Repository Name

Public Record Office

Repository Reference

PROB11/375 folio 92v

Probate Court

Prerogative Court of Canterbury

 

Ellen Ballard (Spinster)

Mayfield, Sussex

 

Will dated

10th March 1676 & Codicil 25th December 1683

 

 

 

 

Will probated

7th February 1683/4


In the name of God Amen. I Ellen Ballard of Mayfield in the county of Sussex Spinster being in good and perfect health and of a sound and perfect mind and memory (praised be God for the same and considering of the certainty of my death and the uncertainty of the time thereof Do I make my last will and Testament in the manner and form following that is to say First and principally I bequeath my soul to Almighty God my Creator who gave it me and my body <fromwith> to the earth from whence it was taken to be decently buried in such Christian manner as my executor shall think fit. Item I give unto the poor of the parish of Mayfield three pounds to be distributed amongst them according to their needs by my Executor hereafter named with the assistance of the Overseers of the Poor of the said parish. Item I give unto my nephew Samuel Maplesden[1] Twenty pounds to be paid unto him within one year next after my death. Item I give and bequeath unto my nephew Richard Maplesden[2] son of the said Samuel the sum of two hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid unto the said Richard at his age of four and twenty years[3] (if he the said Richard shall be then living) And I will that my executor hereafter named shall pay the said two hundred pounds to my said nephew Richard Maplesden at the time aforesaid and shall yearly and <every> year until he shall attayne unto his said age of four and twenty years pay him twelve pounds yearly for the interest of the said two hundred pounds for and towards the schooling and <breeding> up in the learning of the said Richard whom I have  <agurate> <devise> shall be educated in <learning> and <manistanird> at the University. And my will and mind is that my executor shall pay the said twelve pounds yearly for the said two hundred pounds no longer than the said Richard shall be kept at school. And if the said Richard shall not be <capacitated> to go to the university but shall be put out to be an apprentice then my will is that my said executor shall continue payment of the said twelve pounds yearly to the said Richard until he shall attain the age of four and twenty years, but if the parents or friends of the said Richard shall keep him at home and not at the University and not put him out an apprentice that then my will and mind is that the said twelve pounds shall be no longer paid to the said Richard but shall cease and be void. Item I give and bequeath unto my niece Anne Maplesden sister of the said Richard[4] One hundred and fifty pounds of like lawful money of England to be paid unto her at her age of four and twenty years if she shall be then living And my will and mind is and I do hereby limit and appoint that if my executor hereafter named shall or neglect to pay the said two hundred pounds given to my nephew Richard Maplesden or the said sum of one hundred and fifty pounds unto my niece Anne Maplesden or any or either of them or any part or <parcel> thereof on either of the days & times limited in and by this my will or the said twelve pounds yearly for the schooling and education of the said Richard according as I have ordained and appointed in and by this my will That <????> so often and at all times after it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Richard Maplesden and Anne Maplesden or either of them into all that my messuage tenement farms and lands with their appurtenances containing withal by <estimation> four score acres more or less situate lying and being in Wadhurst in the county of Sussex and into all other my lands tenements and hereditaments in Wadhurst aforesaid to enter and distrain and receive and take the <????> aforesaid profits <out> of until they and either of them shall be fully satisfied and paid the said several legacy and <legacies> and every part and parcel thereof given to my nephew and niece Richard and Anne Maplesden in and by my said Will and the said twelve pounds yearly for my nephews schooling and education as aforesaid and all costs and damages justified for non payment thereof. Item I give and devise the said messuage tenement farms and lands in Wadhurst aforesaid and all other my lands and tenements in Wadhurst aforesaid unto my nephew Richard Ridout and his heirs and assigns forever subject and liable for the two payments of the said sums of two hundred pounds and one hundred and fifty pounds given unto my nephew and niece Richard and Anne Maplesden as aforesaid and of the said sum of twelve pounds yearly for the schooling and education of the said Richard Maplesden. Item I give and bequeath unto Anne Ridout my sister[5] the sum of twenty pounds of lawful money of England to be paid unto her within one year next after my decease And whereas my nephew Richard Ridout oweth me two hundred pounds of lawful money of England for the payment thereof hath given security to my niece Anne Ridout his sister[6] in trust for me Now I do by this my will give and bequeath unto my said niece Anne Ridout the said sum of two hundred pounds and every part thereof the security aforesaid and I likewise give and bequeath unto my said niece Anne Ridout the sum of five hundred pounds more of lawful money of England to be paid unto her within one year next after my decease and I will and appoint that my executor shall pay her my said niece interest for the said five hundred pounds at and after the rate of five pounds in the hundred until <such> thereof to the said Anne Ridout. Item I give and bequeath unto my niece Mary Ridout the sum of three hundred pounds of like lawful money of England one hundred and fifty pounds part thereof I will shall be paid unto my said niece within six months next after my decease and the other one hundred and fifty pounds residue of the said three hundred pounds shall be paid unto my said niece within twelve months next after my decease and I will that my executor shall pay my said niece Mary Ridout interest for the said three hundred pounds at and after the rate of five pounds in the hundred until the payment thereof. Item I give and bequeath unto the servant that shall live with me at the time of my death the sum of twenty shillings and I will and appoint and it is my very will and mind that all my plate <inigo> jewels <Symion> pewter beds bedding and all other my goods household stuff and implements of household of what nature quality or condition the same is of now standing and being in our dwelling house in Mayfield aforesaid shall be equally divided between my nephew Richard Ridout and my niece Anne Ridout to whom I give and bequeath the same. And I give and bequeath all the goods and household stuff that I have at Lamberhurst in my Cousin Maplesdens house unto my said cousin Maplesden all the rest and residue of my goods <cattoll> chattels and personable estate whatsoever I give will and bequeath unto my nephew Richard Ridout for and towards the payment of all the legacies and sum and sums of money before herein by me given and bequeathed and to and for the enabling of him duly and truly to perform this my last will And I make and ordain my said nephew Richard Ridout sole executor of this my last will and testament And I make devise and appoint my cousin Nicholas <Fowle> of Wadhurst aforesaid gent and my neighbour Thomas Hooper to be overseers of this my will whom I desire to be aiding and assisting to my executor and about the business thereof. And I give and bequeath unto Mr <Park> five pounds to preach my funeral sermon and to Mrs <Park> twenty shillings to buy her a Ring and I give and bequeath unto my nephew Samuel Maplesden twelve pounds to buy himself his wife and their sonnes <mourning rings>. And the better to enable my said executor to pay my debts charges and funeral expenses and to perform this my will I give and devise unto the said Richard Ridout my Executor and to his heirs and assigns all that my messuage tenement garden orchard <Bar???> with the appurtenances lying and being in Mayfield aforesaid And also all that my messuage tenement farms and lands with the appurtenances lying and being in Ticehurst in the said County And also all that my messuage tenement farms and lands being copyholds with their appurtenances situate lying and being in Tillingham in the County of Essex which I have lately surrendered to the use of my Will, and also all that my messuage farms Mil and lands called Wellbrooke situate and being in Mayfield aforesaid which I lately purchased of Thomas Martin and others, and also all those lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever which are granted to me my heirs executors or administrators mortgage or otherwise by any person or persons whatsoever security for money I lent the several and respective person and persons and the money and sums of money due on the several and respective securities and also all other my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever to have and to hold the said messuages lands tenements hereditaments and premises with their and every of their appurtenances for ever To the intent that he or they shall sell the same and every part thereof within <reasonable> time after my death for the raising of moneys to and for the payment of my debts bequests and funeral expenses and to and for the performance of this my will in case I shall not have sufficient assets at the time of my death to do the same In testimony whereof I the said Ellen Ballard to every part of this my will being written in seven sheets to each sheet have subscribed my name and to the last sheet thereof have set my seal the tenth day of March in the year of our Lord 1676 Anno Regni Regis Caroli secundi Presimo Nono, Ellen Ballard Signed sealed and published by the said Ellen Ballard as her last will and Testament in the presence of us Tho: Hooper, Abraham Jeames, Jo Channtler.

 

 A codicil to be annexed to the last Will and Testament of me Ellen Ballard of Mayfield in the County of Sussex Spinster made and devised the two and twentieth day of December in the six and thirtieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King Charles the Second over England Anno Dommini 1683. First I do hereby <probate> and confirm my said Will dated the tenth day of March in the year of our Lord 1676 and every matter or thing therein contained except such matters and things as I shall herein devise and appoint. And first I do add as an addition to the legacy given to my niece Anne Ridout in and my said Will the sum of fifty pounds of lawfull money of England and also fifty pounds more to my niece Anne Maplesden which said two fifty pounds I do order my executor to be paid them in and by my will which I do hereby give to them accordingly. In witness whereof I the said Ellen have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid. Ellen Ballard her mark signed sealed and published by the said Ellen and <des??red> to be part of her Will and annexed thereunto in the presence of us Dorothy Denton her marke Joane Chamberlyn her mark Tho: Hooper.

 

Probate: London 7th February 1683/4 granted to Richard Ridout.

 



[1] Ellen Ballard had a nephew Samuel Maplesden living at 10th March 1676 and still living 22nd December 1683.

[2] Ellen Ballard had a great nephew Richard Maplesden son of Samuel Maplesden living at 10th March 1676 and still living 22nd December 1683.

[3] Richard Maplesden was still not 24 on 22nd December 1683.

[4] Ellen Ballard had a great niece Anne Maplesden sister of Richard and not 24 on 22nd December 1683.

[5] Ellen Ballard had a sister Anne who was married to a Ridout and was living 22nd December 1683.

[6] Richard Ridout had a sister Anne Ridout.