Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

John MOXLEY - 1658

In the name of God amen the twentie fifth daie of October in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand sixe hundred fiftieand eight I John Moxley of Chatham in the countie of Kent shippwright being sicke and weake in bodie but of sound and perfect memory (praise be given to God for the same) doe make constitute and ordaine this my last will and testament and first and principally I comend my soule to Almighty God my creator hoping to receive pardon for all my sinnes in the blood of Jesus Christ and my bodie to the earth from where it was taken to be decently buryed by my executrix in the churchyard of Chatham aforesaid besides or neere my two sonnes and as touching such worldly estate as the Lord hath lent me my will and meaning is that the same shall be imployed and bestowe as hereafter in this my last will and testament is expressed and first I doe revoke renounce frustrate and make voyde all wills by me formerly made and declare and appointe this my last will and testament Item I will that all those debts and duties which I owe of right or conscience to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truly contented and paid or ordained to be paid within convenient time after my decease by my executrix hereafter named Item I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Rebekah Moxley that tenement or house wherein I now live with the land and other appurtenances thereto belonging during her naturall life and also that tenement or house nowe in the tenure or occupation of Robert Cotham adjoyneing to the west ende of the other said tenement with the land and other appurtenances thereto belonging with full power and authority at any time or times after my decease to sell or otherwise dispose of the same at her free libertie will and pleasure provided she satisfie and pay the mortgage of the other tenement and redeem the same leaving it free at her decease unto my brother hereafter named or their heires and not otherwise Item I give and bequeath unto my said loving wife Rebekah Moxley all my goods chattels moveables whatsoever with all those debts and sums of money that nowe are or hereafter may or shall be due and owing unto me from or by any person or persons whatsoever Item I give and bequeath unto my loving brothers William Moxley and James Moxley after the death and decease of my said wife Rebekah Moxley that house or tenement wherein I now live afore specified and given to my said wife during her naturall life if the same be redeemed and left free at her decease or els the other of the tenements before specified to be equally shared and divided betweene them and after them to their heires for ever Item I give and bequeath unto my brother Samuel Moxley as also to my sisters Anne Moxley Hester Moxley and Dennis Moxley twenty shillings apeece of lawfull money of England to bepaid by my said brothers William and James Moxley or their heires out of the said house or tenement given unto them as aforesaid within two yeares next after they shall      ?      and possesse the same Item I doe make constitute ordaine and appoint my said loving brother John Hawtinge and my loveing friend Mr Thomas Whitton the overseers of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have sett my hand and seale dated the daie and yeare first above written John Moxley signed sealed published and declared to be the last will and testament of the said John Moxley in the presence of Arthur Christmas Rob Sliter.

Proved 24th November 1658