Ancestors of Mandy Willard

The Will of

John FREEMAN (c1665-1708)

In the name of God Amen I John Freeman of the parish of West Grinsted Sussex Labourer and husbandman being weak in body but of sound mind & memory (blessed by God) Doo make and appoint this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following First I comend my Soul into the hands of Almightly God who gave it at whatever hour it shall please him to call for it trusting only in the merits of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for the comfort Estate and happiness thereof Everlasting in the world to come and at for that worldly Estate and Temporall goods which it has or shall at the time of my death please God to bless me with all I doo hereby dispose of and bestow them in manner & forme following Imprimis I doo give and bequeath unto my Brother Richard Freeman of the parish of Shipley in the County of Sussex all my wearing apparell made of wooll which I [---] of And also Twelve pence in money to be paid within Nine months after my deceased Item unto Richard the son of Richard Freeman aforesaid One Shilling & Six pence also unto Mary his eldest Daughter and to John ~ Anne ~  Jane & Frances his other children I doo leave and bequeath One Shilling and Six pence a peice to be paid them severally and respectively at the end of Nine months after my death If they shall be then living Also unto Elizabeth Moor and her sisters Anne ~ Mary ~ Sarah to Richard ~ John ~ Anne and Jane being the children of Richard Moor of this parish I doo give One shilling a peice Also unto Elizabeth the daughter of Edward Dowlen and to Mary and Edward I doo give a Shilling a peice And to his youngest Daughter Sarah (my God daughter) I doo give the sum of Fortie Shillings to be paid within Nine Months after my decease on the condision aforesaid that she or any of them be alive at the said time of payment And lastley I doo nominate constitute and appoint Elizabeth my beloved wife to be the sole Executrix of this my Will and desire my brother Richard Moor to be assistant to her in disposing of the Legacies aforesaid after which discharged my intentions are that whatsoever remains over and above the said Legacies shall go to thereof & proper use of my Executrix before named In Witness whereof I have [---] sett my hand and seal this Nineteenth day of July being the fourth year of the reigne of our Sovraigne Lady Anne over England Scotland France and Ireland Queen Defender of the faith [---] Anoo Domi 1707 John Freeman his mark Signed Sealed and published in the presence of us John Woodward ~ Will Heryet ~ Thomas Butcher

The will was proved on 6 January 1708/9

WSRO ref. STC1/31 - transcribed by Mandy Willard on 3 January 2007

Notes

John's neice Frances Freeman married Edward Wickerson.  Their daughter Elizabeth Wickerson first married John Herriot in 1755 and then Richard Butcher in 1770.  I wonder if her 2 husbands were in anyway related to William Heryet and Thomas Butcher, who witnessed John's will?

A William Herriott married Timothea Burt on 15 May 1683 in West Grinstead.  There was also the marriage of William Herriot and Sarah Patching by banns on 4 March 1714/5 in West Grinstead.

John Woodward and Elizabeth White married by licence on 12 July 1764 in West Grinstead.  He was the the clerk/rector of the parish and she was a spinster of Horsham, Sussex.  Their marriage licence was issued by the Archdeaconry of Chichester on 12 July 1764 and recorded that John was a bachelor and clerk of West Grinstead aged 32 and Elizabeth was a 20 year old spinster who married with the consent of Bethia White, widow of Horsham.

FREEMAN