25 October 1774 Will of William Pike of Portsmouth (proved 28 May 1777)

This will was transcribed by Wayne Pike (with some subsequent touch-ups done by me, David Pike). The original will can be obtained online from The National Archives.

Source: TNA, Prob/11/1031


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This is the last will
and testament of me William Pike of Portsmouth in the
county of Southhampton Esquire. First I direct that all
my just debts be paid. Also I give and bequeath
unto my dear wife Ann all my household goods and
furniture, plate, china, rings and jewels and also the
gold watch which she usually wears to be delivered
to her immediately after my decease. Also I give and
devise unto my said wife all that my messuage
or tenement with the appurtenants situated in
Gosport      in the county aforesaid now in
the occupation of her sister Ann Burrows and her
undertenants to hold to my said wife for and during
the term of her natural life. Also I give and bequeath


unto Ann Pike (daughter of my said wife by her former
husband) the sum of three hundred pounds of lawful
money of Great Britain to be paid unto her at the
end of three months next after my decease. Also I
give and bequeath unto my grandson Sir John
Carter Knight the sum of two hundred and fifty
pounds of like lawful money to be paid to him
within three months next after my decease in trust
that at his executors or administrators shall and do
yearly and every year forever pay and apply the
interest thereof on the feast of Saint Thomas the
Apostle to such of the sum the poor of the parish of
Portsmouth aforesaid not receiving alms of the said
parish as he or they shall think proper. Also I give
and bequeath unto the said Sir John Carter the sum
of ten pounds of like lawful money in trust to pay
the same on the first feast day of Saint Thomas
the Apostle that shall happen next after my decease
unto such of the said poor of the said parish as
he shall think proper. Also I give and bequeath
unto my niece Susanna Lee the daughter of my
late brother (John Pike deceased) the sum of fifty
pounds of like lawful money, unto my nephew
Timothy Pike, Gent (the son of my said late brother
John Pike) the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds
of like lawful money. Unto each and every one of
the other children of my said late brother John
Pike the sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful
money and unto each and every one of the
children of my late brother Thomas Pike deceased
that shall be living at my decease the sum of one
hundred pounds of like lawful money. Unto my sister
Mary Lamberts daughter now the wife of Hart the
sum of two hundred pounds of like lawful money
and unto my wifes niece Elizabeth Burrows the sum
of ten pounds of like lawful money all which last
mentioned Legacies I do hereby order and direct
shall be paid to my said last mentioned Legatees
within three months next after my decease. Also I
give and bequeath unto the Reverend Mr. Thomas
Wren the sum of five Guineas. Also I give and
bequeath unto the said Sir John Carter the sum
of twenty pounds of like lawful money in trust to
pay the same so soon as may be after my decease
to such of the poor of the congregation of
protestant dissenters in Portsmouth as my said grand
son shall see fit. Also I give and bequeath to each
and every one of the servants that shall live with
me at my decease and shall have been in my
employment for six months each preceeding
one Guinea and whereas my daughter Ann Bonhams
late husband left in my Hands one thousand


pounds which was part of the sum that I agreed
to give him with my said daughter in marriage
and their now remains in my Hands the sum of
eight hundred pounds only part thereof with some
interest Now I desire that the said sum of eight
hundred pounds and interest may be paid to my
said daughter so soon as may be after my decease
and after that is done I desire that all amounts
between my said daughter Ann Bonham and myself
and also between her late husband and myself be
looked upon to be even and that there be no demand
on either side and also that all amounts between
my son in law John Carter Esquire and myself be looked
upon to be even and that there be no demand on
either side and whereas I have given to my grand
daughter Susanna Atherley for principal money and
interest near about the sum of nine thousand pounds
and I have also given to my grand daughter Ann
Goodenough eight thousand pounds three per cent
Consolidated Bank annuities and she having had the
interest thereof for several years hath made it as
good as eight thousand pounds sterling. Now it is my
will and desire that the said sum of nine thousand
pounds shall be repaid into my estate by Arthur
Atherley Esq the husband of my said grand daughter
Susanna Atherley and that the said sum of eight
thousand pounds shall be repaid into my estate by
George Trenchard Goodenough Esq the husband of my
said grand daughter Ann Goodenough or otherwise
that the said several sums of nine thousand pounds
and eight thousand pounds shall be deducted out of
the respective parts and shares of and in my real
and personal estates herein after given and devised
to my said grand daughters Susanna Atherley and
Ann Goodenough respectively and whereas I have given
unto my two grandsons the said Sir John Carter
and William Carter Gent my bonds for the payment
of the sum of eight thousand pounds to each of them
Now I direct that the principal monies out of the bonds
shall not be paid but that the said bonds shall be
delivered up and cancelled immediately upon my
decease. Also I give devise and bequeath one
undivided Moiety or half part of and in all and
every my freehold leasehold and copyhold  manors
messuages farms lands tythes and heriditaments
whatsoever or wheresoever situate lying and being
with their and every their appurtenants and
also of and in all the residue and remainder of
my personal estate and effects unto my four grand
children Ann Bonham, Bessey Bonham, Mary
Bonham and Thomas Bonham their heirs executors
administrators and assigns to be equally divided


between them as tenants in common and not as
joint tenants. Also I give devise and bequeath the
other undivided Moiety or half part of and in all
and every my freehold leasehold and copyhold  manors
messuages farms lands tythes and heriditaments
whatsoever or wheresoever situate lying and being
with their and every of their appurts and also of and
in all the restresidue and remainder of my personal
estate and effects unto my five grandchildren the
said Ann Goodenough, Susanna Atherley, Sir John
Carter and William Carter and Edward Carter their
heirs executors administrators and assigns to be
equally divided between them as tenants in common
and not as joint tenants and I do hereby nominate
and appoint my said daughter Ann Bonham and
my said grand son Sir John Carter executrix and
executor of this my last will and testament and
lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former
and other wills and testaments by me made in
testament that this is my last will and testament
I the said William Pike have hereto set my hand
and seal the twenty fifth day of October in the year
of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and
seventy four.  Wm. Pike . Signed sealed published
and declared by the said William Pike the testator
as and for his last will and testament on the day
of the date in the presence of us who have hereto
subscribed our names as witnesses in his presence
at his request and in the presence of each other
Thos. White   John Sissmore   George Binsteed

I William Pike of Portsmouth in the
county of Southampton Esquire do make and declare
this writing to be a codicil to my last will and
testament bearing date the twenty fifth day of October
in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and seventy four and do order and direct the same
to be taken as part and parcel thereof first I give
and bequeath unto my dear wife Ann the sum of
one thousand pounds of lawful money of Great
Britain over and besides what I have given her
by my said will and over and besides the provision
I made for her in and by the settlement on our
marriage to be paid to her within three months
next after my decease. Also I give and bequeath
unto my said wife's daughter (by her former
husband) Ann Pike the sum of two hundred pounds
of like lawful money over and besides what I
have given her by my said will. Also I give and
bequeath unto my grand son Sir John Carter
Knight the sum of fifty pounds of like lawful


money in addition to the sum of two hundred and
fifty pounds given and bequeathed to him by my
said will in trust for the benefit of
the poor of the parish of Portsmouth aforesaid to
be applied by my said grand son to and for the
same uses interests and purposes as are mentioned 
and expressed in my said will of and concerning the
said sum of two hundred and fifty pounds. Also I
give and bequeath unto my niece Susanna Lee
Widow the daughter of my late brother John
Pike deceased the sum of fifty pounds of like lawful
money unto my nephew Timothy Pike the son of
my said late brother John Pike the sum of one
hundred and fifty pounds of like lawful money
unto each and every one of the children of my said
late brother John Pike the sum of one hundred
pounds of like lawful money unto each and every
one of the children of my late brother Thomas
Pike deceased that shall be living at my decease
the sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful
money unto my sister Mary Lamberts daughter
now the wife of           Hart the sum of fifty
pounds of like lawful money and unto the
Reverend Mr. Thomas Wren the sum of ten
Guineas of like lawful money over and besides
what I have given to them severally by my said
will      all which said legacies I do
hereby order and direct shall be paid within three
months next after my decease. Also I give and
bequeath to each and every one of the servants
that shall live with me at my decease and shall
have been in my employment for six months
then next providing one guinea over and besides
what I have given them by my said will and
whereas since the making and executing of my said
will I have purchased several freehold leasehold and
copyhold manors messuages farms lands tytles and
hereditaments Now I do hereby give devise and
bequeath one undivided Moiety or half part of and
in all and every the freehold leasehold and copyhold
manors messuages farms lands tytles and heredits
whatsoever or wheresoever situate lying and being
with their and every of their appurtenants which
I am now seized or possessed of interested in or
entitled to or whereof or wherever I have any
disposing power unto my four grandchildren Ann Bonham
Bessey Bonham Mary Bonham and Thomas Bonham
their heirs executors administrators and assigns to be
equally divided between them as tenants in common
and not as joint tenants. Also I give devise and
bequeath the other undivided Moiety or half part
of and in all and every the freehold leasehold and


copyhold manors messuages farms lands tytles and
hereditaments whatsoever or wheresoever situate lying
and being with their and every of their appurtenances
which I am now seized or possessed of interested in 
or entitled to or whereof or wherein I have any
disposing power unto my five grand children Ann
Goodenough Susanna Atherley Sir John Carter William
Carter and Edward Carter their heirs executors advisors
And assigns to be equally divided between them as
tenants in common and not as joint tenants and I do
hereby ratify and confirm my said last will and
testament and all the gifts devises legacies bequeaths
matters and things therein contained and not hereby
altered in testimony that this is a codicil to my last
will and testament. I the said William Pike have
hereto set my hand and seal the twenty fourth
day of January in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and seventy seven.  Wm.
Pike   Signed sealed published and decreed by
the said William Pike as and for a codicil to his
last will and testament on the day of the date
in the presence of us who have hereto subscribed
our names as witnesses in his presence at his
request and in the presence of each other.  Thos. Silver
Edw. Sinzee junr.   George Binsteed

This will was proven at London with a codicil
the twenty eighth day of May in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven
before the right worshipful George May
Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or commissary
of the prerogative court of Canterbury lawfully
constituted by the oaths of Ann Bonham widow
the daughter of the deceased and Sir John Carter Knight
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
they having been first sworn by commission duly
to administer.




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Last Modified: Sunday, 19-Apr-2020 12:35:00 NDT