Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

George NORTH proved 1835

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
of me George North a Superannuated Shipwright from His Majesty's Dock Yard at Chatham in the County of Kent made published and declared this seventh day of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty three First I give and bequeath unto my Son George John North now of Plymouth in the County of Devon Carpenter in His Majesty's Royal Navy and Thomas Victualler of Chatham aforesaid Plumber and Glazier their Executors Administrators and Assigns all such Sum or Sums of money as shall be invested in the three and a half per cent per annum Consolidated Annuities standing in my name in the Bank of England or any other Public Stocks or funds and all Interest and Dividends which shall or may be due there or thereon at the time of my decease together with all such sum or sums of money as shall be standing in my name or belonging to me at the Savings Bank at Chatham aforesaid and all Interest which shall or may be due thereon at the time of my decease together also with such sum or sums of money to which I shall be then entitled from the Benefit Club or Society to which I belong at Chatham aforesaid and all monies or debts whatsoever which shall or may be due and owing to me at the time of my decease Upon Trust that they my said Executors and the Survivor of them and their Executors and Administrators of such Survivor do and shall as soon as conveniently can be after my decease in the first place transfer pay and apply the whole of the aforesaid Monies Stock Funds and Securities in the three and a half per cent Consols or other Public Stock or Funds and the Interest and Dividends then due thereon unto between and amongst my said Son George John and my Daughters Maria Wife of John Ferguson of Chatham aforesaid Dyer and Mary Wife of Thomas Sawyer of the Coast Blockade Service at [        ] in the said County of Kent their Executors Administrators and Assigns and for his her and their own use and benefit notwithstanding their coverture in equal shares and proportions and that the receipt alone of my said Daughters shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my said Executors for the same And secondly that they my said Exors do and shall receive and take my said Monies and Interest at the Savings Bank and my Club Money at Chatham aforesaid and upon receipt thereof after deducting from my said Club Money my funeral expenses do and shall pay and apply the same unto my dear Wife Alice to and for her own use and benefit Also I give and bequeath unto my said Son George John my Clock Bureau my Wearing Apparel and Clothes and my Chest to and for his own use and benefit And as to all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Household Furniture Goods Chattels and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever which I shall be possessed of at the time of my decease I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said Wife to and for her own use and benefit And I do will order and direct that all my just debts the charges of proving this my Will and all reasonable and necessary costs charges and expenses whatsoever that my said Executors shall be put unto in and about the execution of this my Will and the Trusts in them reposed shall be paid and discharged out of my said Monies and Estate and Effects before the same shall be divided amongst the before mentioned persons entitled thereto And I nominate constitute and appoint the said George John North and Thomas Victualler Executors of this my last Will and Testament and hereby revoke all former and other Wills by me at anytime hereforeto made I do declare this only to be and contain my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have at the bottom of the first sheet of this my Will (the whole whereof is contained in two sheets of paper) subscribed my name and to this second and last sheet my hand and seal the day and year first before written George North Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the above named George North the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto Benj. Briggs Jane Victualler

Affidavit 13th January 1835
George Ferguson of Chatham, Shoemaker, is sworn. He was well acquainted with the Testator and is familiar with his handwriting and signature; he has carefully examined the will and believes it is all in the hand of the Testator.

Proved 14th January 1835 Power is reserved to Thomas Victualler

Benjamin Briggs, one of the witnesses, is a Grocer of Chatham, he also witnessed Thomas Victualler's will.