WILL (see photocopy from the Family Records Centre, London)

This is the last Will and Testament of one MARY MERRELLS of Tenterden in the County of Kent widow whereas I am possessed of a messuage or dwelling house together with three acres of land and a garden andthereto adjoining situate at High Halden in the said County of Kent now and do hereby give and bequeath the same and any part thereof immediately after my decease to my third son WILLIAM MERRELLS to be his sole property and to or dispose thereof as he shall think proper with this proviso that he do pay to his son THOMAS MERRELLS the sum of one hundred pounds at his age of twenty one years From I give to my grandson THOMAS MERRELLS son of JOHN MERRELLS the sum of five shillings to be paid within twelve months after my decease. Then I give to SARAH the daughter of THOMAS MERRELLS to HANNAH the daughter of the said THOMAS MERRELLS to ELIZABETH,ANN, CATHERINE, and MARY daughters of the said THOMAS MERRELLS and to THOMAS and WILLIAM sons of the said THOMAS MERRELLS the sum of one shilling each to be paid within twelve months after my decease Then whereas I have now in the hands of Mr. George Gray (?) Ellwick the sum of five hundred and forty pounds now I do hereby give the whole of the said sum of five hundred and forty pounds to my said son WILLIAM to be paid to him immediately after my decease Then it is my desire that all my just debts be paid off and discharges within twelve months after my decease and as to all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever together with all other my ready moneys I give and bequeath the same to my said son WILLIAM MERRELLS and do hereby nominate constitute and appoint him my said son WILLIAM and his wife ANN MERRELLS executors of this my Will hereby revoking and making void all former or other wills by me at any time heretofore made and I do publish and this to be my true and only last Will and Testament witness whereof set my hand and seal this eighth Day of December in the Year of our Lord 1776 (Signature of MARY MERRELLS)Signed Sealed Published and by the said MARY MERRELLS the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in her presence and at her request and in the presence of each of us have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto(Signatures of William Cole, the Mark of Robert Boarman (RB) and Samuel Malin)

This Will was proved at London the First day of July in the Year of our Lord, one thousand, seven hundred and eighty before the Worshipful Francis Simpson of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Calvert of Laws Master Keeper or commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the of WILLIAM MERRELLS THE SON OF THE DECEASED and one of the executors named in the said Will to whom administration was granted of all and similar the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased first only to administr........ power reserved of the like to ANNE MERRELLS wife of the said WILLIAM MERRELLS the other executor named in the said will wherefoe shall apply for the same.
Executors WILLIAM and ANN MERRELLS (nee HALL)