Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Robert CLOTHIER - 1699

In the name of God amen I Robert Clothier of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright being sicke and weake but of good and sound mind memory and understanding for which and all other abundant blessings which I have received from Almighty God I render unto his divine majesty most humble and hearty thanks knowing the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time doe therefore for the quieting of my mind and sttling the estate reall and personall wherewith it hath pleased God of his mercy to bless me make and declare this to be my last will and testament in writing in manner and forme following that is to say first and principally I commend my immortall soule into the hands of Almighty God my creator assuredly trusting that by and through the merits      ?      death passion and the glorious resurrection and      ?      of Jesus Christ my blessed saviour and redeemer I shall receive a glorious resurrection among the just and my body I leave to the earth to be privately and decently buryed by my executorix hereafter named item all that messuage or tenement with the barnes stables out houses buildings yards gardens and orchards thereunto belonging and appertaining situate lying and being at Rawling Street in Rodmersham in the said county of Kent and thirteene pieces or parcells of arable land and woods containing by estimation forty acres more or less with the appurtenances lying and being at or neare Rawling Street aforesaid in the parish of Rodmersham and Milstead in the said county of Kent or one of them heretofore in the tenure or occupation of Nicholas Finn? or his assignes since? that and nowe or late of John Croyden or of his assignes undertenant or undertenants which said premisses about nine yeares since I bought and purchased to me and my heires of and from Mrs Sarah Aldersey and Fareham? Aldersey I give and devise and bequeath unto my deare and loveing wife Elizabeth for and during the terme of her naturall life without impeachment of waste and from and after her decease then I give devise and bequeath the said messuage lands and premisses aforesaid with theire appurtenances unto my grandson Thomas Bayly son of Thomas Bayly of Sittingbourne in the said county fishmongerdeceased and to his heires and assignes for ever but in case my said grandson Thomas Bayly shall happen to dye before he attaines his age of one and twenty yeares without issue of his body lawfully begotten and to be begotten that then and in such case I give devise and bequeath the said messuage lands and premisses with their appurtenances unto my grand daughter Susanna Bayly daughter of the said Thomas Bayly deceased and her heires and assignes for ever and in case my said grand daughter Susanna Bayly shall happen to dye before she attaines her age of one and twenty yeares or day of marriage which shall first happen that then and in such case I give devise and bequeath the said messuage lands and premisses with theire appurtenances unto Anne the wife of John Allen of Chatham aforesaid sail maker and to her heires and assignes for ever item all those two messuages new built brick messuages or tenements together with the yards backsides and gardens with theire appurtenances to the said messuages or tenements beonging or the      ?      demised used occupyed or enjoyed situate lying and being and situate? in the parish of Chatham aforesaid at a place there called The Brooke now or late used as one messuage or tenement and wherein I now live which I lately bought of and purchased to me and my heires of and from one Valentine Corblin and Elizabeth his wife I give devise and bequeath unto my said wife Elizabeth for and during the terme of her naturall life and from and after her decease then I give devise and bequeath the last mentioned messuages lands and premisses with theire appurtenances unto my said grand daughter Susanna Bayly and to her heirs and assignes for ever but in case my said grand daughter Susanna Bayly shall happen to dye before she attaines her age of one and twenty or day of marriage which shall first happen without issue of her body lawfully begotten and to be begotten that then and in such case I give devise and bequeath the said last mentioned messuages lands and premisses with theire appurtenances unto my said grandson Thomas Bayly and his heires and assignes for ever and in case my said grandson shall happen to dye before he attaines his age of one and twenty yeares without issue of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten that then and in such case I give devise and bequeath the said last mentioned messuages lands and premisses with theire appurtenances unto Anne the said wife of John Allen and to her heires and assignes for ever item all that messuage or tenement yard backside and garden with theire appurtenances situate lying and being in the parish of Chatham aforesaid and now in the tenure or occupation of Charles Dallison gent. from and after the decease of my said grandchildren Thomas and Susanna Bayly both of them dying before they attaine theire ages of one and twenty or day of marriage without issue of theire bodies as aforesaid I give devise and bequeath unto Anne the said wife of John Allen and her heires and assignes for ever Item my fuller mind and will is that from and after the decease of my said wife Elizabeth my well beloved and trusty friends John Laton of Chatham aforesaid clerke and Richard Burton of Chatham aforesaid locksmith and the survivor of them shall receive the rents issues and profitts of the said severall messuages lands and premisses aforesaid and keepe the same in good repaire during the nonayes? of my said grandchildren and the money thereof comeing and arising shall be from time to time applyed to the uses of my said grandchildren according to the true intent and meaning before expressed and they shall make the best advantage of such moneys for the uses aforesaid Item I give devise and bequeath unto the same John Laton and Richard Burton one guinea apiece to be paid to them within one moneth after my decease by my executorix hereafter named Item I give and bequeath unto the said John Laton and Richard Burton and to such of them as shall be living at the time of the decease of my said wife and shall take the trust upon him or them reposed in them as aforesaid the summe of foure pounds apiece to be paid and accounted to themselves out of such moneys as they or either of them shall first receive of the rents and profits of the severall messuages lands and premisses desiring them to performe the trust reposed in them according to the trust intent and meaning before expressed Item all and every my goods chattels household stuffe ready money pay wages and personall estate whatsoever I give and bequeath unto my said wife Elizabeth and I doe hereby nominate ordaine and appoint my said wife Elizabeth full and sole executorix of this my present last will and testament and I doe nominate and appoint my said trusty and well beloved friends John Laton and Richard Burton trustees and overseers of this my present last will and testament and lastly I doe hereby revoke annul and make void all former and other wills by me at any tyme made or published before the ensealing hereof in witness whereof I the said Robert Clothier have to this my present last will and testament copntained in three sheets of paper to every sheet thereof sett my hand and seale this present sixteenth day of August in the eigth yeare of the reigne of our Sovereigne Lord William the Third by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith etc. anno domini one thousand six hundred ninety seaven Robert Clothier signed sealed published and declared by the said Robert Clothier to be his last will and testament every sheet thereof being first stampt according to Act of Parliament in the presence of William Clift William Long Walter Dyer.

Proved 28th June? 1699