Henry
COWARD proved 1803
I Henry Coward of the parish of Chatham
in the county of Kent shipwright being of perfect mind and memory and
calling to mind that it is appointed for all men once to die do make
ordain and constitute this my last will and testament that is to say
principally and first of all I recommend ny soul into the hands of god
that gave it and my body to be buried in decent Christian burial at the
discretion of my executors hereinafter named and as touching such
worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased almighty god to bless me in
this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner
and form first give and bequeath to my wife Mary Coward
the sum of ten pounds r year during the term of her natural life to be
paid out of the interest of my property in the bank long annuities and
from and after her decease i give the said ten pounds a year bank long
annuities as follows to my daughter Elizabeth wife of Mr William
Gillett five pounds per year to be disposed of as she shall think
proper without any control from her husband or any other person and to
my daughter Ann wife of Mr Robert Kennet the
other five pounds per year bank long annuities to be disposed of as she
thinks proper without any control from her husband or any other person I
also give unto my wife Mary Coward my freehold house
situate on Slicket's Hill in the parish of Chatham in the county of Kent
together with the land and all the appurtenances thereunto belonging
during the term of her natural life and from and after her decease I
give the said house and Land together with the appurtenances thereunto
belonging unto my son Henry Snodgrass Coward and
unto his heirs for ever I also give unto my daughter Elizabeth
wife of Mr William Gillett other ten pounds per
year bank long annuities and the same to be at her disposal as she shall
think proper without any control from her husband or I any other person
I also give unto my daughter Ann wife of Mr Robert Kennet
other ten pounds per year bank long annuities and the same to be at her
disposal as she shall think proper without any control from her husband
or any other person I also give unto my son Henry Snodgrass
Coward the sum of five pounds per year to be paid out of the
interest of my property in the bank long annuities for and during the
term of his natural life and the same to be paid to him half yearly as
the dividends shall become payable at the Bank of England and from and
after his decease I give the said five pounds per year bank long
annuities to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten (if any) but in
case of default of issue then I give the said five pounds per year bank
long annuities to my daughter Catherine coward to be at
her disposal without control from any person whatsoever I also give unto
my grand daughter Elizabeth Gillet four pounds per annum
bank long annuities and the same to be improved for her use until she
shall attain the age of twenty one years and then the said four pounds
per annum with the accumulated interest thereof shall be at her sole
disposal without control from any person whatever I also give unto my
daughter Ann wife of mr Robert Kennet one silver
table spoon marked with a lyon on it also I give unto my son Henry
Snodgrass Coward one silver table spoon marked h. C.
F. 1st 30 together with all my wearing apparel I also will and
desire that my wife and daughter Catherine shall have co-jointly
for their use all the rest and residue of my household goods and
furniture together with plate linen china beds bedding and such other of
my household effects and utensils that is in or about my house at the
time of my decease that is to say so long as my wife and said daughter Catherine
shall find it to be for their mutual interest and advantage to live
together and are both agreeable to each other but if it should happen
that any circumstances may arise to either so as to prevent them living
together then I hereby desire and direct that my wife shall have for her
use during her life time such part of my household furniture which is
now and has been commonly used in the back parlour and back chamber of
my present dwelling house with such kitchen utensils and effect as shall
be agreeable to an inventory thereunto annexed but if my wife shall not
have power to sell or dispose of the said goods or any part thereof as
it is my will that at her decease they shall become the sole property of
my daughter Catherine and I desire that my executors will take
such security from my wife for the said goods being returned safe to my
said daughter Catherine after my wife's decease as they shall
think proper and all the remainder of my household goods and effects of
whatever nature or kind soever that may be in and about my house at the
time of my decease except what is named in the inventory before
mentioned I further desire and direct that the same shall become the
sole property of my said daughter Catherine whensoever she and
her mother my wife shall determine to live seperate from each other I
also give unto my son in law Mr William Gillett the
sum of twenty pounds of lawful money to be paid out of my property and I
do hereby constitute and ordain him the said Mr William Gillett
joint executor with my daughter Catherine of this my last will
and testament also I give unto my daughter Catherine my watch and
unto my son in law Mr William Gillett my gold
buttons with all my draugths of shipping and all the rest and residue of
my property and effects whether in the funds of the bank of England or
elsewhere together with my servant in the dock yard at Chatham during
the residue of his apprenticeship and also all wages debts dues and
demands to me belonging that is not otherwise disposed of by this my
last will and testament I give and bequeath the same and every part
therof unto my said daughter Catherine Coward whom I make
constitute and ordain to be joint executor of this my last will and
testament with my son in law Mr William Gillett
aforesaid first to pay all my just debts funeral expences and the
attendant charges of proving this my last will and testament and my will
and meaning is that the several legacies that i have bequeathed in this
my last will and testament shall not become due or payable until six
months after my decease at which time each party that are permitted to
do so may by the hands of my executors sell out of the funds or not as
they shall think proper and I do hereby revoke and make void all former
will or wills by me at any time heretofore made and declare this only to
be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal this thirtieth day of march in the year of our lord one
thousand eight hundred and one Henry Coward
signed sealed published and declared by the said Henry Coward
to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have
hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in his presence and in the
presence of each other (being first interlined in page 5 line 20 with
the words Mr William Gillett in page 6 with the
word of and in the same page 6 on the 15th line after the word executors
sell out) witnesses Richd. Bowles Elizth.
Bowles Ann Thorpe
Affidavit 9th March 1803
Catherine Coward of Brompton is sworn. Her mother died in her father's
lifetime . She knows of no inventory being made, if one does come to
light she will bring it forth.
Proved 9th March. Administration granted to Catherine Coward
Notes in Margin
10th November 1815
Catherine Coward, lately Mrs Catherine Gowar, is now dead. She did not
administer the will, so administration is now granted to her husband
Thomas Gowar.
23rd December 1834
Thomas Gowar also died without administering the will.
Administration granted to Catherine Gowar, daughter of Thomas and
Catherine Gowar, (formerly Coward)
Henry Coward's
headstone was formerly in the churchyard of St. Mary Magdalene,
Gillingham. It was, along with the majority of monuments there,
destroyed in the 1960's. Adjacent to the headstone was the chest tomb of
the Gillett family. See Gillingham, St. Mary Magdalene Monumental
Inscriptions on this website.
HERE
LIES INTERRED WITHIN THIS VAULT
THE REMAINS OF HENRY COWARD
LATE QUARTERMAN OF THE SHIPWRIGHTS
IN HIS MAJESTY'S DOCKYARD CHATHAM
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 6th DAY
OF FEBRUARY 1803 AGED 72 YEARS
ALSO MARY WIFE OF THE ABOVE
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 11th DAY
OF SEPTEMBER 1801 AGED 62 YEARS
ALSO CATHERINE DAUGHTER OF THE
ABOVE AND WIFE OF THOMAS GOWER
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 7th DAY
OF NOVEMBER 1813 AGED 42 YEARS