Ancestors of Mandy Willard

The Will of

Robert STICKLAND (1731-1794)

This is the last Will and Testamant of me Robert Stickland of Bardown in the parish of Ticehurst in the County of Sussex Yeomon touching the disposition of such temporal Estate as it hath pleased Almighty God of his goodness to bestow upon me as follows that is to say I give and devise unto my dear wife Elizabeth and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life all those my Messuages or Tenements with the Barn Buildings Lands and Hereditaments thereto respectively belonging situate lying and being at or near Best Beech Hill in the parish of Wadhurst in the said County called Cheesmans and also all other my Messuages Lands Tenements hereditaments and Real Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and from and after her decease then I give and devise my said Messuages or Tenements with the Barn Buildings Lands Hereditaments Rights [---] and Appurtenances thereto respectively belonging called Cheesmans aforsaid and also all other my Messuages Farms Lands and Tenaments Hereditaments and Real Estate whatsoever and wheresoever unot my sons John Estmond and Joseph Stickland and my daughters Elizabeth (the wife of Nicholas Barham of Wadhurst aforesaid wheelwright) Margaret (the wife of John Squires of Dallington in the said County Farmer) Mary (the wife of Daniel Kettle of Ticehurst aforesaid Farmer) and Philly Stickland To hold to them my aforesaid sons and daughters their heirs and assigns forever as tenanents in common and not as joint tenants And as to for touching and concerning my personal Estate I give and dispose thereof in manner following that is to say First I charge the same to and with the payment of all such just debts as I shall happen to owe at the time of my decease my Funeral Expenses and the charges of proving this my Will and so charged I give and bequeath unto my siad son John Stickland the sum of Five pounds [---] to be paid to him within twelve months next after my decease by my Executor hereafter named to his own proper use and benefit Also I give and bequeath to my said son Estmond Stickland the sume of One hundred pounds the same to be paid to him within twelve months next after my decease by my Executor hereafter named to his own proper use and benefit Also I give and bequeath unto my said son Joseph Stickland the like sume of  One hundred pounds the same to be held and taken by him to his own use within twelve months next after my decease Also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Elizabeth wife of the said Nicholas Barham the like Sum of One hundred pounds the same to be paid to her within twelve months next after my decease by my Executor hereafter named to her own proper use and benefit Also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Margaret the wife of the said John Squires the sum of Fifty pounds the same to be paid to her within twelve months next after my decease by my Executor hereafter named to her own proper use and benefit Also I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Mary the wife of the said Daniel Kettle the like Sume of Fifty pounds the same to be paid to her within twelve months next after my decease by my Executor hereafter named to her own proper use and benefit and as to for touching and concerning the rest Residue and Remainder of my personal Estate I give and bequeath the use interest [---] and [---] thereof unto him my said son Joseph Stickland to his own sole use for and during the term of the natural life of her my said dear wife Elizabeth charged and chargable nevertheless with the payment of an annuity or [---] yearly sum of twelve pounds to her my said dear wife for and during the term of her natural life the same to be paid to her by him my said son Joseph by two equal half yearly payments the first payment thereof to begin and be made at the end of six months next after my decease and from and after her decease then I give and bequeath all the residue of my  said personal estate unto him my said son Joseph and all other my aforesaid children as well daughters and sons equally to be divided between them share and share alike to their several and respective use and uses and in case of the death of one or more of them my said children without leaving issue of their respective bodies lawfully begotten my will is that their part or share parts or shares of him her or them so dying shall go unto the survivors or survivor of them And my will further is and I do hereby order and direct that a true just and perfect inventory and appraisement be made and taken of the residue of my said personal estate and that [---] part of such inventory and appraisement be signed by my son Joseph Stickland and deposited in the hands of my other sons and daughter aforesaid and that a counterpart thereof be also signed by them and left with him my said son Joseph Stickland to the intent that the Residue of my said personal Estate [---] be perfectly ascertained and [---] at the time of the decease of my said dear wife provided always nevertheless and my will further is that nothing in this my will contained shall extend or be deemed to extend to give any Right or Interest unto my aforesaid sons John and Estmond or any of my aforesaid daughters of in or to any lease or leases for [---] of years [---] at the time of my decease granted to me by any person or persons whoinsoever for the using or occupying any Lands or Tenements whatsoever it being my will that be my aforesaid son Joseph do take such Lease or Leases to his own proper use and further I make nominate constitute and appoint him my said son Joseph Stickland sole Executor of this my last will and Testerment and do appoint my aforesaid Son in Law Nicholas Barham and Thomas ??ppes of Lamberhurst in the said County of Sussex Innholder supervisors of this my will to see the same only performed and lastly I hereby revoke all former wills by me made and declare this only to be my last will and Testament in witness whereof I the said Robert Stickland the Testator have to each sheet of this my last Will and Testament contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and seal this first day of June in the year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety Robt Stickland Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Robert Stickland 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 Jno Newington ~ Rich Vigor ~ John Farmer

This Will was proved at London the twenty first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four before the worshipful George Parris Doctor or Laws Surrogate of the Right Honourable Sir William [---] Knight also Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissory of this prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Joseph Stickland the son of the deceased and sole Executor named in the said will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular

Transcribed by Mandy Willard on 7 May 2007 from a digitised copy of the original document, ref.  Prob 11/1246, held at the Public Record Office.

STRICKLAND