Copy of will of William Leche of 'Squerries', Kent, knight, dated 18 August 1673:...

Copy of will of William Leche of 'Squerries', Kent, knight, dated 18 August 1673: to wife Jane her jewels and cabinets, his plate hangings, beddings, pewter and furniture belonging to the manor house of 'Squirries' [Squerryes], her coach with coach horses and harnesses, carts, wagons, with materials belonging (excepting breeding mares, saddle horses and colts); to son Edward, library, bason and ewer, of £25 price, besides which the Rectory of Duffield will descend to him at father's death, and the lordship of Shipley at his mother's death, for it is settled on her for her jointure; to son John, manor house and manor of Squerryes, farms called Gasham or Gaisham and coverts in Kent, saddle horses (except Edward's mare); to son William, £3,000 at 21, out of manors, lands etc, prebend or rectories of Sawley and Wilne; to son Philip, land near 'Beaureper' [Belper] called Bradley land, and £1,000 at 21, out of lands to be sold; if John, William or Philip die before 21, the survivor(s) of them are to have his estate equally between them; to daughters Thomazin £500, Jane £1,000, Elizabeth £2,000 and necklace of pearls which was her mother's, Hester £1,000, at their marriages, to daughters Rose, Dorothy, Anne and Mary, £500 apiece at 21 or marriage; if a daughter dies before 21 or marriage, her portion is to be divided between sons John, William and Philip; small bequests to parson who preaches Leche 's final sermon, poor of Westerham [Kent], servants. Overseers, George Evelyn esquire of Wootton [?Kent] the elder, 'my brother' , George Evelyn esquire of Nutfield [Surrey], Edward Smith esquire, his brother in law, Thomas Dauling of Westerham [Kent] esquire, to have £50 each, £100 to friend Geo Combes as an assistant to children. The manors etc of Duffield, 'Beaureper' [Belper], Southwood, 'Holland' [Hulland] , 'Edrichey' [Idridgehay] and 'Biggen' , together with prebend or Rectories of Sawley and Wilne, may be sold to pay legacies, and children may enter these premises to receive rents etc. if they are not sold and the legacies are unpaid. Whereas on 15 August last Leche enfeoffed George Combes of lands in Derbyshire for the payment of debts and to the uses of his will, Combes is to give an account of his trust to overseers of will.

Residuary legatees: sons John, William and Philip also executors.

Not dated