Will of John Groombridge Gentleman Cranbrook Kent

PROB 11/587/224
date: 4th May 1716
cousins and executors: Mr Isaack Walter of Cranbrook and Mr John Russel of Hawkhurst

The nine properties below are 'all bequeathed to Isaac Walter and John Russell in Trust' to be sold for 'the best price that can bonafide be had and gotten' to pay all his debts owing at the time of his decease.

1. messuage, farm, lands, edifices, buildings, appurtenances in Cranbrook adjoining Haseldon and in the occupation of Thomas Bassock and Leonard Shakerly
2. messuage etc. in Cranbrook in the occupation of Leonard Shakerly
3. messuage etc. in Cranbrook in the occupation of Daniel Brumley
4. messuage etc. in Cranbrook in the occupation of John Birch
5. messuage, woods, etc at Pailey, Goudhurst in the occupation of the testator and Pater Davis
6. part of Pailey, Goudhurst in the occupation of the testator
7. three pieces of woodland in Goudhurst, part of Pailey Wood in the occupation of the testator, purchased from Samuel Vincett and John, Peter, Thomas and James Burren
8. messuage and lands in Smarden and Hedcorn in the occupation of John Turner. This property was given to the testator in the will of his mother Anne, deceased
9. barn, stalls and 55 acres of land in Hedcorn and Biddenden in the occupation of John Turner and purchased by the testator from his aunt Margaret Austen.

1. a messuage, buildings, outhouses, garden, orchard, pieces of land and woodland amounting to approximately 50 acres 'commonly called Haseldon' and in the occupation of John Bassock and the testator. This property was purchased by the testator's grandfather Alexander Groombridge from Sir Robert Sharpeigh, Knight
2. three pieces of land in Cranbrook near a place called Cross at hand: about 16 acres in the occupation of the testator. This was bought by the testator's grandfather Alexander Groombridge from Elizous (?) Martin
3. piece of woodland called Redford in Couchmans Wood in the denn of Hasted amounting to 22 acres and in the occupation of the testator
5. piece of woodland called Clayhill in Dunbormans (?) wood in Cranbrook amounting to 6 acres in the occupation of the testator
6. piece of woodland called Harewood (?) near Haseldon in Cranbrook amounting to 7 acres in the occupation of the testator.

The testator leaves a messuage, malthouse, barns, outhouses and buildings together with several pieces of woodland, arable land, meadow land and pasture land in Cranbrook to four of his daughters: Anne, Elizabeth, Jane and Rebecca. This property was formerly occupied by the testator's family member Jakob Walter deceased and is now in the occupation of the testator or his undertenants… and whereas my title to the said Estate is subject to the provisor of …Redemption being only a Mortgage in ffee now my mind and will is that if the said premises be ever redeemed that the money paid for the redemption thereof be paid to my said four daughters.

Frances, the testator's wife is also to receive the equivalent of one hundred pounds in householf goods 'of what sort she pleaseth'.

Mr Isaac Walter and Mr John Russell and each of their wives are to receive five pounds each to buy them mourning and the testator's wife and his children are to receive five pounds each also to buy mourning.
The residue, once the testators' debts, funeral expenses and executors' costs have been paid is to go to the testator's wife Frances, his son Daniel and his six daughters: Frances, Ann, Judith, Elizabeth, Jane and Rebecca. The daughters are to be paid at the age of twenty-one or on the day of their marriage whichever comes first.

The proceeds of the sale are to be 'put out to interest'.

dated 4th May 1716, the first year of the reign of King George.
witnesses Jacob Hollingworth, Samuel Hayward and Thomas Apps
Probate dated 6th October 1722 to Relicta Francesca, Daniel, Francesca, Anna, Juditha, and Rebeccah.