Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Thomas EMERY - 1657

In the name of God amen the sixt day of August ao 1645 in the yeare one and twentieth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord King Charles that now is of England I Thomas Emery of Chatham in the countie of Kent shipwright being at this present in good and perfect health and memorie thanks be to God and boubd forth on a voyage to sea in the good shipp called the Sara doe therefore make my last will and testament in manner and forme following that is to say first I commend my soule to Almighty Godd my creator and hoping to have pardon of all my sinns through the meritte of Jesus Christ my redeemer and my body I comitt to the earth to bee buried in such pace where it shall please God to call mee and as touching and concerning the small portion of goodes which it hath pleased God to bestow uppon mee I dispose of the same in manner as followeth that is to say I give to my loving mother Elizabeth the now wife of Peter Ellis of Chatham if she the said Elizabeth shall bee a widdowe att the time of my decease (my debts being first paid) & legacies discharged all and singular my goods chattels apparell ready money the moneys due to mee at my decease for pay for my services done or to be done in the aforesaid ship called the Sara or in any other shipp to have and to hold the same to her and her executors and assignes Item I give unto my two sisters An Clay wife of Robert Clay and Mary the wife of William Gamball the some of five shillings apeece and I ordaine and make my said mother (if shee bee then a widdowe) executrix of this my last will and testament provided allwayes and if it shall happen that my said father inlaw Peter Elllis shall be living at the time of my decease then my will and meaning is I doe give and bequeath unto my aforesaid sister An Clay wife of Robert Clay all and singular my aforesaid goods & chattels apparell ready money the money as due to mee att the time of my decease for pay in the aforesaid shipp called the Sara or in any other ship to have and to hold the same unto the said An Clay her executors and assignes and then I give unto my said mother the some of five shillings and noe more and doe make and ordaine my said sister An Clay executorix of this my last will and testament anything in these presents before mentioned to the contarary thereof in any wise not withstandinge in witnes wherof I the said Thomas Emery have hereunto sett my hand and seale dated the day and yeare abovesaid Thomas Emery sealed and delivered and acknowledged as his last will and testament in the presence of Richard Heade (    ?    ) Robert Heath (    ?    ).

Proved 28th July 1658