This is the last Will and Testament of me William Brett of Lewes in the County of Sussex Grocer touching the Disposition of the Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God of his infinite goodness to bless me as followeth that is to say ffirst in token of the Love I bear to my Sister Elizabeth Brett and as a small Acknowledgement for her great Services I give and devise all that my Messuage or Tenement and Gardens with the Appurtenances situate lying and being in the Market Lane in the Parish of St Michael in Lewes aforesaid now or late in the Tenure or Occupation of Sarah Stemp Widow unto my said Sister Elizabeth Brett and to her Heirs and Assigns for ever And Whereas In Prospect of a Marriage intended very shortly to be had and Solmenized between ffrancis Whitfield and my Eldest Daughter Elizabeth Brett I have entered into Articles of Copartnership with the said ffrancis Whitfield to become Partners in the Trade of a Grocer and the Business I now carry on during my Life and have thereupon Advanced to him the Sum of One Thousand Pounds or the full Value thereof as part of the Marriage Portion which I agreed to give him with my said Daughter And as that further part of the said Portion the Messuages or Tenements Warehouses Stable Yard and Garden in St Michael in Lewes aforesaid wherein I now dwell and carry on my Trade are Settled at the Event of the said Marriage upon the said ffrancis Whitfield and my said Daughter Elizabeth and their Issue after my decease Charged with the Payment of ffour Hundred and fifty Pounds to my Youngest Daughter Catherine being about the Moiety of the Value thereof and with which both my said Daughters are well satisfied And as I have an equal regard to each of my said Daughters and am desirous of making an equal Division between them as near as I can therefore in Lieu of the One Thousand Pounds which I have Advanced to the said ffrancis Whitfield as part of my said Daughter Elizabeth’s Portion I do hereby give and bequeath to my said daughter Catherine the Sum of One Thousand Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid to her within three Months next after my decease All the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Estate as well Real as Personal and of whatever kind or nature soever the same may be after payment of my Debts the Legacy aforesaid and my ffuneral Expences I Give devise and bequeath unto my said two Daughters Elizabeth Brett and Catherine Brett their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns for ever to be equally divided between them share and share alike as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants Lastly I make and appoint my said two Daughters Elizabeth Brett and Catherine BrettExecutors of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Third day of November in the Eighth Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain ffrance and Ireland King Defender of the ffaith and so forth and in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and sixty seven Wm Brett
(Attestation Clause)
Thos Kemp _ John Rice _ Wm Michael
PCC Prob11/996, London
Unknown.