Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Richard RAYDEN 1781

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN
I Richard Rayden shipwright of the town of Chatham in the county of Kent being sick in body but of good and perfect memory thanks be to Almighty God and calling to remembrance the uncertain estate of this transistory life and that all flesh must yield unto death when it shall please God to call do make constitute ordain and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following and being penitent from the bottom of my heart for my sins past most humbly desiring forgiveness for the same I give and commit my soul to God my Saviour and Redeemer in whom and by Christ's merits and sufferings I trust and believe assuredly to have full remission and forgiveness of all my sins and at the general day of resurrection that my soul with my body shall rise again with joy and inherit the kingdom of Heaven prepared for his elect and chosen and my body to be buried in such a place where my executrix hereafter named shall appoint and now for the settling of my temporal estate and such goods chattells and debts as it hath pleased God far and above my deserts to bestow upon me I do order give and dispose the same in manner and form following that is to say first I will that all those debts and dues as I owe or constitute to all manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be well and fully paid or ordained to be paid within convenient time after my decease by my executrix hereinafter named item I give and bequeath unto my dear and beloved grand daughter Mary Bingle all my whole and sole property of household goods wearing apparel plate money and servant also I give and bequeath unto my grandson Joseph Bingle my watch also I give and bequeath unto my grandson Richard Rayden Bingle my case of instruments and I do hereby nominate and appoint my said grand daughter Mary Bingle full and sole executrix of this my last will and testament and I do hereby revoke and make void all former wills by me at any time heretofore made in witness whereof I the said Richard Rayden have to this my last will and testament contained on one sheet of parchment set my hand and seal dated the seventh day of June one thousand seven hundred and eighty in the twentieth 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 Rd. Rayden signed sealed published and declared by the said Richard Rayden to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses hereunto in the presence of the said testator John Martin Edward Edwards

Proved 8th June 1781