First I give and devise to my Son Henry Relf all that one piece or parcel of Land now in my own occupation called Crowfield lying and being
in Cranbrook aforesaid together with the several pieces or parcels of Land hereinafter mentioned being part and parcel of a certain
Farm also in my occupation commonly called Tilden lying and being in the parish of Cranbrook aforesaid (that is to say) the Eight acres the Brick
Kiln Field this Long Meadow the Mare? Pit Field the Great Benenden Field and the Barn Field subject nevertheless to a right of Road thro? the said
Barnfield as hereinafter mention and also two Closes with the lower Barn and one equal half part of the Stock Yard to the said Lands belonging
and also all the Timber and underwood standing and being on the said several pieces or parcels of Land and all the shans? and Woodground
thereunto also belonging to hold the same (subject nevertheless to and chargeable with the payment of the Annuity hereinafter mentioned) to my
said Son Henry Relf and his Assigns during the Term of his natural life without Impeachment of or for any manner of waste
with remainder to John Standen of Guestling in the County of Sussex Farmer and William Cloak of Guestling aforesaid Miller and
their Heirs for and during the natural life of the said Henry Relf In Trust to preserve the contingent remainder hereinafter limited from being
defeated or destroyed
and from and immediately after the decease of the said Henry Relf I give and devise the said several pieces or parcels of Land Heredits and premises subject to and chargeable with the payment of the said annuity as aforesaid unto the first and every other Son and Sons of the said Henry Relf severally and successively as they shall be in Seniority of age and Priority of Birth and to the Heirs Male of his and their body and bodies lawfully Issuing
and in default of such Issue then I give and devise the said several pieces or parcels of Land heredits and premises subject and chargeable as
aforesaid unto my Son Samuel Relf and his Assigns during the term of his natural life without impeachment of or for any manner of waste
with remainder to the said John Standen and William Cloake and their Heirs during the natural life of the said Samuel Relf In Trust to preserve
the contingent Remainder hereinafter limited from being defeated or destroyed
and from and immediately after the decease of the said Samuel Relf then I give and devise the said several pieces or parcels of Land Heredits and
Premises subject and chargeable as aforesaid unto the first and every other Son and Sons of the said Samuel Relf severally and successively as
they shall be in Seniority of age and priority of birth and to the Heirs Male of his and their bodies lawfully Issuing
and in default of such Issue then I give and devise the said several pieces or parcels of Lands Heredits and premises subject and chargeable as
aforesaid unto the right Heirs of the said Henry Relf for ever
also I give and devise unto my said Son Samuel Relf all that the Messuage or Tenement in which I now live with the Barn Close Oast House and other outbuildings Garden and Appurts thereunto belonging and also all my Lands called Coblers in Cranbrook aforesaid and also all and every other my Lands Woodlands Heredits and Real Estate whatsoever together with free liberty at all times hereafter to come go pass and repass with Cattle and Carriages or otherwise through this piece or parcel of Land called the Barnfield hereinbefore given and bequeathed to my said Son Henry Relf to the barn and Close belonging to the said last mentioned Lands & premises doing no wilful spoil or damage thereby to hold the said Messuage or Tenement Lands Heredits and premises subject nevertheless to and chargeable with the payment of this annuity hereinafter mentioned to my said Son Samuel Relf and his assigns for and during the term of his natural life without Impeachment of or for any manner of waste with remainder to the said John Standen and William Cloak and their Heirs during the natural life of the said Samuel Relf In Trust to preserve the contingent remainder hereinafter limited from being defeated or destroyed
and from and immediately after the decease of the said Samuel Relf I give and devise the said Messuage or Tenement Lands Heredits and premises last mentioned subject to and chargeable with the payment of the said annuity as aforesaid unto the first and every other Son and Sons of the said Samuel Relf severally and successively as they shall be in Seniority of age and priority of birth and to the Heirs Male of his and their bodies lawfully Issuing
and in default of such Issue then I give and devise the said Messuage or Tenement Lands Heredits and premises subject
and chargeable as aforesaid unto my said Son Henry Relf and his assigns during the term of his
natural life without impeachment of or for any manner of waste with remainder to the said John
Standen and William Cloak and their Heirs during the natural life of the said Henry Relf In Trust
to preserve the contingent remainder hereinafter limited from being defeated or destroyed
and from and immediately after the decease of the said Henry Relf then I give and devise the said Messuage
or Tenement Lands Heredits and premises last mentioned subject and chargeable as aforesaid unto
the first and every other Son and Sons of the said Henry Relf severally and successively as they
shall be in Seniority of age and Priority of Birth and the Heirs Male of his and their body and bodies lawfully Issuing
and in default of such Issue then I give and devise the said Messuage or Tenement Lands Heredits and premises subject and chargeable as aforesaid
unto the right Heirs of the said Samuel Relf for ever
Also I give and devise unto my Daughter Anne Munn Wife of William Munn of Hawkhurst in the said County plumber and Glazier one annuity or clear yearly Sum of Fifty pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be yearly Issuing and paid out of all those several pieces or parcels of Land hereinfirst described and hereinbefore given in and devised to my said Son Henry Relf and I do hereby charge the said pieces or parcels of Land with the payment thereof accordingly and I direct that the said Annuity shall be paid to my said Daughter by equal half yearly payments on the Twenty fourth day of June and the Twenty fifth day of December in every year during her natural life the first payment to begin on the first of said Days of payment which shall happen next after my decease and I direct that the same shall be for the sole use and benefit of my said Daughter and shall be paid into her hands only and I direct that the receipt of my said Daughter alone notwithstanding her Coverture without the concurrence of her present or any future Husband shall be a good and effectual discharge to the person or persons paying the same for the said Annuity or so much thereof as shall be expressed in such receipt
and from and immediately after the decease of my said Daughter I give and devise the said annuity to all and every the Child or Children of my said Daughter in equal proportions if more than one during their natural lives and the life of the Survivor of them but it is my Will that the said annuity shall not become payable to the Children of my said Daughter until they shall respectively arrive at the age of Twenty one years and that each of the said Children as he or she shall respectively attain the said age of Twenty one years shall become entitled to and receive his or her equal and proportional share of the said annuity
Also I give and devise unto my Grandchildren Samuel Crampton William Crampton Henry Crampton Joseph Crampton Benjamin Crampton Ann Crampton and Mary Crampton the Seven Children of my late Daughter Susan Crampton deceased wife of Samuel Crampton of Cranbrook aforesaid Farmer in equal shares and proportions during their respective natural lives one other annuity or clear yearly Sum of Fifty pounds of like lawful Money of Great Britain to be yearly Issuing and paid out of the Messuage or Tenement Lands Heredits and premises hereinbefore given to my said son Samuel Relf and to be paid to my said Grandchildren by equal half yearly payments on the Twenty fourth day of June and the Twenty fifth day of December in every year the first payment thereof to begin and be made on the first of the said days of payment which shall happen next after my decease
provided always nevertheless and it is my will that the said last mentioned annuity shall not commence or become payable until the Sum of Twenty four pounds sixteen Shillings owing to me from my said Son in Law Samuel Crampton and the Sum of Thirty pounds owing to me from the said Samuel Crampton on his Promissory Note and also the further Sum of Twenty pounds for which I have given a joint Promissory Note with the said Samuel Crampton shall be respectively paid and satisfied nor until the said Children of the said Samuel Crampton shall respectively have attained the age of Twenty one years but that each of such Children as he or they shall attain the said age shall become entitled to and receive his or her proportionable share of he said annuity provided the said several Sums due from the said Samuel Crampton shall have been paid as aforesaid and in order to secure the due and punctual payment of the said respective annuities
I do hereby order and direct that if he said annuities or either of them or any part thereof shall be behind or unpaid for the space of Twenty days next after either of the said days of payment whereon the same ought to have been paid as aforesaid then and so often and upon every such default it shall and may be lawful to and for my said Daughter Ann Munn and the said Children of my said late Daughter Susan Crampton respectively and also the Children of my said Daughter Ann Munn when they shall become entitled to the annuities hereby given then into and upon the said several Lands Messuages Heredits and Premises respectively charged with the payment of the said annuities or any part thereof to such and distrain for the said annuities or either of them or so much thereof as shall be so in arrears and the Goods Cattle Chattels and Effects to be taken upon such distress or distresses to take carry away and impound and the same to sell and dispose of returning the overplus which shall remain after the said annuities and all arrears thereof together with the Costs Charges and Expenses of such distress and distresses shall be fully satisfied and paid to the owner or owners for the time being of the said Lands Heredits and premises
and in order that my said Sons Henry and Samuel and their respective Heirs and Assigns may contribute as equally as possible towards the payment of the said annuities and as the said annuity so hereby given to my said Daughter Ann Munn will become payable before the annuity given to the Children of the said Samuel Crampton it is my Will and I do hereby direct that until the said Annuity so given to the Children of the said Samuel Crampton shall become payable my said Son Samuel Relf shall yearly pay to my said Son Henry Relf one half part of the amount of the said annuity which my said Son Henry shall pay by virtue of this my Will to my said Daughter Ann Munn or to her Children in manner aforesaid and I do hereby charge my said Messuages Lands and premises hereinbefore given and devised to my said Son Samuel Relf with the payment of such half part accordingly
and that when one of the annuities shall cease by reason of the death of all the parties entitled to the same then it is also my Will that the remaining annuity as long as the same shall continue payable shall from thenceforth be paid by both my said Sons and their respective Heirs and assigns in equal shares and proportions and for that purpose I do hereby charge the whole of my Lands Heredits and Real Estate with the payment of such remaining annuity accordingly
Also I give and bequeath to Thomas Russell who now lives with me one hundred pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid to him by
my said two Sons Henry and Samuel when he shall attain the age of Thirty years
also I give to my said Son Henry one bed with the Bedstead hanging blankets Sheets Bolsters and other Furniture thereunto belongs
and all the rest of my Household Goods & Furniture I give and bequeath to my said Son Samuel
also I give to my said Son Henry my Little Waggon two Dung Carts the Little Roll, with half my Bullocks Sheep and Lambs
and all the rest of my Husbandry Tackling & Implements together with all my Horses and the remainder
of my Bullocks Sheep and Lambs and all other my Farming Stock whatsoever I give to my said Son Samuel
Also I Constitute and appoint my said two Sons Henry and Samuel joint Executors of this my Will and I direct that they shall as soon as may be after my decease pay all my just Debts my Funeral Expenses and the Charges of proving this my Will and after payment thereof and of the other Expenses incidental to their Executorship I give and bequeath all the residue and remainder of my Monies and Securities for money Debts due to me and all the Goods Chattels Effects and Personal Estate not herein otherwise disposed of unto my said two Sons equally between them
In witness hereof I the said Samuel Relf the Testator have to the five first Sheets of this my Will
contained in Six Sheets of paper set my hand and to this Sixth and last Sheet thereof my hand and
Seal the day and year first within written
Samuel Relf (LS)
Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Samuel Relf the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us
who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto
Chas. Willis /-/ Cha Willis Junr. /-/ attornies at Cranbrook /-/ John Thurston Junr. their Clerk.
Proved at London the 7th Decr 1818 before the Worshipful Samuel Pearce Parson Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oaths of Henry Relf and Samuel Relf the Sons the Executors to whom admin was granted they having been first sworn duly to administer:/—
Notes:
Samuel Relf the Elder is most likely to have been the Samuel Relfe of Dallington who married Lucy Hyland of Ewhurst by
Licence 20 May 1771, Ewhurst. His daughter, Ann Relfe, was baptised 14 August 1772, Dallington, Sussex. His son, Henry Relfe,
was baptised 26 June 1774, Dallington, Sussex and died June 1838, Cranbrook, Kent. His son, Samuel Relfe, was baptised 16 July
1775, Dallington, Sussex. Ann Relf married William Munn 22 November 1791, Hawkhurst, Kent. Susanna Relf, married Samuel
Crampton 20 November 1799, Cranbrook, Kent.
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Samuel Relf