Will of Edward Frye

of Speldhurst, Kent

Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of Speldhurst aforesaid tenne shillings of lawfull money of England to bee distributed unto them at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named

And I make and ordaine John Avis my brother in Lawe and Walter Gatsall the Executors of this my last will and testament
unto the use of my three sonns John, Andrewe and Edward, to which my three sonnes I desire and will my said Executors shall make a true and just Accompt when my said sonnes or the survivor of Survivors of them shall accomplish their ages of one and Twenty yeares

And in the meane time I will that my said Executors or the survivor of them shall lett all my messuages, Lands and tenements, and receive the rents, issues and profits thereof unto the use of my said sonnes severally accordinge as I have here after hereby given and deviseth the same

This is the last will and testament of me the said Edward Frye made and declared the daye and yeare abovesaid concerninge the order and disposion of all my messuages, Lands and tenements whatsoever (That is to say)

First I give and bequeath unto John my eldest sonne his heires and assigns for ever, All that the messuage or tenement wherein I now dwell with the outhouses, barnes, garden and orchard thereunto belonginge scituate and beinge within the parish of Speldhurst aforesaid
And also all those parcells of land, meadowe and wood unto ye said messuage adjoyninge and belonginge, lyinge and beinge within the parish of Speldhurst aforesaid on the north side of the highway there, called by the severall names of Stomefeild, greatfeild into three parts divided, longe Croft, two parcells of meadowe adjoyninge to the orchard, halfe an acre of Land bee itt more or lesse beinge an orchard adjoyninge to the forestall, one meadowe called millponde mead and one parcell of Coppice land adjoyninge unto millponde mead, All which said parcells of Lande before menconed conteine by estimacon twentie acres more or lesse

Item I give and bequeath more unto the said John my sonne his heires and assignes for ever One other parcell of Land called the sixe acres conteininge by esimacon sixe acres more or less, One other parcell of Land called Isgate? feild conteininge by estimacon five acres of Land called Barne feilds conteininge by estimacon sixe acres which said Last menconed parcells of Land are also lyinge and beinge within the parish of Speldhurst aforesaid

Item I give and bequeath unto Edward my youngest sonne his heires and assignes for ever, All that my messuage or dwellinge house called Legge with the garden and hopp garden thereunto adjoyninge now in the occupacon of Elizabeth and Catharine Columby Three severall parcells of Land called Reckendens, conteininge by estimacon three and twentie acres; and one parcell of Land now into three parts divided called varbis conteininge by estimacon foureteene acres; All which said messuage, lands and premises before menconed to bee given and bequeathed unto the said Edward my sonne are scituate lyinge and beinge within the parish of Speldhurst aforesaid; and the said parcells of Land called Reckenden and varbis were lately heretofore purchased by me the said Edward Frye of George Waller and Thomas Waller sonnes of John Waller, gent. deceased

Item I give and bequeath unto Andrewe my second sonne his heires and assignes for ever, All that my messuage or tenement with the barne, garden, orchard and Lande thereunto belonginge conteininge by estimacon foureteene acres more or lesse, scituate lyinge and beinge within the parish of Ashurst in the said Countie of Kent and now in the occupacon of John Carrier
Item I give more unto the said Andrewe my sonne his heires and assignes for ever two severall peices or parcells of land called Pittfeild? and Smartshawe conteininge by estimacon six acres more or lesse lyinge and beinge within the parish of Speldhurst aforesaid

In Witnes whereof I the said Edward Frye the testator to each sheet of this my testament and Last will (the same beinge written in one sheet of large paper and this part of a sheet) have sett my hand and to this Last have also sett my seale; Revoakinge and utterly Frustratinge all former wills by me heretofore made, and doe publish this to bee my Last will and testament the day and yeare first before written
Edward Frye

Read, sealed and published to bee the last will and testament of the said Edward Frye the testator in the presence of
Mathew Goodsall, Elizabeth Ashby her marke and Robert Sakpes?

This Will was proved att London before the Judges for probate of wills and grauntinge administracons lawfully authorized the Eighth day of October in the yeare of our Lord one thousand sixe hundred Fiftie five by the oath of John Avis one of the Executors therein named; To whome administracon of all and singular the said deceaseds goods, Chattells and debts was committed, hee beinge first legally sworne well and truly to administer ye same
Power beinge reserved to Walter Gatsall the other Executor in the said will named of provinge the same in like manner when he shall come and desire so to doe.

This Will was also proved att London before the Judges aforesd. the one and twentieth day of November in the yeare of our Lord one thousand sixe hundred Fiftie five by the Oath of Walter Gatsall the other Executor named in the said will, To whome like administracon of the aforesaid goods Chattells and debts was committed, hee beinge first legally sworne well and truely to administer the same.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 24th November 2020

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