
issueing and given out of my
lands quarterly to be paid at
four usual times or terms in the
year by even portions(viz)(?) at
the birth of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ the
annunciation of The Virgin Mary,
Saint John the Baptist and Saint
Michael the Archangel the first
payment Thereof to begin and be
made on the first day which
shall first happen aftyer my
decease or within fourteen days
after my decease paid ten pounds
or any part or parcel thereof to
be behind and unpaid in part or
in all by the space of twenty
days next after any of the said
feast days of which or right the
same ought to be paid that then
and from thenceforth and so
after shall be lawfull to and
for the said Elizabeth my wife
into all or any the said lands
to enter and dis and the
distress or distresses there
found and taken to bear drive or
loads and carry away and the
some to deliver and keep until
the same. and the arranging
thereof if be fully satisfied
and paid Item I give unto my
said wife The bedstead whereon
lies one flocked bed one bolster
five pillows two blankets, one
covering and one set of curtains
and also two chests at her
choice to be taken and also six
pairs of sheets whereof three
pairs of the finer sort & three
pairs of the coarse sort to be
delivered her promptly(?) after
my decease Item I give unto my
daughter Anne Leedes one hundred
pounds to be paid her within one
year next after my decease. Item
I give Unto my son William
Leedes all my lands Lying and
being in the parish of Westfield
in the County of Sussex to have
and to hold to him and the heirs
of his body lawfully begotten
and for want of such issue I
give the same unto my two
Daughters Ann and Joan equally
betwixt them And their heirs
forever Item I give unto The
poor people of the Parish of
Westfield and Saint Clements in
Hastings ten shillings a yearto
be paid within a month after my
decease Item I give unto my
brother George Leedes Forty
shillings to be paid him within
one year next After my decease
Item of this my last will And
testament I make and appoint my
son in Law John Yarrow and my
son William Leedes to be my sole
executors and all the rest of
any goods not bequeathed by
debts, legacies and funeral
expenses being paid and
discharged I do give Unto my
said son William and my two
daughters Equally to be divided
amongst them in winess whereof I
have hereunto set my hand & seal
The day and year first above
written. John Leeds
Witness to this my will
John……(?)……John Lucke
His mark John Ellis
Probate in Latin 1617
PRC 32/44/267
120
