Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Robert SHARPE - 1637

In the name of God amen the thirteenth daie of Aprill anno domini one thousand six hundred thirty seaven and the thirteenth yeare of the raigne of our Soverainge Lord Charles by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland Kinge Defenderof the Faith etc. I Robert Sharpe of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright being att this present in good and pfect health and memory thanks be given to God doe make and ordane this my last will and testamt conteying therein my last will in manner and forme followinge that is to saie first and principally I comitt my soule into the hands of Almighty God my creator trusting and assuredly believing that by the death and passion of his sonne Jesus Christ I have and shall have free and full remission of all my synns my bodie I comitt to the earth to be buried in such place or parishe where it shall please God to call me to his mercy and as touching the disposition and distribution of all such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to blesse me withall I will dispose and bequeath the same as hereafter followeth first I give and bequeath unto Dorothie my wife the some of five pounds of lawfull English money to be paid unto her her executors or assignes within two months next after my decease by my executor hereinafter named I give and bequeath after the decease of my said wife unto Margarett Sampson the daughter of James Sampson al that my lease interest and terme of yeares to come of and in one piece of land called or known by the name of Larkfield conteyinge by estimation five acres and one quarter of an acre lyinge and beinge in the pishe of St. Margaretts in the county aforesaid which I lately purchased of John Dulings gent. to have and to hould the same to her the said Margarett and the heires of her bodie lawfully begotten and for want of such issue I give and bequeath the same unto James Sampson Grace Sampson and Elizabeth Sampson equally to be divided and to the survivors and survivor of them and theire heires executors and assignes also I give and bequeath unto the said Margarett Sampson after the decease of my said wife all that my lease interest and terme of yeares to come of and in one messuage or tenement with the appurtenances and twelve acres of land more or less thereunto belonging situate lying and beinge in Chatham aforesaid now in the tenure or occupation of William Coverley which are holden of the Deane and Chapter of the cathedral church of Christ and the blessed Virgin Mary of Rochester to have and to hould the same to her the said Margarett her executors administrators and assignes Item I give and bequeath unto the said Margarett two silver cupps and five silver spoones Item I give and bequeath unto Robert Starks one suite of my best apparell also I give unto the said Robert the some of five poundes to be paid unto him within one yeare after my decease Item I give unto Arabella Cosens the wife of William Cosens the some of thirty shillings to be paid unto her within one yeare after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto James Sampson the some of five poundes to Elizabeth Sampson the some of five poundes and to Grace Sampson the some of five poundes of lawfull English money to be paid unto them by the said Margarett Sampson within two yeares next after she the said Margarett shall have and      ?      my said two leases after the decease of my said wife and if it      ?      anie of them to departe this life before that time then my will and mynde is that the survivors or survivor of them shall have his or their porron soe dyinge Item I will that twenty six shillings shal be disbursed and laid out uppon bread to be bestowed and distributed amongst the poore people of Chatham att and upon the day of my buriall all the rest of my lands tenements goodes chattells readie moneyes plate lyen wollen household stuff brasse pewter creditts and debts and whatsoever goodes els herein unbequeathed my debts beinge paid legacies and funerall expences discharged I give and bequeath the same unto the said Margarett to have and to hould the same unto her the said Margarett her executors administrators and assignes as her and theire own      ?      goods forever Item I make and ordaine the said Margarett Sampson executrix of this my last will and testament Item I appoint Nathaniel Apllyn of Chatham aforesaid shipwright and Richard Payford of the citty of Rochester      ?      overseers of this my will and I bequeath to either of them for theire care and paines to be taken herein the some of forty shillings praying them to be aydinge and assistinge to my said executrix in the execution of this my will and I will that they shall take order to direct and dispose all things by lawe for the accomplishment thereof until my said executrix shall attain to the age of twenty one yeares or be married and I give them and the survivor of them full power and authority for to doe and more over my will and mynde is that they the said Nathaniel Appllyn and Robert Payford or any one of them shall have the guardianship ? and governance of my said executrix until she shall attaine to the same age or be married in witness wherof I the said Robert Sharpe have herto sett my hand and seale thae daie and yeare first above written the marke of Robert Sharpe sealed and delivered by the testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us Thomas Dickson Richard Payford Robert Heath swrgt.

Proved 16th June 1638