Source: TNA, PROB 11/709
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 This is the last Will and Testament of me Theodosia Pyke of the Parish of St Clement Danes in the County of Middlx Widow By which I revoke all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made First and principally I Commend my Soul to Almighty God my Creator And my Body to the Earth in hopes of a Joyfull resurrection to Eternal Life And as to what temporal Estate I shall be possessed of Interested in or Intitled unto at the time of my Death I dispose of the same in manner following that is to say I give to my Grandson Thomas Fear all that my Leasehold Messuage or Tenement wherein he now dwelleth with the Appurtences To hold to him his Executors Admors and assigns for and during the remainder of the term of years which I shall have therein at the time of my decease he and they paying the Ground rent thereof and performing the Covenants on the lessees part to be performed I give to my Kinswoman Mrs Jane Berry (wife of William Berry) the sum of twenty pounds to be paid within three months after my decease I give to Mr James Castle the Elder twenty pounds To Mr Thomas Singer ten pounds and to the said Mr Thomas Fear ten pounds for the trouble they will have in the Execution of this my Will and of the trust hereinafer mentioned I like- wise give and bequeath to the said James Caster Thomas Singer and Thomas Fear two hundred pounds Bank Stock In trust nevertheless to permit and Suffer my Grandson Isaac Fear to receive and take to his own proper use and behoof all Interest Dividends Profitts and Proceed which shall arise from and grow duw for the same for and during the term of his Natural Life And from and after his Decease to pay and apply all such Interest Dividends Profitts and Proceeds unto or to the use of all and every the Children of the said Isaac Fear lawfully begotten in Equal Proportions Share and Share alike if more than One and if but one then unto or to the use of such only Child until he she or they shall severall attain the Age of twenty one years and so soon as he she or they shall severally attain the said Age Then In trust to pay the principal money which shall arise by sale of the said Bank Stock or to transfer the same in equal proportions to and among all such Children if more than one And if but one the whole to such only Child And if the said Isaac Fear should depart this Life without Issue of his Body lawfully begotten Then In trust to Sell and dispose of the said two hundred pounds Bank Stock and the money arising by such sale to divide into three equal parts and to pay one third part thereof to my Grand Daughter Hannah Singer (Wife of the said Thomas Singer) and one third part thereof to my Grandson the said Thomas Fear if they shall be then respectively living But in case of the Death of either of them then to pay the said two third parts to the Survivor of them And in case of both their deaths to and among all and every the Children of the said Hannah Singer and Thomas Fear which shall be then Living in equal Shares and Proportions if more than one and if but one the whole to such only Child And the remaining third part to place out at Interest upon Government or other good Security in the Names of them the said James Castle Thomas Singer and Thomas Fear and to pay apply and dispose of the Interest Dividends Profitts and proceeds thereof unto or to the use of Penelope Fear (Daughter of my Grandson Nathan Fear deceased) for and towards her Maintenance and Education until She shall arrive at the age of twenty one years and so soon as she shall attain such age to assign over the Securitys for such third part so placed out as aforesaid to her the said Penelope Fear for her own proper use and benefit and if the said Penelope Fear should depart this Life before she attains the said age Then to divide such her third part between the said Hannah Singer and Thomas Fear in equal proportions or pay or assign over the whole to the Survivor of them and if the said Hannah Singer and Thomas Fear should both dye in the life time of the said Penelope Fear then to pay the same in equal shares and proportions to and among the Children of the said Hannah Singer and Thomas Fear if more than one share and share alike and if but one the whole to such only Child I also give and bequeath unto the said James Castle Thomas Singer and Thomas Fear three hundred pounds Old South Sea Annuitys In trust to pay apply and dispose of the Interest Dividends Profitts and proceeds thereof to or to the use of the said Penelope Fear for and towards her Maintenance and Education until she shall arrive at the age of twenty one years and so soon as she shall attain such age to assign over the said three hundred pounds Old South Sea Annuitys to the said Penelope Fear for her sole use and behoof to whom I give devise and bequeath the same accordingly But if the said Penelope Fear should depart this Life before she attains the age of twenty one years Then In trust to transfer one hundred pounds (part of the said three hundred pounds) Old South Sea Annuitys to the said Thomas Fear and one hundred pounds (further part thereof) to the said Hannah Singer for their own proper use and behoof if they shall be then respectively living But in case of the Death of either of them then to transfer the said two hundred pounds Old South Sea Annuitys to the Survivor of them and in Case of both their Deaths to and among all and every the Children of the said Hannah Singer and Thomas Fear which shall be then Living in equal shares and proportions if more than one and if but one the whole to such only Child and the remaining one hundred pounds residue thereof to transfer in the names of them the said James Castle Thomas Singer and Thomas Fear In trust for the said Isaac Fear to be paid applyed and disposed of in like manner as the said two hundred pounds Bank Stock is limitted directed and appointed by this my Will All other my Leashold Estates I direct to be sold and the moneys arising by such sale and all other my Personal Estate of what Nature kind or quality soever (after my debts Legacies and Funeral Expences and the Charges or proving this my Will are paid and discharged) I direct to be divided into four Equal parts or shares two parts whereof I give to my Grandson James Castle son of the said James Castle the Elder one other part or share thereof I give to the said Thomas Singer and the remaining part or share I give to my Grandson the said Thomas Fear and I make constitute and appoint the said James Castle the Elder Thomas Singer and Thomas Fear Executors of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto and to a Duplicate hereof set my hand and seal this third day of March in the year of our Lord (according to the Computation of the Church of England) one thousand seven hundred and forty Th?: Pyke Signed sealed published and declared by the Theodosia Pyke the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence and at her requeat have subscribed our names as witnesses Peter Thouvois Dps Charles Mann W Abbot Exd This Will was proved at London before the Worshipfull Robert Chapman Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Wppfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted the sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty one By the Oaths of James Castle the Elder Thomas Singer and Thomas Fear the Executors in the said Will named To whom administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattells and Creditts of the said deceased being first sworn duly to administer Exd On the 10th day of Sepr 1760 Admn with the Will annexed of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of Theodosia Pyke late of the Parish of St Clement Danes in the County of Middlesex Widow deced left unadstred by Thoms Singer the surviving Extor since also deced was granted to James Castle the Grandson and surviving residuary Legatee having been first sworn duly to administer Hannah Singer Widow the Relict and Sole Executrix of the Will of the said Thomas Singer the Surviving Executor dying Intestate
Last Modified: Sunday, 19-Apr-2020 13:10:04 NDT