Aspects of Kentish Local History

Wills of Sheerness Shipwrights 1693 - 1855
Prerogative Court of Canterbury (P.C.C.) Wills  (Pre 1858)

William Morland 1755

William Morland, as a Master Shipwright, would have been recruited from an higher social class than the everyday shipwrights. In 1733, he was Purveyor of  Woolwich Dock Yard; in 1741, he was the 2nd Assistant [Master] Shipwright at Chatham; in 1751, the Assistant Master Shipwright at Chatham and in 1753, he was appointed Master Shipwright at Sheerness.  He was buried in Woolwich Churchyard, Hasted notes his tomb, probably a chest tomb but in the Kent Archaeological Society's Monumental Inscriptions of Woolwich Churchyard he is absent. Morland's grandson, William Morland, 1733-1815 was a Surgeon and Banker , who was Member of Parliament for Taunton, 1786-96. Grandson Richard, was buried at Woolwich in 1777.

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I WILLIAM MORLAND Master Shipwright of his Majesty's Yard  at Sheerness in the County of Kent do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament  in manner following that is to say First I desire to be decently but Privately buryed in the Church Yard belonging to the Parish of Woolwich in the said County of Kent without any Funeral Pomp  and with as little Expense as may be and as to my Estate and Effects  I dispose thereof in manner following  I direct that all my Just Debts  and Funeral Expenses  be in the first place paid and discharged  by my Executors  by and out of my Estate and after Payment thereof I give and bequeath unto Mr JOHN CANNON  of the Parish of Greenwich in the County of Kent Gentleman  And unto Mrs SARAH LIVING of the Parish of Woolwich in the said County Spinster their Executors and Administrators  fifteen hundred Pounds three and a half per Cent  consolidated Bank Annuities of the  first Subscription Upon the Trust and to and for the uses and Purposes herein after mentioned of and concerning the same that is to say or Upon Trust that they my said Trustees their Executors Administrators  shall and do pay apply and dispose of the early Dividends Interest and Produce thereof  as the same shall from time to time (during the natural life of my Daughter MARY SMITH now the Wife of JOHN SMITH of Gillingham in the said County of Kent Gentleman) arise or be received unto the Proper Hands of her my said Daughter MARY SMITH or otherwise to permit  and Suffer her my said Daughter  to receive the same to and for her own  Sole and separate use benefit and disposal  to the intent that the  same may not be  at the disposal  of or Subject or Liable to the Control Debts Engagements  intermeddling of her present or any after taken Husband  but only at her own Sole and separate disposal  And upon Further Trust that they my said Trustees  their Executors or Administrators shall and do from and after the decease of my said Daughter MARY SMITH  Transfer and dispose  of the said fifteen hundred Pounds  three and a half per Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities unto all and every or such one or more of the Children or Grand Children  of her the said MARY SMITH which shall be then living  in such parts shares  and Proportions manner and form  as She notwithstanding  her Coverture or whether she shall be  Sole or Married  by her last Will and Testament  in Writing or any Writing  purporting her last Will and Testament  to be by her Signed Sealed and Published  in the Presence of three or more Credible Witnesses shall direct limit give or appoint the same and in default thereof then unto and amongst all and every  the Children of her the said MARY SMITH  which shall be living at the time of her decease equally to be divided between them if more than one share and share alike  and the Child or Children of such of them as shall be then dead  in manner aforesaid such Child or Children to have his her or their  Father's or Mother's share only And Upon Further Trust that they the said Mr JOHN CANNON  and Mrs SARAH LIVING their Executors or Administrators do and shall transfer and pay the Share or Shares  of such of them as shall  be a Son or Sons to him or them at his or their Age or Ages of Twenty one Years  and the Share or Shares of such of them as shall be a Daughter or Daughters at her or their Age or Ages of twenty one years or day of Marriage which shall first happen  And in case my said Daughter MARY SMITH  shall leave no such Children or Grand Children living at the time of her decease Then upon further Trust  that they my said Trustees  their Executors or Administrators shall and do from and after the decease of my said Daughter MARY SMITH Pay the Yearly Dividends  of the aforesaid fifteen hundred  Pounds three  and a half per Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities unto my Son in Law the said JOHN SMITH of Gillingham during  his life and from and after his decease Then upon further Trust that they the said Mr JOHN CANNON and Mrs SARAH LIVING  their Executors or Administrators shall and do transfer and Pay the said fifteen hundred Pounds three and a half per Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities  unto my Grand Sons WILLIAM MORLAND and RICHARD MORLAND Sons of my late deceased Son JOHN MORLAND their Executors or Administrators at their respective Age or Ages of twenty one Years  And my Will is that the receipts of my said Daughter MARY SMITH alone under her Hand shall from time to time for the Dividends Interest  and produce  of the said fifteen hundred Pounds  three and a half per Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities  notwithstanding her coverture  be good and sufficient Discharge  to the Person or Persons  paying the same Annuities  and Dividends  Interest and Produce for so much thereof  for which such Receipts shall respectively be given Provided  always and my Will is that in case the said fifteen hundred Pounds  three and a half per Cent  Consolidated Bank Annuities  another part thereof shall be redeemed  or paid off in such Stocks Funds or other Public or Private Securities as my said Daughter  shall agree to and that the Moneys so received  and laid out shall be Subject to the same Trusts  and for the   ?   or the like Intents and purposes  as are herein before declared  of and        ?          the said fifteen hundred Pounds  three and a half per Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities Provided also and my further Will and mind is that it may and shall  be lawful to and for my said Trustees  their Executors or Administrators to sell and dispose of the said fifteen hundred Pounds three and a half per Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities and lay out and invest the Moneys arising by such Sale in the Purchase of of Freehold Lands Tenements  and Hereditaments  in the Kingdom of England  and settle and convey the same to the same uses  intents and purposes upon the same Trusts  and in the same proportions  manner and forms and Subject to the same Limitations  and agreements as are herein before devised  mentioned and expressed  of and concerning the said  Annuities  by me devised appointed and directed  as aforesaid or as near     ?        the death of the Parties  and Persons and    ?          ?          ? of Lands and Annuities will admit and allow
  Also I give and bequeath unto my said Grandsons the said WILLIAM MORLAND and RICHARD MORLAND twenty three hundred Pounds  in the same three and a half per Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities  of the first subscription  to be divide equally between them share and  share alike and to be Transferred and paid to them when and so soon as they shall respectively attain their Ages of twenty one years  and if either of them shall happen to die before that Age then the whole to be transferred  and paid to the Survivor at his said Age of twenty one Years  And in case both of them shall happen to die before they shall have attained their said Ages of twenty one Years  then
 I give and bequeath the said twenty three hundred Pounds three and a half per Cent  Consolidated Bank Annuities unto and amongst all and every the lawful begotten Children of my said Grandsons WILLIAM MORLAND and RICHARD MORLAND  which they or either of them shall have living at the time or times of their respective deceases equally to be divided  between them if more than one  share and share alike  and to be transferred and paid to them by my said Trustees their Executors  or Administrators when and so soon as they shall respectively attain their Ages of twenty one Years  And my Will is that until my said Grandsons  WILLIAM MORLAND and RICHARD MORLAND  shall respectively attain their said Ages  of twenty one Years  the Yearly Dividends  Interest and Produce of their respective parts and shares  of the said twenty three hundred Pounds three and a half per Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities shall be paid and applied  for and towards their  respective Maintenance  and Education  And also that in case my said Grand Sons shall both die before they arrive at the Age or Ages  of twenty one years  and leave lawfully begotten  Children behind   then living The yearly dividends Interest and Produce of their respective parts  and shares of the said twenty three hundred Pounds three and a half per Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities shall be paid and applied for and towards their respective  Maintenance and Education  And in case my said Grand Sons shall have no lawfully begotten  Children living at the time or times of their decease  Then Upon further Trust that they my said Trustees  Mr JOHN CANNON and Mrs SARAH LIVING their Executors and Administrators do and shall transfer and pay the said  twenty three hundred Pounds Consolidated Bank Annuities  unto my deceased Sister MARY WINTER's  four Children by her Husband NEHEMIAH  WINTER now of Deptford  in the County of Kent  namely to ELIZABETH WINTER TIMOTHY WINTER  MARY WINTER  and JOHN WINTER  and to the Survivor or Survivors  share and share alike when they shall respectively attain their Ages of twenty one years  together with all the Dividends Interest and Produce due upon the same
   Also I give and bequeath unto the said Mr JOHN CANNON and Mrs SARAH LIVING their Executors and Administrators  the sum of two hundred Pounds  of lawful Money of Great Britain Upon Trust that they the said JOHN CANNON and SARAH LIVING or the Survivor of them his or her Executors  or Administrators do and shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease  lay out and invest the same with the Purchase  of an Annuity  or clear Yearly Sum to be paid Quarterly to my Sister ELIZABETH STRUTTON  of Deptford  in the County of Kent  Widow or her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life  for her own proper use and benefit  and shall and so assign     ?      and assure  the same Annuity to her my said Sister  accordingly  and in the meantime  and until the same Sum of two hundred  Pounds can be laid out  in the Purchase of such an Annuity  I will and direct my said Executors  to Pay to my said Sister the sum of sixteen Pounds a Year by equal Quarterly Payments  Provided always and my Will and mind  is that in case my Son in Law the said JOHN SMITH or my said Daughter MARY SMITH  his Wife or either of them who shall be then living shall be minded  and desirous  (in Consideration of the said Sum of two hundred Pounds being paid to him or her) of granting and paying to my said Sister for her life an Annuity or Yearly Sum of sixteen Pounds  and do and shall within six Calendar Months next after my decease  will and sufficiently secure  to the good liking and approbation  of them the said JOHN CANNON and SARAH LIVING  or the Survivor his or her Executors or Administrators an Annuity or Yearly Sum of sixteen Pounds  to be paid to my said Sister during her natural life by equal Quarterly Payments without any Deduction whatsoever  Then that they the said JOHN CANNON and SARAH LIVING  or the Survivor of them his or her Executors or Administrators  do immediately              ?                        the said Sum of two hundred Pounds unto my said Son in Law or my said Daughter  for his or her own proper use and benefit
 And whereas by the last Will and Testament  of my late Sister in Law  MARY NEEDHAM  of the Parish of Woolwich  in the County of Kent Widow she gave and bequeathed unto my Grand Sons WILLIAM MORLAND and RICHARD MORLAND  and to the Survivor of them each the Sum of forty Pounds  to be paid into my Hands  in Twelve Months after her decease  which said Sum  put together amounting to eighty Pounds I do acknowledge  to have received  accordingly  also to have increased or advanced the same by  Interest to the Sum of one hundred Pounds  I will and direct  to be transferred and paid  to them out of my three and a half per Cent Consolidated Bank Annuities  of the first subscription  share and share alike  when and so soon as they shall attan  their respective Ages of twenty one  Years together with all the Interest  that shall grow due  on the same to the time that the Principal shall be paid to my said Grand Sons
 Also I give and bequeath unto my Brother in Law NEHEMIAH WINTER of Deptford in the County of Kent five Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain  and to his Children by my deceased Sister MARY  his Wife that is to say to ELIZABETH WINTER  five Pounds  to TIMOTHY WINTER five Pounds  to MARY WINTER five Pounds  and to JOHN WINTER five Pounds  lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid when they or either of them respectively have attained the Age of twenty one  Years
 Also I give and bequeath to my Brother in Law JOHN LIVING  of Woolwich  in the County of Kent  fifteen Pounds  And to my Sister  ELIZABETH STRUTTON  of Deptford  aforesaid  in the said County of Kent  Widow fifteen Pounds  of like lawful Money  which said legacies I direct  my Executors to pay within twelve Calendar Months next after my decease
 Also I give and bequeath unto my said Grand Sons WILLIAM MORLAND and RICHARD MORLAND and to the Survivor of them  all and every my Printed Books and all my Draughts and Drawings  whatsoever of Ships Vessels Boats and other things with written accounts in Books and papers  relating thereto together with all my Mathematical and other Instruments  used in Drawing or my Business  And ten Pounds in Money that did belong to their deceased  Brother LIVING MORLAND  Also my best Suit of Clothes  Black Coat Close bodyed  and loose Great Coats and about five Yards of Imperfine  broad Cloth Shalloon for lining  Gilt Metal Buttons  and Mohair with the best of my Shirts Neck Cloths and Stockings and to each  of them one of my Mourning Rings  and to each a Walking Cane  All to be shared and applied to their use  at proper time as  their want shall  require before they  they arrive at the Age of twenty one Years  according to the discretion of my Executors 
 I give and bequeath unto my Grandson RICHARD MORLAND the Sum of one hundred Pounds good and lawful Money of Great Britain for placing him out to a Trade or Business  which I desire my Executors  to have done so soon as a convenient opportunity shall offer for his advantage  and also to Pay him the Sum of nine Pounds Money  of his own deposited  in my Hands 
 I also give and bequeath  to my said Grandson my Silver Watch  and a large Sliding Rule of two feet Long without a joint for working Questions ? In Navigation  Mensuration and other parts of the Mathematicks
 I give and bequeath unto my Daughter MARY SMITH  a Model of a twenty Gun Ship  of War with her Masts Yards Rigging and Boat 
 Also all my Household Goods  Linen Plate China Ware Furniture of my House Cellar Liquors and Brewing Vessels All my Mahogany and other hard Wood  Also the advantage arising by my Servants in his Majesty's Yard or elsewhere after my decease the said MARY SMITH finding them Tools and making good my Engagements as by Indentures I am obliged  to perform
 All my ready Money Securities for Money  Debts due to me and all my Stocks in any of the Publick Companys  or Funds and all other my Goods Chattels Real and Personal Estates  whatsoever (not herein before by me otherwise bequeathed  or disposed of) unto my said Daughter MARY SMITH her Executors and Administrators to and for her and their own use and benefit
 And I do hereby make ordain constitute and appoint the said JOHN CANNON and SARAH LIVING Executors of this my Will and I give to each of them the Sum of thirty Pounds as a gratuity for their care and trouble they may have in the Execution of the Trusts  hereby in them reposed
 And to the said JOHN CANNON a Cameo which I had of him in remembrance of his Uncle SOMMERS
 And my Will is that such Division  and Distribution  as my said Executors or Administrators shall think proper to make shall be final  and conclusive to my said Grandson  and shall not be impeached  or my said Executors their Executors  or Administrators liable to any action or suit whatsoever on Account of such Division or Distribution  and I do hereby expressly declare that my said Executors and Trustees or either of them their or either of their their Executors or Administrators shall be charged or chargeable only for such Moneys as they shall respectively actually receive  and not the one of them for the other of them  or for the Acts Deeds Receipts or Defaults  of the other of them but each for himself  and for his own Acts  Deeds Receipts and Defaults only and for those employed and Intrusted  by him and that neither of them shall be answerable or accountable  for any loss happening in Assigning Selling Transferring or Investing the said Annuities or the Management of my Estate without his or their wilful neglect  or default and that they shall and may respectively by and out of the said Trusts  Annuities  Money and Premises deduct and retain to his or their own use and uses in the  first place all such Moneys Costs Charges losses Damages  or Expenses as they shall respectively bear suffer sustain  or be put unto for or by reason or on Account of the Execution of the Trusts hereby  in them reposed
 And Lastly I do hereby revoke all former and other Will and Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be and contain my last Will and Testament
 In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will contained  in two Sheets of Paper to the top of the first and bottom of the last Sheet  thereof have set my Hand and Seal  this twenty ninth day of January in the twenty eighth 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 And in the Year of our Lord 1755 WILLIAM MORLAND Signed Sealed Published and Declared  by the said WILLIAM MORLAND the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament  in the presence of us who (at his request and  in the presence of each other) have hereunto Subscribed our names as Witnesses  WM PAGE  J. HARRIS  T. RICH 

Codicil
Be it known unto all Men by these Presents  That Whereas I   WILLIAM MORLAND Master Shipwright  of his Majesty's Yard at Sheerness in the County of Kent have made and declared my last Will and Testament  in Writing bearing Date  the twenty ninth day of January  in the twenty eighth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord  George the 2^nd by the Grace of God  of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith etc And in the Year of our Lord  1755 I the said WILLIAM MORLAND  do by these Presents Codicil Confirm and ratifie my said last Will and Testament  And I do hereby make  ordain Constitute and appoint my Daughter MARY SMITH  the Wife of Mr JOHN SMITH of Gillingham  in the County of Kent  to be an Executor of my said last Will and Testament  And I do give and bequeath unto my Sister ELIZABETH STRUTTON  Widow the Sum of five pounds over and above  what is included in my said Will And my will and meaning is that this Codicil or Schedule be and be adjudged  to be part and parcell of my said last Will and Testament  and that all things herein contained  and mentioned be faithfully  and timely performed  in as full and ample manner in every respect  as if the same were so declared  and set down  in my said last Will and Testament
  In Witness whereof I the said WILLIAM MORLAND have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the fifteenth day of April one thousand seven hundred  and fifty five  WILLIAM MORLAND 
(No witnesses)

Affidavit 26th June 1755
JOHN CANNON and SARAH LIVING  are sworn in. They were well acquainted with WILLIAM MORLAND's hand writing and signature , they have carefully examined the Codicil and confirm it is in his hand  and that the signature is authentic.
Proved 26th June 1755