Catalogue description Settlement (by lease and release, lease for a year missing), on the intended marriage of Dowse Fuller and Jane Grey

Between (a) Thomas Grey of Woolbeding, esq., and Jane Grey, his younger dau., (b) Thomas Bettesworth of Fineing in Rogate, esq., and Lawrence Alcock of Midhurst, esq., and (c) Dame Elizabeth Fuller, widow of Sir Dowse Fuller, of Chamberhouse in Thakeham, kt., dec'd., and Dowse Fuller, esq., their son and heir

Manor or lordship of Stedham and advowson of the churches of Stedham and Heyshott; capital messuage with appurtenances (1899), and (60a.) of coppice and woodgrounds thereto belonging; all in occ of Francis 4th Viscount Montague, or Henry Pooke; watermill called Stedham Mill, and lands; dwelling house, barns, outhouses and 20a. land, in occ. of John Hawkins; messuage, barn, buildings and 8a. land, in occ. of John Redmond alias Mason; meadow adjoining Stedham Bridge (½a.), in occ. of John Hawkins; and demesne lands of the said manor, all in Stedham; messuage called Sleters, in possession of John Hudson; yardland (140a.); parcel of land, woodground and coppice called Inholmes (35a.) in Stedham, and the other part (35a.) adjoining it; together with the capital messuage and farm belonging, in occ. of Thomas Grey; and all lands, tenements, etc., called the Upper Court in Heyshott, in occ. of Robert Austen

The said Sir Thomas Grey conveys the property to (b) to hold in trust, to the use of the said Sir Thomas, for 99 years (or life), with remainder to (b) to hold for 100 years to the use of (1), the said Dowse Fuller; (2) the said Jane Grey; (3) their heirs in tail male; (4) their heirs; (5) the heirs of the said Sir Thomas. The said term of 100 years to be so disposed of by (b) as to raise £1990, for the settlement of debts, as listed in the attached inventory. In the event of said Sir Thomas paying any of these debts, or, in the event of any creditor releasing him from a debt, the said term of 100 years to stand charged with the payment of the principal money for the benefit of the person who discharges the debt, or the creditor thereof; the same to apply to the interest on these debts. In the further event of the raising of the said £1990, in payment of the said debts, the said term of 100 years, to be void. The said Dowse and Jane to be able to charge the property, after the raising of the said £1990, with the payment of portions for the benefit of their children

The inventory includes the following names of creditors:

Thomas Mensgrove, clerk £540

Johanne Monk, widow £400

Elizabeth Otway, widow £400

Humphrey Steward £250

Joane Stilwell, wife of Richard Ayleing £200

Frances Hides, spinster £100

William Shaw £100

£1,990

Witnesses: Francis Geston, esq., Thomas Batesworth, junior, John Whitehead and Henry White