Back to index.

The Averills lived in Ash in the c17th, but they also owned the cottage and 6 acres which later became Hartley Bottom Farm. The Farm was to remain loosely in the family through Richard Miller and William Fenn until 1731.

Peter Mayer, 2002

KAO DRb/PW26
Will of Alice Averill of Ash, widow (1626)

This is badly faded and there is no obvious reference to Hartley. It does however mention her daughter Mary and son-in-law William Scudder, to whom Alice and her husband conveyed land at Ash and Hartley in 1599.

PRO PROB 11/258
Will of Robert Averill of Ash, yeoman (1656)

"I freely surrender up my soul into the hands of Almighty God, my maker, hoping that through the merits of Jesus Christ, my alone Saviour and Redeemer, it shall after my departure hence, be received into eternal bliss forever...."

Body to be buried in Ash Churchyard.

To each servant: 20s.

To Margery Averill "my dear and loving wife": he leaves all personal estate. Also he leaves a life interest in the house at Ash where he lives, with reversion to his kinsman James Miller and his heirs and assigns.

Item: "I will, give and bequeath unto my kinsmen William Miller, Richard Miller, and Thomas Miller, their heirs and assigns forever: three tenements, two lying in the parish of Ash and the other in the parish of Hartley aforesaid, with all and singular the several parcel and parcels of land therewith, now used and enjoyed". On condition they pay his kinsman Robert Averill, the son of George Averill the sum of £20. And provided further that they pay to the poor of Ash the sum of 50s.

James Miller to pay Elizabeth Scudder, kinswoman: £20; and Robert Lance the son of James Lance: £20; and to kinsmen Henry Fenn, William Fenn, Elizabeth Fenn and Joane Fenn: £10 each.

Wife Margery to be executrix.

Dated 16 August 1656

Witnessed by Henry Reave, Elizabeth Stevens
Proved at London, 6 September 1656.