Imprimis my mind and will being that all my debts of what Nature sort or kind soever they be should be in the first place Honestly satisfyed
contented and paid for the true payment discharge and satisfaction of the same
I give bequeath and devise unto Robert Relfe my eldest son all and every my Mannors Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments whatsoever
with their and every of their appurtenances that are lying and being in Sandhurst aforesaid in whosoevers Tenure or occupation the same are in or
by whatsoever name or names the same are distinguished called or known together also with all and every my Goods housholdstuff Cattle and Chattles
whatsoever and wheresoever and all other my personal Estate of what nature sort or kind soever to be found in that part of Great Britain called
England To have and to hold all and every my said Mannors Messuages Lands and Tenements in Sandhurst aforesaid with their and every of their
appurtenances and all and every my said Goods Chattles and personal Estate whatsoever before herein mentioned or hereby intended to be devised
given and bequeathed unto my son Robert Relf his heirs Executors administrators and assigns for ever
upon this Special Trust and confidence reposed in him the said Robert Relf my son his heirs Executors administrators and assigns that he or they shall and will with all convenient speed after my decease sell and dispose of all and singular the aforesaid Mannors Messuages Lands Tenements hereditaments and premises in Sandhurst aforesaid with their appurtenances and of all and singular my aforesaid Goods Chattles and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever for the best price that his heirs Executors Administrators or Assigns with the advice and assistance of my overseers hereinafter named can get for the same and that he his heirs Executors administrators and assigns shall and will out of the moneys thereby arising pay and discharge all my just debts of what nature kind or sort soever they be so far as it will go
and from and after my said just debts are paid and satisfyed together with my said Executors and Overseers Charges and Expences in and about the
same together with reasonable satisfaction for the pains and trouble of my Overseers therein then I give and devise the overplus if any shall be
of the moneys ariseing by such sale as aforesaid and that shall remain in the hands of my said son Robert Relf
unto my said son Robert Relf and to my son Richard Relf and to my daughter Cordelia Relf to be equally divided between them three to be
paid unto my said son Richard and daughter Cordelia when they shall severally attain to their several and respective ages of one and twenty years
but if it shall so happen by reason of Losses or any disadvantages that the money ariseing by such Sale as aforesaid shall fall short that so any of my just debts shall remain unpaid then it is my Will that moneys shall be raised out of my Estate in Mayfield in Sussex by the sale of Timber and otherwise to pay such remainder if any shall be of my just debts as aforesaid
Item I give and bequeath unto my three Children Robert Relf Richard Relf and Cordelia Relf all my Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments that are Scituate lying and being in the parish of Mayfield or elsewhere in the County of Sussex to my said sons Robert Relf Richard Relf and to my daughter Cordelia Relf to be equally divided between them three to them and their heirs for ever
but nevertheless my Will and meaning is that in Case my said Eldest son Robert Relf shall be only entitaled by the Law of this Realm unto all such Lands in Mayfield as are in Joynture to my late wife Deborah Relf deceased Mother to my said Children that shall be unsold by me at the time of my decease then I do hereby give and devise all my other Messuages Lands and Tenements that are not in his said Mothers Joynture but descent and come to me as heir unto my late unkle Robert Relf late of Mayfield deceased unto my son Richard and daughter Cordelia Relf to be equally divided between them the said Richard and Cordelia my youngest son and daughter to them and their heirs for ever
subject and chargeable nevertheless with the payment of the annuity of twenty pounds per annum unto Jane my loving Wife as was by me
settled on our marriage
but withall I do hereby declare my mind and will to be that if after the payment of all my
just debts funerall Expences probate of this my will Charges and Expences of my Executor and
Overseers and the aforesaid annuity to Jane my loving wife are all satisfyed and paid if the part or
share of my daughter Cordelia shall amount to more than Five hundred pounds which was the
Marriage portion which I gave unto my daughter Bridget the wife of John Turner Gent then it is
my will that the said overplus of my daughter Cordelias part that is above five hundred pounds if
any such shall be shall be equally divided between all my four Children Robert Richard Bridget and Cordelia
but withall I do hereby declare my mind and will to be that all the Rents Issues and profits of my Estate in Sandhurst shall be applyed towards payment of my debts until the said Estate can be sold and also that all the Rents Issues and profits of my Estate in Mayfield that descended to me at decease of my said unkle Robert Relf deceased shall be applyed to the same use and that my eldest son Robert shall receive the said Rents until my son Richard shall accomplish his age of one and twenty years he paying the annuity to Jane my wife as the same shall become due and providing a suitable maintenance for my daughter Cordelia and finding apparrell and such necessarys as by Indentures I have in his apprenticeship Covenanted to find for my son Richard Relf until he shall accomplish his ages of one and twenty years
and I do hereby make and appoint Robert Relf my Eldest son to be sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament Chargeing and requiring him as he values the blessing of God and of a tender and affectionate Father that he take Care to pay all my just debts and duely and faithfully to execute this my Will taking the advice of my overseers herein after named and that he make no Contract for the sale of my Estate in Sandhurst or any part thereof untill he first take the advice and have the Consent of my overseers or of the major part of them
and I do hereby make and appoint my dear and loving wife Jane Relf and my son in law John Turner and my Trusty and well beloved friends Francis Tress the Elder and Thomas Petter the Elder to be overseers of this my Will desireing them four to be adviseing and assisting my Executor in the selling such part of my Estate as I have appointed to be sold and in all the parts of the Execution of this my will for the good and benefit of all my Children he paying and giveing them reasonable satisfaction for their Care and pains as overseers to this my Will
and I do hereby revoke and make void all other and former wills by me heretofore made and do declare this to be my last will and testament
In witness whereof I the said Robert Relf the Testator have to this my last will and Testament contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and
seal to each sheet thereof the day and year first above written annoq. dni 1729 Robt Relfe
signed sealed published and declared by the above named Robert Relf the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament In the
presence of us who subscribed our names as witnesses at his request and in his presence.
Stephen Cooper - Edmund Arwing - Tho. Penwall
Probate in Latin: granted 25 September 1729 to Robert Relf, Executor.
Notes:
Robert Relfe was baptised 5 April 1677, Cranbrook born to John Relf and Bridget Fowle.
His children were all baptised in Sandhurst: Bridget, 24 March 1702; Cordelia, 10 April 1703; Robert, 11 October 1704; and
Richard, 1 October 1706.
Deborah wife of Robert Relfe, gentleman was buried 23 Jun 1708 at Sandhurst
Robert remarried Jane Mawle, 16 February 1720/21, Sandhurst.
Robert Relfe, gentleman was buried 3 Jun 1729 Sandhurst.
Bridget married John Turner both of Rotherfield 10 November 1720, Heathfield.
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Robert Relf