The last Will and Testament of me Thomas Aylwin of Didling in the County of Sussex yeoman is and I do hereby declare the same to be as follows (to wit). First I give and bequeath unto my wife Sarah my best bed & stedle & all the furniture thereof and therewith used. And also all my linnen to be delivered unto her immediately after my decease. Also all and singular my copyhold or customary messuages lands and hereditaments with their respective appurtenances scituate lying and being within or holden of the several Manors of Elsted and Didling and Dumpford in the County of Sussex (which I have surrendered to the uses of my Will) I give and devise unto my son Thomas Aylwin and his heirs forever according to the custom of the said several Manors charged and chargeable and I hereby subject and make liable all and every my said copyhold lands and hereditaments with the appurtenances to and with the payment of one annuity or yearly rent charge of twelve pounds of lawful money of Great Britain which I give devise and bequeath out of the same unto my aforesaid wife Sarah for the term of her life free from all taxes reprizes and deductions whatsoever which I order and direct to be paid unto her by half yearly portions on the feasts of St Michael the Archangel and the Annunciation of the Blessed Mary. And that the first half yearly payment thereof shall be made on such of the said feast days as shall first and next happen after my decease. And in case the said annuity or yearly rent charge or any part thereof shall be in arrear by the space of twenty days after the same shall become due and payable then I do hereby authorize and impower my said wife to disteyn on the said several customary estates for the same and to use such other methods for the recovery thereof and all charges attending the distress or distresses as the laws of this land give for recovering rents of lands demised by lease or otherwise. And also charged with the yearly payment of twenty pounds in part of an annuity of thirty pounds which by the Will of my late brother Peter Aylwin deceased I am bound to pay unto my two sisters Elizabeth Burton and Joanna Tribe during their lives. And also with the payment of one hundred and five pounds unto each of my daughters Elizabeth Aylwin and Mary Aylwin which I give and bequeath unto my said two daughters out of my said customary estates and hereby direct to be paid unto them respectively at the end of twelve calendar months next after the death of the survivors of the aforesaid Elizabeth Burton and Joanna Tribe. And I do likewise charge my said several customary estates to and with the payment of the sum of one hundred pounds in part of the monies given and bequeathed unto the three daughters of Richard Tribe after the decease of their mother according to the directions of my said brother Peter Aylwins Will and I do also charge and make liable all my personal estate and effects whatsoever to and with the payment of the aforesaid annuity of thirty pounds unto the aforesaid Elizabeth Burton and Joanna Tribe and I direct the uses and surrenders of my before mentioned several customary estates to be and operate to and for the several purposes before herein expressed. Also all and every my freehold lands and hereditaments with their appurtenances lying in the parish of Treford in the County aforesaid I give and devise unto my son Peter Aylwin and his heirs forever charged and chargeable with the yearly payment of ten pounds in part of the aforesaid annuity of thirty pounds given by the Will of my said brother Peter Aylwin unto the said Elizabeth Burton and Joanna Tribe for their lives as aforesaid. And also charged with the payment of fifty pounds other part of the monies so given and bequeathed unto the three daughters of the aforesaid Richard Tribe by the Will of my said brother Peter Aylwin with the payment of which said sum of fifty pounds. I also charge all my personal estate and effects and all my said personal estate and effects so charged and chargeable as aforesaid. And also chargeable with the payment of all my just debts I give and bequeath as follows (to wit) two equal third parts or shares thereof unto my said son Thomas Aylwin and the remaining third part thereof unto my said son Peter Aylwin. And lastly I constitute and appoint my said son Thomas Aylwin sole executor of this my Will hereby revoking all former Wills by me made. In witness whereof I the said Thomas Aylwin the testator have hereunto set my hand and seal the fifteenth day of August one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven. Thos Aylwin.
Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Thomas Aylwin the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses to the same. Thomas White; Martha Wyatt White; Ralph Dennett
This Will was proved before Mr Richard Tireman, Clerk, MA, Surrogate &c on the nineteenth day of November in the year of our Lord 1777 by the oath of Thomas Aylwin natural and lawful son of the deceased and sole executor therein named to whom &c well and truly &c sworn saving &c
Contributed by Stephen Langridge
Unknown.