Will of Robert Fry

of Speldhurst, Kent

Item I will and bequeath unto Edward Fry; John Fry my sonnes, and to Joane Fry, Elizabeth Fry and Ann Fry my daughters all such linen and pewter as is lyeing and being in three Chests now standing in the Chamber over the butteries equally to be devided betwixt them

Item I give and bequeath unto Joane Fry my daughter the some of Thirty pounds to be paid unto her within one yeare next after my decease by my Executor
Item I will and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Fry the some of Thirty pounds to be paid unto her within two yeares next after my decease by my Executor
Item I give and bequeath unto Ann Fry my daughter the some of Thirty pounds to be paid unto her when she shall atteyne or come to the age of three and twenty yeares by my sonne John Fry And my will and minde is that he shall pay unto the said Ann Fry Thirty shillings yearely and every yeare untill she shall come unto the age aforesaid towards her maytenance

Item I give and bequeath unto Joane my loveing wief the Moytie or one halfe of all my howsehold stuffe;
And my will and minde is that she shall have the Chamber over the hall to her owne use dureinge her liefe, and free leave to come and be in the hall and at the fire there to do any worke, and free leave and liberty to brewe and bake in the kitchin and to fetch water at the Marle pitt and to washe buckes or doe any other necessary worke as aforesaid

And further my will and minde is that if anie of my daughters happen to dye before theire said Legacies shalbe come due to be paid unto them That then the Legacie or Legacies of such daughter or daughters soe dyeing my will is shalbe paid unto the Survivor or Survivors of them

And I doe hereby constitute ordeyne and make my sonne Edward Fry my Sole Executor of this my last will & testament to which my said Executor I give and bequeath all the rest & residue of my goods and chattells and personall estate whatsoever, no by this my present will bequeathed

This is also the Last will and testament of me the said Robert Fry made and declared the day and yeare abovesaid for touching and concerninge the disposition of my lands tenements and hereditaments

Nowe for that my said Executor Edward Fry may be the better enhabled to pay the aforesaid Legacies to the said Joane Fry and Elizabeth my daughters at the tymes in this my will lymitted for payment thereof, I doe hereby give and devise All that my Messuage or tenement wherein I now dwell with the barnes, buildings, orchards and gardens with the appurtenances and eighteene peeces or parcells of land and wood thereunto belonging conteyning by estimacon Threescore and fower acres unto my sonne Edward his heires and assignes for ever

Item I doe hereby give and devise unto my sonne John Fry and to his heires and assignes for ever, one Messuage or tenemt. in Speldhurst aforesaid now in the occupacon of William Longly and all ye buildings & orchards, gardens, Lands, tenements and premisses with thappurtenncs [the appurtenances] thereunto belonging conteyning by estimacon Five acres which said Lands were heretofore purchased by Thomas Abraham

Provided allwaies and my minde and will is that if my said Executor shall refuse or doe not pay or cause to be paid unto the aforesaid Joane Fry and Elizabeth Fry their severall and respective legacies in manner before expressed, Then my mind and will is that the said Joane or her assignes shall and may enter uppon three parcells of Land and wood called Hickmans Bancke Lately purchased of Robert Moyse and the said three parcells of land and wood, To have, hold and enjoy to the said Joane and her assignes untill she shalbe fully satisfied, contented and paid the aforesaid Legacies of Thirty pounds and evry penny thereof

And likewise my will and minde is that for not payment or refusing as aforesaid that the said Elizabeth Fry or her assignes shall and may enter uppon one peece or parcell of Land called Greenelane feild lately purchased by Edward Fry my Father of John Waller gent. and the same to have hold and enjoy to the said Eliz: and her assignes untill she shalbe fully satisfied contented and paid the aforesaid Legacy of thirty pounds and every penny thereof

And also my will and minde is that my said Executor Edward Fry shall and will allowe and appoint unto and for Joane my wiefe; One Cord of wood and two hundred of Faggotts yearely for her fiyreing soe long as she shall live a widdowe; And if she shall not please to live in my now dwelling howse; then my will is that my said Executor shall pay unto her twenty shillings yearely in lieue of her said dwelling dureing her naturall lefe

And Lastly my will and minde is that if the said John Fry my sonne doe refuse to pay or cause to be paid unto the said Ann Fry the aforesaid Legacie of Thirty pounds when she shall come to the age before expressed, and likewise shall refuse to pay unto her the aforesaid yearely some of Thirty shillings untill she shall atteyne unto the aforesaid age of three and twenty yeares, Then my will and minde is that she shall enter uppon one peece or parcell of land conteyning two acres and halfe belonging to the Messuages where William Longly dwelleth adjoyning to the land of John Fry senior towards the North East; and South to the lands late George Childrens deceased towards the west And the said peece of land to have hold and enjoy untill she shalbe fully satisfied ad paid the said legacy of Thirty pounds and the said yearely rent of thirty shillings if Any shalbe due

And I doe hereby appoint and make my loveing brothers Robert Streatfeild and John Streatfeild my trusty and faithfull Overseers of this my last will and to be aydeing and assisting to my said Executor in the proveing of this my testament And to see that my Legacies and guifts be according to my minde herein declared; fullie performed willing unto them for their paynes and Care herein five shillings a peice

In Witnes whereof that this is my last will and testamt. being written in two sheets of pap [paper] I the said Robert Fry have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare above written
the marke of Robert Fry

Read published and declared by the said Robert Fry to be his last will and testament and by him signed sealed and delivered in the presence of
John Streatfeild - Adam Farmer Scr.

This Will was proved at London the Seaventeenth day of November One thousand Six hundred fifty seaven before the Judges for probate of wills etc. by the Oath of Edward Fry the Sole Executor To whom adminacon [administration] was Comitted etc., hee being first Sworne truely to administer.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 24th November 2020

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