Will of John Relf

of Brenchley, Kent

I give and devise all and every my messuages farms lands tenements heredits and real estate and parts and shares of messuages farms lands tenements heredits and real estate whatsoever and wheresoever with the rights members and appurts to the same respectively belonging or appertaining unto my son Richard Rolf his heirs and assigns for ever
charged and chargeable nevertheless and I do hereby charge and make liable the same to and with the maintenance of my dear wife Ann Relf for and during the term of her natural life if she shall so long continue my Widow sole and unmarried
but if my said Wife shall marry another husband after my decease then my will is and I do hereby will and direct that in lieu and stead of such maintenance my said wife shall be entitled only to the sum of ten pounds which I direct shall be paid her immediately after her said second marriage

And I direct that the provision hereby made for my said Wife shall be received by her in lieu and stead of all dower thirds or customary estate which she my said wife shall be entitled to have or claim of in to or out of my real and personal estates
And I further direct that she shall release my said Estates therefrom when thereunto required by my said son

And I do hereby further charge and make liable my said real estate to and with the payment of the sum of one hundred pounds a piece to each of my five Daughters namely Sophia Relf Mary Relf Susannah the wife of John Donnolly Ann Relf and Jane the wife of John Crouch to be paid and payable to each of them respectively at the end of twelve calendar months next after the decease of my said wife

and if it shall happen that either of my said daughters shall depart this life before the said legacies shall respectively become payable then my will is and I do hereby direct that the child or children of my said daughters respectively shall be entitled to have and receive the part of share only which his her or their respective mother would have been entitled to if living such share or share to be paid applied and disposed of for the benefit of my said grandchildren at such time or times and in such manner and form as my trustees hereafter named and appointed shall think proper and shall order and direct

And I do hereby further charge and make liable my said real estate to and with the payment of the sum of twenty five pounds apiece of lawful money to Robert Hart Relf and Alfred Relf the two natural children of my daughter Hannah Relf dec[eas]ed to be paid applied and disposed of in such manner and at such time or times for the benefit of such children respectively as my said trustees or the survivor of them shall think proper and shall order and direct

provided always that if any dispute shall arise between my said Wife and son respecting the maintenance of my said wife or the sum to be paid to her in lieu of such maintenance in case of her not being satisfactorily maintained and provided for by him then my will is and I do hereby direct that such dispute shall be finally settled and adjusted by my said trustees or the survivor of them his executors or admors

And I give and bequeath All and every my ready money securities for money debts goods chattels crops effects and personal estate whatsoever and whensoever unto my said son Richard Relf his executors and admors to and for his and their own absolute use and benefit subject nevertheless to the payment of my just debts funeral expences, the charges or proving this my will and other changes incident thereto
and do make ordain nominate and appoint him whole and sole Executor of this my Will and declare this only to be and contain my last Will and Testament And I do revoke all Wills by me heretofore made

And I do nominate and appoint my good friends Adam Wimshurst of Brenchley aforesaid Shopkeeper and John Moorin of the same place Farmer Trustees of this my Will and to see that the same is duly carried into effect

In Witness whereof I the said John Relf have to this my last Will and Testament contained in two sheets of paper put my hand and seal that is to say my hand to the first sheet and to this second and last sheet thereof my hand and seal the day & year first above written - John Relf (LS) -
Signed sealed published declared by me above named John Relf the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses -
Henry Manwaring - J Ashdowne - Samuel Ashdowne

Proved at London 9th December 1837 before the Worshipful William Caverley Curteis Dr of Laws & Surre by the oath of Richard Relf the Son the sole Executor to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn due to administer.

Notes:
John Relfe was baptised 20 Apr 1772, All Saints, Brenchley, the son of Richard Relfe and Mary Wells.
He married Ann Usherwood 8 November 1797, Brenchley and was buried 27 July 1837, Brenchley, aged 65 years.
Their children were baptised in Brenchley as follows: Mary Relf 12 May 1799 (see also Mary Relfe, Spinster of Brighton’s Will, National Archives PROB 11/2231/319, 1856); Sophia 4 March 1798; Richard 18 May 1800; Susannah 24 January 1802; Hannah 8 June 1806; and Jane 26 November 1809.
Susanna married John Donnelly 14 June 1829, St Anne, Soho, London. Jane married John Crouch, 7 April 1834, Brenchley, Kent. Sophia married Samuel Dolding, 25 April 1839, Plaxtol, Kent.

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