Aspects of Kentish Local History

Wills of 17th Century Chatham Shipwrights
Prerogative Court of Canterbury (P.C.C.) Wills 1603 - 1699)

Grevase MUND - 1631

In the name of God amen the sixteenth daie of Aprill in the yeare of Our Lord God 1631 in the seaventh yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord James (sic)* by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland Kinge Defender of the Faith etc. I Gervase Mund of Chatham in the countie of Kent shipwright beinge at this present sicke and weake in bodie but of good sound and perfect minde and memorie thanks be given to the Almightie God doe ordeyne and make these presents to be and conteyne my last will and testament in manner and forme following first and principallie I commend my soule into the hands of Almightie God my creator and maker hoping and most steadfastly believing to be saved by the onely merritts of Christe Jesus his blessed death and passion and my bodie I commend to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executrix hereafter named and touching the disposition of such worldlie substance as God of his mercy hath been pleased to blesse me withall I give and bequeath and dispose of the same in manner and forme followinge Impris I give and bequeath to the poor people of the pishe of the pishe (sic) of Chatham aforesaid the some of twentie shillings of currant English money to be paid and distributed at the discretion of my executrix hereafter named Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of the pishe of St. Margarette next the city of Rochester (where I was borne) the some of tenn shillings to be likewise paid and distributed at the discretion of my executrix Item I give and bequeath unto Mr Pimm minister of Chatham aforesaid the some of twentie shillings to be paid unto him within one month next after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto Alice Leeds the wife of John Leeds of Eastgate Street (my daughter) the some of tenn pounds of lawful money of England to be paid unto her within sixe months next after my decease also I do by these presen freelie and gladlie ? forgive release and discharge all such debts duties ? somes of money or demands whatsoever              ?             or owing unto me by the said John Leeds my said daughter's husband Item I give and bequeath unto Sara Leeds and Alice Leeds children of my said daughter Alice Leeds and to either of them the some of five pounds apiece of lawful money of England to be paid unto them by my executrix as they the said Sara and Alice shall severally accomplish the age of one and twentie yeares or their severall daies of marriage wch shall first happen Item I give and bequeath unto Martha Leeds the youngest child of my said daughter Alice Leeds the some of sixe pounds thirteen shillings and fower pence of lawful money of England to be paid unto her by my executrix as she the said Martha shall have accomplished the age of one and twentie yeares or daye of marriage which shall first happen Item I give and bequeath unto Olyver Leafgreene the sonne of Richard Leafgreene of Upchurch in the said county of Kent the some of five pounds of lawful money of England to be paid unto the said Olyver by my executrix at such time as he shall have accomplished his age of sixteene yeares to help to buy him a boate Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Mund the daughter of my sonne Richard Mund the some of tenn pounds of lawfill money of England to be paid unto her the said Elizabeth by my executrix within fower yeares next after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto Martha Mund one other of the daughters of my said sonne Richard Mund the some of sixe pounds thirteene shillings and fower pence of lawfull money of England to be paid unto her by my executrix within seaven yeares next after my decease or sooner at the discretion of my executrix Item I give and bequeath unto Richard Mund my sonne my seale ringe of gold to be delivered unto him by my executrix on the daie of my buriall Item I give and bequeath unto the said Richard Mund all my working tooles of what nature and       ?        to be delivered unto him by my executrix within sixe daies next after my decease Item I will and it is my true minde and meaninge that Margarett my now wife shall have the use and yearly profitts that shall from tyme to tyme arise and be made of the messuages or tenement and premisses thereunto belonging with the appurts wherin I now dwell and of the other messuage tenemt and premisses thereunto belonging with the appurtenances nowe in the tenure or occupation of my said sonne Richard Mund and Robert Ambrose boatswain of his mats shipp called the Coventrie during the terme of the natural life of her the said Margarett which messuage or tenemt with the appurts I have and hold by vertue of a lease made by the Deane of the Cathedrall church of Rochester and the bretheren of the hospital of St. Bartholomew in Chatham aforesaid and after the decease of the said Margarett my wife I will the messuage or tenemt and premisses thereunto belonging with the appurts wherein I now dwell in Chatham aforesaid together with the wash house brew house and houses as the same are now separated and fenced off from the other two tenemts before expressed to the said Richard Mund my sonne during the terme of his natural life and after the decease of the said Richard Mund to Joseph Mund his eldest sonne his executors and administrators and assignes for and during      ?      all the residence of the terme of yeares which at the tyme of the decease of the said Margarett my wife shall therein to come and unexpired by force and vertue of the said indenture of lease and also after the decease of the said Margarett my wife I give and bequeath the messuage or tenemt and premisses thereunto belonging with the appurts which now is in the occupation of the said Richard Mund my son unto James Mund the sonn of my said sonn Richard Mund his executors & admons for and during out all the residence of the termes of yeares which at the decease of the said Margarett my wife shal be therein to come and unexpired by the vertue of the said indenture of lease and also after the decease of the said Margarett my wife I will give and bequeath unto Thomas Mund one other of the sonnes of my said sonne Richard Mund his executors and admons the messuage or tenemt and premisses thereunto belonging with the appurts now in the occupation of the said Robert Ambrose (being      ?      belonging to the said lease) for and during out of the residence of the terme of yeares which by vertue of the said lease shallbe to come and unexpired in the said premisses at the decease of the said Margarett my wife Item I give and bequeath unto John Beke sometimes my servt the some of twentie shillings of lawfull money of England to be paid to him by my executrix within three months next after my decease and the rest of my goods chattells utensils moveables debts and money due unto me for wages whatsoever not already bequeathed (my debts legacies and funerall expences paid and discharged) I will give and bequeath wholy unto the said Margarett my wife whom I ordayne and make sole and whole executrix of this my last will and testament and I ordayne appoint and desire my good friends John Harrison and Robert Perrin to be overseers of the same and to be advising and assisting unto my said execturix in the execution and the performance of this my will and I give to either of them for their paines therein five shillings apeece of currant English money in witness whereof I the said Gervase Mund to this my present last will and testament containing fower sheets of paper have to each thereto sett my hande and seale the day and yeare on the first sheete mentioned 1631 Gev Mund signed sealed and delivered by the said testator as his    ?    last will and testament in the presence of us with these words (during the terme of his naturall life and after the decease of the said Richard Mund to Joseph Mund his eldest sonne his executors adms and assignes      ?      ) on the fifteenth line of the third sheete caused by the said testator to be interlined before his sealing hereof James Rowley Nathainell Noyes Richard Hende junor Martin Cotes Nott pub Roffen Kent

Proved 15th July 1631

*The King in 1631 was, of course, King Charles 1