WILL OF FRANCIS
BARRELL 1627-1680
WILL OF FRANCIS BARRELL, SERJEANT AT LAW 1680
In the name of God Amen. I Francis Barrell, Serjeant at Law, do make
this my last will and testament this sixteenth day of September in the
year One Thousand Six Hundred Seventy Eight.
First and principally I commend my immortal soul to the mercy and goodness
of Almighty God
eternal maker and .The interment of my corrupt body for direction of my
executrix without any
care concerning the same. Then it be done with all convenient privacy and
for that estate whereby God's blessing I enjoy (which is far exceeds what
at the hand of God. Yet by reason of sickness
and trouble I have undergone in the world, will the opinion or pains I
have taken) I give and bequeath the same to and amoung my dear wife and
children in such manner as is hereinafter mentioned. In I give and bequeath
to my executrix afore named in trust for my two daughters ELIZABETH and
KATHERINE my of Charing and Egerton which I hold of the Saint and Chapter
of St Pauls, London and I do appoint that the same may be sold if will
that the money thereof coming be equally divided between my said daughters.
But if the same be kept unsold then I will that my executrix the profit
thereof in trust for the the same from time to time payment of the rent
to the said Dean and Chapter and to this of Egerton and out of the residue
of the said profits to allow pounds to my daughter KATHERINES maintenance
until she shall attain her age of eighteen years. And to allow for my daughter
ELIZABETH pounds a year for her maintenance until her sister KATHERINE
attains the age of eighteen years or the said ELIZABETH be married, which
shall first happen. And I will that until she marries the of the profit
of the said be kept by my executrix
increasing the portion of my said daughter ELIZABETH until her said sister
attains her said age of eighteen years. But if she marry before said
daughter KATHERINE attain her age of eighteen years then she have the residue
of the profit(over and besides the payments and aforesaid) until her sister
shall attain her age of eoghteen years. And after ny said daughter KATHERINE
shall attain her age of eighteen years my said daughters shall have the
whole interest and benefit of the said lease equally to be divided between
them. ITEM I gift to my daughter ELIZABETH as a further increase of her
portion the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds to be paid her upon her
day of marriage (If she marry with the good of my executrix if she be living,)
to be raised out of my personal estate. And to my daughter KATHERINE the
sum of two hundred pounds to be payed her upon her day of marriage (if
she marry with her mothers consent if she be living) to be raised out of
my personal estate and by the first and sale of the woods now growing upon
my wood called Park-Wood part of my farm and Manor of Ashnonfield when
the same shall be next fellable (Robt. I hereby trust and devise to that
purpose) And the profit of the said monies until the marriage of my said
daughters respectively shall go to the maintenance and education of my
youngest children as my wife shall think fit, without. But if my said wife
die before the marriage of my said daughter or either of them then I will
the said monies be paid to my said daughters respectively within six months
of her decease. And if either of my said daughters die unmarried then I
will her portion so dying to be equally divided between all of my young
children, sons and daughters. ITEM;I give and bequeath to my dear wife(
whose love for me I can never enough acknowledge and am unable to requite)
all her jewels by her usually worn with all such her
gold and old gold by her usually kept as her own. ITEM; I give to my eldest
son that shall first be resident in any of the Inns of Court and apply
himself to the study of the law, all my law books. Whereof I have only
one of a and one only for of my law books whereof I have two of a sort
and as many of my other books as are pounds at a reasonable appraisal to
be chosen by himself with the assistance of some person of judgement therein.
ITEM; I give or rather forgive my brother GEORGE BARRELL fifty pounds of
the principle monies owes me upon bond and all the interest due for to
the time of my death, hoping that God shall enable him he will pay the
residue which I hereby give to my daughter ELIZABETH as a further increase
in her portion. And I further give clothes for mourning for me.ITEM I desire
my executrix to give and dispose amoung such poor of the City of Rochester
as she knows to be in want, she of fifty pounds. And to the poor of the
town of Maidstone (where I was born) forty shillings and to the town of
Bridgwater in Somersetshire (where my father was born) the like sum of
forty shillings as his gift. ITEM; I give to each of my servants that shall
be living with me (beside my clothe and)shillings apiece besides their
wages. And to my Clerk and shillings apiece and stuff or clothes for mourning.
And I do hereby male and appoint my dear and loving wife executrix of this
my last will and testament. To whom (after my debts, legacies and funeral
expenses are paid)I devise all the residue of my goods and personal estate.
And if she die, I make my son FRANCIS my executor after decease (so my
lands of inheritance I devise the same to my sons hereinafter named (with
such estate for life for my dear wife afore mentioned) that as sufficient
provision for them (especially my youngest) but towards their support and
education in honest callings to be further augmented by God's blessing
and their own industry. And first I give and bqueath to my eldest son FRANCIS
all that my or farm called Ashmansfield alias Ashintsfield alias Ashenfield
with all the lands, tenements, woodlands and hereditaments and appertinences
there unto belonging in the parishes of Wye, Walsham Crindall and Fraskinglaugh
or any of them or elsewhere in the County of Kent. To hold to him and the
males of his body. And for want of such if
to my son ROBERT and the males of his body. And if want of just issue my
son HENRY and the males of his body. And for want of such issue to my son
EDMUND and the males of his body. And for want of such issue to my. ITEM;
I give and bequeath to my dear wife (as an addition to five and in lieu
of her or parcels of land in the parishes of Egerton, Pluckley and Penington
or one of them which I purchased of John and Richard Burling or one of
them and now in the occupation of John Bonnard and all these pieces or
parcels of land which I lately purchased of John and Rich. Tilts or one
of them in the parish of Egerton and intended to be let with Stonehouse
Hill Farm to hold during the term of her natural life. And I give and devise
as well the said lands on both my farms and lands called Stonehouse Hill
and Crownts alias Browns alias Rootho with all the lands thereto belonging
or therewith used and enloyed with my hop garden in Egerton with as now
it is. From and after the decease of my wife to whom the same are in to
my said son FRANCIS and the males of his body lawfully begotten. And for
want of such issue to my son ROBERT and the males of his body lawfully
begotten and for want of such issue to my son HENRY and the males of his
body lawfully begotten and for want of such issue to my son EDWARD and
the males of his body lawfully begotten and for the want of such issue
to my right. ITEM;I gift and bequeath to my dear wife as further addition
to her and recompence of her) All messuage and farm in Friendsbury, Stroud
or one of them called Brompton with all the lands thereto belonging or
other in the occupation of Topley and Gardener or one of them and late
in the occupation of Edmund Coseno and all those lands I hold by lease
from the Dean and Chapter of Rochester (Purchased of Mr.Christopher Henman
part in the occupation of the said Topley and Gardner or one of them and
other part thereof in the occupation of the widow Middleton lying next
into Brompton and adjoining to the lane leading from Friendsbury towards
Cliffe now parcel of the widow Middleton but lye convenient to with Compton
farm hereinafter when there shall be opportunity to hold to my said wife
during her natural life(keeping the said lease renewed and the houses and
buildings well repaired) And after her decease to my son FRANCIS and the
males of his body and for want of such issue to my son ROBERT and the males
of his body. And for want of such issue to my son HENRY and the males of
his body. And for want of sich issue to my son EDMUND and the males of
his body. And for want of such issue to my right. ITEM; I give and bequeath
to my son Robert and his heirs all that my messuage, Farms and lands called
Merzinns in the parishes of Leeds and Langley in the County of Kent in
the occupation of John Everden or his assignee. ITEM; I give to my son
HENRY and his my messuage, Manor or reputed Manor of Goddington
all the lands belonging or used or enjoyed (except the aforesaid) in the
occupation of the widow Middleton being all or most part thereof belonging
to Woofon and not Cavell. ITEM I give and bequeath to my son EDMUND and
his heirs those my messuages or cottages and all my lands and woods
being in the parishes of St. Margaret next Rochester and Chatham at Brownsell
and Little in the occupation of Ward, John Woodon, Paulm or some of them.
And I do hereby give unto my said wife proper authority at any time during
her life and during the minority of my said sons HENRY and EDMUND respectively
to sell the said messuage, land and premises to them my said two youngest
sons or either of them respectively devised or any part thereof if she
shall think it best for their advantage and benefit. And I do hereby devise
to my said wife till my youngest son shall attain the respective age of
one and twenty years the lands and profits of the several premises to them
respectively devised for and forward better maintenance and education.
ITEM I give and bequeath to my son HENRY one annuity or yearly rent charge
of twenty marks for and during the term of his life out of all my lands
and inheritance in Egerton, Penington, Pluckly and Little Chard aforesaid
which by levying I have power to charge to be payable half yearly at Michaelmas
and Our Lady Day and to commence from and after the decease of my said
wife, with power to for the same. And I devise to my said son EDMUND the
like annuity or rent charge of twenty six marks to be issued out of the
same lands and to come out after the decease of my said wife with like
power of. In respect of I have hereunto set my hand and seal the sixteenth
day o September in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred seventy
eight. Fr.Barrell. Published and declared in the presence of us whose names
are hereunto subscribed in the presence of Francis Barrell Eliz. Head,
Sam Woodcout,John
