Chelsfield Wills - Part 1
Abstracts of will from Chelsfield proved in
the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
Robert Allen
of Chelsfield dated 3 October 1742.
Abstract of the will of Robert Allen of Chelsfield yeoman dated 3 October
1742.
To be buried "with a frugal expense" in Chelsfield
churchyard.
I give to my son James Allen my lease of Broak farm, where he is
now in possession, together with all my stock, husbandry gear, goods, chattels
and effects thereon, chargeable with the payment of £300 to my Executors.
I also leave to my son James a messuage and orchard in Chelsfield
in the occupation of Solomon Judd.
I give to my daughter Ann Brooks and her heirs for ever the
messuage or tenement and orchard in Chelsfield now in the occupation of Francis
Edwards.
I give to my sons Robert and Stephen Allen and their heirs in Trust
all my farm commonly called Hewitt with the messuage or tenement, barns,
stables, lands, woodlands and appurtenances which I purchased of John Jewell, in
Chelsfield and Shoreham, together with a piece of land called Newlands used with
the said farm, in Chelsfield, all which premises are now in my own occupation.
I also give to them in Trust my land and woodland which I bought of
John Dunmell, which was part of Timber Garden farm, containing about 60 acres in
Shoreham, also in my own occupation.
They are to sell all or any part of the lands etc. left to them in
Trust, for the purposes hereinafter mentioned. I also leave them all residue of
goods and chattels and all personal estate whatsoever, except for the furniture
of the room hereinafter given to my wife, to convert into ready money as soon as
possible, and to apply the proceeds as well as the £300 which my son James is
to pay them, to the payment of all debts wherein Robert and James are bound as
securities with me, and all other just debts.
I charge all my real estate bequeathed to my sons Robert and
Stephen with the payment of the following legacies:
To my wife Grace £16 per annum for life free of all deductions, to
be paid out of Hewitt farm at the four usual Quarter Days, she to have power to
distrain if left unpaid.
To my wife also I leave the furniture, goods and chattels of the
parlour chamber in Hewitt farm house.
The annuity to her is bequeathed on condition that within 6 months
of my death she shall give a sufficient discharge to my Executors of all right
to my real estate by virtue of the custom of Kent or otherwise, and if she
refuse the bequest of the annuity is to be void.
I give to my son William Allen £400.
I give to my son Richard Allen £5 only because my wife has an
Estate vested in herself and her heirs over which I have no power but only for
my life. She has promised to leave the property, consisting of 3 houses and some
parcels of land containing about 7 acres in Halstead and Knockholt to my son
Richard. If she should die without making any such devise and the estate should
descend to all my sons at my wife’s death then they should at once convey
their parts to my son Richard. In default thereof I charge all my said sons’
fortunes given to them in this will with so much deduction as will answer the
value of the Estate.
I give to my daughter Elizabeth £25 over and above what I have
given her in my lifetime.
I give to my daughter Ann £20, to my daughter Mary £133, to my
daughter Grace £133, to my daughter Sarah £133 at age 21or on marriage,
whichever is the sooner, the interest meanwhile to be applied by my Executors
for her maintenance and education. All these legacies are to be paid by my
Executors out of the money left to them in Trust.
I give all residue of my real and personal Estate to my sons Robert
and Stephen to hold as tenants in common, and I appoint them as my Executors.
My son Robert shall hold my farm called Hewitt farm and lands for
any term or number of years he may think fit provided he gives for the same as
much annual rent as may be got from any other person.
Robert X Allen witnesses Thomas Whiffin Willm: Child of Chelsfield
Hen: Nurse of Cliffords Inn.
Proved 10 December 1742 by Robert and Stephen
Allen [PCC will
PROB11/722]
Transcribed by Geoffrey
Copus