Source: TNA, PROB 11/988
Also, if you are a male Pike/Pyke (or you know one) who may be willing to do a genealogical DNA test, then please check out the Pike DNA Project for which I am a volunteer coordinator. There are several Pike/Pyke families that are not yet represented in the project, and for whom participants are wanted.
In the Name of God Amen I Robert Pyke of Muchelney in the County of Somerset yeoman being at this time some what indisposed in Body but of sound Mind and understanding Do this sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy two make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in manner following That is to say First I Give and bequeath unto Mary my Wife and her Assigns for her Life One Annuity yearly Rent Charge or Sum of Twenty Pounds of Lawful Money of Great Britain to be issuing and payable had receeved and taken by her out of my Personal Estate by two equal half yearly Payments (to wit) on the twenty fifth day of December and the twenty fourthd day of June (clear of all deductions whatsoever) the first Payment thereof to begin and be made on such of the same Days as shall first and next happen after my Decease And for the more sure Payment thereof accordingly I do hereby order and direct my Executor herein after named to give Bond to my said Wife in the Penal Sum of Five Hundred Pounds Conditioned for the Payment of the said Annuity by half yearly Payments on the Days and in manner as aforesaid within twelve Months next after my Decease if she shall require the same And if he my Executor shall refuse so to do then and in such Case all Benefit which shall accrue to him under or by Virtue of this my Will shall become absolutely forfeited to her my said Wife and be her Property for ever And I Give unto Ann the Wife of Robert Grinter of Muchelney aforesaid yeoman the Sum of Ten Pounds of Lawful Money of Great Britain And unto my Grad Daughters Mary Willy Spinster now living with me Susannah Cass now Wife of John Cass of Sea in the Parish of Ilmister in the said County Labourer and Mary Swann Wife of Joseph Swann of Sevington in the said County of Taylor the Sum of Five Pounds each of like Lawful Money unto my Grand Son John Willy of Drayton in the said County Husbandman Leah Beck Wife of John Beck of Hinton Saint Georges in the said County Butcher and Amelia Davy Wife of Henry Davy of Southpether in the said County Carpenter I Give the Sum of Ten Pounds a piece of like lawful Money And my Will is that the Seven Money Legacies last mentioned shall all be raised and taken out of my Personal Estate by my said Executor herein after named and by him paid over to the said Several Legatees above named at the End of Two years next after my Decease And I Give unto Thomas Stukey Son of Mary Stukey of Muchelney aforesaid by Joseph Stuckey her former Husband deceased the Sum of Twenty Pounds of Lawful Money of Great Britain and unto his two Brothers and Sister John Joseph and Joan Stuckey all now Minors the Sum of Ten Pounds each of like lawfull Money those last four Legacies I will shall be raised and taken out of my said Personal Estate by my said Executor and paid over to them at their respective Ages of Twenty one years And I Give unto my Brother Martin Pike of Southpetherton aforesaid Innholder the Principal Sum of Four hundred Pounds in Lawful Money of Great Britain and all the Interest profits and Produce thereof during his Life And from and immediately after his Decease I Give the same Principal Sum of Four hundred Pounds unto my Nephew Thomas Pike of Southpetherton aforesaid Labourer for his own proper use and Benefit And Lastly all the Rest and Residue of my Estates both Real and Personal and all my Right and Interest therein respectively (after payment of all my just Debts Funeral Expences Annuity and Several other Money Legacies aforesaid and such other Legacies as I may give by any Codicil made Subsequent to the day of the date of this my Will and Subject thereto in the first Place) I Give Devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said Brother Martin Pike whom I do hereby make Constitute and appoint Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament And I do hereby revoke all former Wills and Testaments by me at any Time heretofore made And do declare this only to be my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Robert Pyke have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Day and year first above written Robert Pike Signed Sealed Published and declared by the Testator Robert Pake as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who at his Request and in his Presence and in the Presence of each other Subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereto E Bamfield Mary Stuckey The Mark of Grace Bishop This Will was Proved at London the Seventh day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy three before the Right Worshipful George Hay Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Lawfully constituted by the Oath of Martin Pike otherwise Pyke the Brother of the deceased and Sole Executor named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattells and Credits of the said deceased having been first Sworn duly to Administer
Last Modified: Sunday, 19-Apr-2020 13:08:19 NDT