Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Thomas HOULDEN 1739

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I THOMAS HOULDEN Shipwright of Brompton in the parish of Gillingham in the County of Kent being in perfect health and of sound memory do write this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following principally and first I recommend my Soul to Almighty God hoping to find mercy through Jesus Christ my Saviour And my Worldly Estate I dispose of as follows Imprimis I give and bequeath to my Son JOHN HOULDEN all my Wearing Apparel Woollen and Linen Three Gold rings Three Silver Spoons with a Coral set in Silver a Diaper Table Cloth with a dozen of Diaper Napkins Item I give and bequeath to my aforesaid Son JOHN HOULDEN the house that I now live in with the house in the occupation of WALTER WALLER with the appurtenances thereto belonging being and lying in Brompton in the Parish of Gillingham in the County aforesaid he paying the Sum of Forty pounds to his Sister CHRISTIAN HOULDEN when she shall come to the age of Twenty one years then the Estate aforesaid shall go to him and his heirs for ever Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter CHRISTIAN HOULDEN two gold rings two Silver Spoons one pair of Silver Salts one Silver Thimble and one Silver Chain a Damask Table Cloth with a dozen of Damask Napkins and the Child Bed Linen Item I give and bequeath to my aforesaid Daughter CHRISTIAN HOULDEN my    ?    house now in the occupation of THOMAS CHAPMAN lying in Brompton in the parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid with the Appurtenance thereto belonging to her and her heirs for ever the rest of my ready money Dock pay Rents Household Goods Debts dues and demands whatsoever I give to be shared equally between them as Tenants in Common but if it should please God that either my Son JOHN HOULDEN or my Daughter CHRISTIAN HOULDEN shall dye before they come to the age of Twenty one years leaving no lawful Issue then the part of the Estate real or personal of him or her so dying shall go to the Surviving person And if it shall please Almighty God that both my Children JOHN and CHRISTIAN HOULDEN aforesaid shall dye before they come to the age of Twenty one years leaving no lawful Issue Ten and in Such Case I give and bequeath to my trusty Friend STEPHEN PRENTICE House Carpenter of Maidstone in the County aforesaid the house in the occupation of THOMAS CHAPMAN in the parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid with the Appurtenances thereto belonging he paying the sum of Ten pounds of lawful money of England to my Trusty Friend WILLIAM SPENCER of Chatham in the County aforesaid then the Estate aforesaid will go to him and his heirs for ever And the house I now live in with the house in the occupation of WALTER WALLER in the parish aforesaid in the County aforesaid with the Appurtenances thereto I give and bequeath to my Trusty Friend HONNORE COOPER Wife of RICHARD COOPER of Boxley in the County aforesaid she paying the sum of Ten pounds to my Trusty Friend WILLIAM SPENCER aforesaid then the Estate aforesaid shall go to her and her heirs for Ever And I do appoint and ordain my Son JOHN HOULDEN and my Daughter CHRISTIAN HOULDEN Joynt and only Executors of this my last Will and Testament and my Trusty Friends WILLIAM SPENCER of Chatham aforesaid in the County aforesaid and STEPHEN PRENTICE House Carpenter of Maidstone and HONNORE COOPER of Boxley in the County aforesaid Guardians over my Children during their Minority and I do ratifye and confirm this to be my last Will and Testament denying all other but this THO. HOULDEN Signed Sealed and published by me the Thirty first day of October in the year of our Lord 1737 and in the Eleventh year of our Lord George King of Great Britain France and Ireland in the presence of who in my presence have set their hands as Witnesses hereunto Witness THOS BRUCH ? HENRY DAVIS RICHARD SEAGER

Proved 22nd September 1739 Power reserved to CHRISTIAN HOULDEN