Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

George SMITH proved 1812

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN

I George Smith late of the Ville of Sheerness in the County of Kent Shipwright now in the Parish of Chatham in the aforesaid County being settled in my Mind & my intellect sound nothing wasting   ?  , do make this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following and I do hereby revoke all other Will or Wills by me made First I do resign my Soul to the Almighty God who gave it & my body to the dust from whence it came in hope of a joyful resurrection through the only merits & intersession of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ next I give & bequeath to my beloved Wife Hannah Smith after my just Debts being duly paid by my Executrix hereinafter mentioned all & every my Household Furniture with my Plate Linen China and every thing article thereof which is now or shall be in my possession at the time of my decease with all my Money in the House & which may be owed to me by any person or persons whatever or what may be due to me in his Majesty's Dock Yard at Chatham or any other at the time of my decease Item I give & bequeath to my beloved Wife Hannah Smith during her natural life the Interest of all my stock in the four per cent Annuities & five per cent Navy or any other fund or funds at the time of my decease with full power to transfer two hundred pounds Stock out of the four per cent Annuities for her own use at any time she thinks proper Item at the decease of my beloved Wife Hannah Smith aforesaid I give & bequeath the remainder of my Stock in any Fund or Funds whatever to be equally divided between our two Dearly beloved Daughters Sylvester Matilda Smith and Caroline Ann Smith share & share alike Furthermore I leave my beloved Wife Hannah Smith my whole & sole Executrix to this my last Will & Testament and to dispose of the residue of her property as she may think proper Finished writing this my last Will & Testament with mine own hand on one single sheet of paper the twenty seventh day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & nine and In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this same twenty seventh of February 1809 George Smith Signed Sealed & delivered in the presence of us Thomas Cooper Fisherman John Baker Sarah Cooper Spinster

Proved 13th February 1812

Note in margin 25th May 1837 The will was not administered by Hannah Smith , who died intestate, so administration granted to Sylvester Matilda Smith, Spinster, one of the daughters.