17 November 1712 Will of Pike Crouch of Layston, Hertfordshire, esquire (proved 13 February 1712)

Source: TNA, PROB 11/531

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In the Name of God Amen
The seventeenth day of November in the Year of our Lord
One thousand Seven hundred and twelve I Pike Crowch of
Layston in the County of Hertford Esqr being weak in Body
but of sound memory and perfect understanding praised be
Almighty God for the same I Doe make and ordain this my last
Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say
All my Estate reall and personall Freehold and Copyhold as well in
possession as in Revertion I give unto my Brothers John Pike alias
Crowch Thomas Crowch Merchant Richard Cary one of my Wife's
Brothers of London Gent Henry Sawyer of the Inner Temple
London Esqr and Katherine Crowch my beloved Wife or any two
or more of them to such Uses Trusts and purposes as herein are
aftermentioned That is to say For the true payment of all my Debts
whatsoever and likewise for the payment of the Jointure for my
Mother Elizabeth Crowch during her Life and the Jointure of my
said Wife for and during her Life together with the portions to
be had and paid to the Children of me the said Pike Crowch
begotten on the Body or to be begotten on the Body of the said
Katherine my Wife according to a Deed of Settlement of Jointure
made before the Marriage of me the said Pike Crowch with
the said Catherine as by the same relation being thereunto had
it may appear And for the better enabling the said Trustees
before mentioned to execute and perform the severall payments
and Trusts aforesaid I doe hereby authorize and impower the
major part of the acting Trustees or any two of them from time
to time as to them shall seem convenient to lease out sell aliene
mortgage or any otherwise to charge any part or parcell of the
said Estate for the payments aforesaid till my Son John shall come
to the Age of Twenty one years and then all the overplus of my
Estate which shall be found due together with all the rest of my
Estate whatsoever I give unto my said Son John and his Heirs
for ever Provided always that it is my meaning and I doe
hereby devise my Wife's Pearl Necklace to her forever with the
Use of all the Houshold Goods and Furniture now used in Alswick
Hall as long as she shall inhabit or reside there by the space of
four Months in one year and be sole and unmarried Item I



give unto the Town of Buntingford five pounds to be distributed in
Bread to the Churchwardens and Overseers for the Use of the poor
on the Day of my Buriall Item I give unto my Friend Henry
Sawyer above mentioned fifty Guineas for the Trouble of executing
the Trust aforesaid And if that shall not be judged sufficient as much
more as the rest of the Trustees shall seem convenient I give no
Mourning except to my Wife and Children One Maid Servant Man
Servant and a Boy Whereas I the said Pyke Crouch have put
out severall Sums of money at Interest for my Mother in Law Alice
Carew Sister Margery Carew and Brother Richard Carew I doe
hereby give power to my Trustees or any two to raise such Sums
as shall be deficient due upon any of the said mentioned securities
out of any part of my Estate especially the Reverion or possession
of my Estate in Harestreet or upon a Mortgage of Six hundred
pounds from me and my Mother Crouch to my late Uncle
Thomas Crouch  Pyke Crouch  The Day and year first above
written signed sealed published and declared to be the last
Will of the said Pike Crowch (after the writing of some Lines
by the said Pike Crowch with his own hand) in the presence
of us C Crouch James Steward Richd England

Decimo tertio die Mensis Februarii Anno
Domini (Stylo Anglica) Millesimo Septingentesimo Duodecimo
Emanavit Commissio Catharina Crouch Relicta et [this paragraph 
continues in latin]

Last Modified: Wednesday, 09-Feb-2011 11:36:11 NST