Scope and Content
i) Thomas Smyth, Sharpenhoe, farmer, eldest son and heir of Thomas Smyth late of Quickswood, Clothall, Hertfordshire, gentleman, deceased, who was the eldest son and heir of Thomas Smyth late of Sharpenhoe, gentleman, deceased, and sole devisee in fee named in his last will and testament
iia) James Smyth, Quickswood, farmer
iib) Hugh Smyth, Quickswood, farmer
iic) George Smyth, Stevenage, Hertfordshire, draper
iid) William Smyth, Quickswood, farmer
for themselves and as the personal representatives of their late sister Elizabeth, late wife of Solomon Hicks {?Dicks in SM151] of London [?Long} Sutton, Lincolnshire
all legatees named in the last will of Thomas Smyth late of Quickswood. gentleman, their late father, deceased
reciting will of Thomas Smyth the grandfather dated 25 July 1771 by which he gave to Thomas Smyth his son and heir
... all estates, subjecting the Sharpenhoe property purchased of John Peck, esquire, with annuity of £20 to son Hugh Smyth for life, and £50 each to grandchildren, i.e. i) and ii) above and Mary, James, Catherine, Penelope, William, Hugh, Ann, John, and Matthew Hanscombe, the sons and daughters of his daughter Mary, the wife of Mr William Hanscombe
and that his will was proved in Archdeaconry of Bedford
and reciting will of Thomas Smyth the father dated 21 September 1778 (SM99),
and reciting death of Hugh Smyth, son of Thomas Smyth the grandfather, and that i) did not think the fee simple estates were able to bear the charges put on them by his father's will, so gave them up to iia) on 29 September 1779, and that the fee simple and fee tail estates of i) in Sharpenhoe, Streatley and Sundon are not now distinguishable
Agreement between parties that it be referred to George Maxwell of Fletton Lodge, Huntingdonshire, gentleman, and Thomas Brown of Luton, gentleman, to divide property into fee tail and fee simple. Provision for umpire, expenses etc.
signed: all parties
witnesses: Isaac Hindley of Baldock, Leonard Hampson, Thomas Barns