Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

Thomas RADFORD 1733

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I THOMAS RADFORD of Gillingham in the County of Kent Shipwright being in bodily health and of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding Do make Publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say)In the First place I Commend my Soul to Almighty God the Creator thereof in and through the Merits Mediation and Intercession of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer And my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buryed at the discretion of my Executor and Executrix hereafter named And as to my worldly Estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with I dispose thereof as follows viz I give and bequeath unto my Son THOMAS RADFORD the Sum of Five hundred pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid him on the day of the Death or Marriage again of my living Wife HANNAH RADFORD which shall first happen And I do hereby direct that the Interest thereof shall in the meantime be paid and applied by my Executor and Executrix towards the bringing up Cloathing Educating and putting out my Son an apprentice to some good Trade or business But in case my said Son shall happen to dye before his said Mother or before her Marriage again then immediately after the Death or Marriage of my said Wife I give and bequeath One hundred pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain equally to be divided between all and every the Children of my Sister PHEBY DAVIES that shall be living at the time of the Death or Marriage of my said Wife (my Son being then Dead) And if but one Child of my said Sister PHEBY shall be then living I give all the said One hundred pounds unto such one Child Item if my said Son shall happen to dye before his said Mother or before her Marriage then immediately after the Death or Marriage again of my said Wife I give and bequeath One hundred pounds of like lawfull money equally to be divided between all and every the Children of my Sister MARY MINSON deceased that shall be living at the time of the Death or Marriage of my said Wife (my Son being then dead as aforesaid) And if but one Child of my said Sister MARY shall be then living I give all the said One hundred pounds unto such one Child Item if my said son shall happen to die before his said Mother or before her Marriage as aforesaid then then immediately after the Death or Marriage again of my said Wife I give and bequeath One hundred pounds of like money equally to be divided between all and every the Children of my Sister ELIZABETH GODING deceased that shall be living at the time of the Death or Marriage of my said Wife (my Son being them dead as aforesaid) And if but one Child of my said Sister ELIZABETH GODING shall be then living I give all the said One hundred pounds unto such one Child Item I give and bequeath unto my Brother in Law THOMAS SEAGOOD of St. Giles London Tallow Chandler five pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain Item all and every the rest and residue of my ready money Securities for money or due to me on Bills Bonds Mortgages Judgements or otherwise and also all other my Debts Credits Rings Plate Linen Woollen Bedding Pewter Brass Copper household Stuff Goods Chattels and personal Estate whatsoever which at the time of my decease I shall be possessed of Interested or Intitled unto or which shall then any ways belong or of right appertain unto me ( my own just Debts Legacies Funeral Expenses and charges of proving this my Will being first paid and discharged) I give and bequeath unto my said Son THOMAS RADFORD and to his Executors Administrator and Assigns for ever And of this my Will I do hereby nominate and appoint my said Wife HANNAH RADFORD and Brother in Law THOMAS SEAGOOD Executrix and Executor giving them the Guardianship Care and Education of my said Son THOMAS RADFORD But if my said Wife shall hereafter happen to Marry again then my mind and will is that my said Brother in Law THOMAS SEAGODD shall call her my said Executrix to an Account of and for all my Personal Estate remaining in her hands And then I do hereby name and appoint my said Brother in Law THOMAS SEAGOOD the sole and only Executor of this my Will and I direct her Executrix of this my Will shall determine and end and she shall then immediately deliver up all my said Personal Estate that shall remain and be in her hands and belonging to my said Son unto my said Brother in Law THOMAS SEAGOOD who shall then have the Sole Guardianship and care of my said Son during his Minority And I do hereby direct that my said Wife and Brother in Law THOMAS SEAGOOD shall be reimbursed out of my Son's part of my Personal Estate all such expenses and charges as they or either of them shall expend and lay out in the performance of the Executorship of this my Will and lastly I do hereby revoke all former Wills and Testaments by me at any time heretofore made Spoken or Published before the Publishing of these Presents In Witness whereof I the said THOMAS RADFORD the Testator have to this my said last Will and Testament contained in two Sheets of Paper to each sheet thereof Sett my hand and Seal the Seventh Day of July in the Sixth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc Anno Dni 1732 THOMAS RADFORD Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said THOMAS RADFORD the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have Subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto THOS JOHNSON THOS TOMLYN

Proved 23rd April 1733 Power reserved to Thomas Seagood