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.
I Henry Pyke of West Wick in the Parish of Pewsey in the County of Wilts Gentleman do make publish and declare my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) I desire all my just Debts to be fully paid and satisfied I give devise and bequeath unto my Son Henry Pyke the younger all that my Messuage or dwelling House wherein I now reside situate at West Wick aforesaid with the Outhouses Gardens and Appurtenances to the same belonging and adjoining and all my Freehold Closes Lands Tenements and Hereditaments situate lying and being at West Wick aforesaid with their and every of their Appurtenances now in the Occupation of my said Son Henry Pyke and all other my Freehold Estate whatsoever and wheresoever with their and every of their appurtenances (Subject and chargeable with the several Legacies hereafter mentioned) To hold the same and every part thereof (Subject as aforesaid) unto the said Henry Pyke the younger his Heirs and assigns To the only proper use and behoof of the said Henry Pyke the younger his Heirs and Assigns for ever and whereas in and by certain Articles of Agreement bearing date the eighteenth Day of March one thousand seven hundred and sixty three and made or mentioned to be made between me the said Henry Pyke of the first part Elizabeth Cannings (now Elizabeth Pyke) of the second part and John Winter and Thomas Tarrant Trustees of the third part Reciting that a Marriage was then shortly to be had and solemnized between me the said Henry Pyke and the said Elizabeth Cannings and that in Consideration thereof and in order to make a provision for the said Elizabeth Cannings in case she should survive me I did thereby Covenant within a limited time to assign and transferr the Sum of Two thousand Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain unto the said John Winter and Thomas Tarrant for such Intents and Purposes as in the said articles of agreement are particularly mentioned and contained as in and by the said Articles of Agreement refer ence being thereto had may and will more fully and at large appear and Whereas the said Sum of Two thousand Pounds was not paid pursuant to the said recited Articles and the same Sum still remains due owing and unsatisfied Now to the Intent that the Trusts mentioned in the said Articles of Agreement may be fully performed and accomplished and that the said Elizabeth Pyke may have such a provision as by the said Articles of Agreement was meant and intended I do hereby will and Desire that the Sum of Two thousand Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain be paid by my Executors hereafter named to the Trustees named in the said Settlement or the survivor of them his Executors or administrators to be applied by them in such manner and form and upon such Trusts and to and for such Ends Intents and purposes as are particularly mentioned and contained in the said Articles of Agreement and to and for no other use intent or Purpose whatsoever and I do hereby charge my said Freehold Estate hereinbefore devised to the said Henry Pyke the younger (in case my Personal Estate shall be deficient) with the payment of the said Sum of Two thousand Pounds I give and bequeath to my Son Thomas Pyke the Sum of Six hundred and three Pounds which sum with the Monies he hath already received from me in my life time together with a furhter sum of Money which he will hereafter be entitled to as his proportionate Share under the aforeaid Articles of Agreement will make up the sum of Eighteen hundred Pounds I direct my Executors (after named) to pay to the said Thomas Pyke within twelve Months next after my decease with Interest for the same at the rate of four Pounds for every one hundred Pounds by the year to be computed from the day of my decease I give and bequeath to my Son William Pyke the Sum of One thousand six hundred and seventy five pounds if he attains the age of twenty one years which with the Sum he will also receive under the aforesaid Articles of Agreement as his proportionate share will make together the sum of Eighteen hundred Pounds with Interest in the mean time for the same at the rate of four Pounds for every one hundred Pounds by the year to be computed from the day of my decease I give and bequeath to my son John Pyke the Sum of One thousand six hundred and severyt five Pounds if he attains his age of twenty one years which with the sum he will also receive under the aforesaid Articles of Agreement as his proportionate share will make togther the Sum of Eighteen hundred Pounds with Interest for the same after the rate of four Pounds for every one hundred Pounds by the year to be computed from the day of my decease I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Pyke the Sum of six hundred and seventy five Pounds if she attains her age of twenty one years which with the Sum she will also receive under the aforesaid Articles of Agreement as her proportionate share will make together the Sum of Eight hundred Pounds with Interst for the same after the rate of four Pounds for every one hundred Pounds by the year to be computed from the day of my decease I give and bequeath to my Daughter Victoria Katharina Pyke the Sum of six hundred and severnty five Pounds if she attains her age of twenty one years with Interest for the same at the rate of four pounds for every one hundred Pounds by the year to be computed from the day of my decease which Sum together with what she will hereafter receive by virtue of the aforesaid Articles of Agreement will make up the Sum of Eight hundred Pounds And I do hereby charge my said Freehold Estate hereinbefore devised to the said Henry Pyke the younger in Case my Personal Estate shall be deficient with the payment of the said several Legacies hereinbefore bequeathed to my said Sons Thomas William and John Pyke and to my Daughters Sarah and Victoria Katharina Pyke and it is my Will and Meaning that my said Executors do and shall pay and divide the Interest of the said several Sums of Money so bequeathed to the said William John Sarah and Victoria Katharina Pyke or so much and such part thereof as my said Executors shall think reasonable for and towards the Maintenance and Education of the said William John Sarah and Victoria Katharina Pyke during their respective Minorities Provided always that if either of the said William John Sarah and Victoria Katharina Pyke shall die before he she or they shall attain his her or their age or ages of twenty one years respectively then the Legacy or Legacies of him her or them so dying shall lapse into and become part of the residue of my Estate I give and devise unto my dear Wife the said Elizabeth Pyke all that Freehold Cottage Tenement or Dwelling House with the Garden and Appurtenances thereto belonging situate at Knowle in the Parish of Pewsey aforesaid and now in the occupation of Robert Bristol To hold the said Premises unto the said Elizabeth Pyke her Heirs and Assigns for ever And it is my Will and I do hereby request that the said Henry Pyke the younger do permit and suffer his Mother the said Elizabeth Pyke to reside in my said Dwelling House at Wick aforeaid for and during her natural Life in case she shall desire so to do without paying any Rent or making any acknowledgement for the same and I also direct that the said Elizabeth Pyke may have and enjoy the use and Benefit of the Household Furniture remaining in my said dwelling House and every other convenience in the same manner and form and with the same authority as she had used to have during my Life and as to for and concerning all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Real and Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever I give devise and bequeath the same unto the said Henry Pyke the younger To hold to him his Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns to and for his and their use and Benefit and I do hereby make constitute and appoint the said Elizabeth Pyke and the aforesaid Henry Pyke the younger together with John Goodman of Oare in the Parish of Wilcot Gentleman joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke all former wills by me heretofore made and do declare this to be my only last will and Testament In witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contained in four Sheets of Paper to the three first Sheets thereof set my Hand and to the fourth and last Sheet thereof my Hand and Seal this eighteenth Day of July in the thirty seventh 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 ninety seven Henry Pyke LS Signed sealed published and declared by the Testator Henry Pyke as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereto the several Blanks being first filled up and the several Alterations and erazures being also first made and noticed by the said Testator Rd Baynton Eyles Carpenter of Oare Wilts Richd Welford Clk to R Griffiths atty Marlboro Wilts Rot Griffiths Atty at Law Marlborough aforesaid This Will was proved at London the thirty first Day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight before the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully contituted by the Oaths of Elizabeth Pyke widow the Relice Henry Pyke the younger the son of the deceased and John Goodman the Executors named in the said Will to whom administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased was granted they having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer
Last Modified: Sunday, 17-May-2020 18:34:21 NDT