The Will of Mr. John Attree of Ditchling 10th August 1762.
The last will and testament of John Attree of Ditchaling in the county of Sussex, maltster, made and written with my own hands this tenth day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Two. First and principally I bequeath my soul to God who gave it, trusting for remission of sins through Jesus Christ, and my body to be devoutly interred at the discretion of my wife believing and hoping for the resurrection to eternal life. Secondly I make and ordain my eldest son John Attree executor of this my will and do constitute and appoint my two brothers-in-law John Scrase and William Rogers both of the parish of Pacham gaurdians to my children till they arrive at the age of twenty one years, and trustees to execute this my will for and in the name of my son and executor being now a minor till he is by law capable to act for himself and to do everything in the same manor that he might have done had he been of full age. Thirdly I thus ordain and dispose of my worldly goods. I will that my marriage bond and settlement in behalf of my wife stand good in all intents and purposes according to their true meaning in law and equity. Item: I give and bequeath to my son William Attree the full sum of five hundred and fifty pounds to be paid him when he shall attain to the age of twenty one years. Also I give and bequeath to my son Harry Attree the full sum of six hundred pounds to be paid him when he shall attain to the age of twenty-one years. Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Sukey Attree the full sum of six hundred pounds to be paid her when she shall attain to the age of twenty three years, but the interes if she shall require it to be paid her from the time she shall be of the age of twenty one years. Also I give and bequeath to my youngest son Richard Attree the full sum of ffour hundred and fifty pounds to be paid him when he shall attain to the age of twenty one years. Item: I give to my wife Susanna Attree fifty pounds for mourning and half my household goods and linen. All the rest of my real estate I give as followeth All the Bowris both copyhold and ffree under a restriction hearafter to be named I give and devise to my eldest son John Attree his heirs and assigns for ever being first surrendered according to law, and one ffield called Wollcroft in the Rectory manor of Ditchaling to hold to him and his heirs for ever. Also I give and devise to my son William Attree his heirs and assigns for ever all that houses and premisses late my ffathers both copyhold and free paying out of the same three pounds a year to my sister Elisabeth Ffuller by quarterly payments and given by my ffather in his last will. Also I give and devise to my youngest son Richard Attree his heirs and assigns for ever all that my house and malthouse with all the appurtinances theirunto belonging after the death of my wife Susanna Attree, being a joynter to her before marriage. Item: All the rest of my personal and real estate I give to my eldest son and executor before named, willing him or his trustees for him to payout of the same to my sister Elisabeth Ffuller aforesaid the sum of seven pounds yearly by quarterly payments towards the annuity of ten pounds a year left by my ffather during her life. Also my will and intent is that if either of my sons or my daughter should die before they attain to the age hereinbefore mentioned then the whole of their fortune that is personall estate should be equally divided between the other four. And as for my real estate, if my son John should die before he is of age, without lawfull issue I will and devise the Bowris to go and decend immediately to my next son William Attree his heirs and assigns for ever. And I would have it observed that my will and mind is that all my children should be brought up at the discretion of my wife and trustees till each of them shall arrive at the age before mentioned out of the joynt income of my real and personall estate in the hands of my said trustees. Also my will and mind is that if their should be any sum or sums of money lost by any misfortune above the sum of Twenty Pounds then for all my children to go share and share alike in the said lost or lostes and not for the whole lost to fall on my executor. Lastly I do direct and order a full and true inventory of all my goods and chattels credits and debts due to me to be taken by proper persons within one month after my decease, by and under the care and inspection of my son's guardians and trustees. For confirmation of which as my last will and testament I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written Jn Attree. Signed, sealed published and declared to be the last will and testament of the said John Attree the testator by him in our presence who sign the same as witnesses at his request, Thos: Street, Ambras Glasbrook, Richard Burt."
In the name of God Amen. I John Attree of Ditchling in the County of Sussex Gentleman, do publish and declare this to be my codicil to be annexed unto and taken as part of my last will and testament which will bears date the tenth day of August one Thousand seven hundred and sixty two, and hath been by me resealed and published immediately before the execution of this codicil and subject thereto. And I hereby give and bequeath unto my loving wife Susanna Attree and unto my son William Attree the further sum of ffifty pounds a piece of lawful money of Great Britain over and above what is given in and by my said will, both which said legacies I will and desire to be paid to them within six months next after my decease by my son and executor John Attree within the said will named out of my personal estate. And also I give and bequeath unto my son Harry Attree the further sum of ffifty pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain over and above what is given in and by my said will ; and also unto my son Richard Attree the further sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money over and above what is given in and by my said will, both which said legacies hereby given and bequeathed to my said sons Harry and Richard, I will and desire to be paid to them as soon as they arrive to their respective ages of twenty one years or days of marriage which shall first happen out of my personal estate by my said executor John Attree. And lastly I give and bequeath unto my daughter Suky Attree the further sum of ffifty pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain over and above what is given in and by my said will, which said legacy I will and desire to be paid to her by my said executor out of my personal estate as soon as she arrives to her age of twenty three years or day of marriage which shall first happen and in all other respects I confirm my said will. In witness whereof I the said John Attree have to this my codicil set my hand and seal this thirty first day of May in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Two. Jn Attree. (L.S.) Signed, sealed published and declared by the said John Attree as and for a codicil to be annexed unto and taken as part of his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto. Thos Cruse, Matthew Berry Peter Morfee Clk to Mr Dodson.
By the tenor of these presents we Roger Pettiward Clerk Doctor in Divinity, Commissary or Principal Official of the Right Reverend Father in God Sir William Ashburnham Baronet by divine permission lord Bishop of Chichester, in and through the whole Archdeaconry of Lewes in the diocese of Chichester aforesaid lawfully constituted make known to all men that on the twenty eighth day of November in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Two before the Reverend Edward Lund Clerk our Surrogate lawfully constituted, the last will and testament and codicil of John Attree late of Ditcheling within the Archdeaconry aforesaid deceased hereunto annexed was proved approved and registered and administration of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the deceased and any way concerning his will was then granted to John Attree the son the sole executor named in the said will being first sworn upon the holy evangelists will and faithfully to administer the same and to make a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the said goods chattels and credits, and to exhibite the same in the registry of the ecclesiastical court at Lewes on or before the last day of December next ensuing and also to render a just and true account thereof. Given under the seal of our office at Lewes the day and year first above written.
James Michell Dept: Reg.
Ed: Lund Sur.
