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1676 Complaint & Answer with Will - Mary Smith vs. Sarah Reeve et al

16761113_Chancery_Smith_vs_Reeve_et_al

1676 Complaint & Answer with Will - Mary Smith vs. Sarah Reeve et al


Introduction

Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office: Pleadings before 1714, Bridges

Transcript or Summary

The will of Jeremiah Reeve of Childerditch...
In the name of God Amen I Jerime Reeve of Childerditch in the County of Essex being in pfect memory thanks be to God doe make this my last Will and Testament in manner followinge Item I give unto my daughter Rebecca Reeve and her heires my houses and land in Stocke and Wixho in the County of Suffolke in the tenure and occupacon of Samuel Jennings or his assignes And my will is that the house and land where Mrs Smyth liveth in Childerditch and the house and land in the tenure and occupacon of Edward Clerke or his assignes in Gosfield in the sayd County of Essex and all my houses and lands in the tenure and occupacon of Thomas Reynolds in Much Baddowe in the sayd County of Essex and the house and land in the tenure and occupacon of William ?adle in Childerditch in the sayd County shall all be sold by my executors hereafter named or eyther of them for the payment of my debts that I doe owe And I doe will that my loving wife Sarah shall take and receive the yssues ?nto and pfitts of all my lands and tenements not hereby disposed of for and toward the payment of my sayd debts and the education of my sonne John until he shall attaine the age of one and twety yearese and my will is that my sayd wife and Mr Gilson of Burnt wood shall be Guardians of my sayd sonne till he shall attaine the sayd age of one and twenty yeare Item I give to Mr Gilson of Burntwood and John Willis the elder of Burntwood twenty shillinsg apeece And I give to my sister hampton forty shillings I doe make wife and Joseph Clerke Esqr my executors of this my last Will and Testament Aprill the 14th 1673 I doe give the house and the land thereunto belonging where I now live in Childerditch to my wife for and during her naturall life; Jonathan Lagden Wm Burton J Clerke


Commentary

This is a very long and detailed court record which contents include the following:
  • Complaint of Mary Smith of Rumford in Essex (dated 7 Feb 1676/7)
  • Complaint of Mary Smith of Rumford in Essex (dated 13 Nov 1676)
  • Joynt and several Answers of Sarah Reeve, Widdow, and John Reeve, infant (2? Jany 1677/8)
  • The Will of Jeremiah/Jerime Reeve of Childerditch (dated 14 Apr 1673)
  • A list of goods and prices appearing to be an inventory
  • A list of debts paid and disbursments made by Sarah Reeve, the defendant
  • The Replication (reply) of Mary Smoth to the anwers of Joseph Clarke Esqr & Sarah Reeve Widow & John Reeve, infant
  • The several Answers of Sarah Reeve Widdow one of the Defendants to the Bill of Complaint of Mary Smith Widdow Complt
  • A copy of the Last Will and Testamt of the testator Jeremiah Reeve (Will dated 14 Apr 1673)
  • A copy of the invetory of the goods and chattells of Jeremiah Reeve gent late of Childerditch (same as above, dated 5 May 1673)
  • The Answer of Joseph Clerke Esqr one of the Defendants to the Bill of Complt of Mary Smith Widdowe Complainant (dated 17 Feb 1676/7)
  • Another copy of the inventory (dated 5 May 1673)
  • Various short legal documents in latin
  • Complaint of Mary Smith of Rumford (dated ... 1676)
  • The Answer of Joseph Clerke Esqr one of the deftes to the Bill of Complaynt of Mary Smith Widdow Complaynant
  • Another copy of the inventory (dated 5 May 1673)

The heirs had various complaints about debts, land and the reliability of the will. It appears this will was never probated as it has not been found in any of the available indexes.

Source

National Archives, Kew - C 5/557/10
TNA Series C5