Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Peter HARDEN - 1659

This is a Nuncupative Will, i.e. spoken in the presence of witnesses

Last will of Peter Harden shipwright of Chatham in the countie of Kent being at his own request taken from his mouth this thirteenth of September one thousand six hundred fiftie eight and as followeth vizt. I give and bequeath to my loveing wife Anne Harden these three houses with the lands thereto belonging namely the house I now live in & the two houses in Brookfield for and during her life as alsoe all the goods in and belonging to the said house in which I now live for and during her life but after the decease of my said wife I doe give and bequeath unto my grandchilde Anne Eason daughter to Robert Eason shipwright that house in the said Brookfield which John Harbond now liveth in to bee hers and her heires for ever but in case she the said Anne Eason die without issue that then the said house to fall to the eldest sister that shall bee then alive alsoe after the decease of my said wife I give and bequeath to Peter Eason and his sister Mary Eason the children of the said Robert Eason that other house in the said Brookfield that William Bedlowe now liveth in to be equally divided betwixt them and the largest liver of these two      ?      the whole as theires and their heyres for ever but in case they shall both dye without issue that then it shall bee lefte to bee equally divided betwixt those then brothers or sisters that shall then remain livinge I also give and bequeath to my sonne Fysher Harden the three houses at Hoyome (Higham?) with the lands thereto belonging to bee his and his heires for ever but in case hee dye without heyres that then the said three houses last mentioned shall fall to his sister Mary Eason and her children with the land thereto belonging alsoe all the goods formerly mentioned belonging to the house I now live in after the decease of my said wife I give to bee equally divided betwixt my son Fysher Harden and his sister Mary Eason but in case hee dye then the said goods to come wholie to his said sister Mary Eason but the house itselfe after my wife's decease to Fisher Harden and his heires but in case hee dye without issue then to fall to his sister Mary Eason I alsoe doe give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Eason and Phebe Eason twentie pounds apeece which legacie I doe will and appoint my sonne Fisher Harden to pay to them as soone as they shall be come sixteene yeares of age out of those houses that I have bequeathed unto him aforesaid all which perticulers here written downe I having the use of my sense and being in perfect memorie is my last will in testimonie whereof I have this thirteenth of September one thousand six hundred fiftie eight sett my hand and seale that which in the eight and nynth lyne upwards wherein it is thicker written then the rest was soe done and all therein conteyned written down before the signeing & sealing thereof the marke of Peter Harden taken from his owne mouth and signed and sealed in the presence of Samuel Say Phillip Eason Tho. Colpott.

Proved 25th August 1659