Appleton Will 1593

Will of Thomas Appleton

of Eastry, Kent


Source: Consistory Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 32/37/146
Submitted by Margaret Glenn
In the name of God Amen the xjth day of October 1593 And in the xxxvth yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Quene of England France & Ireland defender of the fayth &c.
I Thomas Appleton of the parishe of Eastry in the County of Kent yoman whole of mynde & in good & pfecte remembrannce (I prayse God) doe make & ordeigne this my psnte [present] Testament concerninge herein my laste will in manner & forme followinge
Firste I doe comend my soule unto allmightie God in full assurance of my Salvation by the onely merryts of Christe Jesus his sonne & my onely redeemer And my bodye to be buried in the Churche or churchyard of Eastrye at the discretion & chardge of my Executrix

Item I will & bequeath to & for the p[er]petuall releife & comforte of the poore Inhabitants of the said p[ar]ishe of Eastry vli [£5] of good & lawfull Englishe money to be paid into the hands of the churchwardens of Eastrye aforesaid in the end of the firste yere nexte after my decease by my godson Thomas Appleton in manner & forme as hereafter in this my Testament is set downe & lymitted
And I will that the churchwardens there from time to time & yeare to yeare p[re]sently after thay have soe receaved the same five pounds of ther Chaitable good will doe bestowe the same either uppon lands or Ten[emen]ts or els uppon corne cattell or other goods or chattells And yf they bestowe the same uppon lands then I will that the state thereof be made to som of the beste freeholders of the parishe of Eastrey and yf they bestowe the same uppon goods or chattells Then I will that the intereste of the same goods remaine & be in the hands of the churchwardens of Eastry for the time beinge

And I will the elections choyse of the bestowinge of the same money either in lands or goods to be in Six of the beste in habitants of Eastrye aforesaid And I will that the profitts of the said lands or goods uppon wch the same five pounds shalbe bestowed shalbe receved yerely by the churchwardens of Eastrye for the time beinge to the use of the poore people of Eastrye aforesaid
And that the said churchwardens doe yerely distribute the use & profitts of the said lands or goods to the poore people inhabytants of Eastry foretene dayes before the feaste of the Nativity of our lord Christe
And that they the said Churchwardens from time to time & yeare to yeare doe make their accomte thereof unto the vicar of the same parishe and unto or before vj [6] of the honest inhabitants thereof uppon the day of the feaste of St. Thomas the appostle howe they have distributed the same use & p[ro]fyt & howe their lands goods or chattells remaine & howe & in what case they stand and to shewe the p[ar]ticuler names of those poore people to whome they shall so have distributed the same and what is given to every of those poore people

Item I doe give to & for the perpetuall releif of the poore inhabitants of the parrishe of Woodnesboroughe in the said Countye five pounds of like lawfull Englishe money to be paid into the hands of the Churchwardens there at thend of too yeeres next ensuinge after my decease by my godsonne Thomas Appleton in manner & former as hereafter in this my Testament is declared
And I will that the said Churchwardens of Woodnesboro doe bestowe the same in like order condition & to all intents constencions? & purposes as is before described to & for the pishe of Eastrye mutatis mutandis

Item I doe give to & for the p[er]petuall releife & comforte of the poore inhabitants of the pishe of Goodnestone next Wingham in the said Countye fyve pounds of like lawfull Englishe money to be paid to the churchwardens of the same pishe at the end of three yeares next ensuinge after my decease by my godsonne Thomas Appleton in manner & forme as hereafter in this my Testament is declared
And I will that the said churchwardens of Goodnestone bestowe the same in like order condition & to all intents constructions & purposes as is before described to & for the pish of Eastrye mutatis mutandis

Item I doe give for the ppetuall releif & conforte of the poore inhabitants of the pish of Mynster wthin the ysle [Isle] of Thanet in the said County of Kente fyve pounds of like lawfull Englishe money to be paid over to the hands of the Churchwardens of the same pishe at the end of fower yeares next ensuinge after my decease by my godsonne Thomas Appleton, in manner & former as hereafter in my Testament is declared
And I will the Churchwardens of Mynster aforesaid bestowe the same in like order and condition to all intents constructions & purposes as is before descirbed to & for the pishe of Eastrye mutatis mutandis

And Whereas I am possessed for divers yeeres yet to come of certeine lands called Hardiles I will that Thomas Appleton my godsonne and the eldest sonne of my brother John Appleton shall have the same lands lyinge in Woodnesborowe aforesaid To be had & holden to the same Thomas my godsonne and to his Assignes for & duringe ten yeares next after my decease, Yeeldinge & payenge there(from) yearelyy duringe all the said terme of ten yeares unto Her Ma[jes]tie her heires & successors all those three shillings & four pence of lawfull Englishe money wch doe yssue & goe forth of the same lands
And that he shall from time to time duringe the said ten yeres not only acquite & save harmles the said lands of the same iijs iiijd [3s 4d] yerely duringe the said terme againste Her Matie heires & successors but allsoe he shall delyver yerely his quietus est for the same to my Executrix & her Assignes duringe the said terme of ten yeres And allsoe yeeldinge & payeinge therefore yearely duringe fower of the first yeres of the said terme five pounds of good & lawfull englishe money (That is to say)
in thend of the first yeare nexte after my decease unto the Churchwardens of Eastry aforesaid vli of good & lawfull englishe money to the use behoofe & pfitte of the poore Inhabitants of the same pishe as is before in this my pr[ese]nte Testament described
And in thend of the second yeare next after my decease five pounds of like lawfull englishe money unto the Churchwardens of Woodnesboroughe aforesaid & for the use & behoofe & pfit of the poore Inhabitants of the same pishe as is before in this my pnte Testament
And allsoe at the end of the third yeare next after my decease five pounds of like lawfull englishe money unto the Churchwardens of the pishe of Goodnestone aforesaid to & for the use & behofe & pfyt of the poore Inhabitants of the same pishe as is allsoe before in this my pnte Testament described
And allsoe yeldinge & payinge at or in thend of the iiijth yere next after my decease five pounds of like lawfull englishe money unto the Churchwardens of the pishe of Mynster aforesaid wthin the yle of Thanet in the said County to & for the use & behofe & pfit of the poore Inhabitants of the same pishe of Mynster as is before in this my pnte (Testament) described
And allsoe yeeldinge & payeinge therefore yearely for the six last yeres of the same x yeres iijs of lawfull englishe money yerely at the feast of the Nativity of our lord God unto my Executor or her Assignes to the use of or behofe of my iij daughters their heires & assignes

Provided allwayes & my will is that if the said Thomas Appleton his Executors or Assigns or any of them shall make default in any of the foresaid payments to any of the Churchwardens aforesaid at any time or times in or when such payments ought to be paid That then & soe often it shalbe lawfull to & for my Executrix her Executors & Administrators for the same to the use & behofe of such Churchwardens for the time beinge of such pishes to whome of where such default shalbe made and to & for their Successors Churchwardens of those pishes to whome & where such default is aforesaid shalbe made And into ye same lands called Hardiles & into every pt & pcell of the same to enter & distreigne and the distresses thereof taken lawfully to leade, beare & from thence to have away & wth them to holde deteine & keepe ....eplevisable? untill they shalbe of all & every such somes as to them & every of them be due & not payd in manner & forme aforesaid lawfully contented & paid (any thinge to the Contrary thereof herein conteyned notwthstandinge)

Provided allsoe that if the same Thomas Appleton his Executors or Assignes shall make defaulte & not pay the said yerely rente of iijs to my said Executrix or her Assignes in or at the feaste or feasts yerely in wch the same ought soe to be payd or wthin xxtie [20] dayes next after any such feasts the same being lawfully demaunded but shall neglect the payment thereof, Then I will & my meaning is that my Executrix her executors Administrators and Assigns after such default of payment by him made (the same beinge as is aforesaid lawfully demaunded) That then my Executrix, her executors, Administrators & Assignes shall reenter into the same lands called Hardiles and that thereuppon the same my Executrix her Executors, Administrators or Assignes shall make assurance of the same lease discharged of all incumbrancces done by her or them to my three daughters & their Assignes equally betweene them to be devyded
And that then the said Thomas Appleton his Executors & Assignes shalbe thereof pntly voyded frustrated & put for ever owt any thinge conteyned to this my pnte Testament to the Contrary thereof not wthstandinge

Item Whereas I stand indebted to one Danyell Wollet gent[leman] for my purchase wch of the said Daniell I lately bought the some of fower hundred & thirtie pounds wch are to be paid uppon our laste agreement Whereof a scedule is made & subscribed by the said Danyell at certeine dayes in ye sayd scedule mentioned yf therefore the foresaid Thomas Appleton & John Appleton his father shall wthout delay imediatly after my decease put the same Daniell Wollet his heires Executors or Assignes in such sufficient securitye for the payment of the said severall somes at the dayes in the said scedule mentioned, and so as the same Danyell shall thincke him selfe therewith contented, and doe thereuppon mak a genrall accquittannce or release unto mine heires & Assignes of all condicons & demaundes whatsoever of & in the lands wch I bought of the same Mr. Woollet wch shalbe soe sufficient as by the learned Cornsayle [counsel] in the lands of the said Thomas and John Appleton shalbe devysed,
Then I will and on consideration thereof I give unto the same Thomas Appleton his Execut[ors] Administrators & Assignes my Lease of the Mannor & p[ar]sonage of Woodnesboroughe & all the yeares wch I have therein yet to come & not expyred The said Thomas his Executors or Assignes payeinge and dischardging as such payments and Coven[an]ts as in the same I am bounden for to pay & dichardg and thereof to save harmeles my Executrix her Executors Administrators & Assignes

And allsoe in & for the consideration aforesaid I doe will & by this my pnte laste testament I doe give to the same Thomas Appleton his Executors & Assignes all my houshold stuffe wch nowe is in the said mannor & psonadge house (except one fetherbed & one chest there conteyning my writings therein)
Allsoe in & for the consideration aforesaid I doe give to the same Thomas Appleton his Executors & Assignes all the Corne of what kinde soe ever nowe imbarned within the barnes or other buildings of the same mannor and psonadge (except lx [40] coppes of Pease or tares & vj skor [120] qtrs Chaffe) wch said lx coppes of Pease or tares & Cxx qtrs Chaffe I will to my Executrix for the better keepinge of horses in this wynter season
Allsoe I will to the said Thomas Appleton in & for consideration aforesaid all the Crop of Wheate wch I have determined to be sowen uppon the lands of the same Mannor & psonadg this pnte season willing allso that my Executrix her Executors, Administrators or Assignes shall at her or their p[ro]per Chardgs stand onely to the Tillinge & sowinge thereof, The seed thereof and for that purpose to be had owt of the foresaid Crop nowe imbarned at the said mannor & psonadge
Allsoe in consideration aforesaid I doe give unto the same Thomas Appleton all the Cattell (except too kine) whereof the one is a Wynter mylch cowe & the other is Mary Hilds Cowe wch be aswell in Aishe [Ash] Marshes as allsoe at the same mannor and parsonadge
And allsoe the too Coople of workinge Bullocks wch are (at) my Brother Samuell Appletons in Thanet
Allsoe in consideration aforesaid I doe give unto the same Thomas Appleton fyftie of the eldest wethers nowe in the flock And all the hoggs & powltry wch be at the said Mannor & psonadg Allsoe in consideration aforesaid I doe give to the same Thomas Appleton all the Crop of wheat wch is sowen & to be sowed this pnte season uppon those lands called Hardikes

And allsoe in consideration aforesaid I doe give to the same Thomas Appleton all such several somes of money as to me be & are due by one Bartholomew Sanders of Mynster in Thanet And all the Writings indentures obligations & instruments wch doe concerne the same somes & all or any of them The severall pecies whereof are vizt.
One obligation bearing date the first day of January 1591 wherein the same Bartholomew Sanders together wth one Edward Sanders stand bound joyntly & severally unto my mine heires & Assignes for the true payment of five & fifty pounds at or on the firste day of January next coming as by the same obligation & the condition thereuppon endorsed more lardgly doth & may appear
And allso one deed indented bearing date the xijth day of October 1590 Whereby their is assured unto me the said Thomas Appleton my heyres and Assignes one Annuity or yerely rent of ixli xs [£9 10s] for ever wth a pvise for the payment of one hundred pounds to one the same Thomas mine heires and Assignes At or uppon the xviijth day of October 1595 as in the same Indenture more at lardge it doth & may appeare
And for the consideration aforesaid I doe will unto the said Thomas Appleton his heires & Assigns the same Annuity or yerely rent

And I will yf need require that my Executrix her Executors or Administrators shall at the Costs & chardges of the said Thomas Appleton his heires or Assigns put the said lands or Writings in suite & recover the same to the use of the said Thomas Appleton And my will is that the said Thomas Appleton shall receave the said hundred pounds of the said Bartholomew Sanders

And Whereas I have an Annuity of ten pounds & ten shillings by the yeare for six yeares from Mich[aelm]as laste to be paid by Bartholomewe Sanders as by the Indenture thereof dated the xxt day of November in the xxxvth yeare of Quene Elisabeth [1592] may appeare I will for the consideration aforesaid that the said Thomas Appleton shall have two of the firste yeares thereof next after my decease
Allsoe in consideration aforesaid I doe give and by this my pnte laste will & testament doe bequeath to the same Thomas Appleton all those xxiij li xs [£23 10s] wch John Cholder oweth me And I will the same Thomas Appleton the bonde made for the same wch said xxiijli xs are due & payable at Christmas next And yf need required I will that my Executrix her Executors or Administrators shall sue & recover the same at the costs & chardgs of the same Thomas Appleton his Executors or Administrators

Item I will th[a]t after the said too first yeres ended of the said Annuity or yerely payment of xli xs before bequeathed to the said Thomas Apleton that John Holland my servannte his Executors Administrators & Assignes shall have the Residue thereof, vizt. the fower last yeres thereof And if need require that my Executrix her Executors & Administrators at the Costs and Chardges of the said John Holland his Executors Administrators or Assignes doe sue & recover the same to the use & behofe of the said John Hollande his Executors Administrators or Assignes for the said laste fower yeres
Item in consideration that the said John Holland shalbe a good & faithfull servannte & shalbe contented to abide & dwell wth my wife after my decease & shall see her husbandry truely & honestly done in good sorte & order I will & bequeath to the same John Holland xls yerely over & above all such wages as he the said John Holland recievith? from nowe unto me, to be paid for so many yeares as he shall soe abide & dwelleth with my wife after my decease to be paid to him owt of the yssues & pfitts of my lands by my said wyfe

Item I doe give to Thomas Appleton my godsonne & the sonne of my brother Samuell Apleton all such somes of money & debts as my brother Samuell oweth me of wch sayd debts he the said Samuell my brother shall make accompte pntly after my decease to myne Executrix & shall therefore make a bonde in double the som of the due debts to the said Thomas Appleton wch condition thereuppon endorsed for the payment of the said debte to the said Thomas Appleton his Executors Administrators or Assignes one [on] the day of the full adge of xxjti yeres of the said Thomas Appleton wch bond I will myne Executrix her Executors or Administrators shall keepe to the use & behoofe of the said Thom: Appleton his Executors Administrators or Assignes

Item I doe give to Willia[m] Appleton the sonne of my brother John Appleton all my somes of money & debts as my said brother John dothe owe unto me of wch said somes & debts I will that the said John my brother shall mak an accompte pntly after my decease unto my Executrix And shall therefore make a bonde in doble the som of the due debte to the said William Appleton wch condition thereuppon endorsed for the payment of the said debtes the said William Appleton his Executors Administrators or Assignes the day of the full adge of xxjti yeres of the said William Appleton wch bond I will my Executrix her Executors or Administrators shall keepe to the use & behofe of the said William Appleton his Exor. [Executors] Administrators or Assignes

Item I doe give to my Cosin John Lucye one twelvmonthinge Ewe teg
I doe give to my Cosin Mary Lucy one twelvmonthinge Ewe tegg

Item I doe give to my Sister Joane Appleton xxs by the yeare duringe her naturall life to be paid unto her yerely at two sevrall and usual feasts (that is to say) at the Annciation [Annunciation] of our Ladye & St Michaell tharchangell by even portions owt of the Revennues of my lands by mine Executrix her Executors Administrators or Assignes

Item I doe give to my Sister Lucy xxs by the yeare duringe her naturall life to be paid unto her yerely at two sevrall and usual feasts (that is to say) at the Annciation of our Ladye & St Michaell tharchangell by even portions owt of the Revennues of my lands by mine Executrix her Executors Administrators or Assignes

All the Reste of my goods Cattells & debts (except my lease of the sd lands called Hardiles) after my debts payd my Funerall expences pformed & my legacies conteyned in this my pnte Testamente fulfilled I wholy give & bequeath them to Jane my wife

And as touchinge my said Lease of the lands called Hardiles wch is before excepted ..... .. my wife I will yf the same childe where wth my wife is nowe supposed to be wth childe be a man childe that ymediatly after the end of those ten yeres wch my said godsonne Thomas Apleton shall have therein I Will that the same Lease of Hardyles be sold to the beste advantage that may be by my brothers John & Samuell Appleton, Bartholomew Paramor & John Golder or the Survivor or Survivors of them & the mony thereof made to be distributed in equall portions amonge my foresaid iij daughters & the mony to be put forth to their best pfitt untill they shall come to their full & sevrall adges of twenty & one yeares

And of this my prnte Testament I doe make & ordeigne Jane my Wife my sole Executrix
And for the better Execution of this my last Will I doe make my brothers Bartholomewe Paramor & John Golder Overseers To whome I doe give for their paynes xs apeice yerely to be pd to them for too yeres next after my decease by my Executrix out of my lands

And I doe utterly revoke & adhinillate [annihilate] all & evry other former Testament & Testaments by me before made
these being Wytnesses Walter Harryson, the Writer hereof; Thomas Advin & John Harrys The marke of the same Thoas Appleton

This is the Laste will and testamente of me the said Thomas Appleton made the day & yeare aforesaid concerninge my lands and Ten[emen]ts

Item I doe will that if my wife be nowe wth child & the same shall happen to be a man Childe or twoo men Children that the same man Childe or men Children shall have the moyetie or one half of all my lands & Tents lieinge & beinge in the parishe of Woodnesboroughe, Eastry, Worth, Wingham and Goodnestone next Wingham or elswhere wyhin the said Countye of Kente (except the Reversion of the lands late James Oldfeilds) to him or their heires for ever
And all the deeds Writings escripts freeholds & mymuments [muniments] wch concerne my said lands & Tents or any pte or pcell of those lands when he or they shall come to the adge of xxjti [21] yeres, duringe & untill wch his or their said full adge of twentie & one yeres that Jane my wife shall have the bringinge of them up & the whole pfitts of my said lands towards the same & the bringing up of my three daughters Jane, Margery & Joane
& I will that the same Manchilde or Menchildren shall have the other half thereof after the decease of my said wife to him or them & to his or their heires

But if the same shall happen to be a mayden or two maydens then I will that one half of all my said lands Tents rents & reversions as aforesaid & all the evidences debts writings escripts Scroholes mymuments concerne my said lands & every or any pte of them shalbe & remayne to all my said daughters & their heyres for ever equally betwene them to be devided when they & every of them shall severally atteyne & come to their full and severall adges of twenty & one yeares duringe & untill wch said Time I will that my wife shall have the pfitts of all my said lands towards the bringinge up of my said daughters

And if my said wife shall fortune not to be wth Childe at the time of my death then I will that the one half of all my said lands & Tents shall remayne to my three daughters & to their heires equally betwene them to be devided at such time as they shall severally come to their said full adges, untill wch time my Will is that my said wife shall take the yssues and pfitts thereof towards their bringinge up as is aforesaid
And I will that the same my daughters shall have the other half thereof after the decease of my wife to them & to their heires for ever equally betwene them to be devided

Provided allwayes and I doe will that if my said sonne or sonnes wherewth my wife shall nowe be wth childe shall happen to dye wthowt yssue of his or their bodies lawfully begotten before he or they shall come unto his or their full adge or ages of xxj yeres That then the moiety of my said lands & Tents rents & revertions shalbe & remayne to my said three daughters & their heires for ever equally betwene them to be devided at such time as they shall severally attayne to their full ages of xxj yeres untill wch time my wife shall take up the yssues & pfitts as is aforesaid
& then I will that thother moyetie after the decease of my wife shall remayne to my said daughters to them & their heires for ever equally betwixt them to be devided
And allsoe Provided that if any of my said daughters (yf my wife be wth childe wth a mayden or maidens) shall dye before they come to their full & severall adges wthowt yssue of their bodyes lawfullye begotten that then the one to be the others heires

And if all my said Children shall happen to die before they shall come to their said severall adges of xxj yeres Then I will that all my said lands Tents Rents and Revertions & all evidence deed Writings Charters escriptes & muniments concerninge the same after the decease of my Wife shalbe and remaine to my godsonne Thomas Appleton the sonne of my brother Samuell Appleton & to William Appleton the sonne of my brother John Appleton To have and to hold all the same lands Tents Rents & revertions & all the deeds Evidences escripts freeholes & myniments concerninge the same & evry pt & pcell of the same to them the said Thomas & William Appleton their heires & Assignes for ever equally betwene them to be devided

Be it allso Provided that if yt fortune the said Childe Wherewth my wife goeth (yf she be wth childe) happen to be a man childe, Then I will that he doe give to every of my daughters xxli [£20] The same to be paid to ever of them in manner following (That is to say)
to Jane wthin one yeare next after he shall come to his said full adge, To Margery like xxli wthin too years next after he shall come to his said full adge, And to Joane like xxli wthin iij years next after he shall come to his said full adge, & soe to the reste, yf my Channce be to have any newe daughters,

And nevertheles I will that allthoughe my children doe all lyve & attayne their said sevrall & full ages yet my meaning is And soe I doe hereby will & bequeath the moyetie & half pfitts of all my lands & Tents Rents and Revertions to my Wife during her naturall life (any thinge before in this my laste will to the contrary thereof not wthstandinge)
And I doe will that every of my said three daughters shalbe ruled ordered & alltogether governed by my wife untill they come to their sevrall & full ages of xxj yeres yf she soe longe doe lyve

and further I doe will that my said three daughters shall not marry withowt or take any husband before they come to their severall & full adges of xxjti yeres uppon payne that they & every of them soe marienge [marrying] contracting or takinge any husband before she or they shall soe come to their full adge shall forfeit & loose all the benefit comodity advantage pfitts legacies & bequests to them & every of them hereby given & bequeathed soe wholy & fully as if they & evry of them wch soe shall mary to or take to any husband before they come to their severall & full adges were not my children but meere Aliens & strangers nether shall any man wch shall prtend in any open shewe or break wth any of them my said daughters before their sevrall full adges for matters of mariadge have any benefyt of the lands or portions or any pte or pcell thereof
And I will that if yt be pved [proved] by lawfull Wytnesses that my said three daughters or any of them shalbe contracted or shall marry to any man shallbe a fater to them or any of them before their said full adges that then she or they not so contracting & not marryeng shall have the portion & portions as well of the landes as of the goods of them that shall contracte & marry

Item I doe give to my brother John Appleton all that the Reversion wch I have of & in the lands late James Oldfeild his of Goodnestone aforesaid & wch doe lye in the same pishe of Goodnestone And all the deeds, Evidences scowes & mynuments wch concerne the same To have and to holde the same Reversion to the same John Appleton & his heires forever

In Witnes whereof I have hereunto set my hand, These being wytnesses:
Walter Harryson, the Writer hereof; Thomas Aldryn & John Harrys,
The marke of the same Thomas Appleton

Item the said Testator did further Will that whereas he was indebted unto Mr. Edward Peeke of Sandwch the some of xli [£10] And to George Richards of Sandwch aforesaid xijli [£12] That as well the said Mr. Peake as the said George Richards should be paid & satisfied by Thomas Appleton his godsonne owt of the Crop of Corne imbarned at the Parsonage of Woodnesborough
Item he the said Testator did further will unto Walter Harryson, Clerke, vicar of Woodnesboroughe his mare stag of two yeres old, xs the vayle [value]

Probatum fuit: 13th November 1593
At the end of the Probatum is the Inventory total: MiiijC lxij li vijs ijd [£1,442, 7s 2d]

Notes:
Thomas Appleton, householder was buried 25th October 1593 at St. Mary the Virgin, Eastry, Kent.
Thomas Appleton (the Testator) married Jane Hild 9th May 1588 at Eastry.
See also his wife's Will: PRC 32/42/191 : Jane Appleton, Widow, Eastry, Kent, dated 25th April 1613 and Proved 5th October 1613.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 4th September 2022


Return to Kent Genealogy

Will of Thomas Appleton
Created by Maureen Rawson