In the name of God Amen I Thomas Brooker of Horley in the County of Surrey yeoman being sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding (thanks be given to God for the same) do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following. First I direct that all my just debts funeral expences and the charges of proving this my Will be paid and satisfied and also the principal money due on Note from my son James to my nephew Melancthon Sanders with interest for the same at four pounds per cent per annum and which principal and interest I do hereby give unto the said Melancthon Sanders and do charge my personal estate with the payment thereof and I give unto my daughter Frusannah wife of William Holliday the sum of two hundred pounds to be paid within twelve months next after my decease. Also I give to my daughter Mary the sum of three hundred pounds to be paid within twelve months next after my decease and I give to my grandson Thomas son of my son James and now dwelling with me the sum of ten pounds to be paid at his age of twenty one years. Also I give unto my brother John Brooker and the said Melancthon Sanders the sum of five hundred pounds in trust that they or their executors or administrators do put out the same at interest on such security as they shall think proper and pay the interest thereof during the life of my said son James in manner following (that is to say) one half of the said interest into the proper hands of my said son James whose receipt alone shall be a sufficient discharge for the same and the other half thereof into the proper hands of the present wife of my said son James free from the debts control or intermeddling of her husband and I direct that her receipt alone without her said husband shall be a sufficient discharge for the same and in case she shall die in his life time then to pay the said last mentioned half of the said interest for the benefit of his children during his life in such manner as my said trustees shall think fit and after his decease in trust to pay the interest of one moiety of the said five hundred pounds unto his said wife if (she) shall survive him for her life. And at the death of the survivor of them to pay the said moiety unto all his children equally if they shall be then living at their ages of twenty one years respectively with interest in the mean time for their support and if any one of them shall die before his or her share shall be payable leaving issue then to pay such share to the issue equally with interest and if without issue then to the survivors of such children with their original shares and after the death of my said son James in trust to pay the moiety of the said five hundred pounds unto my sons Stephen, William and Ambrose Brooker equally or their respective executors or administrators. Also I give and bequeath unto my son John Brooker all my interest and term of years yet to come of and in all that messuage farm and lands called the Dairy House Farm in Horley aforesaid and now in his occupation and which (amongst other lands) I now hold by lease from James Sayer Esquire and of and in all that messuage farm and lands called Blackhouse Farm in Horley aforesaid and now in the occupation of my said son John and which I now hold by lease from Elizabeth Blundell deceased to hold the said farms unto him my said son John during the residue of the terms of years therein yet to come respectively and whereas I have advanced my son John by placing him in the said farms and giving him the stock thereon and by moneys advanced to or for him to a very large amount now I do hereby give unto him my said son John all monies now due from him to me on Notes or otherwise and I give unto my said brother and nephew the sum of five pounds apiece for their trouble in the execution of the trusts hereby in them reposed. And all the rest and residue of my personal estate I give and bequeath unto my said sons Stephen, William and Ambrose equally share and share alike and I do hereby direct that it shall be lawful for my said brother and nephew their executors and administrators out of the monies hereby vested in them to retain to themselves all such costs and charges as they or any of them shall sustain by means of the trusts hereby in them reposed and do declare that the one of them shall not be answerable for the other of them or for any more money than what shall actually come to his hands nor for any loss that may happen not occasioned by their wilful neglect or default. And I make and appoint my said sons Stephen, William and Ambrose joint executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me made and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three. The mark & seal of Thomas (X) Brooker.
Signed and sealed published and declared by the before named Thomas Brooker the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other of us have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto the word “issue” being first interlined in the first sheet of this Will. Henry Tullet; Richd Barnes
This Will of Thomas Brooker late of Horley in the County of Surrey deceased was proved on the thirty first day of July 1783 before the Reverend Thomas Pooler, Clerk & Surrogate by the oaths of Stephen Brooker, William Brooker and Ambrose Brooker the sons of the said deceased and the executors named in the said Will to whom administration was granted they having been first sworn duly to administer