Aspects of Kentish Local History

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

ROBERT STAPLES 1797

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I ROBERT STAPLES of Sheerness in the Isle of Sheppy in the County of Kent Shipwright being in perfect health and of sound disposing mind and memory thanks be to God  for the same
But not knowing how soon  it may please God to take me from this world temporal  I do now for the avoiding of all controversies after my decease  make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament  in the manner following 
First I commend my Soul to God that gave it  and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried of my Executors hereafter named  and as concerning all such goods and chattels  God has been pleased to bestow on me  I give and dispose as followeth 
Imprimis I give and bequeath to each of MARGARET EDWARDS Children the sum of Twenty Pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain  but unto ROBERT FITZWATERS add the sum of Seventy pounds more of lawful money of Great Britain But to be taken out of the money which I bequeath to the aforesaid MARGARET EDWARDS
I likewise give and bequeath to WILLIAM STAPLES Children the sum of Twenty pounds each of good and lawful money 
I likewise give and bequeath to ANN TYLER  my Niece the sum of Twenty pounds  for her Child but in case she hath none to keep the Twenty pounds  for herself
It is likewise my Will that the aforesaid ANN TYLER my Niece shall not take the principal out of the same Bank in which it now is unless she is a widow neither she nor her husband it is also my Will that at the death of the aforesaid ANN TYLER my Niece her money that I shall  leave her be equally divided  between the Children of the aforesaid MARGARET EDWARDS  WILLIAM STAPLES and DOROTHY GOWER   my Niece
I likewise will and bequeath to DOROTHY GOWER the sum of Twenty pounds a piece for her Children of good and lawful money and my Bed and Bedding with the Furniture Table Linen  Sheets Shirts Handkerchiefs with all my wearing apparel  my Books  and all my Household Goods I desire that the Children aforesaid when they come to the age of twenty years  shall have their money  to their own possession  but if any one of  the Children die  before it comes of age his or her part  shall be divided between it's Brothers and Sisters  belonging to it's Family 
I give and bequeath  to ROBERT FITZWATERS my Watch
I give and bequeath  to THOMAS JACOB my Son in Law One hundred and thirty pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain 
I likewise desire after all my Legacies and Funeral Debts are discharged that the moneys  that shall be left shall be equally divided between  MARGARET EDWARDS my Niece aforesaid and WILLIAM STAPLES my Nephew  and DOROTHY GOWER my Niece aforesaid
I likewise constitute and nominate WILLIAM STAPLES aforesaid and JOHN GOWER and WILLIAM TYLER  Shipwrights Joynt Executors of this my last Will and Testament and to see the same (performed?) for mee after my decease
And I do hereby Oterly disallow revoke and disanall all and every former Testaments Wills Legacies and bequests and Executors  by me in any ways before named Willed and no other to be my last Will and Testament
And in Witness thereof and in Witness I do hereunto set my hand and seal  the day and year above mentioned written and in the Thirty fourth Year of the Reign  of our Sovereign George the Third  ROBERT STAPLES  Signed Sealed and declared to be my last Will and Testament  in the presence of us PETR. PEARSON  JOHN EDMONDS
Proved 5th December 1797