Aspects of Kentish Local History

Wills of Gillingham Shipwrights 1621 - 1852
Prerogative Court of Canterbury (P.C.C.) Wills  (Pre 1858)

James CLARK 1846

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I JAMES CLARK of Exmouth Terrace in the Parish of Gillingham and County of Kent Shipwright being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say I order that all my just debts funeral expenses and charges of proving this my will be in the first place fully paid and satisfied and after payment thereof and of every part thereof I give and bequeath to my hereinafter named Executors in trust for the benefit and sole use of my Wife AGNES CLARK during her natural life all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my goods debts chattels ready money effects and other my estate whatsoever and wheresoever both real and personal and also the use of my dwelling house and at the decease of my Wife I order that my hereinafter named Executors in trust shall within two months thereof call in one or more competent persons to be agreed upon by them to value my said dwelling house and premises and if the sum fixed by them or him meets their approbation and neither of my surviving children be able to purchase it at the sum fixed he shall be entitled to the first offer and if not my hereinafter named Executors in trust shall be empowered and I do hereby empower them within two months of my said Wife's decease to sell and dispose of my said dwelling house and premises by public auction or private contract as may be most advantageous the proceeds of such sale to be applied as follows That in consequence of my Son THOMAS CLARK having advanced me sixty pounds to clear the mortgage upon my said dwelling house and premises I order that he shall be first paid the said sixty pounds with all interest due upon the same at the rate of 3 ½ per cent per annum or whatever rate of interest money may bear in the public funds at the time of such sale to be calculated from the 4th day of May 1840 and that he shall hold the writings of my said house and premises for his security and not give them up till the sale be completed but if my Wife shall at any time be able to pay to my son THOMAS the said sixty pounds with the interest due thereof from said date shall shall be at liberty to do so and all the rest residue and remainder of proceeds of sale after having settled the above household furniture and every the estate whatsoever and wheresoever at the decease of my said Wife shall be equally divided among my then surviving children share and share alike and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my Sons THOMAS & CHARLES CLARK Executors in trust of this my Will hereby revoking and making void all former and other Wills by me heretofore made and declare this only to be my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I the said Testator have to this my last Will & Testament set my hand & seal the fourth day of May one thousand eight hundred and forty JAMES CLARK Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator JAMES CLARK as and for his last Will and Testament 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 THOS CLARK CHAS CLARK RICD CLARK HENY CLARK

Proved 2nd July 1846