Chelsfield Wills - Part 1
Abstracts of will from Chelsfield proved in
the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
John Fuller
of Chelsfield dated 2 December 1811
Abstract of the will of John Fuller of Chelsfield
gentleman dated 2 December 1811.
"First and most principally I resign my poor and
immortal soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator and my Body I
commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my dear
wife and my Executors hereinafter named.
I leave to my wife Sarah for life while she continue a widow
an annuity or annual rent charge of £200 payable out of my messuage
called Hewitts with the barns, stables, buildings, hop kiln, yards,
gardens, orchards and appurtenances and land belonging, in the parishes of
Chelsfield and Shoreham; and also out of my messuage called Paxhouse and
certain other messuages and lands hereinafter mentioned and devised for
the benefit of my daughter Sarah Waring and her children, in Chelsfield,
Shoreham and Halstead, to be paid to my wife quarterly.
The premises out of which the rentcharge is to be paid are -
Hewitts, now in my own occupation, comprising -
in Chelsfield:
Barns, stables etc. - 3.2.13
Fostals - 0.2.30
Clarks field part hop ground and
part orchard - 11.0.26
Shaw field - 13.0.26
Rose Croft Orchard - 8.0.05
Birchwood field - 8.2.13
Kitchen Croft - 2.1.36
Newlands - 4.1.25
in Shoreham:
Great Hallows Wood - 44.1.14
Saunder Spring Wood - 13.0.19
Saunder Spring Wood outrun - 33
Saunders field - 16.3.18
also the following land and premises in Chelsfield -
The Twenty Acre Croft 10.3.38
The further Twenty Acre Croft - 11.3.23
Barn field Parnel Broom - 16.3.34
Great Parnel Broom - 20.2.28
Little Parnel Broom - 14.1.14
Cross Angles - 15.2.24
Knighten Grove - 11.0.26
Barnfield Crab Croft - 19.2.30
The sixteen acres Gossen Hill - 17.0.24
Great Gossen Hill - 24.0.06
Great Hogsland Bank - 12.1.14
also all that messuage called Pax House with the yard and
barn thereto belonging, in Chelsfield, now in my occupation and that of
Sarah Brooker and Charles Thomas:
also a piece of meadow land in Shoreham now in my occupation
containing 3.0.22.
also 4 messuages with the gardens belonging in Shoreham, in
the occupation of William Saker and his undertenants Abraham Gordon and
George May
also a messuage, farm and lands containing 14.3.26 in
Shoreham in the occupation of John Fletcher
also a messuage, garden and orchard containing 1.0.31 in
Halstead, in the occupation of William Dunmoll and myself
also 6 messuages or cottages containing 0.2.30 and a piece of
orchard ground containing 0.2.31 at Well Hill in the parishes of
Chelsfield and Shoreham, now or late in the occupation of William Miles,
John Johnson, James Sawyer, Stephen Testor, Thomas Dunmoll, Thomas Brook
and Thomas French
also several pieces of land and wood in Shoreham and
Chelsfield called :
Great Pascals Wood - 14.0.33
Great Pascalls field - 7.3.28
Little Pascalls field - 5.1.32
Cumberlands (including part of
Homefield and Upper Betts) - 11.3.31
also, in Chelsfield :
Two pieces of land called Hogsland
Bank or Little Hogsland - 4.2.00
Little Chelsfield Hill 3.2.09
also, in Shoreham, an orchard and planted wood called the
Strakes containing 3.0.00, being part of the premises lately purchased by
me of Mr. Charles Lewis and now in the occupation of Henry Price.
All of the above lands and premises I leave to my wife’s
nephews James Colyer of Dartford miller and Charles Colyer of Farningham
miller, their heirs and assigns, On Trust for these purposes -
that the said James Colyer and Charles Colyer and the
survivor of them and the heirs and assigns of such survivor shall and do
pay apply and dispose of the rents, issues and profits of the said Trust
Estate (after payment of the annuity to my wife) for the benefit of my
daughter Sarah the wife of Thomas Waring, or otherwise permit her to
receive and take the same to her own sole and separate use, exclusive of
her present or any future husband, for her lifetime.
After her death, the Trustees are to stand seized of the
premises In Trust for such one or more child or children of the body of my
daughter Sarah lawfully begotten or to be begotten, for such Estate or
Estates, Interest or Interests therein whether absolute or limited
subject to such provisions or payment of any sum or
sums of money to the others or other of such children, or other conditions
as she by any deed or by her last will shall direct
and for want of such direction, to be held On Trust for
every the children of my daughter Sarah Waring and the heirs of his, her
or their body equally, as tenants in common. If any such child die without
issue then his or her part to to go to the survivor or survivors equally.
For want of such issue my Trustees are to hold the
premises In Trust for my daughter Mary Fuller for her lifetime, and after
her death for any of her children and the heirs of their bodies.
If both my daughters die without issue of their bodies then
my Trustees are to stand seized of the premises for the benefit of my wife
Sarah for life while still a widow, and at her death -
one moiety In Trust for the benefit of my cousin Thomas
Fuller for life, then In Trust for the heirs of his body for ever. In
default of such issue, then In Trust for my cousin Elizabeth Waring, wife
of Richard Waring, and the heirs of her body for ever:
the other moiety In Trust for my said cousin Elizabeth Waring
for her lifetime, then to the heirs of her body for ever. For want of such
issue, then to my cousin Thomas Fuller and the heirs of his body. If both
my daughters should die without issue then the premises held in trust
shall be charged equally with the payment of these legacies -
to John Chapman, the natural son of my cousin Thomas Chapman
by one Martha Driver, and to my cousins William Chapman of Keston and
Elizabeth the wife of William Smith of Cudham £500 each. In case of the
death of either of them having left issue of his her or their body
lawfully begotten then to such issue equally.
If my said cousin William Chapman shall die without lawful
issue then his natural son Thomas Chapman shall have the £500 given to
his father.
I give to my wife Sarah for life while my widow a further
annuity of £200 payable out of all my messuages and lands next
hereinafter devised to my Trustees upon the Trusts hereinafter mentioned,
for the benefit of my said wife and her children, which I accordingly
charge and make chargeable therewith and direct to be paid to my wife
quarterly.
The premises are -
in Chelsfield, in my own occupation:
Clarks Orchard - 1.0.35
Little Clarks, arable land adjoining
the above - 1.1.30
2 pieces called Dulleys and Shaw,
now laid into the Lower Well field - 7.0.00
Systead - 23.0.15
Well Hill Shaw - 0.1.30
Row Garden Shaw - 1.1.35
Willow Shaw - 0.2.29
Cockersland Shaw - 1.0.23
Pax Eight Acres - 8.1.07
3 messuages or tenements in the occupation of Elizabeth
Jennings, Thomas Hills and Thomas Johnson;
a messuage or tenement with buildings, field, garden and
orchard in the occupation of Thomas Staples, in Chelsfield, containing
2.1.00;
also in Chelsfield -
A piece of land called New Field - 6.0.17
Chelsfield Hill Yard and barn with
the right of way or passage to
and from it 0.0.37
Wimple Hill - 9.0.39
Pax Broom field with part of
Watts Broom field now laid in
to Wimple Hill - 3.2.16
Watts Broom Ashes - 1.1.18
Watts Broom Wood - 6.2.08
Wimble [sic] Spring - 1.2.12
Wimple Hill Berry - 8.0.36
Turnpike field - 11.1.02
Middle Upper field - 7.2.00
Middle Lower field - 8.0.32
Upper Further Chelsfield Hill - 10.0.17
Lower Further Chelsfield Hill - 10.0.16
Shaw in ditto - 0.1.27
A messuage in Chelsfield called the Walnut Tree House in the
occupation of Mr. John Oddboy.
The Hop kiln and yard and about 5.0.24 of hop ground
adjoining the said Hop Kiln belonging to the said messuage but now in my
own occupation, and the Walnut Tree Orchard - 0.1.36
A messuage and land in Chelsfield in the occupation of Thomas
Brookes with the part he now uses which formerly belonged to Walnut Tree,
and a part of Homefield - 18.1.30.
A messuage or farm House called
Bucks Cross with the barns stables
outhouses yards gardens and
orchards thereto, in Chelsfield - 1.3.28
Lands in Chelsfield belonging to the Farm called -
Peas Croft - 3.2.27
Cave Croft, now laid to Leach Croft - 3.2.20
Godly Haw laid to Clarks Orchard - 0.1.19
Bucks Croft and Great field together - 13.3.39
Oatfield now called Upper Denvil - 8.0.22
Lower Denvil - 7.3.30
Land Way Shaw - 0.0.23
Russia Croft - 11.1.16
Upper Well field - 10.3.22
Lower Well field - 10.2.04
Well field Shaw - 0.3.17
Bush Ridden - 14.2.07
Broad field Bank - 6.1.06
Broad field Bottom - 5.1.00
Ovend Wood with the part originally
called Marters Hole - 24.0.14
A messuage or tenement in the occupation of Thomas Morgan
victualler called the Five Bells with the stable buildings gardens
orchards and appurtenances adjoining West to the Street of Chelsfield.
also a barn and 2 pieces of land in my possession called
Sadlers Crofts - 4.1.14
and all those pieces of land in Chelsfield called:
The Bells four acres - 3.2.35
The Shaw in ditto - 1.1.02
The Slip - 1.3.30
The Shaw therein 0.1.16
Black Bush wood - 3.0.29
Bells two acres - 1.3.15
The shaw therein - 0.1.20
The site of a messuage or tenement and buildings called Leach
croft and two pieces of land - Leach croft and Leach croft orchard, in
Chelsfield - 5.0.13.
A messuage or Farm and lands belonging at or near Skidhill in
St. Mary Cray, Orpington and Lullingstone containing about 24 acres.
5 messuages or cottages in Chelsfield in the occupation of
Thomas French, George Day, Richard Rowell, Ephraim Dabner and John Kember.
5 messuages or tenements in Orpington in the occupation of
John Joiner, Thomas Fleming, Elizabeth Harman, Abraham Richards and John
White.
A messuage, tenement and farm called Gillman Brimstones with
the stables, barns,outhouses, buildings, yards, gardens and
orchards thereto - 1.0.19
Lands in Chelsfield belonging to the farm called -
Cart Lodge field - 4.0.37
Upper Swiers - 3.3.15
Lower Swiers and Shaw - 6.3.10
Crow Croft - 5.1.27
Ridden - 7.3.08
The Shaw therein - 0.1.28
Kit Ash - 6.1.07
The Shaw therein - 0.1.03
High Beach field - 6.3.32
High Beach Wood - 2.3.07
Upper Bibletts - 5.3.34
Lower Bibletts - 7.2.32
Biblets Shaw - 1.3.06
Bigg Croft - 4.2.34
Upper Sour Land or Three
Cornered field - 3.1.37
Lower Sour Land - 4.0.36
Jack Gibs Croft - 2.2.20
also a messuage or tenement with outbuildings, garden,
orchard and appurtenances in Chelsfield in the occupation of Henry Price,
being the residue of the premises purchased by me of Charles Lewis.
I leave all these premises to the said James and Charles
Colyer, their heirs and assigns, In Trust to apply the rents and profits
(after payment of the annuity last-mentioned) for the benefit of my
daughter Mary Fuller for life.
After her death, my Trustees are to stand seized of the said
premises In Trust for any child of my daughter Mary lawfully begotten and
the heirs of his her or their bodies lawfully begotten as joint tenants.
In default of such issue, then On Trust to pay the rents and
profits to my daughter Sarah Waring for life. After her death, to hold In
Trust for the benefit of her children equally.
If both daughters die without lawful heirs of their bodies
then In Trust for the benefit of my wife while a widow, and after her
death In Trust for the benefit of the said James and Charles Colyer and
their heirs as tenants in common in equal shares, for ever; provided
always that if by the death of both my said daughters without issue the
last-mentioned premises should come to be otherwise vested in Interests in
the said James and Charles Colyer, in such case I do hereby charge the
same with the payment of the several legacies next mentioned, to be paid
within 6 months after such Interest shall vest in them, that is to say -
To John Chapman, natural son of my cousin Thomas Chapman
deceased and to my cousins William Chapman and Elizabeth wife of William
Smith £850 each if then living, and to such brothers and sisters of my
wife then living £500 each. In case of the death of the said John Chapman
or either of them my said cousins or brothers and sisters of my wife
leaving lawful issue then I give such bequest to such children equally. If
my cousin William Chapman die without lawful issue then his natural son
Thomas Chapman shall have William’s legacy.
[further lengthy provisions, not containing any further
information of interest - not abstracted].
As to my personal estate, I give my daughter Mary Fuller
£3000 and my wife £500, both to be paid within 6 months, and £100 to be
paid to my wife immediately after my death.
I give to my wife to her own use all my household furniture,
plate, linen and china. I give all my books equally between my two
daughters.
To my two Trustees £100 each for their care and trouble.
To my brother in law Thomas Colyer of Eynsford £100. To my
old and faithful servant Stephen Testor £20 and to my servants Sarah
Booker, John Jewell and George Day £5 each.
All my monies, securities for money, monies in the public
Stocks or Funds, live and dead stock, implements of husbandry and all
residue of personal estate to my Trustees on trust to sell all such part
as does not consist of money and to place the proceeds at interest in such
Government Stocks etc. as they think fit on Trust -
to pay out of one moiety £2000 to my son in law Thomas
Waring, and the interest on the residue of this moiety to my daughter
Sarah Waring for life for her own sole and separate use and benefit so
that the same may not be at the disposal of or subject to the control
debts or engagements of her present or any after-taken husband but only at
her own sole and separate disposal. At her death my Trustees shall stand
possessed of this residue in trust for the benefit of her children and
grandchildren in such proportions as she by will or otherwise shall
determine and in default thereof for all her children equally at age 21 or
on lawful marriage.
The other moiety to be held for the benefit of my daughter
Mary Fuller on similar terms, and failing issue then to my daughter Sarah
Waring for life, then to her children.
It shall be lawful for my Trustees with the consent of my
daughters to change or vary the Stocks etc. and to lay out and invest all
or any part of the Trust monies in the purchase of any Manors, messuages,
lands etc. of freehold or copyhold tenure, which shall be conveyed to my
Trustees and their heirs and shall be considered as personal Estate and
held on Trust in the same way as the Stocks etc.
I appoint the said James and Charles Colyer my Executors.
Witnesses, Tho: Walker, Geo: P Dyer, John Walcot.
First Codicil dated 29 August 1817.
I appoint Robert Waring of St. Mary Cray farmer to be a
Trustee in place of Charles Colyer, and I add the names of my two
daughters as Trustees of my personal Estate. I revoke the £100 left to
Charles Colyer and leave him £50 instead. I leave £100 to Robert Waring
for his care and trouble.
I direct that the Barn called Chelsfield Hill Barn and all
those 5 messuages or tenements in Orpington in the occupation of Messrs.
Joiner, Fleming, Harman, Richards and White and also the messuage or
tenement etc. in Chelsfield in the occupation of Henry Price which are now
included in the hereditaments given In Trust for my daughter Mary Fuller
shall now go along and pass with the hereditaments given in my will In
Trust for my daughter Sarah Waring and her issue.
The two orchards in Halstead containing about 7 acres, part
of Brooks’s Estate, lately purchased by me, shall pass with the
hereditaments devised in trust for the benefit of my daughter Sarah Waring.
The messuage or tenement lately erected by me in Russia
Croft, Chelsfield, with the outhouses and appurtenances, shall pass and go
along with the hereditaments devised In Trust for my daughter Mary Fuller
and her issue. I revoke the legacy of £2000 to my son in law Thomas
Waring out of a moiety of my personal estate and I direct that the whole
of the moiety shall pass for the benefit of my daughter Sarah Waring, her
children and grandchildren.
I give my daughter Sarah Waring £1500 for her own use and
benefit and £1000 3% Bank annuities, to which I am entitled under the
will of the late Mrs. Gandy immediately after the decease of Mrs.
Elizabeth Lawson Stick, to my son in law Thomas Waring and I do desire him
to make the same allowance for the said Mrs. Stick during her life as are
now made by me in addition to her present income.
I revoke the appointment of Charles Colyer as Executor and
appoint instead my two daughters to act with Robert Waring and my wife.
[details about the appointment of new Trustees, not taken].
Tho: Walker, Geo: P. Dyer, J. Walcot.
Second Codicil dated 30 September 1818.
Since making my Will and adding the first Codicil I
have purchased a certain messuage, farm, lands and tenement in Chelsfield
of Mr. James Biggs.
I therefore devise to James Colyer and Robert Waring my
Trustees all that messuage or tenement in Chelsfield now in the occupation
of the said James Biggs with the barn, stable, buildings and appurtenances
and also the several pieces of land belonging containing 56.2.05, which
are described in the map of the said Farm, that is to say -
The Homestall - 0.1.35
The garden - 0.1.32
The orchard - 0.2.12
The four and half acre piece - 5.0.13
The Hop Garden - 3.0.32
The Lower four acre field - 4.0.36
The five acre field - 5.3.06
The upper four acre field - 4.2.31
The upper six acre field - 6.1.37
The lower six acre field - 5.1.09
The eleven acre field - 11.1.34
Breach field - 8.0.28
The Land Way - 0.2.20
- several of which said lands are now intermixed and laid
together and are with the said messuage and buildings part of the premises
purchased by me of the said James Biggs;
to hold the same unto my Trustees in the same way as
expressed in my will and first codicil, for the benefit of my daughter
Sarah Waring and her issue.
I also devise to my Trustees all that messuage or tenement
with the garden in the occupation of William Davies containing 0.1.9; also
a field called Coblers croft in the occupation of Thomas Brooker
containing 2.0.37; Great Well Hill field in the occupation of Thomas
Brooker [? Brookes] containing 6.2.38, Little Well field, [sic] 2.0.34, in
my own occupation, Little Well Hill field Shaw, 37 perches, also in my own
occupation, making in the whole 11.2.35 and being the remainder of the
premises purchased by me of James Biggs, to hold In Trust similarly for
the benefit of my daughter Mary Fuller and her issue.
I give £2500 to my Trustees and my two daughters for the
purposes expressed in my will and first codicil for the benefit of my
daughter Mary Fuller, her children and grandchildren, this amount being
intended to equalise the portions of my two daughters.
Witnesses Tho: Walker, Attorney, Dartford, Wm: Thompson, Wm:
Hubbard his clerks.
The will with two codicils was proved 29 January 1820 by
James Colyer and Robert Waring, with power reserved to Sarah Fuller the
relict and Sarah, wife of Thomas Waring, and Mary Fuller spinster, the
daughters, the other Executors named.
Proved 14 June 1820 by Sarah Waring and Mary Fuller, with power reserved
to Sarah Fuller widow.
[PCC will PROB 11/1624]
Transcribed by Geoffrey
Copus