Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Thomas CHARLTON  1729

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN
I Thomas Charlton of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright being weake in body but of sound mind memory and understanding do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner following (that is to say) in the first place I commend my soule to Almighty God the creator thereof in and through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ my Savoiour and Redeemer and my body I committ to the earth to be decently buryed at the discretion of my executrix hereafter named and as to my worldly estate I dispose thereof as followeth item I give and devise unto my nephew William Reeve all those my two messuages or tenements yards gardens and premisses with their appurtenances situate lying and being in Queen Street in the parish of Chatham aforesaid and now or late in the occupation of Weybourne Allard and boatswain Burkett or their assigns to have and to hold unto my said nephew William Reeve and his assigns for and during the terme of his naturall life he keeping the said premisses in good repair and nott committing or permitting any wast or spoil thereon and from and after the decease of my said nephew William Reeve I give and devise the said two severall messuages and premisses with their appurtenances unto the heires of the body of my said nephew William Reeve lawfully begotten and to be begotten and for want of such issue I give and devise the same unto the eldest sonn that shall then be living of my neece Mary Turner wife of Edward Turner of Stoake in the said county of Kent clerke and his heires and assigns for ever and if no sonn of my said neece Mary Turner shall then be living to my own right heires for ever item I give and bequeath unto my sister Margaret Reeve widow the sume of two hundred and fiftie pounds of lawfull money of Great Brittaine to be paid her by my executrix within twelve months after my decease item I give and bequeath unto my said neece Mary Turner the sume of two hundred and fiftie pounds of like lawfull money to be paid her within twelve months next after my decease and also I give to said neece Mary Turner all my wearing apparell and also all my lynen and woollen item I give and bequeath unto my nephew Thomas Reeve the sume of one hundred pounds of like lawfull money to be paid him within twelve months next after my decease item I give and bequeath unto my nephew William Reeve the sume of fiftie pounds of like lawfull money to be paid him within twelve months next after my decease and I also give and bequeath unto my said nephew William Reeve all such money principall and interest he shall owe or be indebted to me att the time of my decease on any bond or bonds and hereby order and direct my executrix to deliver the same upp to be cancelled item I give and bequeath unto my neece Ann Reeve the sume of five hundred pounds of like lawfull money to be paid her within twelve months next after my decease item I give and bequeath unto Frances Reed and Mary Mack Murrey the two servant maids the sume of five pounds apiece of lawfull money to be paid them severally and respectively within three months after my decease item all and every the rest and residue of my ready money securities for money or due to me on bill bond mortgage or otherwise and all and every my household goods plate pewter brass copper south sea stock south sea annuities and all my debts creditts and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever not here before or otherwise disposed of which at the time of my decease I shall be possessed of interested in or instituted unto or which shall then any waies belong or of roght appertaine unto me (my own just debts legacies and funeral expences and charges of proving this my will being first paid and discharged) I give and bequeath unto my said neece Ann Reeve her executors administrators and assigns and I do hereby name and appoint my said neece Ann Reeve executrix of this my last will and the said Edward Turner and George Davison of the city of Rochester grocer overseers desiring them to be advising aiding and assisting her in the due performance of the same and for their trouble I give to each of them the sume of five pounds apiece of lawfull money and I do hereby revoke all former wills and testaments by me att any time made spoken or published before the publishing of these presents in witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament contained in two sheets of paper to each sheet thereof have sett my hand and seale this twenty sixth day of May anno dni. 1728 Tho. Charlton signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Charlton as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto William Waite Jn. Everard Tho. Johnson

Proved 10th October 1729

Note in margin:
On the fifth day of December in the year of our Lord 1739 a power was granted to John Everard the husband & admon. of the goods of Anne Everard heretofore Reeve deced. whilst living the sole executrix residuary legatee named in the last will and testament of the said Thomas Charlton deced. to admint. the goods chattells and credits of the sd. deced. according to the tenor of his sd. will testimonary by the sd. Anne Everard heretofore Reeve now also deced. being sworn duly to admint