In June 1682 William Head of East Grinstead was one of the sureties for the marriage licence of William Bish of Lingfield Surrey and Elizabeth Bish.
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The Will of William Head of the Parish of East Grinstead in the County of Sussex, Yeoman, written 4 Dec 1695, proved 28 May 1696. 6
(Paragraphed for easier reading, the names of family members underlined.)
In the name of God Amen I William Head of East Grinstead in the County of Sussex Yeoman being sicke in body but of a sound mind and a perfect mind thankes bee to God for the same
Imprimis. first and principally I committ my soul into the hands of almighty God etc... and my body to bee decently buried att the discretion of my executors hereafter named.
Item. I give unto Elizabeth my Wife the sum of fourteen pounds and six pounds more which is in the hands of William Coleman her grandfather and all the goods which was hers before shee was my Wife which said fourteen pounds is to bee paid to her within eighteen months after my decease and my said Wife to be gone out of my now dwelling house within one months time after my decease and if it shall happen that my said Wife to dye before the eighteen months bee expired that it shall bee devided amongst my Children share and share alike by my Executors.
Item. I doe give unto William Head my loveing son one silver cup four silver spoones one feather bed and bed stedle with curtaines and vallances and feather bolsters and four pair of the best sheets and half a Dozen of the best Napkins and one broad box one chest one gun to bee delivered unto him when hee shall come to understand or provide for himself by my Executors hereafter named.
Item. I doe give unto Richard Head my loveing son five silver spoones one feather bed and bedstedle and curtaines and bolsters and all belonging to it and one broad box four paire of the next best sheets and half a Dozen of the next best Napkins one Chest to bee delivered to him when he shall attain to understand or provide for himself by my Executors herein after mentioned.
Item. I doe give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Head my loving daughter one feather bed and bedstedle one feather bolster and all belonging to it and four pair of the next best sheets and half a Dozen of the next best Napkins and all the Childbed linnen whatsoever to bee delivered unto [her] when shee shall come to understand or provide for herself by my Executors hereafter named.
My mind and Will is that William Head and Richard Head my sons and Elizabeth Head my daughter should have all the rest of my indoor goods to bee equally devided between them when they come to the age of one and twenty years by my Executors hereafter named excepting such pewter as my second Wife Joane brought with her.
Item. I doe give unto my three other sonns John Head Edward Head and Robert Head all the Pewter which my second Wife brought to bee equally devided between them by my Executors when they shall come to understand or provide for themselves.
Item. All the rest of my goods chattells stocke or debts due unto mee after my owne Debts and funerall expences being first paid shall bee sold by my Executors and the farme to bee disposed of att the best rate and convenient time and the money to bee equally devided between my five sonns William Richard John Edward and Robert Head And my daughter Elizabeth Head is to have half as much money out of this stocke as William and Richard Head to bee put out for her by my Executors.
Item. My mind and Will is that my son William Head and my son Richard Head is to have ten pounds apeece more out of my stocke than my other three sons John Edward and Robert Head.
Item. My mind and Will is that when any of my six children is able to provide for themselves that my Executors doe putt out their share for their use untill they come to age of one and twenty yeares and the use or interest to bee for their benefitt. And my mind is further that if my son William Head or my son Richard Head or my daughter Elizabeth Head happen to dye before they attaine to the age of one and twenty years that their Legacyes or share shall bee equally devided betweene the survivor of them three and if any other of three youngest sons John Edward or Robert Head happen to dye before they attaine to the age of one and twenty yeares that their Legacyes or shares shall bee equally devided amongst all the rest of my said Children by my Executors hereafter named.
Item. My mind is that my Executors pay my said Children heir legacyes when they come to their severall ages of one and twenty years.
Item. My mind and Will is and I desire my loveing Freinds William Bish senior of Tandridge in the County of Surrey yeoman Robert Russell of East Grinstead in the County of Sussex yeoman and William Stenning of Godstone als. Walkehamstead in the said County of Surrey yeoman to bee my full and whole Executors of this my last Will and Testament to see the same performed in all things holding firme what my said Executors shall doe in that behalf.
In Witness whereof I have here unto sett my hand and seal this fourth day of December Anno Domini one thousand six hundred and ninety five.
(Signed)
Witnesses: William Burly, William Ribens, Barnard Martain
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