Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

William LAREMAR 1781

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I WILLIAM LAREMAR the Elder of Brompton in the Parish of Gillingham in the County of Kent Shipwright being somewhat indisposed in Body but of a sound mind perfect memory and understanding (praised be God) do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First and Principally I resign my Soul into the Hands of my Creator in all humble hopes of it's future happiness as in the disposal of a being infinitely great and good and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently Interred and Buried by and at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named And as to my Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and bequeath as follows (that is to say) I give and bequeath unto my Grandson JAMES HOWELL my Silver Watch I also give and bequeath unto each of my Grand Daughters ELEANOR MARY and ANN HOWELL one Gold Ring apiece And as for all my Ready Money Goods Chattels Securities for Money Debts Household Furniture Plate Jewels Linen Benefits from the Amicable Society of Shipwrights of which I am a Member Pay and Wages due to me in his Majesty's Yard at Chatham and all other things whatsoever whereof or wherewith I shall or may be seized or possessed of at the time of my decease I give and bequeath to and amongst my three Children WILLIAM LAREMAR ADAM LAREMAR and MARY HOWELL equally share and share alike And in case of the death of either of them my said Children then to the Survivors of them equally share and share alike Nevertheless my mind and will is that in case of the death of my Daughter MARY HOWELL and that she shall depart this life before me them I give and bequeath all the part and share She should be entitled to with my Sons as aforesaid to and amongst all and every Child and Children of her Body lawfully begotten which shall be living at my decease share and share alike and it is my Will and desire And I do direct that all my Just Debts Funeral Expenses and the charges of Proving this my Will and other incident Charges be first paid And I do hereby make and appoint my Son and Daughter WILLIAM LAREMAR and MARY HOWELL Executors of this my Will and Testament And do hereby revoke and make void all former Wills by me made In Witness whereof I the said WILLIAM LAREMAR have to this my last Will and Testament set my Hand and Seal dated the twenty fifth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty WILLIAM LAREMAR Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said WILLIAM LAREMAR the Elder to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto set our names as Witnesses in his presence WILLIAM TAYLOR RT. DODD JN. SOMMERTON

Proved 30th January 1781 Power reserved to MARY HOWELL the Daughter and Wife of JAMES HOWELL

Headstone Formerly in the Churchyard of St. Mary Magdalene, Gillingham
(No. 498 in my Monumental Inscriptions)

OF ME
IN MEMORY OF
RACHEL WIFE OF MR.
WILLM. LAREMAR SHE DEPARTED
THIS LIFE JAN. THE 28th 1763
AED 51 YEARS
ALSO HERE LIES THREE SONS
AND TWO DAUGHTERS
LEFT ISSUE THREE SONS AND ONE
DAUGHTER
ALSO THE ABOVE MR. WILLM. LAREMAR
WHO DEPARTED THIS LIFE THE 24th DECR. 1780
IN THE 69th YEAR OF HIS AGE

REAR
JAMES HOWELL
DEPARTED THIS LIFE JANY THE 28th 1793
AGED 82 YEARS