Source: TNA, PROB 11/359
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.
This is the last Will and Testament of mee Thomas Pyke of Etchingham in the Countie of Sussex Clerke concerning the disposition of that worldly Estate which it hath pleased God to blesse mee withall Imprimis I give and bequeath to the Poore of the Parish of Etchingham aforesaid twenty shillings And to the Poore of the Parish of Otford in the Countie of Kent five Shillings To the Poore of the Parish of Chevning in the Countie of Kent five shillings and to the Poore of the Parish of Benenden in the said Countie of Kent five shillings These severall Summes to be payd unto them respectively by my Executrix hereinafter named within three monethes next after my decease Item I give to my ever honored Patron Sir Nicholas Strode my Horse to be delivered to him imediately after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto Mary my wife all the furniture of the Kitchin- -Chamber (that is to say) the Bedd Boulster pillows bedstedle hangings about the Bedd and the white Curteins there, and the hangings about the Chamber with the chaires and stooles and other furniture to the Bedd, and some other things fitting for her use And alsoe my largest Silver Tankard, to be delivered unto her imediately after my decease Item all the rest of my Goods and Chatells whatsoever (my debts legacies and funerall Expences being first payd and discharged) I give to my Sonn Thomas Pyke; But my Will and meaning is that my honored Father shall use and enjoy my other Silver Tankard, and one large Silver spoon during his life, and not otherwise, and then the same to returne to my Sonn Thomas; And also I doe hereby Order, that my Brother Edward Whitaker shall weare my Gold Ring which I now weare during his life, and then the same shall returne and come to my said Sonn Thomas Pyke; And also that my Sister Joane Whitaker shall use and enjoy my Watch during her life, keeping the same in good Order, and after her decease the same to returne returne to my said Sonn Thomas; And my mynd and will is that all my house- hold Goods and personall estate (except what is before given and bequeathed, & except some of the best lynnen of my dear Mothers Making which I desire may be set up carefully in a Cheat and presented for my said Sonn Thomas) shall be sold and put into money and put out at interest for the benefit and maintenance of my said Sonn Thomas; And I doe make and ordaine my said Sister Joane Whitaker and my Wife Mary Pyke sole Executrixes of this my last Will and Testamt To whose care I committ my said Sonn and doe appoint them the Tuition and care of him, And doe desire they would be pleased to take great care of him and give him such education and learning as what shall be left unto him will afford Notwithstanding my will and mynd is that if my said wife shall have a desire to have my said Child some tyme, that my Executrixes shall allow and pay unto her the interest of what my Sonn shall soe have left unto him during such tyme as she shall keepe and mainteyne my said Sonn according as hee ought to be educated and mainteyned; And my farther will and mynd is that if it shall happen that my said Sonn Thomas shall dye and depart this life before hee shall attaine to the age of One and twentie yeares, or of the Age of discrection in Law to make a Will and bequeath his personall estate That then all and what soever is before herein given to my said Sonn Thomas I doe hereby give and bequeath to my wife and to my Nephew Martin Pyke in such sort and manner as the same is herein before given to my said Sonn Thomas In witness whereof I the said Thomas Pyke have to this my last Will and Testamt conteyned in five sheets of Paper to the foure first sheets thereof set my hand and to the last sheet thereof my hand and Seale the First day of August in the yeare of Our Lord One thousand six hundred seventy & eight and in the thirtieth yeare of the Reigne of Our Soveraigne Lord Charles the second by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c Thomas Pyke Signed sealed published and de- -clared in the presence of Robt Spiller Willm Finch Thomas May What is interlyned I wrote with my owne hand as my desire (viz) for tenn [twenty ??? some other things fitting for he ruse, and my Wife Mary Pyke, them ????? to my wife and] To this as a Truth wee set our hands the 25th of October 1678 Robert Evernden Thomas May Margery Smalfeild her marke Probatum fuit Testamentum [this paragraph continues in Latin and appears to grant probate at London on 12 March 1678] Duo Decima Die mensis Marchy Anno Domini (stylo Anglice) millesimo sexcentesimo septuagesimo octavo [to] Maria Pyke Relicta et vinns Executricis [with power reserved for] Joanna Whitaker alteri Executrici
Last Modified: Sunday, 19-Apr-2020 13:10:50 NDT