Also I do hereby nominate my dear and loving Wife Letitia Batten and my loving Brother Edward Batten of Rotherhithe Carver Executrix and Executor of this my last Will and Testament and Guardians of my Children
Also from and after payment of my just debts Funeral Expences and the Charges of Proving this my Will I give devise and bequeath all and every my Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Premises with their Appurtenances and all and every my ready money Money and Securities for Money Debts Goods Chattles Stock in Trade and Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto my dear and loving Wife Letitia Batten for and during the Term of her natural life if she shall so long continue my widow sole and unmarried
And from and immediately after her decease I give devise and bequeath my said Real and Personal Estate unto and amongst all and every my Child and Children as well Daughters as Sons as shell be then living equally to be divided between them Share and Share alike as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants
And I do earnestly recommend the Education and bringing up of my said Children to the care and management of my said Wife
Provided always that in case my said Wife shall hereafter marry again
my will and mind is And I do hereby direct that she my said Wife shall be Intitled to an equal share
of my said real and personal Estates in proportion with all my Children that shall be living at the time of her second Marriage
And it is my Direction that she my said Wife after such Second Marriage and not before shall be
allowed and paid such reasonable Sums of Money as She shall think requisite for their Board Education and bringing up
And I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do publish and declare this only to be and contain my last Will and Testament
In Witness whereof I the said John Batten the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament set my
Hand and Seal dated this Sixteenth day of July in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy
John Batten
Signed Sealed published and declared by the said John Batten the Testator as and for his last Will and
Testament in the presence of us who have Subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto in the presence
of each other and the said Testator
Mary Coke - Richard Cook - Geo. Tayler
This Will was proved at Rochester on the Twenty seventh day of December One thousand seven hundred and Seventy five before the Reverend Charles Allen Clerk a Surrogate by the Oaths of Letitia Batten Widow the Relict and Edward Batten the Brother of the deceased and the Executors in the said Will named to whom Administration was granted they having been first Sworn duly to Administer
This Will was Proved at London the Second day of March in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety two before the Worshipful George Harris Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of the Right Honorable Sir Willim Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Letitia Batten Widow the Relict of the deceased and the Surviving Executor named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattles and Credits of the said deceased having been first Sworn duly to Administer.
Note: John Batten married Letitia Sissely on 4th January 1759 at St. Mary, Chatham, Kent, by Licence. Witnesses were Mary Batten and Sarah Hayler.
Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 18th June 2020.
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