Aspects of Kentish Local History

Wills of 19th Century Chatham Shipwrights
Prerogative Court of Canterbury (P.C.C.) Wills  (Pre 1858)

John MOORE proved 1817

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me John Moore of Chatham in the County of Kent Shipwright made published and declared this nineteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen in manner and form following that is to say I give and devise unto my Niece Elizabeth Bear of Chatham aforesaid Widow All those my three freehold Messuages Tenements of Dwelling Houses with Outhouses Yards Backside Gardens and Appurtenances thereunto severally belonging situate lying and being in or near a certain Street called Queen Street in the Parish of Chatham aforesaid one of which is now in my own occupation and the other two are now in the tenure or occupation of Robert Moore and James Rice or one of them their or one of their Assigns or under tenants To hold the same unto and to the use of her the said Elizabeth Bear and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life Upon Condition nevertheless that she the said Elizabeth Bear or her Assigns do and shall from time to time and at all times during the term of her natural life keep the same in good and tenantable repair And from and immediately after the decease of the said Elizabeth Bear a failure of complying with of breach of the Condition aforesaid Then I give and devise the said Three freehold Messuages Tenements or Dwelling Houses with the Outhouses Yards Backsides Gardens and Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto and to the sole and only Proper use and behoof of John Moore Bear Ann Mary the Wife of William Butler Thomas Bassett Bear and Henry George Bear (the Children of the said Elizabeth Bear) equally to be divide between them share and share alike to take as Tenants in common and not as Joint Tenants and to their several and respective heirs and Assigns for ever Also I give and devise unto my Niece Jane Tonkin of Chatham aforesaid Widow all those my other three freehold Messuages Tenements or Dwelling Houses with the Outhouses Yards Backsides Gardens and Appurtenances to them severally belonging situate lying and being in or near Queen Street in the Parish of Chatham aforesaid one of which is now in the tenure or occupation of the said Jane Tonkin and the other two are in the several tenures or occupations of Jacob Atcheson and [         ] or one of them their or one of their Assigns or Undertenants To Hold the same unto and to the use of her the said Jane Tonkin and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life Upon Condition nevertheless that she the said Jane Tonkin or her Assigns do and shall from time to time keep the same in good and tenantable repair And from and immediately after the decease of the said Jane Tonkin or failure of complying with or breach of the Conditions aforesaid Then I give and devise the said three freehold Messuages Tenements or Dwelling Houses with the Outhouses Yards Backsides Gardens and Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto and to the sole use and only proper use and Behoof of Elizabeth Tonkin John Merkiff Tonkin William Tonkin and Jonathan Tonkin George Samuel Tonkin and Jane Ruth Tonkin ( the Children of the said Jane Tonkin) equally to be divided between and amongst them share and share alike as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants and to their several and respective heirs or Assigns for ever Also I give and bequeath unto my nephew William Fuller of Sheerness in the County of Kent Timber Converter and Lewis Barnaby of Chatham aforesaid Shipwright (my Executors hereinafter named) All those my eight leasehold Messuages Tenements or Dwelling Houses with their Outhouses Yards Gardens and Appurtenances to them severally belonging situate lying and being in or near a certain Street called the Brook in the Parish of Chatham aforesaid and which now are in the several Tenures or Occupation of John Baker Elizabeth Bear George Finnell William Gardener [         ] or some of them their or some of their Assigns or Undertenants which said Premises I hold by virtue of and under a certain Indenture of Lease thereof made and granted to me the said John Moore the Testator by and from the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary of Rochester in the County of Kent aforesaid To hold the same Leasehold premises with their Appurtenances unto the said William Fuller and Lewis Barnaby their Executors and Administrators for and during all the residue of the Terms of years which shall be therein to come and unexpired at the time of my decease and for and during all such further or other Term of Years as shall be granted to my said Trustees of the said Leasehold Premises upon any renewal or renewals of the present or any future or other Lease or Leases thereof upon & for the several Trusts hereinafter mentioned and declared of and continuing the same that is to say upon Trust that they the said William Fuller and Lewis Barnaby and the survivor of them and the Executors and Administrators of such Survivor shall and do permit and suffer my Sister in Law Elizabeth Merkiff of Chatham aforesaid Widow or her Assigns to hold possess and enjoy the said Leasehold premises and to let and set the same and to receive and take the Rents Issues and Profits thereof to and for her or their own use and benefit absolutely for and during so many years of the Term or Terms of years for which the said Leasehold Premises are or shall be holden as she shall live the said Elizabeth Merkiff or Assigns during that time at her or their own Costs and Charges paying the yearly Rent reserved and observing performing fulfilling and Keeping all and every the Covenants Clauses Provisions Conditions and Agreements contained in the Lease thereof and which by and on the part and behalf of the Tenant or Lessee of the said Premises are or ought to be paid done observed performed fulfilled and kept And likewise keeping the said Leasehold Premises in good and sufficient Repair and the Lease thereof duly renewed in the Names of my said Trustees of the Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators in a proper course of Renewal and paying the fine and fees on such Renewal and upon further Trust that the said William Fuller and Lewis Barbaby and the Survivor of them and the Executors and Admons of such Survivor shall and do permit and suffer John Timothy Merkiff of Portsmouth in the County of Hampshire Mariner the Son of the said Elizabeth Merkiff or his Assigns to hold possess and enjoy the said Leasehold Messuages Tenements or Dwelling Houses with the Outhouses Yards Gardens and Appurtenances thereunto belonging and to let and set the same and to receive and take the Rents Issues and Profits thereof to and for his or their own use and benefit absolutely from and after the decease of the said Elizabeth Merkiff for and during so many Years of the Residue of the Term or Terms of Years for which the said Leasehold Premises are or shall be holden as he shall live the said John Timothy Merkiff or his Assigns during that time at his or their own Costs and Charges paying the Rents performing the Covenants Clause Provisions Conditions and Agreements reserved and contained in such Lease and keeping the said Leasehold Premises in good and sufficient Repair and the Lease thereof duly renewed in manner aforesaid in a Proper Course of Renewal and paying the Fines and Fees upon such Renewal And upon further Trust that they the said William Fuller and Lewis Barnaby or the Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators do and shall from and after the decease of the said John Timothy Merkiff assign all and every the same Leasehold Messuages Tenements or Dwelling Houses with the Outhouses Yards Gardens and Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto all and every the Children of the said John Timothy Merkiff as well Daughters as Sons which shall be living at the time of my decease in and by equal parts and proportions share and share alike to take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants and to their several and respective Executors Administrators and Assigns to and for their own use and benefit absolutely for and during all the then residue of the Term of Years for which the said Leasehold Premises are or shall be holden free and discharged of and from all Trust and Trusts whatsoever Also I give and bequeath unto the said William Fuller and my nephew George Fuller (Brother to the said William Fuller) the Sum of one hundred pounds apiece three pounds per centum per annum Consolidated Bank Annuities being part of a larger Sum standing and being in my name in the Books of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England Also I give and bequeath unto Phoebe Fuller Ann Fuller and [         ] Fuller the three Children of my nephew John Fuller deceased the like Sum of one hundred pounds three pounds per centum per annum Consolidated Bank Annuities equally to be divided between and amongst them share and share alike and to their several and respective Executors Administrators or Assigns to and for their own Use and Benefit absolutely Also I give and bequeath unto Hannah Nicholls and Ann Nicholls Nieces to my late Wife the Sum of Ten pounds apiece of Lawful Money of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland current in Great Britain Also I give and bequeath unto the said William Fuller and Lewis Barnaby the Sum of Ten pounds apiece of like lawful money money   ?   in the Public Stocks or Funds Specialities Bonds Bills Notes and debts together with all and singular my Household Goods and Furniture and Implements of Household Plate Linen China Glass and Effects standing and being in or about and belonging to my Dwelling House and premises at the time of my decease And also all and every the rest residue and remainder of my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind or quality soever which I shall be possessed of interested in or entitled unto at the time of my decease and not by me specifically bequeathed or disposed of Subject to and from and after first paying or discharging thereout all my just Debts Funeral Expenses and Legacies herein before give and the Charges and Expenses incident to and attending the proving and Execution of this my Will I give devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto the said Elizabeth Merkiff Jane Tonkin Elizabeth Bear and John Timothy Merkiff in and by equal parts and proportions share and share alike to take as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants and to their several or respective Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns to and for their own use and benefit absolutely And lastly I do hereby make ordain nominate constitute and appoint the said William Fuller and Lewis Barnaby joint Executors of this my Will and hereby revoking and making void all former and other Will and Wills by me at any time heretofore made I declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said John Moore the Testator have to this my Will contained in five sheets of paper subscribed my hand and set my seal in manner following that is to say to the bottom of the first four sheets thereof I have set my Hand by subscribing the same with my Name and have affixed my Seal to the corner   ?   of the last Sheet thereof where all the said Sheets are fastened together and to this fifth and last Sheet thereof I have Signed and subscribed my Name and set my Seal the day and year first above written Jno Moore Signed sealed published and declared by the said John Moore the Testator in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto Willm Jefferys Atty at Law Chatham Wm. Parkin W.S. Jefferys his Clerks

Proved 7th October 1817