Norfolk Mills - Pentney smock windmill

This will was written Sept 9, 1847 and Proved on April 8, 1848.
Jeremiah Riches was buried in Pentney on 31st January 1848 aged 56. His wife Susan née Garrett, daughter of Thomas Garrett, who he married in Pentney on Aug 12, 1818 was buried on June 5th, 1835 aged 36, shortly after the death of a newborn child.
……………… "the property is as follows, one acre and 2 roods of land, copyhold, …. Contain…. (more or less) of the Manor of Ashwood, bounded by the public roads on lands belonging to Susan Hastings east and west, and on land belonging to George Stratton Senr., on the South whereon there is now standing a good four-sail windmill in going gears and a good substantial double dwelling house, a bake office etc, all built of brick, stone and timber. And now in good trade and occupied by James BAILEY at a yearly rent of 30 Pounds Stirling per year all in the Parish of Pentney and the County of Norfolk aforesaid.
And also 7 acres and 3 roods (more or less) of freehold land in Pentney aforesaid bounded in the North by land belonging to Frederick Winearls on the East, South and West by the public road whereon are now standing eleven (11) tenements or cottages let to eleven separate tenants at a yearly rent each.
I do will and give and bequeath all and singular the whole of my aforesaid copyhold land, mill, baking office and dwelling house with all that appertain to them, together with all my foresaid 7 acres and 3 roods (more or less) of freehold land and 7 tenements thereupon as aforesaid.
I do will and give etc, the whole and every of them to my aforesaid two sons and two daughters namely, Jeremiah my elder son and James my younger son; to Susan my elder daughter and wife of James Bailey and Mary Ann my youngest daughter - all now with me at the Mill House in the parish of Pentney aforesaid.
To summarize the last few pages of this will, the instructions were to pay all encumbrances, mortgage etc, and then to distribute in equal shares all property including mill and bake office, and the rentals between the legatees. If one child died during the minority of James the youngest son, then all children would share, that is except for the daughter Susan who was married to James Bailey and running the mill, in which case her share would go to James only.
It is of note, that the executors of this estate were William Munday the schoolmaster (where Frances the wife of the previous miller was residing as an annuitant), and Richard Hammond the Blacksmith.
Janet Findley - 29th March 2008