Will of Thomas Baker

of Deal, Kent

First I Give and Devise All that my Messuage or Tenement with the Outhouses Garden Ground and appurtenances thereunto belonging situate lying and being in Deal aforesaid near the Sign of the Five Bells there which I purchased sometime ago to me and my Heirs, One Moiety of my father Thomas Baker deceased and the other Moiety of my Brother John Baker
And also All that my Messuage or Tenement commonly called or known by the name of Bolders with the Barn Stable Outhouses Buildings Court Yard Backside Garden Orchard and several Pieces or Parcels of Arable Land thereunto belonging containing in the whole by Estimation Ten Acres and a half more or less with their and every of their Appurt's situate lying and being also in Deal aforesaid in the said County of Kent which I lately Purchased to me and my heirs of Samuel Dill
And also all other my Freehold Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever unto my well beloved wife Joanna Baker and her Assigns for and during the Term of her natural life if she shall so long continue my Widow, She keeping maintaining and upholding the same Premises in good repair

and from and immediately after the Decease or Marriage of my said Wife Joanna Baker which shall first happen to my only Son Thomas Baker and his assigns for and during the Term of his natural life he keeping maintaining and upholding the same Premises in good repair

And from and immediately after the decease of my said Son Thomas Baker to my Grandchildren Thomas Baker, Hannah Baker, Mary Baker and Richard Baker, Children of my said Son Thomas Baker equally to be divided between them my said Grandchildren share and share alike as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants and to the several and respective Heirs of the Body and Bodies of all and every of my said Grandchildren lawfully to be begotten

And if any of them my said Grandchildren shall happen to die without Issue of his her or their Body or Bodies then as to the Part or share or Parts or shares of him her or them so dying without Issue to the Survivors or Survivor and others and other of them my said Grandchildren equally to be divided between them (if more than one) share and share alike as Tenants in Comon and not as Joint tenants and to the several and respective Heirs of the Bodies and Body of such Survivors or Survivors and other or other of them my said Grandchildren lawfully to be begotten
And in Default of such Issue to my own right heirs for ever

Provided always nevertheless and my will and mind is that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said wife Joanna Baker from Time to Time and at any Time or Times during her natural life and after her decease for my said Son Thomas Baker from Time to Time and at any Time or Times during his natural life by Indentures to be by them respectively duly executed and to be attested by two or more credible Witnesses to demise or Leave the said Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments so devised to them for their respective Lives as aforesaid or any Part or Parcel thereof to any Person or Persons whatsoever for the Term or Number of years not exceeding One and Twenty Years in Possession and not in Reversion or Remainder or by way of future Interest
So as upon all and every such Lease and Leases there be reserved to continue half Yearly or Quarterly during the Term or Terms thereby to be granted the best and most improved Yearly Rent or Rents that can be reasonably had or obtained for the same without taking any sum or sums of Money or other Thing by way of Fine or Income for or in respect of such Lease and Leases And so as none of the said Leases be made dispunishable of Waste by any express Words or Clauses therein to be contained And so as in all and every such Lease and Leases there be contained a Clause of Reentry for NonPayment of the Rent or Rents to be thereby respectively reserved And all such Covenants provisoes articles and Agreements on the part of the Lessee or Lessees his her or their Executors Administrators and Assigns to eb kept done and performed as are or shall be proper and usual in such Cases And so as the Lessee or Lessees to whom such Lease or Leases shall be made do at the same Time sign seal and as his her or their Act and Deed in due form of Law deliver and execute a Counterpart or Counterparts of such Lease or Leases

Also I Give and bequeath all that my Tenement or Dwellinghouse with the Buildings Capstone Grounds and Appurtenances thereunto belonging situate and being upon the Beach Street in Deal aforesaid and now in my own occup[atio]n which I hold by Lease from his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury together with the Lease thereof now in being or which shall be in being at the time of my Decease And all my renewable and other Estate Term and Interest therein
And also all and singular my Goods Chattels Effects Debts due and owing to me Money and all other my Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever (after all my Just debts shall be fully paid and satisfied) unto my said Wife Joanna Baker her Executors Administrators and Assigns

And I make and appoint my said Wife Joanna Baker sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament
And Lastly I revoke all former Wills by me made

In Witness whereof I have to this my last will and Testament contained in three sheets of paper affixed together to the two first sheets thereof set my hand and seal the third day of August in the Thirtieth 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 &c. and in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and fifty six
Thomas Baker

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Baker the Testator as and for his last will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto in his presence and at his request
Jno Iggulden; Nathn. Thomas; Jno Middleton

The before registered Will of Thomas Baker dec[eas]ed was proved the Twenty eighth day of August 1764 before the Worshipful Andrew Coltee Duracel, Doctor of Laws, Commissary General of the City and Diocese of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Joanna Baker the Relict and sole Executrix named in the said Will She being first sworn by Comon [Commission] well and truly to perform the same //.

Note: Thomas Baker was buried 19th August 1764 at St. Leonard, Deal, Kent.

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh Mason, 20th September 2022

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