Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Thomas PARRY 1778

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN
I Thomas Parry of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright being of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding but considering the uncertainties of this mortal life and in order to prevent controversies after my decease do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God with a fervant hope to obtain remission of my sins through the merits death and passion of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and as to such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I dispose thereof as follows I give devise and bequeath unto my son Thomas Parry ten pounds of lawfull money with all my wearing apparel with twelve pictures of January to December included I give devise and bequeath to John Parry son of George Parry deceased five pounds I give devise and bequeath to Thomas Parry son of the above said George Parry deceased five pounds of lawful money I give devise and bequeath to Susannah daughter of the above said George Parry five pounds I give devise and bequeath to Thomas Parry son of Thomas Parry shipwright and grandson to the testator all the overplus both money goods and every undivided thing in my possession after my burial just debts funeral expences and the charges of probate of this my last will and testament and other incident charges and I do hereby make ordain constitute and appoint my beloved friends Thomas Wilkins of the parish of Chatham Kent shipwright and Thomas Wall of Gillingham Kent shipwright executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and I declare this to be my last will and testament it's my desire that my legacies should be paid after this manner to Thomas Parry my son ten pounds three months after my decease my apparel and the twelve pictures in seven days to John Parry son of George Parry five pounds at the end of three months to Thomas Parry son of George Parry two pounds ten shillings at the end of three months and that day twelve months the residue as inserted in the will to Susannah Parry daughter of George Parry two pounds ten shillings at the end of three months and that day twelve months the residue as inserted to Thomas Parry son of Thomas Parry shipwright his overplus money at three months end and all the residue of my household goods in seven days to my two executors one guinea each after all expences are disburst in witness whereof I the said Thomas Parry have to this my last will and testament contained in two sheets of paper affixed together set my hand to each sheet thereof and to this second and last sheet my seal dated the nineteenth day of Febry. in the eighteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the grace of God of Great Britain King France and Ireland Defender of the Faith etc. and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight Thomas Parry signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Parry the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in his presence and at his request Edward Staples John Marshall

Proved 1st June 1778