in the name of god I Henry Strudwicke of Crouch lande within the parish of Kirdford in the county of Sussex gentleman being sick in body of good and perfect memory I praise my god for it doe make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say)
first and principally I committ my soul unto the mercifull hands of almighty god my saviour and redeemer assuredly believing by and through the only merritts bitter death and redemtion of my blessed saviour and believing in jesus christ obtayne full and free pardon and remission of all my sinnes and a eternall life in glory when this tabernacle of my body shall be dissolved and so forthings such worldly goods and estate as the lord hath bestowed uppon me in this life I do dispose thereof as followeth (that is to say)
first: I do give and bequeath all of that my mansion dwelling house wherein I now dwell called Crouch lande with all barnes buildings gardens orchards lands tenements hereditaments and premises to the same belonging with them and upon of them appetayning and all my lands and tenements called Nuthurst and Hartes, Rayles and Speares Hardneps and Hams and also all those my lands called Bittles, Rumbolls Foxbridge and Studwicks Wood or by whatsoever other name or names the same or any part or parcell thereof and or have been called, with them and every of their appurtenances contayning in the whole by estimation five hundred and eighty acres of lande more or less unto William Strudwicke my sonne and to his heires forever to have and to hold to him the said William Strudwicke my sonne and too his heires and assigned for evermore
item: I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Catherine Williams tenne pounds
item: I do give unto my daughter Jane Drawater tenne pounds
item: I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Dusabella Hammond tenne pounds to be paid by my executors after named
item: all the rest and remainder of my goods and chattels and leases and of my my personall estate whatsoever unbequeathed my debts and legacyes paid and this my will and testament well and faithfully performed I wholly give and bequeath unto William Strudwicke my sonne which said William Strudwicke I do make and ordain full whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament
and I do nominate and appoint my trusted and much beloved friends Christopher Coles gentleman and John Tanner yeoman to be overseers of this my last will and testament earnestly desiring and requesting them to be ayding and assisting to my executor in the executionof this my will their charges and expenses being all paid out of my estate and to give an amount to my sonne in his mynoritie when he shall of them require it, and in the mean time I give them full power and authoritie to take all amounts of all my rents and to manage my iron works and all my landes on my executors behalf, and to take and receive and pay as they shall think fitt, giving a faire amount out every year to my executor or his assigned, haveing a reasonable allowance for their paynes and expenses out of my goods and rents as shall be thought fitt by honest and indifferent men, if my sonne and they shall desire it.
and in witness that this is my very will and testament and revoking all former wills by me made, do hereunto set my hand and seale this sixth day of september in the year of our lord christ one thousand six hundred fifty and seven
Henry Strudwicke read signed sealed and published to be the last will and testament in the presence of us John Knight Richard Napper
proved 1662