In the Name of God Amen the twenty ninth day of March in the year of our Lord God 1732 I JAMES ADAMS ALIAS HUMPHREY of SHIPLEY in the County of Sussex yeoman being sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all once to dye do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament (that is to say) principally and first of all I give and recomend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but that at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this LifeI give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form
Imprimis I do give and demise unto my Cousin and Servant JANE ADAMS All that Tenement House and Lands situate in the parish of WEST CHILTINGTON in the county of Sussex aforesaid now in the Occupation of JAMIES BOTTING with all Appurtenances thereunto belonging to her the said JANE ADAMS her Heirs and Assigns for ever Item I give unto the above named JANE ADAMS my Feather Bed in the Kitchen Chamber with all the Furni[ture] thereunto belonging
I do give and demise unto my Cousin JAMES ADAMS Son of my Cousin JAMES ADAMS of SHIPLEY aforesaid All that House Lands and Tenements situate in the parish of WASHINGTON in the said County of Sussex when he shall attain unto the Age of Twenty one years with all the Appurtenances ther belonging to him to him the said JAMES ADAMS his Heirs and Assignes for ever
I do give unto my Cousin JAMES ADAMS of SHIPLEY aforesaid Son of SAMUEL ADAMS the above named House Lands and Tenements situate in the parish of WASHINGTON untill the above named JAMES ADAMS Jun[ior]shall attain unto the Age of Twenty one years to him the said JAMES ADAMS and his Assignes.
Item I give unto the other five Children of my Brother SAMUEL ADAMS five pounds of lawfull mon[e]y of great Britain to every one of them
Item I give unto my brother NATHANIEL ADAMS five Shillings of lawfull money of great Britain
Item I will and bequeath my hundred pounds lent by Bond on the Lands of SAMUEL JUNIPER of WESTGRINSTED in the said County of Sussex to pay my debts and said Legacies
All the rest of my Goods Chattles and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever I give unto cousin JAMES ADAMS of SHIPLEY aforesaid Son of SAMUEL ADAMS whom I likewise constitute make and ordain my only and Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament by him freely to be possessed and enjoyed and I do hereby utterly disallow every other former Testament Wills and Legacyes Requests and Executions by mee in any ways before this time named willed and bequeathed satisfying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and year above written – JAMES ADAMS – Signed Sealed published and declared by the said JAMES ADAMS as his last Will and Testament in the p[re]sence of us the subscribers viz: WILLIAM BANFIELD THOMAS CHANT JAMES CHART
This will was proved before Mt Thomas Ball Clerk Master of Arts Surrogate &c the third day of January in the year of our Lord 1734 by the Oath of JAMES ADAMS Cousin of the said dec[eas]ed and Executor &c to whom &c well and truly &c sworne [illeg] &c
Archdeaconry of West Sussex – STCI/35 f 362
Unknown.