John Berry ^{1 2}

  Events

• Apprenticeship (master): Edward Osbornd, 6 Jul 1721, Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8, GB. wheelwright

• Will, 19 Jul 1728, Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8, GB. ³ In the Name of God Amen I John Berry of Ringmer in the County of Sussex Wheelwright being weak in body but of sound mind memory and understanding (God Almighty be praised therefore) doe make and ordaine this my last will and Testament in manner following First and principally I Commend my Soul into the hands of God my Creator and my Body I resigne to the Earth to be therein decently buryed at the discretion of [my] Executor hereafter named and as touching the disposition of such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I doe hereby will give and dispose thereof as followeth And First I give and devise to my Son John Berry and to his Heires forever All that my peece or parcell of Coppihold Land lying in Ringmer called the Wish conteyning by Estimation Six acres and holden of the Mannor of Ringmer which I have heretofore Surrendred to the use of my last Will upon Condition that my Son John Berry doe and shall within Six Months next after my decease pay unto my Son Thomas Berry the Summe of One Hundred and Twenty pounds of lawfull money of Great Brittaine but if he shall refuse to pay the same then I doe hereby give and devise the said piece or parcell of Copyhold land unto my Sonn Thomas Berry and his Heirs forever Also I give and bequeath unto my Son Thomas Berry the Summe of One Hundred pounds of like lawfull money to be paid unto him by my Executor hereafter named within Six Months next after my decease Also I give and bequeath unto John Berry Thomas Berry Mathew Berry and Elizabeth Berry the Four Children of my son Thomas Berry the Summe of Five pounds apeice of like lawfull money to be paid unto them also by my Executor hereafter named within Six Months next after my decease Also I give and bequeath unto my Sonn John Berry all my Goods Chattells Stock ready moneys Securities for money and personall Estate of what Nature kind or Sort soever (my just Debts Legacies and Funerall Expences being first paid and discharged) whom I do hereby make and appoint full and Sole Executor of this my Will In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament sett my hand and Seal the Nineteenth day of July in the Second Year of the Raigne of our Sovereigne Lord George the second by the Grace of God of Great Brittaine France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc Annoq Domini 1728 John Berry Signed Sealed published and declared by the said John Berry the Testator as and for his last [Will] and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses thereof Tho Shadwell John Plumer Thomas Weller

Transcribed by Rosie Ansell February 2019.

• Probate, 31 Aug 1728, South Malling, East Sussex, GB. ³ Probatum fuit Testamentum Johannis Berry nuper de Ringmer infra Decant de Southmalling Defuncti Tricesimo primo die Mensis Augustii Anno Domini Millesimo Septingentesimo Vicesimo Octavo Coram Magistro Ricardo Lardner LLB Surrogato etc Juramento Johannis Berry Executor in ejus Testamento nominat Cui Commissa fuit Administracio Bonorum etc de bene etc ad Sancta etc Jurat etc

Transcribed by Rosie Ansell February 2019.

• Occupation: wheelwright, 6 Feb 1741/42. ²

• Residence, 6 Feb 1741/42, Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8, GB. ²

• Residence, 26 Apr 1732, Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8, GB. ¹

• Will, 6 Feb 1741/42, Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8, GB. ² In the name of God Amen I John Berry of Ringmer in the County of Sussex Wheelwright being of sound Mind and Memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say First and principally I commend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping for Salvation through the Merits of Jesus Christ my Blessed Saviour and Redeemer and my Body I resign to the Earth to be therein decently buried according to the Discretion of my Executrix hereafter named and as touching the disposition of such Temporal Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me I do hereby give and dispose thereof as follows First I give and devise unto my son Robert Berry and his Heirs all my Freehold Messuage or Tenement Stable Shop Buildings Garden and Orchard thereto belonging lying and being in Ringmer in the County aforesaid and also all those my Copyhold Lands thereto belonging lying and being adjoining called the Wish and also all that my Copyhold Messuage Tenement Orchard and Lands thereunto belonging late Newtons all which Copyhold premises are lying and being in Ringmer aforesaid and holden of the Ringmer Mannor and have been by me surrendered to the use of my last Will and my Will and meaning is that my Wife Elizabeth Berry shall have receive and take the Rents Issues and Profits of all and singular my said Messuages Lands and Tenements and also all the Interest and produce of my personal Estate until my said Son shall attain his Age of one and Twenty Years for and towards her Maintenance and the Maintenance and Education of my said Son and Daughter Elizabeth Berry and my Daughter Mary Berry and from and after my Son shall have attained his Age of one and Twenty Years Then I give and bequeath to my said Wife for and towards her future Maintenance one Annuity of ten pounds by the Year of lawfull Money of Great Britain for and during the Term of her natural Life if she shall so long remain and continue a Widow to be issueing and payable out of all and every my aforesaid Messuages Lands and Tenements by half Yearly and equal payments the first payment thereof to begin and be made at the end of six Months after my said Son shall have attained his Age as aforesaid And I do hereby charge all and every my said Messuages Lands and Tenements with the payment of the said Annuity accordingly provided nevertheless and my express will and meaning is that if my said Wife shall happen to dye or be married before my said Son shall have attained his Age of one and Twenty Years That then my Trustees hereafter named and the Survivor of them and the Heirs of such Survivor shall from and after her Death or Marriage receive and take the Rents Issues Interest and profits both of my Real and personal Estate for the only Maintenance and Education of my son and daughters until he shall attain his Age as aforesaid and my Will further is that from and after the Marriage of my said Wife the said Annuity of ten pounds by the Year by me before given unto her for the Term of her natural Life shall cease determine and be clearly void Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Berry the Sum of two hundred pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain to be paid unto her out of my personal Estate my Will is to give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Berry the Sum of two hundred pounds of lawfull Money of Great Britain to be paid unto her out of my personal Estate by my Executor or Trustees hereafter named or the Survivor of them of the Heirs of such Survivor when they shall attain their age of one and Twenty Years and in the mean time my Will is that my two daughters be maintained and educated our of the Rents Issues Interest and Produce of my Real and personal Estate Also I give and bequeath unto my Nephew John Berry Son of my Brother Thomas Berry the Sum of Twenty pounds of like lawfull Money to be paid him also out of my personal Estate by my Executrix or Trustees hereafter named within one year next after my decease All the Rest and Residue of my Goods Chattels and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever from and after my just Debts Legacys and Funeral Expences are paid and discharged I give and bequeath unto my Son Robert Berry and I do hereby make and appoint my said Wife Executrix of this my Will but my Will and meaning is that if my said Wife shall happen to marry before my Son attains his Age of one and Twenty Years That then she shall immediately after her Marriage resign and yield up her Executorship and such of my personal Estate as she shall be possessed of and the Care and Education of my Children unto my worthy friends the Reverend Mr Talbot of Stretham in the County of Surry and Mr Rydder Gent of Olyn in Sussex and John Colingham Wheelwright of Southover near Lewes in the aforesaid County whom I do hereby make and appoint to be Trustees of this my Will desiring they would take upon them the said Trust and be aiding and assisting to my Wife during her Widowhood in the Execution thereof and for their Trouble I give to each of them a Ring of Twenty five shillings value and from and after Marriage of my Wife I appoint them Guardians of my Children until they attain their respective Age of Twenty one years In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contained in two sheets of paper to the first set my hand and to the second my Hand and Seal the sixth day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and forty one John Berry Signed sealed published and declared by the said John Berry the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in the presence of him have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereof John Stapely John Balcombe Elias Coppard

Transcribed by Rosie Ansell July 2012.

• Probate, 4 Feb 1742/43, London, GB. ² T his will was proved at London the fourth day of February in the Year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and forty two before the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Elizabeth Berry Widow the Relict of the Deceased and Executrix named in the said Will To whom was granted Administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased being first sworn by Commission duly to Administer

Transcribed by Rosie Ansell July 2012.

John married Elizabeth Dodswell on 26 Apr 1732 in St. Michael & All Angels' Church, Little Horsted, Uckfield, East Sussex, TN22 5TS, GB.¹ (Elizabeth Dodswell was born about 1711, died before 10 Feb 1797 and was buried on 10 Feb 1797 in St. Mary the Virgin's Church, Church Hill, Ringmer, Lewes, East Sussex, BN8 5JX, GB ¹.)