Robert Fry was the sixth son of John Fry & Anne Richardson christened March 18th 1763 at Frant.
At the time of the writing of his father’s will in 1785 Robert, along with brothers Thomas & William were living with their father at Eridge in the parish of Frant, Sussex. As well as receiving a legacy in the will, he & his brother William were bequeathed the remainder of his father’s personal estate. Robert & William were executors of their father’s will which was proved in September 1785.
Robert married Lydia Brown on June 15th, 1791 at St Alban’s parish church, Frant. Lydia was born c1770.
Robert wrote his will with detailed instructions & restrictions for the distribution of his estate on June 3rd, 1820 when he was living at Speldhurst, Kent. He left his personal estate & property to his wife, Lydia, & his real estate to his son Robert. Robert left explicit instructions that his daughter Lydia was to receive a sum of £10 twice a year from the estate, to be distributed to her by son Robert. Daughter Lydia had married William Wills, & they were living in Walton, Middlesex. Daughter Ann, who was unmarried at the time of the writing of the will, was to receive £25 twice a year from the estate, again distributed by son Robert. Robert also stipulated that after the death of his son Robert, his estate should pass to his grandson, Robert Fry Woodhams, the son of daughter Mary Fry who had married David Woodhams in 1811. Grandson Robert was charged with carrying on the twice yearly distribution of allowances to Lydia & Ann. Another stipulation in the will was that after the death of his wife Lydia, his personal estate & effects should be shared between his 3 daughters. He also requested that daughters Lydia & Ann should have the privilege of living on his farm free of charge for 3 months after his decease & they must not forfeit any of their allowances during this time. He appointed his friends Mr Brown, a victualler of Eridge, & Edward Austen, a yeoman of Speldhurst to be his executors.
Robert died in 1829 & was buried August 3rd at Speldhurst. The will was administered on February 9th, 1830, by his wife, Lydia, the sole surviving executor, Edward Austen, having renounced the probate & execution of the will.
The children of Robert Fry & Lydia Brown were:
Mary Fry christened May 13th, 1791 at St Alban’s, Frant, Sussex
Robert Fry christened September 8th, 1795 at St Alban’s, Frant, Sussex
Lydia Fry christened September 22nd, 1798 at St Alban’s, Frant, Sussex
Ann Fry christened September 3rd, 1800 at St Alban’s, Frant, Sussex