Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Robert KEMSLEY 1837

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me ROBERT KEMSLEY of Gillingham in the County of Kent Shipwright I will & direct that all my just debts funeral and testamentary Expenses and expenses of proving this my Will be in the first place fully paid and satisfied by my Executrix hereinafter named and subject thereto I give and bequeath unto my Wife NANCY KEMSLEY all my goods furniture plate Linen China Chattels Monies Stocks Funds and Securities for money and other my personal Estate And Effects whatsoever and wheresoever which I have not by this Will and shall not by any Codicil thereto particularly and specifically dispose of for her own absolute use and benefit And I nominate constitute and appoint my said Wife Sole Executrix of this my Will I give and devise all that my Freehold Estate Cottage or Tenement with the Land Garden and Appurtenances thereunto belonging situate in the Parish of Gillingham aforesaid lately purchase by me of Mr SAMUEL SMITH and all other my real Estate unto my said Wife NANCY KEMSLEY and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life and from and after the decease of my said Wife I give and devise the said freehold Cottage or Tenement Land Garden and Appurts and all other my real Estate unto and to the use of of my Son ROBERT KEMSLEY OF Gillingham aforesaid Joiner and my Son in law JOHN HENRY RICKON of Chatham in the County of Kent Smith their heirs and Assigns for ever Upon trust Nevertheless that they the said ROBERT KEMSLEY and JOHN HENRY RICKON and the Survivor of them and the heirs and Assigns of such Survivor do and shall permit and suffer my Daughter ELIZABETH ANN KEMSLEY if she shall be living and unmarried at the time of the decease of my said Wife to hold and enjoy the said Cottage or Tenement Land Garden and appurtenances and to receive and take the rents and profits thereof and of all other my real Estate during her life if shall so long continue unmarried for her own use and benefit And from and after her decease or marriage which shall first happen Upon Trust that they the said ROBERT KEMSLEY and JOHN HENRY RICKON and the Survivor of them and the heirs and Assigns of such Survivor do and shall stand seized and possessed of the said Cottage or Tenement Land Garden and Appurts and all other my real Estate for all and every my Sons and Daughters including my said Daughter ELIZABETH ANN in the event of her marriage as aforesaid who shall be living at the time of my decease as Tenants in common and not as joint tenants their respective heirs and Assigns & to convey the same accordingly Provided always And I hereby declare that if the said ROBERT KEMSLEY and JOHN HENRY RICKON or either of them or any future trustee or trustees to be appointed pursuant to this present power shall die or refuse or decline to act in the Trusts of this my Will then a new trustee or trustees may by appointed by the trustee or trustees so declining to act or the heirs Exors or Admons of such of them as shall so decline And the said Trust Estate and premises shall in that case be conveyed so as to be vested in such new and surviving or continuing trustee or trustees only according to circumstances Upon the same trusts and with the same powers in all respects as are herein before mentioned and declared and do from time to time as often as that case shall happen And I declare that my said trustees hereby appointed and the trustees and trustee shall not be answerable the one for the other and by no means for involuntary losses and that they shall be allowed and may retain to and reimburse themselves all theirs costs charges damages and expenses to be occasioned by the Execution of the Trusts hereby in them reposed In Witness whereof I the said ROBERT KEMSLEY the Testator have to this my last Will and testament set my hand & seal this eighth day of June One thousand Eight hundred and thirty four ROBERT KEMSLEY Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said ROBERT KEMSLEY the Testator as and for his last Will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto set our Names as Witnesses ROBT BERY WHEATLEY Rodney Street Pentonville Solicitor JAMES GILLMOR Layfield Gillingham MARY GILLMOR Layfield Gillingham

Proved 22nd May 1837

Headstone Formerly in the Churchyard of St Mary Magdalene, Gillingham
(No 440 in my Monumental Inscriptions)

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
WILLIAM SMITH
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
THE 19th OF JULY 1798
AGED 57 YEARS
ALSO
MARY SMITH
WIFE OF THE ABOVE
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
THE 10th OF MARCH 1831
AGED 87 YEARS
ALSO
TWELVE OF THEIR CHILDREN
LIKEWISE
MARY ANN SMITH
DAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED 16th NOVEMBER 1833
AGED 66 YEARS

REAR

SACRED
TO THE MEMORY OF
MR ROBERT KEMSLEY
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE
THE 1st OF NOVEMBER 1836
AGED 67 YEARS
"Who e'er thou art with Reverence tread,
The Sacred Mansions of the Dead,
And Smite thy Heart and drop a Tear,
For Know a Christian's Dust is Here"
ALSO
MRS NANCY KEMSLEY
WIFE OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED 12th AUGUST 1852
AGED 78 YEARS