William Strudwick Lowfold
This is the last will and testament of me William Strudwick of Lowfold in the parish of Wisborough Green in the county Sussex Yeoman
Imprimis I give and devise unto my son Thomas Strudwick all that my ffreehold ffarmlands tenements and hereditaments called by the name of Lower Amblehurst or Amblehams or by what other name or names the same are called or known situate in Wisborough Green aforesaid and also all my leasehold messuages lands tenements and hereditaments called by the name or names of Lowfold Lughurst and Cocking
All which last mentioned premises are vested in me ffor the term of 10,000 years to have and to hold all the said messuages land tenements and hereditaments with the appurtenances unto my son Thomas Strudwick and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten and for want of such issue to my son William Strudwick and the male heirs of his body
but in case neither of them have heirs male as aforesaid then my will and meaning is the whole estate shall be sold by my trustees hereafter named and the monies arising there from to be equally divided between their ffemale heirs and my three daughters Elizabeth Mary and Ann
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth 150 pounds when my executor comes of age
to my daughter Mary 150 pounds
to my daughter Ann 150 pounds to be paid at their respective ages of 21 years except Elizabeth aforesaid
but in case any of them happen to die before they come to the age of 21 years as aforesaid the share of her so dying to be divided between the survivor of them to be paid by my executor hereafter named
but in case Elizabeth should marry William Booth then she shall receive but 5 pounds instead of the 150 pounds
Item I give and bequeath unto my son John 5 pounds to be paid when my executor comes of age
Item I give my son William the sum of 200 pounds to be paid as last mentioned
Item I give to my wife one Bedd in the inner chamber and all thereunto belonging so long as she keep herself a widow But in case she marry them to return to Mary and Ann
Item I do hereby nominate and appoint my kinsmen William Yalden and Edmund Yalden his brother trustees and overseers of this my last will and testament hereby giving them and the survivor and survivors of them ffull power and authority to sell and dispose of all my stock within doors and without except the best bed in the middle chamber and the quilt and all thereunto belonging and one pair of drawers in the inner chamber which belongs to Elizabeth given her by her grandmother and one other chest of drawers in the same chambers which belong to Mary given as aforesaid
And the said trustees to pay of the mortgages if any be and my other debts so ffar as the same stock go they receiving the rents issues and profits of my ffarm and lands by lease or leases which I give them power to let
And my will and meaning is that my trustees should bring up my two younger children and put out my sons William and Thomas apprentices and maintain them during the same and I do hereby give my said trustees full power and authority to sell my timber so much as they think proper and the money arising there from to be put out to interest to maintain the younger children
And lastly I do constitute and appoint my son Thomas Strudwick sole executor of this my last will and testament contained in one sheet of paper witness my hand this third day of July in here about Lord 1733 William Strudwick
signed sealed published and declared in the presents of Elizabeth Douglas John Carpenter and William Tasker
on the 30th day of April in the year of our Lord 1734 there issued fforth a commission to William Yalden one of the testamentary trustees named in the will of William Strudwick late of Lowfold in the parish of Wisborough Green in the county Sussex deceased having goods in diverse jurisdictions to administer the goods chattels and credits of said deceased according to the tenor and effect of the said will for the use and benefit of Thomas Strudwick a minor son of the said deceased and sole executor named in the said will and until he shall attain the age of 17 years he being ffirst sworn by commission duly to administer the same ffor that the said executor in his minority so that the execution of the said will is not now yet by law to be committed to him
probatum William Yalden April 1734