Ancestors of Mandy Willard

The Will of

Thomas RENVILL (c1742-1815)

This is the last will and testament of me Thomas Renvill of the parish of Bolney in the County of Sussex yeoman.

Inprimis I will and direct that all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses be fully paid and satisfied by my executors hereinafter named.

Item I give and devise unto my son in law Moses Wells of Slaugham in the said County farmer and my son William Renvill of Bolney in the said County farmer all that my freehold messuage or tenement with the barn buildings farm and lands thereto belonging called Jeremys or by whatsoever other name or names the same or any part or parcel thereof are is have or hath been called or known containing by admeasurement thirty four acres two roods thirty three perches situate lying and being in the parish of Bolney aforesaid and now in my own occupation and in the occupation of my son William Renvill and which I sometime since purchased of the Reverend Anthony Nott Clerk to hold the same unto the said Moses Wells and William Renvill their heirs and assigns in trust that they the said Moses Wells and William Renvill or the survivor of them or their heirs of such survivor so and shall so soon after my decease as conveniently may be absolutely sell and dispose of the said messuage barn buildings farm lands and premises with their appurtenances either by public sale or auction or by private contract or in such other way or manner as the said Moses Wells and William Renvill or the survivor of them or his heirs shall see fit for the best price and most money that can or may be reasonably had or obtained for the same and out of the money thereby arising in the first place to pay and discharge all cost charges and expenses attending such sales and also in trust to pay and equally divide in four parts that is to say one fourth to the said William Renvill one fourth to Jane wife of the said Moses Wells one fourth to my grandsons and daughter of the wife of William Green namely Mary Green William Green Thomas Green John Green Stephen Green Richard Green share and share alike one fourth to my grandson Richard Renvill respectively when and as they shall severally attain their respective age of one and twenty years with the accumulation thereof and I also hereby give and bequeath to their heirs executors and administrators accordingly provided always and I do hereby declare that all and every person or persons to whom the said Moses Wells and William Renvill the survivor of them or his heirs shall by virtue of this my will make sale offer convey the said messuage barn buildings farm lands and premises by me hereinbefore directed to be sold and his her and their heirs executors administrators and assigns upon his her or their share of the purchase money unto the said Moses Wells and William Renvill or the survivor of them or his heirs and having their his or her receipt for the same shall be effectively discharged therefrom and shall not be liable to … to the application thereof or be answerable for any loss misapplication or nonapplication of such purchase money or of any part thereof and shall have hold and enjoy the said messuage barn buildings farm land hereditaments and premises absolutely paid and discharged of and from the trust created by this my will provided also and my will is that in case my said grandson Richard Renvill shall happen to die under the age of twenty one without leaving issue of his body lawfully begotten the said legacy or sum by me given and bequeathed to him shall be deemed and considered as part of the residue of my personal estate.

Also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Jane wife of the said Moses Wells a brown corner cupboard in oak … in the kitchen six chairs two barrels a deal chest for drapery one bed and bedstead three pair of sheets two brass candlesticks two iron candlesticks twenty five pewter plates one copper pottage pot one brew tub one clock one watch and a table to and for her own absolute use and benefit.

As to all the rest and residue of my personal estate and effects of whatsoever kind soever and wheresoever I may die possessed of interested in or entitled unto I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said son William Renvill and Jane the wife of the said Moses Wells and to my grandsons and daughter of the wife of William Green and to my grandson Richard Renvill share and share alike as before mentioned their executors and administrators equally to be divided between them share and share alike.

And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said son William Renvill and my said son in law Moses Wells in trust of this my will hereby revoking and making void all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made and I declare this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I the said Thomas Renvill the testator  have to this my last will and testament contained in two sheets set my hand and seal also the twenty fifth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen.  Thomas Renvill.  Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Renvill the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses John Booker Edward Dowlen Josiah Renvill

The will of Thomas Renvill late of Bolney within the Archdeaconry of Lewes yeoman deceased was proved the twenty third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixteen before the Reverend Edward Robert Raynes Clerk Surrogate and so forth upon the oaths of William Renvill and Moses Wells the executors in the said will named to whom was committed the administration of the goods etc they being first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same and so forth.  Sworn also that the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased did not amount in value unto twenty pounds.

Transcribed by Rosie Ansell, August 2005