This is the last Will and Testament of me John Stredwick of Hellingly in the County of Sussex Carpenter and now clerk of that Parish
First I Bequeath my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God hoping for Salvation through the Meritorious Death and passion of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ
And my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred in the Church Yard of Hellingly aforesaid as near to my Fathers Grave as may be
And as to the Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God in his Mercy to bless me I Give and dispose thereof as followeth that is to say
Imprimis I Give and forgive unto my Eldest Son John Stredwick the fifteen pounds and five shillings which he owes me on two notes of his hand together with the interest thereof which shall be due at my decease
Item I Give and Devise unto my Daughter Lidia now the wife of Henry Blunden her Heirs and Assigns for Ever All that my messuage Tenement or Dwellinghouse with the Buildings Gardens and appurtenances thereto belonging situate lying and being in Hellingly aforesaid adjoining to Mr Gilberts and to the Highway and to Mr Merricks land and now in my own occupation / except the use of the Kitchen Kitchen Chamber and the Garrett part of my said Dwellinghouse and free way leave and passage into and from the same / which I Give and Devise unto my beloved Wife Mary Stredwick for and during the term of her natural life if she shall so long continue my Widow and unmarried and no longer
And from and immediately after the or decease or Marriage again of my said wife which shall first happen I give and devise the said Kitchen Kitchen Chamber and Garrett unto my said Daughter Lidia the wife of the said Henry Blunden her heirs and assigns for ever
I Give and Devise All that my messuage or tenement or Dwellinghouse with the appurtenances and Orchard thereunto belonging situate lying and being in Hellingly aforesaid the said messuage and appurtenances being in the occupation of my Eldest Son John Stredwick and part of the said Orchard in my own occupation unto my said wife Mary Stredwick for and during the term of her natural life if she shall so long continue a widow and unmarried
And from and immediately after the decease or marriage again of my said wife which shall first happen I Give and Devise the said last mentioned Messuage and premises now in the occupation of my said Son John Stredwick /Except part of the said Orchard now in my own occupation/ unto my said son John Stredwick his heirs Executors and administrators and assigns for Ever
Item from and immediately after the decease or marriage again of my said Wife which shall first happen I Give and Devise part of the said Orchard belonging to the said last mentioned premises and now in my own occupation as the same is now divided unto my said Daughter Lidia the wife of Henry Blunden her Heirs Executors Administrators and assigns for ever she and they paying therefore yearly the Sum of Sixpence in part of the Lord Rent
Item I Give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary for and during the term of her natural life if she shall so long continue my widow and unmarried The use and Interest of all my Household Goods and of the Rest and Residue of my Money Securities for Money and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever after payment of my Debts and Funeral Expenses with a power for her to dispose of any part thereof if she should be in want of necessary Food and Payment
And from and after the Decease or Second Marriage of my said wife which shall first happen I give and Bequeath the residue of my personal Estate as followeth (that is to say) I give and forgive my son Richard Stredwick the Twenty five pounds and five shillings which he owes me on Bond and a note of his Hand
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Grandchildren John Ellis Elizabeth Ellis and Sarah Ellis the children of my Daughter Elizabeth Ellis the sum of One Guinea each
And unto my Grandsons Jeremiah Stredwick and James Stredwick the children of my son Jeremiah One Guinea each
Which said last mentioned legacies to my five Grandchildren my Will is shall be paid at their respective ages of twenty one years
And in case any or either of them die under that age my will is that the legaciy or Legacies of him her or them so dying shall go and be paid to the survivors or survivor of them
And I charge all my real estate before given to my Daughter Lidia the wife of Henry Blunden and my personal estate given to my Executors with the payment thereof accordingly
And I give and bequeath All the Rest Residue and Remainder of my personal estate after discharge of my Debts Legacies and Funeral Expenses unto my Son in Law the aforesaid Henry Blunden and my said Daughter Lidia his wife
And Lastly I make and appoint the said Henry Blunden and Lidia his wife Sole Executors of this my will hereby revoking all former and other will and wills by me at any time heretofore made
In Witness whereof I have to this will and testament contained in Two Sheets of Paper to each sheet thereof set my hand and seal this twentieth day of October In the year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Four John Stredwick
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Testator John Stredwick as and for his last will and testament In the presence of us who at his request and in the presence of the said Testator and of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses James Michell Da. Hodgson (Clerk to Mr Michell) Richard Caplen
Probatum to Lidia and Henry Blunden on 26th January 1771