Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

John CLARK  1782

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN
I John Clark of Brompton in the parish of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright being of sound mind perfect memory and understanding praised be to God do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) first and principally I surrender up my soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator hoping to be saved by and through the only merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer and my body I commit to the earth to be decently interred and buried by and at the discretion of my loving wife Ann also I give and devise of them my two houses messuages or tenements and appurtenances therunto belonging situate lying and being in a certain village called Brompton in a certain street called Middle Street and in that part of the said village which is in the parish of Gillingham in the said county of Kent and now or late in the occupation of Matthew Spray house carpenter and Richard Stephens shipwright unto my dear wife Ann Clark for and during her natural life she keeping the same in good and sufficient repair as a tenant for life ought to do and from and immediately after her decease I give and devise the same unto my son John Clark and his heirs for ever I also give and bequeath all and every the interest and produce arising out and from such moneys as shall be placed in the publick stocks or funds at my decease unto my dear wife Ann Clark for and during her natural life and from and immediately after her decease then I give and bequeath all and every the said principal money or capital stock which shall then be placed in the publick stocks or funds unto my son Henry Clark and my daughter Hannah equally to be divided between them share and share alike but it is my desire that the said part or share of the said capital stock which I have given and bequeathed to my daughter Hannah after the decease of her mother shall be for her sole and separate use and not to be in the power or disposal of her husband Edward Hill also from and after payment of my just debts funeral expences the charges of proving this my will and also incident charges attending the execution thereof I give and bequeath all and every the rest and residue of my ready money and securities for moneys debts plate linen woollen pewter brass beds bedding household stuff and implements of household goods chattels and personal estate whatsoever unto and to the use of my said wife Ann Clark and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my two sons John Clark and Henry Clark executors of this my last will and testament and it is my will and desire that they my said executors shall and lawfully may at all times reimburse and take to themselves out of the interest money or capital stock all their reasonable charges which they shall sustain in the execution of this my will and I do hereby revoke and make void all other will or wills by me at any time heretofore made and I do declare this only to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of July in the twenty second year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two John Clark signed sealed published and declared by the said John Clark to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereunto in the presence of the testator Wm. Grant Hannah Sommerton Jno. Sommerton

Proved 17th September 1782