Baker Will 1776

Will of John Baker

of Bekesbourne, Kent

Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 17/99/357
Submitted by Shelagh Mason

In the Name of God Amen
I John Baker of the Parish of Beakesbourne [Bekesbourne] in the County of Kent Blacksmith being in good Health and of Sound perfect and disposing mind memory and Understanding (God be praised for the same) Do make publish and Declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (That is to say)
First and principally I Commend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God my creator beging [begging] pardon for all my Sins and hoping to obtaining [obtain] everlasting Salvation through the precious and Meritorious Death and Sufferings of my Blesses Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And my body I Commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter named And to such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God to bless me I Give Devise and Dispose of the same as follows

First I Give and Devise unto my Daughter Sarah Baker All and every my Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and all other my Real Estates whatsoever and wheresoever To hold the same unto my said Daughter Sarah Baker her Heirs and Assigns for ever

Also I Give and Bequeath all my ready Money Securities for Money Goods Chattels and all other my Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto my said Daughter Sarah Baker her Executors Administrators and Assigns She the said Sarah Baker paying and discharging thereout all my just Debts Funeral expences the Charges of proving this my Will and all other incident Expences touching the same

And I do hereby Make Nominate Constitute and Appoint my said Daughter Sarah Baker sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament

And lastly I do hereby Revoke Frustrate and make Void all former and other Wills be me at any time heretofore made And do make publish and declare this only to be my last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I the said John Baker have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Sixth Day of February in the Eighth Year of the Reign of our Sovreign (sic) Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth And in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and sixty eight

Signed sealed published and Declared by the said John Baker the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed our Names as Witnesses at the request and in the presence of the said Testator and in the presence of each other
William Long E.H. Sandys Rich : Drew

The before Registered Will of John Baker deceased was Proved the Nineteenth Day of June 1776 before the Reverend William Gostling Clerk Surrogate to the Worshipfull Francis Simpson Doctor of Laws Official General to the Reverend the Archdeacon of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Sarah Baker the sole Executrix named in the said Will, She being first Sworn well and truly to perform the same, etc.

Notes:
John Baker was buried at St. Peter, Bekesbourne on 14th January 1776, aged 70, giving a date of birth about 1706.
John Baker was christened on 15th October 1706, s. of George and Jane, at Bekesbourne.
Siblings (all christened at Bekesbourne): George 3 Jul 1708; Jane 19 Mar 1709; Richard 12 Jun 1711; Stephen 5 Jul 1713; Elizabeth 29 Dec 1715; Robert 23 May 1721.
John Baker married Sarah Austen 3rd October 1741 at Bekesbourne, both were otp.
Wife Sarah died in her childbed, and was then buried at Bekesbourne on 24th August 1747.
They had one daughter, Sarah Baker, christened 18th September 1743 at Bekesbourne, who is the main legatee of this Will.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 8th October 2019. All rights waived for personal use � BUT please quote source and reference.

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Will of John Baker
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