The Last will and Testament of Richard Foice (Voice) 1742

In the name of God Amen.

I Richard Foice of Billingshurst in the County of Sussex Carpenter being sick and weak in Body but of Sound and Disposing Mind and Memory (Praised be to God) Do make and ordaine my last Will and Testament in Manner following

(that is to say) I give to my son Richard Foice my best Hat, Coat, Waistcoat, Breeches & Shirt and my best pair of stockings and shoes

Also I give to my son John Foice my next best Hat, Coat, Waistcoat, breeches & shirt And my next best pair of stockings & shoes

Also I give all my Instruments of Trade and working Tools whatsoever to my said sons Richard and John Foice and my sons in law John Champion and John Seaman to be equally divided between them

Also I give all my Timber and stock in Trade to my said sons Richard and John Foice and my son in law Willm Puttock to be equally divided between them

Also I give my said son in law John Champion the sume -------------------original transcription error-------------------------------

And whereas my said son in law John Seaman is justly indebted to me in the sume of Ten pounds I do hereby forgive and Release unto the said John Seaman the said sume of Ten pounds

Also I give unto all & every of my grandchildren as shall be living at my decease the sume of five shillings a piece to be paid them Respectively by my executor hereinafter named within Twelve months after my decease

Also I give to my son John Foice the Bed whereon he now lies with all things thereunto belonging and also one pair of sheets such as my said executor hereinafter named shall think fitt

Also I give unto my said son in law James Fillery my best pair of Boots

Also I give unto my grandson James Foice (son of the said John Foice) the sume of ffifty shillings to be paid by my executor hereinafter named within Twelve months after my decease into the Hands of my said son in law James Fillery to be by him laid out at his discretion for the Benefit of my said grandson

And whereas at a court baron holden for the mannor of Pinkhurst in the said County of Sussex on or about the Twelfth day of October which was in the year of our Lord 1738 All that Cottage and Garden with the appurtenances in Billingshurst (and wherein my said son in law William Puttock now Dwelleth) holden by Copy of Court Roll of the said mannor to me and my assigns during my own natural Life and the Natural Lives of my said son John Foice and my grandson Richard Foice were duely surrendered unto the hands of the Lord of the said mannor to such uses as I should in and by my last Will direct and appoint

Now I do direct and appoint give and devise One moiety or half part of the said Copyhold premises to my Daughterr Mary Puttock and her assigns To have and to hold to the said Mary Puttock during the joint Lives of her the said Mary Puttock and my said son John Foice and my said grandson Richard Foice and the life of the Longer Liver of them the said John Foice and Richard Foice and from and after the decease of my said Daughter Mary Puttock to my grandson Richard Puttock his heirs and assigns During the lives of the said John Foice and Richard Foice and the Longer liver of them

And I do direct & appoint give and devise the other moiety or Half part of the said Copyhold premises unto my said son John Foice during the Term of his natural Life and after his decease to my said grandson Richard Foice during the term of his natural Life

And whereas all that messuage or tenement with one rood of land thereunto belonging lying near Andrews Hill in Billingshurst aforesaid and wherein the widow Stedman now dwelleth holden by Copy of Court Role of the manor of Storrington in the said County of Sussex to me and my heirs have also lately been duely surrendered into the Hands of the Lord of the said mannor to such uses as I should in and by my last Will direct and appoint Now I do hereby direct and appoint give and devise the said last mentioned Copy Hold premisees to my Daughter Sarah Fillery for and during the Term of her Natural Life and after her decease to the use of my grandson Foice Fillery and his heirs for ever at the Will of the Lord and according to the Custom of the same mannor

and whereas all that Customary Tenement or Cottage and Garden with the appurtenances lying in the Ville of Billingshurst and wherein Richard Muggridge now Dweleth holden by Copy of Court Role of the said mannor of Pinkhurst to me during my own life and the life of Ann Foice now Ann Champion and Betty Foice by the Name of Elizabeth Foice and now Betty Seaman duely surrendered into the hands of the Lord of the said mannor To such uses as I should by my Will direct and appoint give and devise the said last mentioned Copyhold premises to the said Ann Champion my Daughter during her natural life and after her decease to my grandchildren Foice Champion and Calista Champion and the survivor of them and during the joint lives of the said Foice Champion and Calista Champion to the said Betty Seaman my Daughterr during her Natural life at the Will of the Lord according to the Custom of the said mannor

Also I give the money due to me by bond from Mr James Gratwick when ye same shall be payable to be divided in manner following (that is to say) the sume of Twelve pounds to my son Richard Foice his exors & admons

All my Household goods and all other my real and personal estate whatsoever I give and devise unto my said sons Richard Foice and John Foice and my four Daughters Sarah Fillery, Mary Puttock, Ann Champion, and Betty Seaman to be equally divided between them six (after just Debts and ffuneral Expenses are Satisfied and paid)

And I appoint my said son in law James Fillery Sole Executor of this my last Will hereby revoking all former Wills by me made In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will contained in two sheets affixed together at the top and to each of the sheets sett my Hand and Seal this 15 day of September 1742

Richard Foice

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Richard Foice the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names as witnesses hereunto in the presence of the said Testator

James Gratwick
William Joyes
William Miles

On the 9th day of Ffebry 1742 James Fillery son in law
of the deceased and Exor &c was Sworn &c before me
J. Hancocke Surrogate