• Christened: 5 Apr 1635, Wilmington, Sussex, England ²
• Married (1): 28 May 1657, Waldron, Sussex, England ³
• Married (2): 5 Jun 1666, Salehurst, Sussex, England ⁴
• Married (3): 24 Aug 1701, Herstmonceaux, Sussex, England ⁵
• Buried: 9 Sep 1709, Hellingly, Sussex, England ⁶

  Research Notes:

In Sep 1670 John Akehurst of Hellingly, husbandman, was a surety at the issuing of a marriage licence for Thomas Browning of Hailsham and Margaret Barnett of the same place, widow.

In Mar 1676 John Akeherst was a witness to the Will of John Bedford of Hellingly.

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The Will of John Akeherst of Hellingly, written 20 Aug 1709, proved 24 Sep 1709. ⁷

(Names of family members are underlined.)

In the name of God amen I John Akeherst of Hellingly in the County of Sussex yeoman being weake in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory praise be to God for the same doe make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following: First of all I resign my Soul into the hands of God who gave it me hoping thro' the meritts and intercession of my Saviour Jesus Christ, to obtain remission of all my sins, ever trusting in the salvation. And my body I will be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrixes hereafter named and as for the Worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased Him to bless me, I dispose of that as follows: I will and bequeath unto my wife Frances the bedd and stedle with the curtains, coverlets, blanketts and all other things thereunto belonging as it now standeth in the kitchen chamber and which I usually lye on and also two pair of sheets, one pair of which of the finest sort, two pair of pillowcoats, one dozen of huckleback napkins with two towells and tablecloth of the same sort, one pottage pott, one spitt, one iron kettle, warming panne, one great iron skillett, one dripping pann, two pieces of pewter, two Firkins, a close stool and a brass skillett, all which household goods shall be delivered to my said wife within one month after my decease. And further my mind and will is that my youngest daughter Jane shall have, after my decease, one quarter of a years boarding without paying anything for the same. Item I give to my daughter Joan, one silver cupp or bowl. Also I give unto my son in law Edward Fricker my clock with the case. Also I give unto my grandson William Medhurst all my wearing apparrell. Also I give unto my two daughters Mary and Jane the two best bedds in the hall chamber with the sheets, curtains and all other things to them belonging. Item I give unto my said daughters Mary and Jane one hundred and Fifty pounds a piece to be paid within six months after my decease. The rest and residue of all my other personall estate my debts, legacies and Funeral expenses being first satisfied and discharged, I will to be equally divided between all my six daughters and alsoe my Farme in Hellingly called Akeherst, which I give to them to be sold and the money equally divided between them. But my mind and will is that my daughter Katherines share of the personall estate and said Farm shall be ordered and disposed of by my two loving Friends Mr John Newington of Ripe and Mr Richard Day of Hadlow in Mayfield and they in their judgement and conscience shall believe to be most for the good and benefit of my said daughter Katherine It being in my mind that my son in law Thomas Day shall have none of it come to his hands for disposall and my mind and will further is that what share of my personal estate shall fall to my daughter Elizabeth shall goe to the paying off a mortgage on severall pieces or parcells of land lying in Sutton and Seaford which her husband purchased off Mr Hawes, Minister of Berwick In case her husband shall settle the said lands on my said daughter Elizabeth his wife and her children in settlement as shall be satisfactory to my aforesaid two friends. But in case he refused soe to do, then I give them the power to manage her share in the same manner as I have empowered them to doe for the benefitt of my daughter Katherine and her children. Further my mind and will is that my son in law Edward Hook shall come to dwell in the house where I now live and shall enjoy the lease of that and of the lands thereunto belonging and all other, the upland and marsh grounds of which I have lately taken a new lease of Mr Mawson in consideration of the benefitt which I hope he will reap thereby he shall for every year of the lease that shall at the time of my death, be unexpired pay unto my five daughters, Elizabeth, Mary, Ann, Katherine and Jane, four pounds a piece yearly and shall likewise pay for mindiment chalk and appeles and for wood and Fagotts cut down what two indifferent persons shall think reasonable. I doe appoint my daughters exempting Katherine, to be joynt executrixes of this my last Will and Testament and my aforesaid loving Friends Mr Newington and Mr Day, overseers of the same desiring them to assist in the disposing of my stock and other goods and to each of them I give a guinea and my mind and will is that if any difference happens to arise between any of the persons mentioned in this my Will concerning my estate, or the tru intent and meaning of this my Will, such difference shall be absolutely determined by the award of my neighbour Worger of Grovebridge and any other person or persons by him made thereof for judging of the same to whose award for the prevention of any suit in Law they shall be obliged to stand and I doe hereby revoke and disannull all former Wills by me made. In witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament, sett my hand and seale this 20th day of August in the year of our Lord 1709 The marke of John Akeherst Signed, sealed, published and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the Testator (Those words Give them to, Estate, the money. It being my mind that my son in law Thomas Day shall have none of it come to his hands excepting Katherine. being first interlined) In the presence of the marke of Susan Akeherst, James Bristed and Mary Armitage. Proved at Lewes 24 September 1709, granted to daughters Mary and Jane, with power reserved to the other daughters.