Source: TNA, PROB 11/1413
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 John Pyke of Appledore in the Parish of Northam but now living in Bideford in the County of Devon being of a sound and disposing Mind do make this my last will and Testament in manner following First I give and bequeath to my dear Wife for her natural life The House in Appledore that now Mr Roblinson lives in with the following Fields now also rented by Mr Roblinson my Interest in Croscombs Field the upper and Lower Nine Corner Little Staddon the Brick Field the Windsors now in possession of JOseph Hall as Tenant thereof also the plot of Ground being in Front of the above House now divided into a Green and a Garden containing acount three Quarters of an Acre Farther I give and bequeath to my dear wife for her life all my Household Furniture of what description soever with my Plate Glass Table and Bed Linen Lastly I give and bequeath to my dear Wife two hundred Guineas to be hand paid her Six Months after my death and as my younger Children are now unprovided for I desire that the following Estates may be sold and the Money arising from the somme after my Just Debts are all paid and ???eral Expences to be purchased in the publick Funds the Estates are Granges Gillard's & Franklin's House now in the Possession of Mr John Lay as Tenant thereof Earstinore Parks now in the Possession of Thos Stapleton as Tenant thereof Chapel Park now in the Possession of Mr John Wilcock as Tenant thereof Ipps in the Parish of Littleham now in the possession of John Sussex as Tenant thereof Pennywell which I Purchased of Mr Devacott in the Parish of Abbotsham a Mortgage which was given me on some Houses in Appledore for a hundred and Fifty pounds by the late Mrs Perchard I mean by my younger Children Jane Pike Elizabeth Pike Ann Pike John Pike and Joseph Pike to whom I give and bequeath the above property to be equally divided between them Share and share alike on their attaining the age of twenty one and if either of them should die before they attain the age of twenty one then it is my request that their proportion should be divided equally between the surviving younger Children I should have left my dear Son Saml more but as his uncle has provided for him it has put it out of my power to give him more than five Guineas which I do hereby bequeath him and as it is doubtful whether Ford and East Bowden in the Parish of Bideford is mine in Fee or not I desire that an Opinion might be taken and if it is found that it is in my disposal I do then give to my Son John Pyke on his attaining the age of twenty one years and his Heirs lawfully begotten and in failure of Heirs in my Son John I do give it to my son Joseph and his Heirs lawfully begotten for ever and as by my late Brother's will he left Houes in the Parish of Buckland and ????? in the Parish of Branton to be sold to pay his debts and the Overplus after his Debts were paid he left to me as his Executor now whatever this Overplus may be I desire it might be purchased into the Public Funds for the benefit of my younger Children already named My Property upon Sea I also leave to my younger Children to be sold or not as their Trustees may think proper I also give and bequeath to my younger Children 700L in the 5 Pr Cts which the Devonshire Bank receive the Interest of and one hundred pounds in the five per Cents which the Bideford Bank receive the Interest of to be divided between them on their attaining the age of twenty one In order to carry this my last will into Effect I appoint my Friend Admiral Wickey of Tawton Peter Furze Esqr of Great Tarrington and my dear Wife Joint Trustees I also appoint my Wife sole Guardian for my beloved Children and Executrix to this my last Will and Testament As witness my hand this tenth day of May 1804 John pyke LS witnessed by Thos Miles Thomazine Pyke Elizabeth Fortune After my Wife's death the House and Fields in Appledore I desire may be sold and the Money divided equally between my younger Children As I forgot a small Garden known by the name of Tempys Garden now in possession of Mr Drew of Bideford and a small Quay Leased for three lives to Mr Moss I do desire they may be sold and the Money appropriated as Grange and other Estates The furniture of Kasson House being mine with the plate &c after Mrs Pyke's Marriage or at her death I do leave it to the Trustees to be disposed of at their discretion witness my hand this 10th May 1804 John Pyke LS ??????? Thos Miles Thomazine Pyke Elizabeth Fortune This Will was proved at London the second day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four before the Right Honorable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Jane Pyke Widow the Relict of the deceased and the sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom Administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased was granted she having been first sworn (by Commission) duly to Administer
Last Modified: Sunday, 19-Apr-2020 13:03:16 NDT