Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

John CROOKENDEN  1754

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN
This tenth day of June one thousand seven hundred and fifty two and in the twenty fifth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc. I John Crookenden of the parish of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright being well and good health of body thanks be to Almighty God for his mercies and being well stricken in years and knowing the uncertainty of this life on earth and being desirous to settle in order before I dye in manner and form following that is to say first and principally I commend my soul to Almighty God my creator assuredly believing that I shall receive full pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and be saved by the death and precious merits of my blessed Savoiour Jesus Christ and my body to the earth from whence it was taken to be buryed in such descent and Christian manner as my executor hereafter named shall think most fit ? and convenient and touching such worldly goods and estate as the Lord in his mercy hath lent me my will is that the same shall be imployed and bestowed as hereafter by this my last will is expressed and first I do revoke renounce and make void all wills by me formerly made and do declare and appoint this to be my last will and testament item I give and bequeath unto my son Caleb Crookenden my front house I now live in in Westcourt Street in Brompton in the parish of Chatham in the county of Kent item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Chant my two smallest lease houses being my two smallest houses lying and being between the houses called by the name of the Blue Houses without and hard by Sheerness in the parish of Minster in the island of Shopey in Kent the writings to be delivered within one month next after my death and all the rest of my houses I give and bequeath unto my three daughters Hannah Mary and Martha when my wife's estate left by her father coms to her and then my three daughters to have an equal share of all the rent paid them by my executor hereafter named item all my money bonds bills debts dues and demands and all my household goods I give to my loving wife Hannah Crookenden and constitute and appoint my son Caleb Crookendenn my whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament in witness here I have hereinto sett my hand and seal the day and year above said in the presence of these three witnesses our hand hereunto subscribed as witnesses hereunto J. Crookenden Thomas Blye Joseph Kennard Mary Kennard

Proved 1st June 1754