died 1760

of Baythorne, parish of Birdbrook, Essex

Created 24th April 1760
Proven 2nd July 1760

In the Name of God Amen

I John Pyke of Baythorne End in the parish of Birdbrooke in the County of Essex Gentleman do make my last Will and Testament in manner following

ffirst I commend my soul to Almighty God hoping for salvation through the merits of my blessed saviour Jesus Christ and I desire my Coffin may not be fastned down until six days after I am dead if it can conveniently be kept open so long, or so long as it can conveniently be kept open And

I direct that I may be buried in the Parish Church of Birdbrooke aforesaid at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter named And as to my wordly Estate which God hat been pleased to bless me with I dispose thereof as follows

I will and direct that all my just Debts be fully paid and satisfied and I hereby charge all my Estates real and personal with the payment thereof and of my ffuneral Expences and Legacys and

I give and devise unto my dear Wife Ann Pyke All my ffreehold and copyhold Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever To hold the same with their and every of their Rights Members and appurtenances unto my said dear Wife for and during the term of her natural Life And I do direct that it shall and may be lawful x x x for my said dear Wife by any Deed or Deeds Writing or Writings to be by her subscribed and sealed in the presence of two or more credible Witnesses to ????? Lease or Grant the said Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments or any part thereof to any person or persons for any Term or number of years not exceeding ?????????? years to commence and take effect in possession and not in Reversion or by way of future Interest so as in ???? such Lease Demise or Grant there be reserved to continue payable during the continuance of the said Lease the best and most improved yearly Rent that at the time of making such Lease Demise or Grant can or may be reasonably had or gotten for the same without taking any ffint? premium or Foregift And so as in Every such Lease Demise or Grant there be contained a condition of Reentry for Nonpayment of the Rent and Rents thereby respectively to be reserved and so as no Clause or Clauses be contained in any of the said Leases giving power to any Lessee to commit Wast or Exempt him her or them from punishment for Committing the same and so as such Lessee or Lessees execute Counterparts of all such Leases And

from and after the decease of my said Wife I x x x devise the said ffreehold and Copyhold Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments unto my brother Thomas Crouch his heirs and assigns for ever and I give to my said brother Thomas Crouch the sum of ffive hundred pounds three per c Bank Annuitys reduced part of the three per cent Bank Annuitys reduced now standing in my Name and the sum of ffifty pounds to buy him a Ring

To my very good ffriend Marshe Dickinson of Dunstable in the County of Bedford Thirty pounds to buy them a Ring

To Heatly Carew of Chelsea in the County of Middlesex Esquire and Alice Banks of East Street near Red Lyon Square in the said County of Middlesex sister of the said Heatly Carew the sum of twenty pounds apiece to buy each of them a Ring and to Jane Banks daughter of the said Alice Banks the sum of Twenty pounds to buy her a Ring and

to my cousin John Tweed of Stoak by Clare in the County of Suffolk and my Cousin James Walford of Redgwell in the said County of Essex each of them a Ring of one Guinea value

And I give and bequeath to Thomas Walford who is now about seven years old only son of the late Thomas Walford of Wheatley in the said County of Essex the sum of One thousand and five hundred pounds three per Cent Bank Annuities reduced ^other part of my Three cent per Bank annuities reduced^ to be transferred to him at his age of twenty one years and I do direct that the Interest or Dividends thereof in the mean time half yearly as the same becomes due and is paid shall be paid and applied by my said Executrix for or towards the Maintenance and Education of the said Thomas Walford and in case the said Thomas Walford shall dye before he attains his age of twenty one years then I give the said sum of one thousand five hundred pounds three per cent Bank Annuities reduced to my said brother Thomas Crouch to and for his own use and benefit and

I give and bequeath to x x x x Elizabeth Walford sister of the said Thomas Walford the son who is now about nine years old the sum of ffive hundred pounds three per cent Bank Annuities reduced other part of my three per cent Bank Annuities reduced to be transferred to her at her age of twenty one years and I direct that in the mean time the Interest or Dividends thereof half yearly as the same becomes due and is paid shall be paid and applied by my said Executrix for or towards the Maintenance and Education of the said Elizabeth Walford and in case the said Elizabeth Walford shall dye before she attains her age of twenty one years then I give the said sum of ffive hundred pounds three per cent Bank Annuities reduced to my said brother Thomas Crouch to and for his own use and benefit and

I give x x x x to Elizabeth Walford the Mother the Mother of the said Thomas and Elizabeth Walford the sum of one hundred pounds and

I give and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my Goods Chattels
and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever not herein otherwise disposed of unto my said dear Wife Ann Pyke to and for her own use and benefit and

I constitute and appoint my said dear Wife sole Executrix of this my Will and I do hereby revoke all former Wills and Codicils by me made and declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and seal this twenty fourth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty.

John Pyke. Signed sealed published

and declared by the said Testator John Pyke as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto.

Wm Perkins.
Laur Cottam.
Aa: Cramlingtony.

This Will was proved at London the second day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty before the worshipfull George Harris Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipfull Edward Simpson Doctor of Laws Master keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Ann Pyke Widow the Relict of the deceased and sole Executrix named in the said will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer.

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