Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

William TAPLEY 1774

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN
I William Tapley of Brompton near Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright being weak in body but of sound mind memory and understanding (praised be to God for it) and considering with myself the certainty of death and the uncertainties of the time thereof and to the end I may be the better prepared to leave this world whenever it shall please God to call me hence do therefore make and declare this my last will and testament in manner following (that is to say) first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator hoping for free pardon and remission of all my sins and to enjoy everlasting happiness in his heavenly kingdom through the sole merits of Jesus Christ my Savoiour my body I commit to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my executors herein after named and as to such worldy estate wherewith it hath pleased God to entrust me I dispose of the same as followeth (that is to say) I give and bequeath unto my son William Tapley my silver quart tankard in which is marked or engraved the name "William Tapley" also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Sturgis wife of John Sturgis of Brompton aforesaid gentleman my silver coffee pot also I give and bequeath unto my son John Tapley one silver quart can marked "W. T." and "A.T." also I give and bequeath unto my son James Tapley my silver pint can and my two silver half pint cans all which legacies I direct my executors herein after named to deliver to the respective parties entitled to the same at their several and respective ages of twenty one years and as to all and singular other my household goods household stuffs plate china pictures linnen woollen pewter brass copper liquors wines and all other my household goods utensils and vessels whatsoever I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my wife Ann Tapley her executors administrators and assigns I give unto my four trustees herein after named the sum of five pounds each and also the further sum of one guinea each to buy them mourning rings also I give and devise all and singular my messuages lands tenements hereditaments and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever whether in possession reversion remainder or expectancy whereof I have power to dispose unto my said wife for and during the term of her natural life if she shall so long continue my widow and unmarried and from and immediately after her decease or marriage again which shall first happen I give and devise all and singular my said messuages lands tenements and real estate (except my messuage or tenement in Middle Street Brompton now in the tenure or occupation of [     ] Peckham and [      ] Batten with its appurtenances ) unto my said sons William Tapley John Tapley James Tapley equally to be divided between them as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and to their several and respective heirs and assigns forever and I also give devise and bequeath unto my said daughter Elizabeth Sturgis all that my said messuage or tenement and premises with the appurts. thereunto belonging situate in Brompton aforesaid and now in the tenure or occupation of the said [     ] Peckham and [    ] Batten to have and to hold unto my said daughter Elizabeth Sturgis and to the issue of her body by the said John Sturgis lawfully to be begotten and for default of such issue I give devise and bequeath the same unto and between my said sons the said William John and James Tapley as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and to their several and respective heirs and assigns for ever and as to all the rest residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind or quality soever the same shall consist and be at the time of my decease my just debts funeral expences and the charges of the probate of this my will and other incident charges being first thereout paid and satisfied I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto Thomas Hall of Wainscot in the parish of Frindsbury in the said county of Kent shipwright Richard Edgecombe of Brompton aforesaid shipwright John Dann of Frindsbury aforesaid yeoman and John Heptden of Burwash in Sussex brazier upon trust that they and the survivor of them and the executors and administrators of such survivor shall and do invest and layout of my said personal estate and effects in government or ther good securities and pay and apply the dividends interest and profits thereof unto my said wife (if she shall so long continue my widow and unmarried) until my said son William Tapley shall attain the age of twenty one years when I direct my said trustees and the survivor of them and the executors and administrators of such survivor to pay assign and transfer out of my said personal estate and effects the sum of six hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain unto him my said son William Tapley for his own use and benefit and from and out of the remainder of my said personal estate to pay assign and transfer unto my said daughter the said Elizabeth Sturgis the sum of four hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain which I direct shall be paid her within six calender months next after my decease and my will and mind further is and I direct my said trustees herein before named to pay and apply the dividends interest and profits of the remainder of my said personal estate and effects unto my said wife if she shall continue my widow and unmarried until my said two sons the said John Tapley and James Tapley shall respectively attain their ages of twenty one years and when and so soon as my said son John Tapley shall have attained his said age of twenty one years I do direct my said trustees to pay assign and transfer unto him out of my said personal estate and effects the sum of four hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to and for his own proper use and benefit and when and so soon as my said son James Tapley shall have attained his age of twenty one years I do likewise direct my said trustees to pay assign and transfer unto him out of my said personal estate and effects the sum of six hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to and for his own proper use and benefit and from and immediately after the decease or marriage again of my said wife then upon trust that they my said trustees and the survivor of them and the executors and administrators of such survivors shall and do pay and apply the dividends interest and profits of my said personal estate and effects for and towards the maintenance education and bringing up of my said sons John Tapley and James Tapley until they shall respectively attain their said ages of twenty one years and if either of my said sons the said John Tapley and James Tapley shall die before he attain his said age of twenty one years then I direct my said trustees and the survivor of them and the executors and administrators of such survivor to pay assign and transfer the part and share of him so dying unto and amongst all and every other my children which shall then be surviving in equal shares and proportions and if there shall be only one such surviving child then I give the same unto such survivor his or her executors administrators and assigns and my mind and will also is that the said Thomas Hall Richard Edgecombe John Dann and John Heptden and each and every one of them and their and each and every of their executors and admons. shall be indemnified and saved harmless in the execution of the trusts reposed in them by this will and that they and each and every of them and their and each and every of their executors and administrators shall and may at any time or times reimburse and satisfy themselves out of the said trust premises all such costs charges damages and expences as they or any or either of them their or any or either of their executors or administrators shall sustain bear pay or be put unto for and by reason of or touching or concerning the execution of the trusts aforesaid and that they my said trustees shall be answerable or accountable only for his own respective acts and defaults and not for the acts or defaults of each other and shall not be answerable or accountable for any loss or damage that may happen unless the same is occasioned by their wilful neglect or default and I do hereby make ordain constitute and appoint my said son the said William Tapley and the said Thomas Hall Richard Edgecombe John Dann and John Heptden executors of this my last will and testament and I do herby give and devise the care custody guardianship government and tuition of my said two sons the said John and James Tapley during their respective minorities unto them the said Thomas Hall Richard Edgecombe John Dann and John Heptden and lastly I revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and declare this only to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I the said William Tapley the testator have to this my last will and testament contained in four sheets of paper and sealed together at the top with my own seal to the three first sheets thereof set my hand and to the fourth and last sheet my hand and seal the third day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and seventy two Wm. Tapley signed sealed published and declared by the said William Tapley the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses (the name William Tapley being first interlined in the first sheet) Mo. Charles Jas. Large Rob. Wise

Proved 20th June 1774 power reserved to John Heptden