Ancestors of Mandy Willard

The Will of

Richard PEARSON (c1675-1750)

In the Name of God Amen the twenty forth Day of March one Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Eight Nine I Richard Pearson of the parish of Woolbeding being in Good Health and of perfect mind and memory Thanks be to Almighty God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my Body and Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the general Resurection I shall receive the same again by the mighty posser of God And as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this World I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form First Item I give and bequeath to my Son Richard Pearson the Brickin Yard meadow and meadows Garden during his Life and to his son Richard Pearson after his Decease with condition he shall pay the mortgage or keep the Interest paid and allow a free passage through the yard to the Garden belonging to the Dwelling House Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ann Pearson Twenty Shillings per Annum to be paid her Yearly by my Son Richard Pearson his Heirs Executors and Administrators during her Life Item I give and bequeath to my Well beloved Wife Mary Pearson my Dwelling House Garden and Orchard during her Life and after her decease to my Grandson Richard Pryar and she is to put or cause to be put to School the children of my Daughter Ann Pryar three years Each to learn to Read Item I give and bequeath to my son in law William Pryar all my Wearing Aparrel both Linnen and Woollen Item I give & bequeath to my son in law Thomas Denyer five shillings to be paid him by my Executrix one year after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandson William Denyer five shillings to be paid him by my Executrix when he comes of age Item I give and bequeath to my Grandaughter Jane Fulljames Five Shillings and one pewter dish to be delivered unto her by my Executrix when she comes of age Item I give to Well beloved Wife Mary Pearson whom I likewise constitute make and ordain my Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament all my Goods [---] fully enjoyed by her and I do hereby [---] disallow revoke and disannull all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies and Bequests and Executors by me in any ways before named willed and bequeathed [--lifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament In Witness [---] of I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Eighth day of July and in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Nine Richard Pearson Signed Sealed published and declared to be the Last Will and Testament of Richard Pearson in the presence of us the Subscribers Mary Howard her mark Henry Eade his mark Jon Edwards

This Will was proved before the Reverend Mr John Hancocke Clerk Surrogate on the Eighth of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty by the oath of Mary Pearson Widow Relict of the said Deced and Executrix of the above written Will to whom was well and truly and so forth sworne saving and so forth

Transcribed by Mandy Willard on 19 January 2007 from a photocopy of the original document held at the West Sussex Record Office, ref. STC1/39/22.

PEARSON