Will of John Buss

of Hawkhurst, Kent

I give and devise unto my dear and loving wife Mary Buss all that Moeity or half part or share the whole in two equal parts or shares to be divided of and in all that Messuage or Tenement with the Premises and Appurtenances formerly known by the name of the White Bear but now or late of the Golden Key situate and being in Milk Street in the parish of Saint Michael and now in the Tenure or occupation of Henry Probin his undertenants or assigns
And also all that my Freehold Messuage or Tenement Barn Garden Orchard Land Premises and Appurtenances thereto belonging containing by estimation eleven acres more or less situate lying and being in in Hawkhurst in the County of Kent and by me lately purchased of the Right Honourable Earl of Haelifax and now in my own occupation
To hold the same and every part and parcel thereof unto my said dear loving wife Mary Buss for and during the full time and term of her natural life

and from and after her decease my mind and will is and I do hereby direct the aforesaid Messuage Lands Premises and Appurtenances shall be immediately divided into two equal parts and shares
one part of which I give unto my Son in Law Giles Watts of Battle in the County of Sussex Doctor of Physick and Mary his wife and their Heirs forever
and the remaining half part I give and devise to my Daughter Elizabeth Springett wife of John Springett of Hawkhurst aforesaid for and during the term of her natural life and after her decease to all and every the Child or Children born of the Body of my said Daughter Elizabeth lawfully begotten or to be begotten and to the Heirs and Assigns of such Children equally for ever To hold the same as Tenants in common and not as joint Tenants

And whereas my said Son in Law Giles Watts hath become bound with my other Son John Springett in and by one certain Bond obligatory bearing date on or about the twenty fourth day of June which was in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty four for the better securing the payment of the Sum of one hundred and thirty five pounds and Interest to Jeremiah Curteis of Rye in the County of Sussex Attorney at Law which said sum of one hundred and thirty five pounds is the proper moneys and debt of my Son in Law John Springett and borrowed of the said Jeremiah Curteis for his sole use and benefit
Now my mind and will is and I do hereby authorize and impower my said Son in Law Giles Watts in case the said Bond to the said Jeremiah Curteis be not satisfied contented and paid by my said Son in Law John Springett at the time of the decease of my said loving wife Mary Buss so that the said Giles Watts may be entirely and absolutely acquitted from the same to receive take and enjoy the Rents issues and Profits from time to time as they shall become due of the Moeity of the Messuage Lands Premises and Appurtenances which my said Daughter Elizabeth now the wife of the said John Springate will be entitled to as her equal part therein on the death of my said loving wife Mary Buss as aforesaid for and during until the said Bond with all Interest due thereon be fully paid and discharged and I do hereby indemnify and save harmless the said Giles Watts from all Costs Charges Expenses and Trouble that may attend the Execution and doing thereof

And also I give and bequeath unto my said loving wife Mary Buss the sum of twenty pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to buy her mourning and also what Linnen Goods Household Goods Chattels and Effects she shall think necessary and sufficient for her own use and to be at her own true disposal

All the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Goods Household Goods and Implements of Household Chattels and Effects Money Rights and Credits and all and singular my Personal Estate of what nature or kind soever whatsoever and wheresoever my just Debts Legacies Funeral Expenses and the probate of this my last Will and Testament being first paid and discharged I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof to my loving daughters Mary the wife of the said Giles Watts and Elizabeth the wife of the aforesaid John Springett equally to be divided between them share and share alike

And Lastly I do hereby make nominate ordain constitute and appoint my loving wife Mary Buss sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament
in Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contained in three sheets of paper set my hand and seal to each sheet thereof this ninth day of November in the ninth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Goerge the third by the Grace of god of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight – The mark of John Buss
– Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereto in the Testator’s presence and in the presence of each other – the words day of November then being erased
– Jno Gibbon - Jos Pix - Willm Russell

This Will was proved at London on the twenty eighth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy two before the Right Worshipful George Hay Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Mary Buss Widow the Relict of the Deceased and sole executrix named in the said Will to whom administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased was granted she having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer.

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