Chelsfield Wills - Part 1
Abstracts of will from Chelsfield proved in
the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
Thomas Phillips of Chelsfield dated
22 January 1812
Abstract of the will of Thomas Phillips of Norsted in
Chelsfield yeoman dated 22 January 1812.
By virtue of a deed of Settlement made in prospect of a
marriage with my dear wife Alice Phillips and by virtue of an appointment
thereof since made by myself and my wife, my messuage, farm and lands in
Downe late in my own occupation and now in that of the Rev. Mr. John Bull
and myself is and are settled to the use of my two eldest sons Thomas and
John Phillips and their heirs, subjects to such Estate as I and my wife
are entitled to therein, now I do hereby give and devise to my two younger
sons George Waker Phillips and William Waker Phillips all that my barn and
several closes or parcels of arable land which contain by estimation
together 12 acres at or near Fairtrough in Chelsfield, late in the
occupation of Mrs. Jackson and now in my own occupation.
I also devise to them all that my 3 messuages or cottages and
blacksmith’s shop with the ground, gardens and appurtenances, which I
purchased from John Gardner of Croydon, Innholder, being at Pratts Bottom
and now or late in the occupation of John Staples, George Cope and John
Davis [?]:
also all my messuage or tenement with garden and
appurtenances now in the occupation of James Sawyer and also all those two
closes or parcels of land containing 4½ acres belonging to the said
messuage, and late in the occupation of the said James Sawyer and now in
my own occupation, in the parish of Downe:
also all the four newly-erected brick cottages or tenements
by me built and erected on part of the said last-mentioned land or ground,
and now in the several occupations of Edward Osborn, Timothy Sales, -----
Lettington and Sarah Sadd, to hold to the use of them the said George
Waker Phillips and William Phillips and their heirs for ever as tenants in
common.
In case either of them wish at any time hereafter to
sell and dispose of his moiety, option shall first be offered to the other
son "so as not to disunite the said estates from the family."
I give to my two eldest sons Thomas and John Phillips all
those two closes or parcels of land containing about 12 acres, being at or
near Farthen street in Downe, called Larks Land and Shepherds Haw,
heretofore the estate and inheritance of George Durling formerly of Downe
yeoman, deceased, to them and their heirs for ever as tenants in common.
I also devise to them all that messuage or tenement
with the barn, stable, outbuildings, yard, garden, orchard and
appurtenances and all those 8 closes or parcels of arable land thereto
belonging containing about 14 acres in Chelsfield, now in the occupation
of William Burkin, lately purchased of John Butcher of Knockholt, yeoman,
to them and their heirs for ever as tenants in common, subject to the
following payments :–
To my dear wife £100. To my two sons George Waker and
William Waker Phillips £100 each. To each of my daughters Susannah
Phillips, Mary Phillips and Catherine Phillips £400 each if they are 21
at the time of my death, or else at age 21 or on marriage, provided they
marry with the privity and consent of my Executors, the survivors of any
who die to be their heirs.
To each of my eldest sons Thomas and John Phillips £10
for mourning, I having already provided for them in placing them out in
Business. To my four daughters Elizabeth Harris widow, Sarah Tibbs wife of
George Tibbs, Ann Noah wife of James Noah and Alice Hulme wife of William
Brown Hulme £10 each, I having already advanced them their several
Marriage Portions.
My wife Alice as long as she continue my widow and my two
sons George Waker and William Waker Phillips with the advice and
assistance of my eldest son and Executor Thomas Phillips shall jointly
carry on, occupy and manage the farm lands and business which I now stock,
occupy and manage as I conceive the same together with Industry and
frugality and what I have given to them by this my Will will be a
Provision and Maintenance for them respectively and enable them to
maintain educate and bring up all my younger children who at the time of
my death shall be minors in a manner suitable to their degrees
respectively. Therefore I give to my wife and to my two younger sons
George Waker and William Waker Phillips all residue of my personal estate
and effects for their own use, share and share alike upon Trust that my
said sons and wife will maintain, educate and bring up all my younger
children to their age of 21 years respectively. My wife while she remain a
widow and my two sons Thopmas and George Waker Phillips are to be my
Executors. My wife shall not claim any Dower, Moiety or Thirds or Widow’s
Right.
Witnesses Edward Latter Ann Latter Townsend [?] Gladdish, all
of Bromley.
Codicil dated 20 April 1814.
I have lately purchased from Messrs. William Walton,
Christopher Walton and John Walton and William Walton the younger, the
heirs in Gavelkind of Henry Walton late of Down Hall Esq., all those
several closes, pieces or parcels of arable, meadow and pasture land in
Downe called Friday Croft (6.3.16) Barfield (3-3-18). Lower Chalk Croft
(4-1-18), Upper Chalk Croft (3-2-15), Longfield (3-0-31) and Barn Croft
(10-1-4) together containing 36 acres 3 roods 6 perches, now in my own
occupation, lately in that of William Wass. I give these lands to my
eldest sons Thomas and John Phillips and their heirs as tenants in common,
subject to the payment of £400 to my son George Waker Phillips and £400
to my son William Waker Phillips.
Witnesses Edward Latter, John Nash of Chelsfield, Samuel Bignal servant to
Mr. Phillips.
Proved 30 May 1816 by Alice Phillips widow the relict and Thomas Phillips
and George Waker Phillips the sons. [PCC
will PROB11/1580]
Transcribed by Geoffrey
Copus