Austen Will 1688

Will of Francis Austen

of Horsmonden, Kent


Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury PROB 11/391/75
Transcribed by Dianne Bowles, 23 January 2022.
In the name of God Amen The Fourth day of November in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred eightie and six
I Francis Austen of Groveherst in the parish of Horsmonden and County of Kent Clothier being in good health and of sound perfect and disposeing mind memorie and understanding praised bee God for the same Doe make my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following (that is to say) First and principally I recommend my soule unto Almighty God who gave it me trusting only through the meritts of Jesus Christ to obtaine remission of my sinns and life ev[er]lasting and my body I leave to the earth to bee decently interred in the Church of Horsmonden (neare the place where my Father was buried) without much pompe cost or charge and without much Company to bee present at my funerall

And as for my worldly goods I thus dispose of them that is to say
To the poore people of the parish of Horsmonden aforesaid I give and bequeath Five pounds of lawfull mony of England to bee distributed amongst them by my Executor within one month next after my decease

Alsoe to Elenor my daughter the wife of John Springett of Brenchly in the said County Clothier I give and bequeath Fortie pounds of like mony to bee paid unto her by my Executor within six monethes next after the decease of the said John Springett
Alsoe I give and bequeath unto the Foure Children of the said Elenor namely John Springett, Elinor Springett, Anne Springett and Elizabeth Springett and to every of them Forty pounds of like mony to be paid unto them at their respective ages of one and twenty yeares or dayes of marriage which of the same shall first happen
upon Condicon that the said John Springett my son in law his Executors or Administrators shall and doe upon request seale and deliver unto my Executor a good release and discharge of all and every promise and promises by me made or pretended to be made unto him the said John my son in Law or to any person or persons on his behalfe or to his use or benefitt
And my will and mind is that if my said sonn in law his executors or administrators doe or shall refuse or neglect to seale and deliver such release and discharge as is aforesaid That then the above said Legacies by mee given to his said foure Children shall cease and bee void and never bee paid

Alsoe I give and bequeath unto Mary now wife of Nathaniell Leader of Etchingham in the County of Sussex Yeoman Tenn pounds of like money to be paid within one yeare next after my decease
Also I give unto my three grandchildren Elizabeth Mauls? Anne Pix and Thomas Pix and to every of them Five pounds of like mony to bee paid unto them at their respective ages of one and twenty yeares or dayes of marriage which of the twaine shall first happen
Alsoe I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Mary Pix one hundred pounds of like mony to be paid unto her at her age of one and twentie yeares or day of marriage which of the twaine shall first happen
and to my loving freind Mr Thomas Martin of Lamberherst I give Twentie shillings of like mony to bee paid within three months after my decease

And of this my last Will and Testament I make my son John Austen sole Executor to whome I give all the residue of my personall estate

In witnesse whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written Francis Austin,
Signed Sealed published and declared to bee the last will and testament of the said Francis Austin in the presence of us.
Thomas Keene Anne Glye? her marke, Tho. Martin.

Probate in Latin: granted 20 April 1688 to John Austin, son and Executor.

[Ann Austen, aged 20 of Horsmonden, daughter of Francis Austen, Clothier, married Nathaniel Pix, aged 23, Gentlemen of Hawkhurst, 23 December 1661, Hawkhurst by Licence.]


Return to Kent Genealogy

Will of Francis Austen
Created by Maureen Rawson