Chelsfield - Parish Information
Abstract of will from
Chelsfield proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
Geoffrey Copus.2005
Thomas
Phillips of Chelsfield dated 22
January 1812
Abstract of the will of Thomas Phillips of Norsted in
Chelsfield yeoman dated 22 January 1812.
By virtue of a deed of Settlement made in prospect of
a marriage with my dear wife Alice Phillips and by virtue of an
appointment thereof since made by myself and my wife, my messuage, farm
and lands in Downe late in my own occupation and now in that of the Rev.
Mr. John Bull and myself is and are settled to the use of my two eldest
sons Thomas and John Phillips and their heirs, subjects to such Estate
as I and my wife are entitled to therein, now I do hereby give and
devise to my two younger sons George Waker Phillips and William Waker
Phillips all that my barn and several closes or parcels of arable land
which contain by estimation together 12 acres at or near Fairtrough in
Chelsfield, late in the occupation of Mrs. Jackson and now in my own
occupation.
I also devise to them all that my 3 messuages or cottages
and blacksmith’s shop with the ground, gardens and appurtenances,
which I purchased from John Gardner of Croydon, Innholder, being at
Pratts Bottom and now or late in the occupation of John Staples, George
Cope and John Davis [?]:
also all my messuage or tenement with garden and
appurtenances now in the occupation of James Sawyer and also all those
two closes or parcels of land containing 4½ acres belonging to the said
messuage, and late in the occupation of the said James Sawyer and now in
my own occupation, in the parish of Downe:
also all the four newly-erected brick cottages or tenements
by me built and erected on part of the said last-mentioned land or
ground, and now in the several occupations of Edward Osborn, Timothy
Sales, ----- Lettington and Sarah Sadd, to hold to the use of them the
said George Waker Phillips and William Phillips and their heirs for ever
as tenants in common.
In case either of them wish at any time hereafter to
sell and dispose of his moiety, option shall first be offered to the
other son "so as not to disunite the said estates from the
family."
I give to my two eldest sons Thomas and John Phillips all
those two closes or parcels of land containing about 12 acres, being at
or near Farthen street in Downe, called Larks Land and Shepherds Haw,
heretofore the estate and inheritance of George Durling formerly of
Downe yeoman, deceased, to them and their heirs for ever as tenants in
common.
I also devise to them all that messuage or tenement
with the barn, stable, outbuildings, yard, garden, orchard and
appurtenances and all those 8 closes or parcels of arable land thereto
belonging containing about 14 acres in Chelsfield, now in the occupation
of William Burkin, lately purchased of John Butcher of Knockholt,
yeoman, to them and their heirs for ever as tenants in common, subject
to the following payments :–
To my dear wife £100. To my two sons George Waker and
William Waker Phillips £100 each. To each of my daughters Susannah
Phillips, Mary Phillips and Catherine Phillips £400 each if they are 21
at the time of my death, or else at age 21 or on marriage, provided they
marry with the privity and consent of my Executors, the survivors of any
who die to be their heirs.
To each of my eldest sons Thomas and John Phillips £10
for mourning, I having already provided for them in placing them out in
Business. To my four daughters Elizabeth Harris widow, Sarah Tibbs wife
of George Tibbs, Ann Noah wife of James Noah and Alice Hulme wife of
William Brown Hulme £10 each, I having already advanced them their
several Marriage Portions.
My wife Alice as long as she continue my widow and my two
sons George Waker and William Waker Phillips with the advice and
assistance of my eldest son and Executor Thomas Phillips shall jointly
carry on, occupy and manage the farm lands and business which I now
stock, occupy and manage as I conceive the same together with Industry
and frugality and what I have given to them by this my Will will be a
Provision and Maintenance for them respectively and enable them to
maintain educate and bring up all my younger children who at the time of
my death shall be minors in a manner suitable to their degrees
respectively. Therefore I give to my wife and to my two younger sons
George Waker and William Waker Phillips all residue of my personal
estate and effects for their own use, share and share alike upon Trust
that my said sons and wife will maintain, educate and bring up all my
younger children to their age of 21 years respectively. My wife while
she remain a widow and my two sons Thopmas and George Waker Phillips are
to be my Executors. My wife shall not claim any Dower, Moiety or Thirds
or Widow’s Right.
Witnesses Edward Latter Ann Latter Townsend [?] Gladdish,
all of Bromley.
Codicil dated 20 April 1814.
I have lately purchased from Messrs. William Walton,
Christopher Walton and John Walton and William Walton the younger, the
heirs in Gavelkind of Henry Walton late of Down Hall Esq., all those
several closes, pieces or parcels of arable, meadow and pasture land in
Downe called Friday Croft (6.3.16) Barfield (3-3-18). Lower Chalk Croft
(4-1-18), Upper Chalk Croft (3-2-15), Longfield (3-0-31) and Barn Croft
(10-1-4) together containing 36 acres 3 roods 6 perches, now in my own
occupation, lately in that of William Wass. I give these lands to my
eldest sons Thomas and John Phillips and their heirs as tenants in
common, subject to the payment of £400 to my son George Waker Phillips
and £400 to my son William Waker Phillips.
Witnesses Edward Latter, John Nash of Chelsfield, Samuel Bignal servant
to Mr. Phillips.
Proved 30 May 1816 by Alice Phillips widow the relict and Thomas
Phillips and George Waker Phillips the sons.
[PCC will PROB11/1580]
Transcribed by Geoffrey
Copus