Aspects of Kentish Local History

Wills of 18th Century Chatham Shipwrights
Prerogative Court of Canterbury (P.C.C.) Wills 1706 - 1799)

Abel BOURN  1742

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN
I Abel Bourn of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament whereas I have by a recovery passed by me in the court of common pleas at Westminster in Hillary Term last past docked barred and cutt of all estate tail and remainder of and in all those four messuages or tenements and four gardens thereunto belonging with the appurtenances situate and being in the parish of Strood in the said county of Kent and now or late in the tenure or occupation of Richard Phillips William Baker [     ] Brown widow and [    ] Lawson widow and also all that the moiety or undivided half part of one messuage one barn one stable one lodge sixteen acres of meadow sixteen acres of arable seven acres of woodland called the deans one ? orchard and one garden with their and every of their appurtenances and also all that the moiety or undivided half part of all those three marshes and marsh grounds commonly called or known by the several names of Shard Marsh Polhills Marsh and Little Noven ? containing by estimation one hundred and seventy four acres together with the moiety or undivided half part of one barn one stable and sheephouse thereupon erected and built all which said messuages lands tenements and premisses are situate lying and being in the several hundreds parishes precincts and territories of Stoke High Halstow Hoo and Frindsbury in the said county of Kent I dispose thereof as followeth I give devise and bequeath unto my loving wife Ann all the said four messuages or tenements and gardens thereunto belonging with the appurtenances situate in Strood aforesaid and also all that moiety or one undivided half part of the said messuage barn stable lodge meadow arable and woodland one orchard and garden with their and every of their appurtenances and also the moiety or undivided half part of the said marshes and marsh grounds together with the moiety or undivided half part of the said barn stable sheephouse to hold to my said wife her heirs and assigns for ever and I do also give devise and bequeath unto my said wife all my estate of what nature or kind soever which I shall be possessed of or in any wise intitled unto at the time of my death and I do nominate and appoint extrix. of this my last will hereby revoking all former wills by me heretofore made in witness whereof I the said testator Abel Bourn have hereunto set my hand and seal this twentieth day of February one thousand seven hundred and thirty eight A. Bourn signed sealed published and declared by the said testator Abel Bourn as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have set our hands in his presence and at his request as witnesses hereunto Elizabeth Grace Mo. Grace Jno. Cleever

Proved 12th August 1742