Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Richard MARTIN - 1659

In the name of God amen the twentieth day of May in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand six hundred fiftie nyne I Richard Martin of Chatham in the countie of Kent shipwright beinge sicke and weake in bodie but of good and perfect memorie (thanks be given to Almightie God) considering the uncertainty of mans life on earth and being desirous to settle things in order doe make constitute and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner and forme following revoking renouncing and making null and void by these presents all former wills and testaments by me made and declared either by word or writing and doe declare this to be my last will and testament Inprimis I give and bequeath my soule to Almightie God and my bodie to the earth to be buried in such decent and Christian manner as my executorix hereafter named shall seeme meete and convenient and as for the settling of my temporall estate and such goods and chattells as it hath pleased God to bestowe upon mee I accorde? give and dispose of the same in manner and forme following (that is to say) first I will that all those debts and duties which I owe in right or conscience to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and truly contended and paid or ordained to be paid within convenient tyme after my decease by my executorix hereafter named Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Richard Martin who is now in New England as I suppose my house with the grounds and yard and all other appurtenances thereto belonging which I have in Ipswich in the countie of Suffolk on the backside of the church in Clement's parish which said house grounds yard and other appurtenances aforesaid I give unto my said sonne Richard Martin in lieu and consideration of all debt and debts summe or summes of monie whatsoever which are due or owing by mee unto him my said sonne Richard Martin he forgiving and remitting unto my executorix hereafter named the said debt and debts summe and summes of monie he alsoe paying out of the same house grounds yards and other appurtenances aforesaid unto my daughter Martha Martin (now being married Martha Heath) and unto my daughter Margaret Martin to each of them or theire heires the summe of five pounds of lawfull monie of England within the space of one weeke next after his first cominge to take possesse and enjoy the said house and other the appurtenances aforesaid but if my said sonne Richard Martin doe not or shall never come to take possesse and enjoying the said house and other appurtenances aforesaid then the said house grounds yards and all other the said premisses and appurtenances aforesaid shall be after the death of my executorix hereafter named taken possest hold enjoyed and equally shared and divided by and betweene my said two daughters Martha and Margaret or by and betweene theire heires that shall be then living and surviving Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anne Martin (commonly called Hannah Martin) after the death and decease of my executorix hereafter named my house wherein I now dwell together with all heridataments close yard backside grounds and all other appurtenances thereto belonging or in anywise appertaining situate and being in Chatham aforesaid my said daughter paying out of the same unto the eldest child of my aforesaid daughter Martha the summe of tenn pounds lawfull monie of England within the space of seaven yeares next after the death of my executorix hereafter named if my said daughter Anne shall have then beene soe long married but if not then my said daughter Anne shall pay unto my said daughter Martha her eldest child that shall be living and surviving the said summe of tenn pounds within the space and terme of seaven yeares next after the marriage of my said daughter Anne and if my said daughter Martha shall not have enie child living and surviving att the tyme or terme aforesaid when the said summe of tenn pounds is herby ordered and specified to be paid as aforesaid then my said daughter Anne shall defere the said payment untill my said daughter Martha shall have a child borne which shall be lawfuuly begotten of her bodie or in case my said daughter Martha never have anie child soe begotten and borne as aforesaid then my said daughter Anne shall defere the said payment untill the day of her owne my said daughter Anne's death whoe shall then pay or order the same monie to be paid unto my said daughter Martha and my said daughter Anne shall also pay unto my said daughter Margarett or to her heires out of the said house and other the appurtenances aforesaid the loke summe of tenn pounds like lawfull monie of England within the space of one yeare next after the death of my executorix hereafter named if my said daughter Anne shall have then been a yeare married but if not then she shall pay the same summe as aforesaid within the space of one yeare next after the day of her marriage Item I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Anne all my moveables and household goods shall be after the death of my executorix hereafter named taken possest held enjoyed and equallie shared and divided by and betweene the eldest child of my said daughter Martha (or herself for want of achild) and my said daughter Margarett or her heires that shall be then living and surviving lastly I doe hereby constitute ordaine and appoynte my loving wife Rose Martin sole executorix of this my last will and testament unto whom I doe give and bequeath all dues debts rents summe and summes of monie which are due owing or in anie wise appertaining unto mee from any manner of person or persons whatsoever I also give and bequeath unto my said executorix my house in Chathan aforesaid with all the aforesaid appurtenances thereto belonging and appertaining during the terme of her naturall life she my said executorix mending and repairing the said house with its appurtenances from tyme to tyme as the same shall neede and require and not embezelling anie of my said moveables and household goods aforesaid she my said executorix also keeping and maintaining my said daughter Anne in good sufficient and decent manner until my said daughter Anne shall marrie if both my said executorix and daughter Anne shall have theire naturall lives soe long continued unto them moreover I give and bequeath unto my said executorix my house in Ipswich aforesaid with all the said appurtenances thereto belonging during her naturall life provided my said sonne Richard Martin doe not come to demand take possess and enjoy the same before that be expired ( my said executorix repairing ans amending the same from tyme to tyme as the same shall need and require during the tyme of her possessing and enjoying the same ) in witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written Richard Martin his marke signed sealed published and declared to be the last will and testament of the said Richard Martin in the presence of Henry Smith his marke Robert Sliter.

Proved 6th June 1659