The will of John Honnisett
Husbandman of Bexhill
Will dated - 27th December 1682
Will Proved - 22th May 1683
In the name of God Amen. The Seven and Twentieth Day of December in the Fower and Thirtieth Year of the Reigne of our most gracious Sovereigne Lord Charles the Second, by the Grace of God of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, Anno Dm 1682, I John HONNISETT of Bexhill in the County of Sussex, Husbandman, being sicke and weake in Body but of sound and perfect Mind and Memory (praised bee God therefore) Doe make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament in Writeing and manner as followeth, viz. First I Commend my soule into the hands of Almighty God that gave it Trusting assuredly by the Merritte of my alone Saviour Jesus Christ to bee eternally saved And my Body to bee buried with Christian Buriall at the discretion of mine Extrix hereafter named.
Item I give and bequeath unto the Three Children of Thomas Beake of West Peckham in the County of Kent, Wheelwright, which hee had by Mary my sister his First Wife deced, Twenty Shillings a peece of English Money to bee paid unto them within Nine Moneths after my decease by mine Executrix hereafter named.
Item I give and bequeath unto the Three Children of Richard Crouch, my Brother in Law late of Northiam in the County of Sussex deceased, Five pounds a peece of Lawfull English Money to bee paid unto them severall, shee that was first married to be paid within three Moneths after my Decease by mine Executrix hereafter named and the other Two Daughters to bee paid within Twelve Moneths after my Decease by mine Executrix hereafter named.
Item I give and bequeath unto Atheven(?) Honnisett of the Parish of Wartling in the County of Sussex, Husbandman, Eight Pounds of English Money to bee paid within Twelve Moneths after my Decease by mine Executrix and after his Decease to bee divided equally between his Children.
Item I give unto Samuel Cramps Fourty Shillings and a Guinny to bee paid unto him when hee shall come unto the Age of One and Twenty Years (by mine Executrix). And the other Five Children of my Mr Cramps Item I give them Fourty Shillings a peece to bee paid them as they come to the Age of One and Twenty Years by mine Executrix.
Item I give John Cramps my Joynd Chest.
Item I give to Joseph Harvie Five Shillings to be paid within a Moneth after my Decease.
Item I give to Dorothy Reeve Five Shillings to bee paid within One Moneth after my Decease.
Item I give to John Taylor One Shilling.
Item I give to Anne Taylor Two Shillings.
Item All the rest of my Goods and Chattells not hereinbefore bequeathed (my Debts Legacies ,and Funerall Expenses being first satisfied and paid) I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Smith my loveing Dame whome I doe hereby make and ordaine sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof (Revoking all other Wills ) I have to this my last Will subscribed my Marke and sett my Seale hereunto Dated the Day and Yeare above written.
X The Marke of John Honnisett
Sealed Subscribed and to bee my last Will published and declared in the presence of
William Smith
Thomas Stapley
East Sussex Record Office, Lewes - Reference A36-98
Relationships shown by this will
Sister: Mary, deceased wife of Thomas Beake
Brother-in-law: Richard Crouch, late of Northiam
My loving dame: Elizabeth Smith
Notes:
John does not appear to have married.
John's mother was Elizabeth Crouch so Richard Crouch was probably a cousin on his mother's side.
The only Honnisett known to have been in Wartling at the time was his cousin, Adrian.
Elizabeth Smith was probably John's sister, although her marriage has not been found.
John was a grandson of Clement Honisett of Westfield.