Chelsfield - Parish Information
Abstract of will from
Chelsfield proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
Geoffrey Copus.2005
Robert Allen
of Chelsfield dated 3 October 1742
Abstract of the will of Robert Allen of Chelsfield
yeoman dated 3 October 1742.
To be buried "with a frugal expense" in
Chelsfield churchyard.
I give to my son James Allen my lease of Broak farm, where
he is now in possession, together with all my stock, husbandry gear,
goods, chattels and effects thereon, chargeable with the payment of £300
to my Executors.
I also leave to my son James a messuage and orchard in
Chelsfield in the occupation of Solomon Judd.
I give to my daughter Ann Brooks and her heirs for ever the
messuage or tenement and orchard in Chelsfield now in the occupation of
Francis Edwards.
I give to my sons Robert and Stephen Allen and their heirs
in Trust all my farm commonly called Hewitt with the messuage or
tenement, barns, stables, lands, woodlands and appurtenances which I
purchased of John Jewell, in Chelsfield and Shoreham, together with a
piece of land called Newlands used with the said farm, in Chelsfield,
all which premises are now in my own occupation.
I also give to them in Trust my land and woodland which I
bought of John Dunmell, which was part of Timber Garden farm, containing
about 60 acres in Shoreham, also in my own occupation.
They are to sell all or any part of the lands etc. left to
them in Trust, for the purposes hereinafter mentioned. I also leave them
all residue of goods and chattels and all personal estate whatsoever,
except for the furniture of the room hereinafter given to my wife, to
convert into ready money as soon as possible, and to apply the proceeds
as well as the £300 which my son James is to pay them, to the payment
of all debts wherein Robert and James are bound as securities with me,
and all other just debts.
I charge all my real estate bequeathed to my sons
Robert and Stephen with the payment of the following legacies:
To my wife Grace £16 per annum for life free of all
deductions, to be paid out of Hewitt farm at the four usual Quarter
Days, she to have power to distrain if left unpaid.
To my wife also I leave the furniture, goods and chattels
of the parlour chamber in Hewitt farm house.
The annuity to her is bequeathed on condition that within 6
months of my death she shall give a sufficient discharge to my Executors
of all right to my real estate by virtue of the custom of Kent or
otherwise, and if she refuse the bequest of the annuity is to be void.
I give to my son William Allen £400.
I give to my son Richard Allen £5 only because my wife has
an Estate vested in herself and her heirs over which I have no power but
only for my life. She has promised to leave the property, consisting of
3 houses and some parcels of land containing about 7 acres in Halstead
and Knockholt to my son Richard. If she should die without making any
such devise and the estate should descend to all my sons at my wife’s
death then they should at once convey their parts to my son Richard. In
default thereof I charge all my said sons’ fortunes given to them in
this will with so much deduction as will answer the value of the Estate.
I give to my daughter Elizabeth £25 over and above what I
have given her in my lifetime.
I give to my daughter Ann £20, to my daughter Mary £133,
to my daughter Grace £133, to my daughter Sarah £133 at age 21or on
marriage, whichever is the sooner, the interest meanwhile to be applied
by my Executors for her maintenance and education. All these legacies
are to be paid by my Executors out of the money left to them in Trust.
I give all residue of my real and personal Estate to my
sons Robert and Stephen to hold as tenants in common, and I appoint them
as my Executors.
My son Robert shall hold my farm called Hewitt farm and
lands for any term or number of years he may think fit provided he gives
for the same as much annual rent as may be got from any other person.
Robert X Allen witnesses Thomas Whiffin Willm: Child of
Chelsfield Hen: Nurse of Cliffords Inn.
Proved 10 December 1742 by Robert and Stephen Allen
[PCC will PROB11/722]
Transcribed by Geoffrey
Copus