Pecuniary legacies to 4 grandsons, Thomas, William, Edward and Samuel Wickens, sons of John Wickens of Rotherfield and Elizabeth his wife (daughter of the testator); two grand daughters, Ann and Mary Wickens, daughters of the said John & Elizabeth; Mary Hoadly and Elizabeth Hoadly, daughters of John Hoadly and Elizabeth his wife, testator's grand daughter; to grand daughter Sarah, daughter of son John Bridger and wife of William Brown of Withyham, and to said granddaughter's children John Brown, Sarah and Mary Brown.To grandson John Bridger at 21 a farm and tenement in Merwith, Kent Residuary legatee and executor: son John Bridger Proved at Lewes, 27 Sept 1723
Note: Archdy Lewes Marriage Licence 2 March 1791 Mary WICKENS / spinster age 21+ Barcombe to Daniel COLLISON /bach. Age 21+ yeoman Hadlow Kent.
Give unto my son William Wickens all that my messuage or tenement farm lands with the appuctenanres known by the name of Frenches Rotherfield now in the occupation of my son William Wickens. Also all that messuage or tenement farm lands with the appuctenanres known as Greenhill now occupied by myself and my son William Wickens for his natural life my will is that my son shall not cut fell or grub up any timber on the said two farms. after his decease I give the said messuage or tenement farm lands with the appuctenanres unto my son Samuel Wickens and my friend Edward O�Kill Dadswell of Crowbrough schoolmaster to hold to them my said son Samuel Wickens and Edward O�Kill Dadswell and their heirs or the survivor of them forever in trust nevertheless that they my said son Samuel Wickens and Edward O�Kill Dadswell or survivor of them or his heirs do as soon as conveniently maybe after the decease of my said son William Wickens either by public or private sale ??? messuage tenement farms belonging herein before devised to my said son William Wickens for and during the term of his natural life for the most money or best price that they can reasonably get for the same and from and after such sale the money thereby arising I will to be divided unto in equal parts one sixth there of I give unto my granddaughter Mary wife of William Stevens of Lewes cabinet maker natural daughter of my son William Wickens by his now wife previous to their marriage Also I give another one sixth unto my granddaughter Sarah Wickens daughter of my son William Wickens Also I give another one sixth unto my grandson Joseph Wickens son of my son William Wickens Also I give another one sixth unto my grandson Obediah Wickens son of my son William Wickens The other two remaining sixths I give unto my son Samuel Wickens and Edward O�Kill Dadswell upon trust to invest in one of the public funds of this kingdom or good sufficient security in the names of them Samuel Wickens and Edward O�Kill Dadswell upon trust that they shall pay the dividends and interest to be recived by my grandson John Wickens and my granddaughter Elizabeth wife of John AXCELL of Lewes tailor children of my son William Wickens for their natural life and after the decease of John Wickens equally and amongst the children of my grandson John Wickens lawfully begotten and after the decease of Elizabeth AXCELL equally and amongst the children of my granddaughter Elizabeth lawfully begotten. I give devise unto my son Samuel Wickens all my messuage or tenement farm land known by the name of Little Broad Reed Mayfield for ever but charged with the payment of legacies hereafter mentioned To my son William Wickens two hundred pounds To my daughter Mary COLLINSON two hundred pounds To my two granddaughters Maria wife of Richard CHEESEMAN and Elizabeth WOODHAMS children of my late daughter Cary late wife of William WOODHAMS one hundred pounds each one year after my decease by my son Samuel Wickens to and for their own use.
Note: Archdy Lewes Marriage Licenec 7 June 1773 Cary WICKINS / spinster Age 18+ Rotherfield. Daughter of William. Wickins yeoman Rotherfield. To William WOODHAMS / bach. Age 21+ yeoman Hartfield.
To my housekeeper Sarah LAVENDEN one feather bed bedstead and furniture there to belonging now standing in the middle chamber in my dwelling house and five pairs of sheets to be delivered to her by my executors within one month also the sum of fifteen pounds one year after my decease.
All the residue of my personal estate whatsoever to my said sons William Wickens and Samuel Wickens equally.
Samuel Wickens and William Wickens joint executors.
Set on five sheets of paper on the date 20th January 1812.
Witnesses; Richard KILLICK, Benjamin WICKINS, Henry BEDWELL
Proven 26th December 1814. Lewes. Goods chattels and credits of the deceased did not amount in value unto �100
Samuel Wickens Will dated 4th January 1839 is about 17 pages long. Far to much to put on here. I obtained it from the public records web site, documents on-line.
Parish Records Wadhurst & Rotherfield 1790-1812
Rotherfield baptisms 1831-1850
Monumental Inscriptions from St Denys church
Parish marriages