Reference
Z937/17/7
Title
Counterpart grant and release between
1) John Field, gent of Hitchin, eldest surviving nephew and heir of Charles Nicholls deceased, eldest surviving brother and heir of Thomas Field deceased (who in his life time was eldest nephew and heir of Charles Nicholls), uncle and heir of Charles Nicholls Field an infant deceased who was the only child of Thomas Field; and Sarah wife of John Field
2) Joseph Margetts Pierson, grocer and tallow chandler of Hitchin, trustee of will of Thomas Field
3) Sir Thomas Salusbury of Offley Place, Judge of the High Court of Admiralty, and Dame Anna Maria his wife
sale of absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple, freehold land for 325 being the most money and best price that can be had for it, from (1) to (3)
a) 4 ac arable in Offley further field near a baulk called the Millers Path, lately occ by George Preist, that is to say: 2 acs lie in one piece, abutting S land formerly of Sir Brockett Spencer and now Sir Thomas and Dame Anna Maria Salusbury, N land of Joseph Field; the other 2 acs also lie in one piece abutting S land formerly of John Roberts and now Joseph Field, E the highway leading from Hitchin to Pirton and on Pirton Town Piece, these 4 acs occ by Edmund Simkins at 1-1s pa.
b) 9 poles in Offley taken out of Gate Yard Close
c) dovehose erected on (b) occ by Robert Clarke formerly part of the estate of Thomas Plumbe, gent, and sold by him to Charles Nicholls deceased, uncle of John Field
d) 7 acs arable and sweard in Offley being Middle Field ac in Kitling Dane with land of (3) on either side, 1 headland in Sand Pitt Shott, 1 headland being 1r
Recites
- Charles Nicholls died November 1746, bachelor, intestate. His heir was Thomas Field his eldest nephew, son of John Field and Anne [sic] his wife who was Charles' only sister.
- In his will dated 12 March 1748, Thomas Field left to his "then wife" Anne for life all freehold and copyhold in Hitchin and St Ippollitts, his property in Higham Gobion, and his copyhold estates in Shillington, Standon, Gravenhurst and Meppershall held of the Manor of Shillington. The residue copyhold and freehold in Beds, Herts and the above estates after Anne's death, he left to Joseph Margetts Pierson in trust to pay his son Charles Nicholls Field 60 pa in half yearly payments until he is 24, and from the residue to pay the interest on several mortgages. But if his son marries Mary Atkinson, testator's servant, the will would be revoked and the bequests would go instead to his nephew Charles Nicholls Field, eldest son of his brother John Field.
- Charles Nicholls Field, his son, died before age 21and did not marry Mary Atkinson: therefore Thomas's brother John Field inherited all the property.
- By decree in the High Court of Chancery, Anne widow of Thomas Field released all right of dower and free bench, and enough property was to be sold to pay off the debts of Thomas and Charles Nicholls Field.
- Anne Field has not released the dower, and John Field now indemnifies (3) against her claim
On reverse: receipt by John Field and Joseph Margetts Pierson for 325 from Sir Thomas Salusbury.
Loose inside: bill from Messrs Tristram and Taylor
Date free text
1753
Production date
From: 1753 To: 1753
Exent
5, No. of pieces: 2
Secretary and modern hand
Format
parchment and paper
Level of description
item