Ancestors of Mandy Willard

The Will of

Robert RENVELL (1749-1831)

This is the last will and testament of me Robert Renvell of Wivelisfield in the County of Sussex, farmer, touching the temporal estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me. 

First I will order and direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses and the expences of proving this my will be fully paid and satisfied by my executors in Trust and Trustees hereinafter named. 

Next I will give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth all that my copyhold estate house lands and outbuilding and appurtenances thereto belonging situate and lying in the parish of Wivelisfield in the County of Sussex aforesaid now in my own occupation together with any personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever for and during the term of her natural life and after her decease I give direct and bequeath unto my youngest daughter Susanna all the above lands and premises outbuildings and appurtenances thereto belonging to her her heirs and assigns for and during the term of her natural life not to be injured by cutting of timber or letting the house or outbuildings get in bad repair. 

I likewise give to my daughter Susanna for her part of my goods the best bed bolster healing and two pair of sheets bedsteade and hanging a chest of drawers a trunk and a swing glass.  If my daughter Susanna  shall die without heirs of her body lawfully begotten then at her decease the said estate lands house and all other outbuildings belonging to the same I give to my daughter Mary the wife of Charles Dowlen of Cowfold in the County of Sussex farmer to she her heirs and assigns forever but at the death of my daughter Susanna if she die without heirs then my trustees and executors shall appoint some appraiser an impartial man to value the said estate at a fair valuation and half the value to be paid within one year of the death of my daughter Susanna unto my daughter Elizabeth Mills widow of Brighthelmston in the County of Sussex to she her heirs the survivor of them and all my personal estate of what nature or what kind soever or wheresoever I give devise and bequeath the same to my two daughters Elizabeth the widow of William Mills of Brighton in the County aforesaid and Mary the wife of Charles Dowlen [of] Cowfold in Sussex farmer in the following manner viz whereas my daughter Elizabeth has had of my money to the amount of one hundred ten pounds and eight shillings which shall be added to my personal estate and then the whole to be equally divided between my two daughters Elizabeth and Mary or their heirs and assigns for ever share and share alike and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my son in law Charles Dowlen of Cowfold farmer and William Renvill of Bolney farmer joint executors in trust of this my will and my trustees shall be paid all reasonable charges and expences as they shall be put to in the execution of my will. 

Lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other wills by me made declaring this only to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I the said Robert Renvell the testator have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty ninth day of August one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven.  Robert Renvell. Signed sealed published and declared by the said Robert Renvell the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who had in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witness Samson Anscombe    Sarah Anscomb

The will of Robert Renvell late of Wivelisfield within the Archdeaconry of Lewes farmer deceased was proved the ninth day of June in  the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty one before the Reverend John Scovell Clerk Surrogate and so forth upon the oath of Charles Dowlen one of the executors in the said will named to whom was committed the administration of the goods he being first sworn well and faithfully to administer the same and so forth (power being reserved for granting the like commission to William Renvell the other executor in the said will named when etc). Sworn also that the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased do to amount in value unto twenty pounds.

Transcribed by Rosie Ansell August 2005