Item I give and bequeathe to Dame Marye my Wyfe an hundreth pounds of Lawfull money of England to be paide to her within one quarter of a yeare after my decease And also all suche Apparroll and Jewells as she hathe and my better Coache with the horses and furniture thereto belonging
And Further I will that mine Executors ymediatly after my decease shall deliver unto my saide wyfe suche plate Vessell napery hangings Beddings and other implements of howseholde as they shall thincke meete and convenient for her to use and occupye the same during her Widowhodd
Item I will and bequeathe to my Eldeste sonne John Baker all my plate howshold stuff implements of howseholde Armor all my Apparrell
of silke belonging to my Bodye and one hundreth pounds of Lawfull money of England
Item I give and bequeathe to my Sonne Thomas Baker an hundred markes of Lawfull money of England to be paide to him within one yeare
after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto my Servannts William Brickenden and H: Collymore eache of them Fifty three shillings foure pence;
To my Servannts John Webb, Ja: Ridgewaye and ___ Mawdeslie every of them Forty shillings;
And to the rest of my howseholde Servannts every of them twenty shillings over and bseides theire wages due to them
The Residue of all my goods Leases and Chattells my Funerall debts and Legacies discharged I give and Bequeathe to my saide sonne John Baker
And of this my Last will and Testament I ordayne and make my Executors my saide sonnes John and Thomas Baker
Any by these p[rese]nts I revoke and adnull any other will or Testament by me heretofore made and declared
R: Baker
And as concerning the Disposicon of all and singuler my Mannors Messuages Landes Tenements and Hereditaments, my minde and Will is as hereafter enseweth
First where I stand seased in Fee simple to me and my heires of and in the Mannors of Sessingherst [Sissinghurst], Copton and Stone in the parishe of Cranebrooke in the County of Kent and of divrse Landes enclosed within my Parke or grounde called Sessingherst Parke Lying and being in Cranebrooke aforesaide and in the parrishe of Frittenden in the saide County of Kent, And of and in a messuage and watermill called the Newe myll with Certein Landes thereto belonging nowe in the tenure of John Webbe in Cranebrooke and Frittenden aforesaide
And of and in divers other Messuags Landes and Tenements nowe or Late in the severall tenures and occupacons of
Allexander Couchman, John Chamberlyn, John Holden, Anthony Bankes, ___ Collyns, Thomas Stanton, Edward Reeve, Henry Pattenden, John
Springett, Alexander Wyvenden and Thomas Harte
Lying and being in Cranebrooke and Frittenden aforesaide and of and in the parrisshes of Biddenden, Benenden and Hawkeherst in the saide County
of Kent and of and in certein Woods and Woodlandes called Nutthearne Woode, Bethnames Wood, and Bethnames Brookes, Chettendent, The Frithe,
Useley and Hernden with one yron furnace standing uppon the same Lying and being in saide parrishes of Cranebrooke, Biddenden, Frittenden,
Hawkeherst, Benenden and in the parrishe of Gowdherst [Goudhurst] in the saide County of Kent,
and of and in Foure parcells of Wood adioyning to Chettenden Woode aforesaid whiche I late purchased of Edward Chittenden, John Marleyne,
Allen Syms and Thomas Golding, and of and in one other Woode Late in the occupacon of John Earle adioyning to the saide Parke of
Sessingherst in Cranebrooke aforesaide And of and in certein Woodds and Woodlands in the occupacon of Richard Wylie Lying at Harteley in
Cranebrooke and Hawkeherst aforesaid
And of and in certein Woods and Woodlands called Grauchehode and Blackhenden in Fritterden aforesaide And of and in one parcell of woode in Hawkeherst aforesaide which I late purchased of ____ Carkaridge And of and in one parcell of woode whiche I late purchased of Thomas Coctopp Lying at Rogley in Cranebrooke aforesaide And of and in certein Rent chargs Late belonging to the Late Chappell of Milkehouse in Cranebrook aforesaid extending in the wholle to the some of twenty foure shillings Foure pence And of and in certein Annuall Rents going owte of certein Landes in Frittenden aforesaide extending in the wholle to the some of Foure shillings nine pence and one henne
My minde and will is that my Executors shall take the yssues and proffitts of all the saide Mannors Lands ten[emen]tes and hereditaments for the
terme and space of Foure yeares next after my decease with full power to sell and cutt downe all and all manner the woodes and Underwoods growing
uppon the same excepte onely the okes and beeches growing within my saide Parke of Sessingherst to and for the performance of my Testament and
Last will, and for the payment of my Debts
And if any money shall remaine thereof my debts paide, and my saide will accomplished my minde is that suche remayning shoulde be to the proper
use and behoofe of my sonne John Bakere
And after the saide Fowre yeares expired I will the said mannors Landes Tenements and hereditmanets to remaine to my sonne John Bakere, and to
the heirs males of his Bodye begotten
And for defaulte of suche heires to my sonne Thomas Baker and to the heirs males of his Bodye begotten
And for defaulte of suche heires to my brother John Baker and to the heires males of his Body begotten
and for default of such heires to my daughters Anne Goodwyn, Grysogon Leonarde and Cicelie Baker and to the heires
males of theire Bodyes to be begotten
And for defaulte of suche heires to the Righte heires of my saide sonne John Baker for ever
Also where I am seized to me and my assignes of an estate for terme of the naturall Lyfe of my saide
sonne John Baker of and in divers Landes tenements and hereditaments hereafter expressed (that is to saye):
The Mannors of Blythe Courte al[ia]s Stapleherst in the saide County of Kent, divers messuags Landes tenements and hereditaments Lying and being
in the saide parrishes of Cranebrooke, Biddenden, Frittenden and Benenden and in the Parrishes of Stapleherst, Rolvyden and Sandherst in the saide
County of Kent nowe or late in the severall tenures and occupacons of
Henry Medley, Richard Lawrence, Thomas Miller, William Farne, Mathewe Acres, Robert Danyell, Thomas Gynnyings, Thomas Brattle, Richard
Remington, James Chittenden, George Jeffery, William Milles, John Metcalfe, Peter Sommer, Richarde Havenden, Dame Margerye Henley, _____
Copperthwaite widowe, John Cutbushe, John Pett, Water Mascall, Richard Kingwoode, Thomas Reade, Peter Eredge, Richard Lyne, Edward Ridge,
William Boddenden, John Reames, Percivall Garbitt, Thomas Couchman and Thomas Baylie
and of and in one yearely Rent charge of Fifty three shillings foure pence going owte of certein Landes called Brenden in Cranebrooke aforesaide,
my minde and Will is that my Executors shall Lykewise take the yssues and proffitts of all the saide Mannors Landes Tenements and Hereditaments
last before specified for the terme of Fowre yeares next after my decease (yf my saide sonne John Baker so Longe Live) to and for the performannce
of my Testament and Last Will, and for the payment of my debts
And if any money shall remayne thereof, my Debts paide, and my saide will accomplished, my minde is that suche money remayning shalbe to the use
and behoofe of my saide Sonne John Baker
And after the saide Foure yeares expired I will the saide Mannors Lands tenements and hereditaments to remayne and be to the saide John Baker
my sonne for terme of his Lyfe
And after his decease to my Daughter in Lawe Marye Baker the wyfe of the saide John Bakere for terme of her lyfe
And after her decease to the heires males of the saide John Bakere by him on the Bodye of the saide Marye lawfully begotten
And for defaulte of suche heires males to the heires males of the Bodye of the saide John Baker
And for defaulte of suche heires males to Thomas Baker my Sonne and to the heires males of his Bodye Lawfully begotten
And for defaulte of suche heires males to the heires males of the Bodye of me the saide Sr Richard Baker and to the heires males of the Bodye of
suche heires males to be begotten
And for defaulte of suche heires males to John Bakere Esquyre Brother to me the said Sr Richard Baker and to the heires males of his Bodye
Lawfully begotten
And for defaulte of suche heires males to the Righte heires of the saide John Baker my sonne for ever
according as in a Certein Indenture made betwene me the saide Sr Richard Baker on thone [the one] partye and Sr Thomas Guldeforde Knighte and
John Tuston and John Culpepper Esquyers on the other parte The date of whiche Indenture is the Twentiethe of October in the sixtenthe yeare of
the Reigne of our Soveraigne Lady Quene Elizabeth [1574] is Limitted and expressed
Also where I stande seized joyntlye with the Dame Marye my Wyfe of estate for terme of the naturall lives of me the saide Sr Richarde and Dame
Marye my Wyfe and of the Longer Liver of us And after the decease of us the saide Sr Richarde and Dame Marye to the heires males of me the saide
Sr Richarde on the Bodye of the saide Marye to be begotten And for defaulte of suche heires to the Righte heires of me the saide Sr Richarde of
and in divers messuags, Landes, tenements and hereditaments nowe or late in the severall tenures and occupacons of
John Smith, Thomas Tolherst, Jeffery Brissenden, Thomas Hore, Thomas Chittenden, Batholmewe Hernden, Guy Tomsett, John Crotall, ______
Sheparde, gent, Thomas Shorte, Richarde Orton, John Davye, John Edolphe, gent, and Nicholas Woode,
lying and being in the parrishes of Hedcrone [Headcorn], Frittenden, Stapleherst, Bidenden, Cranebrooke, Tenterden, Hawkeherst, Sandherst,
Apledore, Ive Churche and Kennarton [Kenardington] in the saide County of Kent And of and in one Annuitye or yearely Rent of nyne pounds
going owte of certein Landes called Trendherst and Northstreete in Biddenden aforesaid
And where also I the saide Sr Richard stand joyntly seized with the saide Dame Marye my Wyfe for terme of the naturall lives of me the saide Sr Richarde and the saide Dame Marye and of the longer Liver of me the saide Sr Richarde and the saide Dame Marye And after the decease of me the saide Sr Richarde and the saide Dame Marye to the Righte heires of me the saide the saide Sr Richarde of the Mannors of Teston and West Farleighe in the saide County of Kent
My minde and will is that the saide Messuages Landes Tenements and Hereditaments Last before remembred whereof I stande seized jointly with the
saide Dame Marye my Wyfe (excepte the saide Mannors of Teston and West Farleighe) after the decease of me the saide Sr Richarde and the saide Dame
Marye my wyfe And for defaulte of heires male of me the saide Sr Richarde on the Bodye of the saide Dame Marye begotten And the saide Mannors of
Testone and West Farleighe ymediatly after the decease of me the saide Sr Richarde and Dame Marye my wyfe shall remaine and be to the saide John
Baker my sonne and to the heires males of his Bodye Lawfully begotten
And for defaulte of suche heires to my saide sonne Thomas Baker and to the heires males of his Bodye Lawfully begotten with suche
Remainder over as are before expressed and declared of my Fee simple Lands
And whereas I the saide Sr Richard Baker stand seized in Fee tayle to me and to the heires males of my Bodye Lawfully begotten of and in the
Mannors of Hunton, Bensteede, Estbarming [East Barming], Westbarming, Pympescorte Reade Corte Peryton Brooke, East Kingesnothe,
WestKingsnoth, Watchenden, Comebeden, Morehowse, Pettlesden and Little Halden in the saide County of Kent And of and in a Certein parcell of
Freshe marshe called Abbottes Marshe nowe or late in the tenure and occupacon of John A Berye lying in the parrishe of Brookeland in the
saide County of Kent
And of and in twoe fulling mills with the Landes thereto belonging Late in the tenure of Christofer Austen and Thomas Baseden scituate and
being in the parrishes of Loose and Maydestone in the saide County of Kent And of and in Certen Landes called Broomes Cowlanes Widescombe Hill
meadowe the pightells and Bowlandes nowe or late in the tenure and occpacon of Robert Hodges Lying
and being in the parrishe of Lynton in the saide County of Kent
And of and in Certein Rents in the saide parrishe of Maidestone amounting to the some of Twenty six shillings Foure pence by the yeare And of
and in divers messuags Landes Tenements and hereditaments nowe or late in the severall tenures and occupacons of
Robert Daniells, John Rabitt, Thomas Lynkefeild, John Fowle, John Nashe, Thomas Morgan, John Holland, Stephen Bateman, William Frende,
Richarde Vynall, John Yonge, John Warden, John Hampton, John Samborne, Daniell Nethersall, William Playforde, gent, James Rolfe, Robert
Bakere, William Duncke, James Magett, John Muddle, Thomas Standen and Anne Whitewoode vid [Widow] and Thomas Watkys
Lying and being in the saide parrishes of Cranebrooke, Frittenden, Biddenden, Hawkeherst, Tenterden and in the parrishe of Highe Halden in the
saide County of Kent
And of and in one Woode called Halden Woode in Biddenden aforesaide And of and in one Annuall Rent Charge of Forty six shillings eighte pence
going owte of certein Landes of Anthony Mayne Esquyre in Bydenden aforesaid sometime belonging to the Late Channtrye of Byddenden And of
and in Divers Lands Tenements and hereditaments nowe or late in the severall tenures and occupacons of
John Wyborne, gent, Lawrence Swayne, John Dunton, John Wallopp, John Leake, Richard Page, John Cox, John de La Mote, William Stare
als Shether?, Richard Weekes, Goddare Stile, ___ Sackvile, gent, George Bo..ner?, John Freebodye, Lawrence Freebodye, Richard Tylman, William
Cogger, xpofer [Christopher] Hooker, John Stamyn, John Whiler, Roger White, William Harris, Richard Wallis, Reynolde Hore, William
Morris, Thomas Pavye, Robert Waye, Willm. Shusmithe, Martin Braborne _____ Havell, John Durrant, ___ Peter ____ Churche _____ Porter,
William Brymsteede, Robert Brymsteede and George Harrys
Lying and being in the parrishes of Tyseherst, Burwashe, Warbleton, Dallington, Ashburnam, Beckeshill, West Feilde, Awerst, Udymore, Icklesham,
Farleighe, Allhallowes, St. Clements and St. Trinityes in the Countye of Sussex
And of and in divers and sondrye [sundry] Rents in Burwashe, Warbleton, Dallington, Westham, Beckshill, Hollington, Westfeilde, Breade,
Winchelsey, Icklesham, Gestling and St. Trinityes aforesaide extending to the Some of _______
My minde and will is to suffer the saide Mannors, messuags, Landes, Tenements, Rents and hereditaments in the saide Counties of Kent and Sussex
whereof I stand seized in Fee tayle as is aforesaide to discend and come after my decease to the heires males of my Bodye So as her Ma'tie maye
have the Wardshipp or Primer seison thereof as the Case shall requyre for a full third parte of all and singuler my Mannors Lands Tenements and
hereditaments
R. Bakere
Probatum fuit: 13th June 1594
Note: Sir Richard Baker, Knighte was buried at St. Dunstan, Cranbrook, Kent on 18th June 1594.
Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh Mason 22nd August 2022
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Sir Richard Baker