I was recently sent the transcription (Thank you Melissa) of the will of one of my ancestors that lived in Sussex. I don't really expect you to read through this
extremely convoluted text in its entirety - I almost fell asleep and I'm related to the man in question, but scan through it if you will and notice how the legal writer puts the document together. I could probably compress the entire document into about 20 sentences. But, that would be too easy. Why use one word, when you can
use one hundred and sixty three thousand to say the exact same thing? -Okay, it WAS written in 1768, but still, is legal writing any less convoluted today? *Warning do not read if you have a heart condition. Ideally, you should be connected up to a heart monitor, and a Dr should be in the room with you if you do choose to read it-such is the mindnumbing danger of flatlining and being placed in a coma. Now, remember to watch the monitor closely; Right take a deep breath and.... beep, beep, beep, beep, durhhhhhhhhhhh_________ "In the Name of God Amen I George Seagrave of Fittleworth in the County of Sussex Yeoman being of sound and perfect mind memory and
understanding thanks be to God Do make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) Whereas I have under form of law surrendered into the Hands of the Lord of the Mannor of Bury in the said County of Sussex All and every my customary Messuages Lands Tenements and Premises lying within and holden of the said Mannor To the Use and behoofe of such person and persons and to and for such Estate and Estates and under and
upon such Conditions Provisos and Limitations as I in and by my last will and Testament in Writing to be by and duly Executed in the presence of Three or more credible Witnesses shall direct Limit or Appoint Now in Pursuance and by Virtue of the Surrender so by me made as aforesaid I do hereby give devise will and bequeath All that my customary Copyhold Messuage Barn Stable Buildings and several parcels of Land thereunto belonging containing by Estimation Sixty Acres One Rood and Twenty Five Perches of land called Hoeland And also One Close of Pasture thereunto adjoining and belonging called the Hoegreen containing by estimation Four Acres Which said Customary Messuage Barn Buildings Lands Tenements and Premises
were late in the Exercise or Occupation of my son John Seagrave and are situate lying and being in the Parish of Bury in the County aforesaid and within and held of the said Mannor of Bury with all and singular their Rights Members and Appliances unto my daughter Ann Seagrave and my Granddaughter Mary Seagrave To have and to hold the same unto my said Daughter Ann Seagrave and my said Granddaughter Mary Seagrave and to their heirs and Assigns forever equally to be divided between them share and
share Alike as Tenants in common and not as joint Tenants according to the custom of the said Mannor Chargeable nevertheless and I do hereby charge the same premises with One Annuity or Yearly Rentcharge of Ten Pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid thereout unto my Dear and loving Wife Margaret Seagrave for and during the
Term of her natural life if she shall so long continue my Widow sole and unmarried at the Four most usual Feasts or Days of payment in the year (that is to say) at the Feast of the Annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Saint Michael the Archangel and the Birth of our Lord Christ by even and equal portions The First payment thereof to begin and be made on such of the said feasts You think you're nearing the end don't you? Hehehehe! as shall first and next happen after my decease but if she should happen to marry again Then I do hereby Will and direct that the said Annuity or
yearly Rentcharge shall be paid her in manner as aforesaid for the term of Five Years only from the Day of her Marriage if she shall so long live Also I give and bequeath unto my said wife Over and besides the said Annuity the Sum of Five Pounds to be paid unto her out of my personal estate by my Executrix hereinafter named Within One Month next after my Decease Also I give and bequeath unto my said wife The bed whereon I usually lye and all that belongeth thereto together with Three pair of my best ? Sheets Six of my best Chairs One Oak ? One Oak Chest One Chamber Table now standing in the Chamber where
I lye also One Tea table One Iron Pottage pot and Six Pewter Plates And my will and meaning is that in case my said Daughter Ann Seagrave and my said Granddaughter Mary Seagrave or either of them shall happen to dye before they respectively attain their respective Ages of One and Twenty Years without Issue lawfully begotten them and
in such case I give and devise my said Customary Copyhold Messuage Barn Stable Buildings Lands Tenements and Premises or her share or part thereof so dying unto my daughter Margaret Watts Wife of Robert Watts of Petworth in the County of Sussex Cabinetmaker her Heirs and Assigns for ever Upon this special trust and confidence and to the Interest and purpose that she the said Margaret Watts her Heirs or Assigns Do and shall sell and dispose of the same for the best price that she or they can
or may get for the same and the money arising by such sale equally to divide between all and every my Grandchildren share and share alike when they shall respectively attain their several and respective Ages of One and Twenty years This my Will and meaning is and I do hereby direct that in case my said Grandaughter Mary Seagrave shall happen to dye and my said daughter Ann Seagrave shall her survive that then she my said Daughter Ann Seagrave shall have a part or share of the money
arising by such sale equally as One of my Grandchildren Also I give devise and bequeath unto my Son in Law Robert Watts and the said Margaret his Wife All those my Freehold Messuages Malthouse Stables Buildings Courts Yards Gardens Lands Tenements Hereditaments and premises situate lying and being in the Parish of Petworth aforesaid (which I purchased of Mr.
Thomas Gallar) Are you still watching that heart monitor for signs of life? To have and to hold unto the said Robert Watts and Margaret his Wife during their natural lives and the longest lives of them and from and imediately after the Decease of the survivor of them the said Robert Watts and Margaret his Wife I give and devise the same unto my Granddaughters Ann Watts and Elizabeth Watts their Heirs and Assigns for ever as Tenants in common and not as joint Tenants But charged and chargeable nevertheless and I do hereby charge my said Freehold Premises in Petworth with the payment of Twenty Shillings which I give and bequeath unto my loving Wife Margaret Yearly and every year in the same manner as the Aforesaid Annuity of Ten Pounds out of Hoeland is given and directed to be paid But it is my will and meaning
that the said several Annuitys of Ten Pounds and Twenty Shillings so given to my said wife shall be in full of all claims of Dower or Otherwise which she might otherwise claim on my Estate and effects Also I give and devise unto my Grandson James Seagrave All that my customary Copyhold Messuge Garden and ?oft of Land containing by estimation Three Roods of Land (more or less) with Appurtenances situate lying and being in Bury aforesaid and within and held of the said Mannor of Bury and now or late in the Tenure or Occupation of Anthony Boxall To have and to hold the same unto my said Grandson James Seagrave his Heirs and Assigns for ever according to the custom of the Mannor aforesaid Also I give and bequeath unto my said Grandson James Seagrave the Sum of One Hundred and Fifty Pounds of lawfull money of
Great Britain to be paid as hereinafter is mentioned out of my personal Estate and Effects Also I give and bequeath unto my Granddaughter Margaret Seagrave Daughter of my son George Seagrave deceased the Sum of One Hundred Pounds of like lawfull money to be paid Also as hereinafter is mentioned out of my personal Estate and Effects Also I
give and bequeath unto my Granddaughters Elizabeth Hannah and Jane Seagrave Daughters of my said son George Seagrave the sum of Two Hundred Pounds of like lawfull money equally to be divided between them share and share alike and to be paid out of my personal Estate and Effects and as hereinafter is mentioned And it is my will and meaning and I do direct that the said several Legacies so given to my Grandson James Seagrave and Granddaughters Margaret Elizabeth Hannah and Jane Seagrave shall be paid within Three
Months next after my Decease unto my Friends Thomas Young and Edward Grantham the Younger to be by them and the survivor of them placed out at Interest to and for the benefit of my said Grandchildren and the Interest thereof paid and applied unto ant to the use of my said Grandchildren respectively untill they shall respectively Attain their several and respective Ages of One and Twenty Years At which Age it is my Will and meaning my said Grandchildren shall respectively receive their said several and respective Legacies and in case any or either of them shall happen to dye before he she or they shall Attain that Age then it is my Will and meaning that the
Legacy or Legacys of him her or them so dying shall go to and be equally divided amongst the survivors of them Hang in there! The most interesting bits coming up. Not Really. I'm just trying to be encouraging.... Also I give and bequeath unto my said Granddaughter Ann Watts the Sum of Fifty Pounds of like lawfull money to be paid unto her when she shall attain her Age of Twenty One Years by my Executrix hereinafter named Also I give and bequeath unto my Granddaughter Elizabeth Watts the Sum of Five Pounds to be paid unto her when she shall attain her Age of One and Twenty Years by my Executrix hereinafter named Also I do hereby further
give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Ann Seagrave and Granddaughter Mary Seagrave Thirty Pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid with in Six Months after my Decease by my Executrix towards paying the tax fine and fees on their admission to the Estate hereinbefore by me given them And I do also give them the Rents of the said Estate from the Michaelmas preceeding my death And it is my further Will and meaning that my Daughter in Law Mary Seagrave shall have the Guardianship of my said Granddaughter and the management of her Estate for no longer time than she my said Daughter in Law shall remain a widow for from her marriage again I do inasmuch as in me lyes appoint my Son in Law Robert Watts Guardian of my said Granddaughter Mary Seagrave All the rest residue and remainder of my will and
personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever of what nature or kind soever it may be which I shall be in anywise interested in or entitled unto at the time of my Decease and not hereinbefore given and disposed of After my Debts Legacies and General Expenses are paid and discharged I give devise and bequeath unto my said daughter Mary Watts
her Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns whom I do hereby make nominate constitute and appoint full and sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament revoking and making void all former and Other Wills by me before this time made In Witness whereof I the said George Seagrave the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in Three Sheets of paper set my Hand and Seal to such of the said Sheets of Paper (and to each of Which Sheets the Witnesses have Also inscribed their Names) this First Day of May in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Seven George Seagrave Signed seled published and Declared by the said George
Seagrave the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who all of us in his presence and at his request and in the presence of oath either have subscribed our Names or Witnesses Wm. Johnson Wm. Upton. Eliz. Fletcher. Whereas it hath been insinuated that as my Marriage with Margaret my present wife before called Margaret Chipper was not had and celebrated in a Church or Chappel I having been married at a publick house in Plaistow in the County of Sussex within mentioned my said Wife Margaret or her Daughter Ann would not enjoy the Amenitys Legacies or Priority(?). of Estate by me lying within written last Will and Testament given devised
and bequeathed to them respectively Now I do by this present writing which I desire may be esteemed a Codicil to and part of my last Will and Testament within written declare that the person called in my said Will by the Nmae of my Dear and Loving wife Margaret Seagrave is the person who hath from the time of Our Marriage by the Reverend John Shot(?) of Plaistow aforesaid lived with me and been esteemed as my Wife and whose Name before our Marriage was Margaret Chipper And that
the person called in my said Will by the Name of my Daughter Ann Seagrave is the Daughter of the said Margaret And that they the said Margaret and her Daughter Ann are the persons respectively for Whom I intend and to whom I have given Annuities Legacies and moiety of Estate within mentioned to be given to my Dear and loving Wife Margaret and my Daughter Ann And in regard my within mentioned Daughter in Law Mary Seagrave Widow hath treated me with great disrespect I do by this
present Codicil as much as in me lyes or by Law I can revoke the direction or Appointment of Guardianship within mentioned of my Granddaughter Mary Seagrave Daughter of my said Daughter in Law Mary Seagrave And do hereby as much as in me lyes or by Law I can nominate and Appoint my within mentioned Son in Law Robert Watts Guardian of my said Granddaughter Mary and to manage and take care of the Estate by me within given her until she Attain her full Age of One and
Twenty Years And in all Other things I do hereby ratify and confirm my Will within written on Three Sheets of Paper In Witness whereof I the within named George Seagrave have to this present Codicil Which I desire may be esteemed as part of my last Will and Testament set my Hand and Seal this Ninth Day of January In the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Eight . George Seagrave. Signed sealed and published and declared by the within named George Seagrave as a Codicil to and past of his last Will and Testament In the presence of Wm. Johnson. Christopher Yeates. Thomas Elliott. This Will with the Codicill annexed was proved before Mr. Richard Tierman Clerk m a Surrogate On the Twelfth Day of April In the Year of Our Lord 1768 by the Oath of Margaret Watts natural and Lawfull Daughter of
the Deceased and the sole Executrix named in his said Will to whom Well and truly Sworn ?"
