Aspects of Kentish Local History

Wills of Sheerness Shipwrights 1693 - 1855
Prerogative Court of Canterbury (P.C.C.) Wills  (Pre 1858)

EDWARD COOK 1789

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I EDWARD COOK of Sheerness in the County of Kent Shipwright being at this present time of sound memory and understanding do make and constitute this  my last Will and Testament in the manner and form as follows (that is to say) I recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God  my most gracious Father through the rich Mercy of Jesus Christ  my Redeemer and my Body  I commit to the Earth  to be Buried according to the discretion of my Executors hereafter named  and as to my Worldly Goods after all my Debts and Funeral Expense are paid I will and direct that they shall be disposed of in the following manner (that is to say)
I give and bequeath to my five beloved Grandchildren  WILLIAM BISHOP  REBECCA BISHOP  EDWARD BISHOP  ANN BISHOP and JOHN MORSE and to each of them Five pounds of good and lawful Money of England to be paid by my Executors  One Month after my decease 
I give and bequeath to my Grandson WILLIAM BISHOP One Silver punch Ladle 
I give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter REBECCA BISHOP One Silver Milk pot 
I give and bequeath to my Grandson EDWARD BISHOP my Watch with a Green case
I give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter ANN BISHOP  my Silver Tea Tongs 
I give and bequeath to my Grandson JOHN PEARSON One large Silver Table Spoon 
I give and bequeath to my Grandson PETER PEARSON all my Silver Tea Spoons
I give and bequeath to my Grandson JACOB PEARSON a Gold Locket and half a Guinea  for a Table Spoon
I give and bequeath to REBECCA BRAZIER of Rotherhithe a Gold Ring of One Guinea Value  as a Token of my Affection  for her
I give and bequeath to Mr WILLIAM SHRUBSOLE of Sheerness a Gold Ring of One Guinea Value  as a Token of my respect for him all that remains  of my Cash Bonds Notes Club Money Wages due in the Yard Goods Linen Plate Books China and whatever else belongs to me at my decease I give and bequeath unto my dear Daughters ANN BISHOP and ELIZABETH MORSE and the Children of my late Daughter JANE PEARSON desiring that the whole may be divided into three equal parts and that one third may be give to JOHN PEARSON PETER PEARSON and JACOB PEARSON Sons of my Daughter JANE PEARSON deceased and my Will is that the said third part shall be equally divided between the said three Children of JANE PEARSON  Share and Share alike  and to the Survivors or the Survivor  of them to be given them when they come to the Age of twenty One Years and to be improved for them by my Executors in the meantime and I hereby constitute and appoint HENRY BISHOP JOHN MORSE and PETER PEARSON Husbands of my said Daughters to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and annulling all other Wills and Testaments made by me in time past and declaring this to be my last Will and Testament made this eighth day of November in the year of Our Lord  One thousand seven hundred and Eighty six EDWARD COOK Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of us  W. SHRUBSOLE  WILLIAM TEMPLE  JOHN LAMBETH
Proved 12th May 1789 Power reserved to JOHN MORSE and PETER PEARSON
Note in margin dated 17th August 1792 Administration granted to PETER PEARSON