Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Edward COLE  1768

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN
I Edward Cole of Brompton in the parish of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright being somewhat indisposed in body but of sound mind perfect memory and understanding do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say first I revoke and make void all former wills and testaments by me at any time heretofore made spoken or published and I do hereby make and appoint William Guy of Chatham in the county of Kent ropemaker William Tapley of Gillingham in the said county shipwright and John Sommerton of Chatham in the said county schoolmaster executors and trustees to this my last will and testament and I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral expences and the charges of proving this my will shall be first paid and satisfied also I give and bequeath unto each of them the said William Guy William Tapley and John Sommerton the sum of five pounds of good and lawfull money of Great Britain apiece over and above their costs charges and expences which they shall be at in and about the execution of this my will which will be hereafter mentioned also I give devise and bequeath all and every my moneys in the public funds or stocks or old south sea annuities with all my ready money and securities for money debts plate rings linnen woollen chattles and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever with all and everything I shall be possessed of or intitled to at my decease unto the said William Guy William Tapley and John Sommerton upon this special trust and confidence that they the said William Guy William Tapley and John Sommerton shall and will within three months after my decease get gather and collect all and every of the moneys due or owing unto me and give distribute and pay the same which shall come to their hands in manner and form following (that is to say) the sum of two hundred pounds of good and lawfull money of Great Britain I give devise and bequeath unto my nephew Samuel Pett in Ropemakers Fields Limehouse Hole in the county of Middlesex joiner I also give and bequeath unto Catherine Tissell wife of John Tissell of Stratford upon Avon in the county of Warwickshire sadler the sum of two hundred pounds of good and lawfull money of Great Britain I also give and bequeath unto Mary Beaumont of Brompton aforesaid a widow whom I now live with (if she is living at my decease) the sum of ten pounds of good and lawfull money of Great Britain I also give and bequeath unto James Hook of Westminster in the county of Middlesex coal merchant one finished model of fifty guns with a case belonging thereto now in the possession of the said James Hook I also give and bequeath unto James Carpenter of Brompton aforesaid shipwright all the profit interest and benefit of my servant Thomas Enon money that shall arise from his earnings or wages during the remainder part of his apprenticeship either in His Majesty's yard at Chatham or elsewhere going on and taking place from the time of my decease upon this consideration that he the said James Carpenter shall and will fulfill the keeping and performing the covenats and contents of the said indenture of apprenticeship now in being between me and the said servant or apprentice Thomas Enon and as to all the rest residue of my moneys securities for money s with all and every thing that I shall be possessed of at my decease either in the hands of my said executors or trustees or elsewhere belonging or appertaining to me I give and bequeath the same to and between my nieces Mary Carpenter wife of James Carpenter of Brompton aforesaid and Elizabeth Jarrett of the same place share and share alike and in case the death of either of my said nieces Mary Carpenter and Elizabeth Jarrett before my decease then I will and direct that their said share or shares of the moneys to arise by and from my said personal estate as aforesaid shall go and be paid to the heirs of their body lawfully begotten and in case of no issue of or from them to the next of kin of the said Elizabeth Jarrett and Mary Carpenter and each of their heirs for ever and lastly my will and mind is and I do direct that it shall and may be lawful for my said executors and trustees or the survivors of them in the first place to retain and reduct all such costs and charges that they or either of them shall be at or expend about the execution of this my will without the interruption or hinderence of any person or persons in witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament contained in two sheets of paper to the first sheet set my hand and the last my hand and seal dated the twenty seventh day of February in the eighth 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 etc. and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight Edward Cole signed sealed published and declared by the said Edward Cole to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto set our names Jas. Palmer James Sommerton John Shaw

Proved 6th April 1768