Research Notes:

In 1583 Thomas Akers was co-executor of his father's Will.

In 1595 Thomas Akehurst was one of the overseers of the Will of his brother-in-law John Woolfe of Hailsham, being paid 3 shillings 4 pence for his efforts.

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Writing his Will in Jan 1611/2, Robert Painter of Hailsham appointed his neighbours Thomas Akehurst and Richard Kencheley, jurats of the town and port of Pevensey, overseers of his Will. The executor of Robert Painter's Will was Robert's son Edward Painter, presumably the same Edward who married Thomas Akehurst's daughter, Alice, in the following year.

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Thomas Akherst, Jurat (burial record)

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The Will of Thomas Akeherst of Hailsham, written 3 May 1612, proved 8 Jun 1612. ⁴

(The names of family members are in bold.)

In the name of god Amen the Third day of May in the Tenth yeare of the raigne of our gracious sovaigne Lord James by the grace of god of England France and Ireland {the first} Defender of the faythe &c and of Scotland the Fyve and Forteeth 1612 I Thomas Akeh{yrst} of Haylsha[m] in the County of Sussex and Diocesse and wthin the Libertie {of} Pevensey Jurate being Sick & Weake of body but of sound & pfect memorie Thankes bee {to} god doe make & ordeyne this my last Will and Testament in manner & forme following First I com[m]end & bequeathe my Sowle into the handes of Allmightie god my most mercifull Savyour & Redeemer trusting only throught his death and passion to have free pdon and remission of all my Synnes And my body I will to the Earth to be Christianlike buryed {in} the Churchyard of Haylsham above said Itm I gyve unto the reparations of the Church of Haylsha[m] above said Three Shillinges fower pence Itm I gyve unto the Poore People of the said pish Three Shillinges fower pence Itm I gyve unto Alice Akeherst my daughter Fortie poundes to bee payd unto her at the Feast of St John the Baptist next Coming after my discease or at the day of her Mariage which shall first happen to come Itm I gyve unto Eve Akeherst my daughter Fortie poundes to bee payd unto her wthin one yeare next after my discease Itm I gyve unto Martha Akeherst my daughter Fortie poundes to bee payd unto her at her age of Twenty yeares or the day of her Mariage which shall first happen to come Itm I Will and bequeath unto my to Margaret my loveing wyefe All that my Howse wherein I now dwell wth the barne Orchardes Closes easementes & Comodities thereunto belonging and all my landes lyeing in the pishes of Haylsham & Hellingligh during the terme of her naturall lyfe And my mind and will is That Shee the said Margaret my wyefe shall mayntayne and kepe the said dwelling howse bar{ne} Orchardes and all and singular the Landes afforesaid well and sufficiently from tyme {to} tyme and at all tymes during her naturall lyfe amended sustayned and repayred Itm I gyve unto the said Margaret my wyefe yearely during her naturall lyfe for the mayntenance of her Fyre Six coardes of wood wth the spray thereof to bee taken fower Coardes a yeare uppon my Landes in Hellingligh and two coardes a yeare uppon my Landes in Haylsham and shee to coppise in that ground where shee felleth for wood in Hellingligh And to take for two coardes of wood as aforesaid in Haylsham by topping or lopping the trees not hurting the leew & defence of the howse & barne Itm my mind and will is that Margaret my said wyefe Shall paye unto my two Sonnes Robert Akeherst & John Akeherst to etch of them Fortie Shillinges a peece yearely for and towards theire mayntenance when they shall accomplish & attayne unto theire severall ages of One and Twenty yeares so long as she the said Margaret lyveth to bee payd unto them halfe yearely by even and equall ptions Itm I gyve and bequeath unto Robert my Sonne affor named my Barne & landes in Hellingligh afforesaid imediatly after my wyves discease to him and to his heires forever Itm I gyve and bequeath {un}to John Akeherst my Sonne & to his heires forever All my Dwelling howse barne & ediffices orchardes closes easmentes and comodities thereunto belonging and all my landes in Haylsha[m] afforesaid imediatly after my wyves discease afforesaid All the rest of my Goodes & Moveables not before gyven and bequeathed I gyve and bequeath unto Margaret my wyefe whome I make & ordayne the whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament And I appoy[nt] my loveing freindes Mr Rychard Kentsley and my brother in law Mr Roger Tanner the overseers of this my last Will and Testament and I gyve to etch of them for theire paynes Six Shillinges and eight pence a peece And th{u}se I fynish & conclude my last Will and Testament in manner and forme before expressed

[Signature] Thomas Akeherst Present at the makeing reading and declaring of this psent Will John Collingh{a}m and Thomas Woodd Clerke Curate of Haylsha[m] The marke of John Collingham Probate (written on reverse): 8th June 1612 Margaret Akehurst, widow and executrix.