Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

John WEAKS proved 1832

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
of me John Weaks of Chatham in the County of Kent Superannuated Shipwright from his Majesty's Dock Yard at Chatham made published and declared the nineteenth day of April in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight in manner following that is to say First I desire that my body may be decently and privately buried by and at the discretion of my Executrix and Executor herein after named And I give and bequeath unto my Sister in Law Agnes Hodge of Chatham aforesaid Spinster and her assigns the dividends interest and annual produce of the sum of one thousand pounds now standing in my name for and during the term of her natural life And from and after her decease I give and bequeath the principal of the sum of one thousand pounds now four per centum annuities unto the persons and in the proportions following that is to say the sum of four hundred pounds stock part thereof unto my nephew Jeremiah Weaks son of my late brother William Weaks he sum of four hundred pounds stock other part thereof unto Henry Witheridge of Chatham aforesaid Gentleman the sum of twenty five pounds stock other part thereof unto Mary Lane of the City of Rochester Widow lately Servant to the Reverend Archdeacon Law the sum of fifty pounds stock other part thereof unto William Beaumont of Chatham aforesaid superannuated Shipwright from his Majesty's said Dock Yard the sum of fifty pounds other part thereof unto Fanny Wood now a Servant to the before named Henry Witheridge the sum of twenty five pounds part thereof unto John Spence of St Margaret Rochester Rigger And the sum of fifty pounds stock residue thereof unto David Blackader? now a Pensioner in Sir John Hawkins Hospital at Chatham the same several legacies to be paid and transferred immediately after the decease of the said Agnes Hodge Also I give and bequeath unto unto the said Henry Witheridge the sum of twenty five pounds like new four per centum annuities other part of the said Stock now standing in my name the same to be payable and transferred to him immediately after my decease And all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my ready money and securities for money monies in the public stocks or funds household goods and implements of household plate linen and china and other my personal Estate and effects whatsoever and of what Kind soever not herein before specifically bequeathed and subject to and after payment thereof of my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses I give and bequeath unto the said Agnes Hodge absolutely and to and for her own use and benefit And I make nominate and appoint the said Agnes Hodge and Henry Witheridge Executrix and Executor of this my last Will and Testament and revoke and declare void all former Wills and Codicils by me made In Witness whereof I the said John Weaks have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written Sarah *(sic) Weaks Signed Seale published and declared by the said John Weaks the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us D.B. Lewis Atty at Law Rochester James Lewis his Clerk
(*These P.C.C. Wills are all registered copies, the originals, except those of famous people, having been pulped during the 1980's! It seems that the Clerk working on this will had an unknown Sarah on his mind.)

THIS IS A CODICIL to the above written Will of me the above named John Weaks and which I desire may be annexed to and taken as part thereof Whereas the stock of four per centum annuities bequeathed by my said Will has lately been or is about to be commuted to stock of three and a half per centum annuities now I declare that the bequests in my said Will of such stock in four per centum annuities or the dividends thereof shall be taken and considered as bequests of the like nominal amount of stock in the three and a half per centum annuities or the dividends of the aforesaid stock to Mary Lane Widow at the decease of my Sister in Law Agnes Hodge And I give and bequeath unto William Lester Patrick a Superannuated Shipwright of Chatham Dock Yard the sum of then pounds sterling to be paid to them within one month next after my decease And unto Elizabeth Muddle of Chatham Widow the sum of twenty five pounds stock of the said three and a half per centum annuities at the decease of the said Agnes Hodge provide she the said Elizabeth Muddle shall be living with the said Agnes Hodge at her decease such last mentioned legacy being the one which by my said Will was intended for John Spence (who is deceased) And in case David Blackader? to whom I have in my said Will bequeathed the sum of fifty pounds of the aforesaid stock at the decease of the said Agnes Hodge should happen to die in my lifetime or before the said Agnes Hodge then I bequeath the same fifty pounds stock at the decease of the said Agnes Hodge unto [         ] Blackader? his Wife And I ratify my said Will in all other points In Witness whereof I the said John Weaks have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty fifth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty John Weaks Signed Sealed published and declared by the said John Weaks the testator as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us D. B. Lewis James Lewis

THIS IS A CODICIL to the last Will and Testament of me John Weaks bearing date the nineteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight and which I desire may be annexed and taken as part thereof Whereas I did by my said last Will and Testament give and bequeath unto my Sister in law Agnes Hodge subject to and after the payment thereout of my just debts funeral and testamentary charges all the rest residue and remainder of my personal estate and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and not specifically bequeathed absolutely and for her own use and benefit Now I do hereby revoke the aforesaid bequest And I do hereby give unto my nephew Jeremiah Weaks all my wearing apparel with my silver watch chain and seal and a clothes chest now standing in my bed room I give and bequeath unto Henry Witheridge Executor of my said Last Will and Testament in trust for the use and benefit of my Sister in law Agnes Hodge for and during the term of her natural life all my residuary property as bequeathed in my said Will with power to my said Executor to invest such sums or sums of money as may remain after the payment thereout of my just debts funeral and testamentary charges and such legacies as are specifically bequeathed by my said Will with a Codicil annexed in government or or other securities and from time to time to sell out or dispose of such sum or sums of money as may appear to him to be necessary for the further use benefit comfort and benefit of my said Sister in law during her life and from and after her decease I do hereby give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Muddle now living with me after the payment thereout of the just debts and funeral charges of my said Sister in law all the remainder of such sum or sums of money with all the residuary property as described in my said Will for her absolute use and benefit as a testimony of my respect for her care and attention to my said Sister in law and on the further consideration of her managing and to use the best personal endeavours to provide and administer to the comfort of my said Sister in law during her present affliction and continuing to remain with her until her decease And I ratify my said Will with Codicil annexed in all other points In Witness whereof I the said John Weaks have hereunto set my hand and seal the ninth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty John Weaks Signed Sealed published and declared by the said John Weaks the Testator and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us Allen Matthews Henry Ford

Proved 17th May 1832 Agnes Hodge is now dead leaving Henry Witheridge as surviving executor