Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Andrew PRUDHAM - 1659

In the name of God amen the nyne and twentieth day of August in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand sixe hundred and fortye and nyne I Andrew Prudham of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright beinge in reasonable good health and of perfect minde and memorie (thanks be to God) and not knowing howe soon it may please for the quiet of my minde and settinge that estate wherwith it hath pleased God to blesse me doe make and declare this my last will & testament in manner and forme followinge (that is to say) first I give and bequeath unto my sonne John Prudham and to the heires of his bodye lawfullie begotten for ever all that the moiety or halfe part of all those my messuages or tenements lyeinge and beinge in Chatham aforesaid which I purchased of John Freeman Item I give the other moiety or halfe part of the said messuage and tenement by which I purchased of Matthew Freeman unto my wife Catherine Prudham and her assignes for and during the terme of her naturall life and after her decease I give and bequeath the same unto my said sonne John Prudham and to the heires of his body lawfullie to be begotten and for want of such issue I give the aforesaid messuages or tenements with their appurtenances unto my daughter Mary Sturgin wife of [        ] Sturgin and to the heires of her bodie lawfully begotten and for default of such issue I give the same to the right heires of me the said Andrew Prudham for ever Item I give and bequeath unto my saide wife Catherine all my leases of certaine messuages or tenements in Wappinge which were hers before my marriage with her Item my will is that my executor shall receive the rents and profitts yearlie of certaine messuages or tenements in Debtford duringe the naturall life of my said daughter Mary Sturgin which messuages or tenements I hold by lease of John Golby and Anne his wife for divers yeares yett to come and also the rents yearly thereof after the decease of my said daughter until the children of my said daughter Mary Sturgin attaine to their severall ages of eighteene yeares (if the terme of yeares in the said lease so longe be and continues) and that my said executors shall dispoes of the same yearlie rents for towards the livelyhoods and maintenace of my said daughter Mary during her naturall life and after her decease for and towards the maintenace keepinge and bringinge up of the children of my said daughter Sturgin untill the said children shall attaine to the severall ages of eighteene yeares and then I will the aforesaid lease and terme of yeares then to come unexpired unto the foresaid children of my said daughter Mary Sturgin equally to be divided betweene them at their severall ages as aforesaid but if it fortune my said daughter and her children all of them depart this life before her said children attaine to the said age then I will the terme of yeares then to come in the said lease together with the said lease unto my executor his executors and assignes and I will that my executor shall have the keepinge of the said lease and receive the rents for the uses as aforesaid I give to my sonne John Prudham my wearinge apparell instruments and working tools I freelie forgive to Nicholas Ellett all sume and sumes of money as he anie waies oweth to me by bill bond or otherwise I give my seale ring to my sonne John Prudham my siver cup to my aforesaid daughter Mary Item I give one halfe of my household stuffe brasse pewter lynen woollen and bedinge and other implements to my said sonne John Prudham and daughter Mary equally to be divided the other halfe part therof I give to my said wife Catherine all the rest of my goodes cattell chattells plate and moneys whatsoever not before willed my debtes paide legacies and funerall expences discharged I give unto my foresaid sonne John Prudham and I doe hereby ordaine and appointe my said sonne John Prudham executor of this my last will and testamt in witness wherof I the said Andrew Prudham have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written Andrew Prudham signed sealed declared and acknowledged by the testator as his last will and testament in the presence of Robert Leake Mary Heath Robt. Heath snr.

Proved 5th May 1659