Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Francis EASTWOOD  1728

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN
I Francis Eastwood of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright now master carpenter of His Maties. ship Sandwich being in good health of body and of sound mind memory and understanding (praised be to God for the same) do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) imprimis I give and bequeath unto my brother in law Thomas Boulter and to my sister Anna his wife and to my cousin John Eastwood and to each and every of them one guinea to buy each of them a ring to wear in remembrance of me item I give devise and bequeath unto my two sisters Mary Eastwood and Susan Champnurs all those my two severall messuages or tenements with the severall yards backsides garden ground and appurts. to them severally belonging or therewith now or heretofore devised letten used occupied or enjoyed with their and every of their appurts. situate lying and being in Gosport in the county of Southampton and now or late in the severall termes or occupations of [ ] Boddycoate and the said Susan Champnurs or one of them or one of their undertenant or undertenants and also all other my two messuages lands tenements and heriditaments whatsoever and wheresoever to have and to hold unto my said two sisters Mary Eastwood and Susan Champnurs and their assigns for and during the terme of their naturall lives and the life of the longest liver of them chargeable nevertheless with the payment of the annuity herein after mentioned and after the decease of the survivor of my said two sisters Mary Eastwood and Susan Champnurs I give devise and bequeath all those my said two messuages or tenements and all and singular my messuages lands tenements and hereditaments aforsd. (subject nevertheless to the annuity hereinafter mentioned) to my niece Hannah Champnurs and to the heirs of her body lawfully to br begotten and for want of such issue to the right heires of me the said Francis Eastwood for ever item I give devise and bequeath unto my aforesaid sister Anna Boulter wife of the aforesaid Thomas Boulter the yearly rent or annuity of fouteen pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain by the year during the terme of her naturall life to be paid by even portions half yearly (into her own hands for her own seperate use) at the feast days of St. Michael the archangel and the annunciation of the blessed Virgin Mary the first payment to begin and be made at that feast day of the feasts aforesaid which shall next happen after my decease and I will that a rect. and revs. in writing signed by my said sister Anna shall be a full discharge for the same and in case the said yearly rent or annuity shall be behind or unpaid in part or in all by the space of thirty days next after any of the said feasts on which it ought to be paid that then it shall or may be lawfull for the said Anna Boulter or her assignes to enter into all those my aforesaid two messuages or tenements in Gosport aforesaid with the yards backsides garden grounds and appurtenances to them severally belonging and to hold all and singular the said premisses with their appurts. and receive and take the rents issues and proffits thereof until she shall be satisfied of the said yearly rent or annuity of fourteen pounds with all the arrearages thereof and all costs and charges whatsoever item I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid niece Hannah Champnurs the sume of three hundred pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid her by my executrs. herein after named within three months next after my decease item all the rest residue of my ready money debts due to me and securities for debts pay wages sallary stock and dividends in the south sea company or elsewhere and all other my personal estate whatsoever I give and bequeath unto my sd. two sisters Mary Eastwood and Susan Champnurs to be equally divided between them share and share alike they my said sisters paying out thereof my legacies aforesaid debts (if any be owing by me) funerall expences and probate of this my will and them my said two sisters Mary Eastwood and Susan Champnurs I hereby name make and ordain full and sole executors of this my will and lastly I do hereby revoke disannull and make void all former and other wills by me at anytime heretofore made or published and I do declare these presents to be and contain my only last will and testament in witness whereof I the above named Francis Eastwood have to this my present last will and testament set my hand and seal the seven and twentieth day of February in the sixth year of the reign of our Soveraigne Lord George by the grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc. anno dni. 1719 Frans. Eastwood signed sealed and by the above named Francis Eastwood the testator published and declared to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses herto in the presence of the said testator Chas. Best Fra. Warner Fra. Romney

Proved 7th May 1728 power reserved to Susan Champnurs