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 James Pike of the parish of Deptford in the County of Kent housecarpenter being very Sick and weak in body but of a perfect Sound disposing mind and memory Do For avoiding controversies after my decease make publish and declare these present to be and contain all my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) First and principally I commend my Soul to the hands of Almighty God that gave it hoping through the meritorious death and passion of Jesus Christ my most blessed Lord and Saviour to receive full and free pardon of and for all my Sins and after this mortal Life ended to enjoy everlasting rest and happiness in the Kingdom of heaven My body I committ to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executors herein after named And as touching such temporal Estate as God of his infinite mercy and oodness hath been pleased to bless me withall I do give and dispose thereof in manner and forme following (that is to say) Imprimis my mind Will and desire is that my just Debts and funeral Expences shall be first paid Satisfyed and Discharged Item I give and bequeath unto my wellbeloved wife Katherine All that my Messuage or Tenement now in the occupacon of John Bone Bricklayer To hold to her and her assignes for and during so much of the Term of the Lease by which the same are held as she shall live she paying the one Moiety or halfpart of the ground Rent and from and after her decease I give and bequeath the said Messuage or Tenement unto my three Sons William George and James to be equally divided amongst them part and Share alike To hold to them their Executors Administrators and Assignes from thenceforth for and during all the residue and remainder of the term of years That shall be then to come and unexpired and Whereas I am under an Agreement with Mr Thomas Fellows for the maintaining and keeping my son George during the term of his Apprenticeship I Desire that the said Agreement may in every respect be fullfilled??d that he may board with my Executors herein after named All the rest and residue of my Estate whether real or personal of whatsoever nature kind or quality the same is or may be found after my decease I do give and bequeath the same unto the said Kathrine my wife William George and James my sons to be equally divided amongst them and my desire is that my Wife and Children may live together for the better supporting each other and I do hereby nominate and appoint the said Kathrine my Wife and William my eldest son joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke annull and make void all former Wills Testaments bequests and Deeds of gift by me at any time heretofore made and these presents and none other to be and contain all my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said James Pike have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal the Seventeenth day of February in the Fifth year of the reign of King George over Great Britain &c Anno Domi 1718 Signum James Pike signed sealed published and declared by the Testator James Pike as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our Names as Witnesses in the presence and at the request of the said Testator Ge: Edge Tho: Wellings Not Pub in Kinds Street Deptford Jno Fendall his Servt Probatum fuit [this paragraph continues in Latin to grant probate on 11 March 1718] undecimo die mensis Martii Anno Dni Millesimo Septingentesimo decimo octavo [to] Catherina Pike et Guilielm Pike
Last Modified: Sunday, 19-Apr-2020 14:48:00 NDT