Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Richard WYE 1727

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN
I Richard Wye of the parish of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright now on board His Majts. shipp Kinsale being in perfect health of body and of a sound disposeing mind and memory for which I thank Allmighty God yet in as much as I am bound forth to sea and considering the incertainties of this present life doe make and declare this my last will and testament in manner following that is to say first and most especially I give and bequeath my soul unto God who gave it me and my body to the earth or sea where it should please God to to dispose and through the death passion all sufficient merits and mediation of his son Jesus Christ to inherit eternal life item all my goods chattells credits wages and estate whatsoever of what nature kind or quality soever the same be moveable and immoveable wherewith at the time of my decease I shall be possessed of or intitled in or which shall belong or of right of appertaine unto me I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Elinor and I make nominate and appoint the said Elinor Wye the whole and sole executrix of this my last will and testament and I do hereby revoke disannull and make void all and every former other will and wills by me made either by word or writing and this to continue and for and as my last will and testament and not ? in witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the twenty ninth day of September in the year of our Lord God seventeen hundred and one and in the thirteenth year of the reigne of our Soveraign Lord King William the Third over England etc. Richard Wye signed sealed published and declared by the said Richard Wye to be his last will and testament in the presence of John Holjombe leiut. John Henly mastr. Wm. Withard boats.

Proved 22nd September 1727