Source: TNA, Prob/11/1002
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 Thomas Pike of the parish of Saint John's Wapping in the County of Middlesex Gentleman being of sound mind memory and understanding (praised by God for the same) but being mindful of the frail and uncertain condition of this Transitory Life Do make and declare my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say first and principally I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator and Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer by whose Mercy and Merits I believe and do assuredly hope to obtain free pardon and Remission of all my Sins and Offences and to inherit amongst the ???? the Joys and fruition of eternal Life my Body I commit to the Earth from whence it was Extracted to be decently interred in the family Vault in the Parish Church of Saint George in the East in the said County of Middlesex at the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named having only one Coach to attend the hearse and my desire is that the Expences of my funeral together with Mourning to such as my dear Wife Ann Pike shall think to give to do not exceed the Sum of One hundred pounds in sure and certain expectation of a joyful Resurrection at the last Day and in respect of my Worldly Estate which God of his exceeding Bounty hath endowed me with in this Life I order and dispose of the same as follows the first I Will and direct that all my just Debts and funeral Expences be fully paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and after payment thereof I give devise and bequeath all that my freehold Estate situate at Duddington in the County of Northampton in the Tenure or Occupation of Mr Samuel Freeman and also all that my freehold Estate situate and being in Old Gravel Lane late in the Occupation of one William Lamey Wheelwright the rents Issues and profits of which said Estates I desire my said Wife Ann Pike may enjoy during the term of her natural Life and after her decease I give devise and bequeath the same to my dear Neice Ann Freeman her Heirs and Assigns for ever Item I give and bequeath to my said dear Wife Ann Pike All my Household Goods plate Dinner ??????????? for her own sole and separate use during the term of her natural Life only ( Except Our Silver Tankard with my Arms thereon and our Silver pint Mug without Arms which I give and bequeath to my Sister Sarah Freeman widow ) and after the decease of my said Wife then I give and bequeath All my Household Goods &c to my said Niece Ann Freeman her Heirs and Assigns for ever Item I give and bequeath unto Robert Freeman Sarah Freeman Ann Freeman Frank Freeman and Lydia Freeman a ring each of a Guinea Value and as to all the rest and residue of my Estate and Effects whether real or personal Cash Book Debts &c that I may be in possession of interested in or intitled unto at the time of my decease I give devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my dear Wife Ann Pike her Heirs and Assigns for ever And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said Wife Executrix and Mr Robert Freeman of East Smithfield Baker and Mr George Sibley of Little Trinity Lane London Merchant Executors of this my Will revoking all former and other Will or Wills by me at any time heretofore made And I do declare this to be only last Will and Testament In Witness whereof to this my Will contained in two sheets of paper to the first whereof I have set my hand and the second and last my hand and seal this eighteenth day of June in the fourteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth And in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy four Thos Pike Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator Thomas Pike as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who attested the same in his presence and in the presence of each other Henry Crane Wm Bowing Saml Ravenscroft No 64 Cr???ed Fryers This Will was proved at London the twenty sixth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy four before the Worshipful George Harris Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Sir George Hay Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper of Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawrfully constituted by the Oaths of Ann Pike Widow the Relict of the deceased Robert Freeman and George Sibley the Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer
Last Modified: Sunday, 19-Apr-2020 12:33:16 NDT