Will of Gregory Bentham

of Minster in Sheppey, Kent

I give and bequeath unto my loving wife all that my messuage or tenement Bankside yard garden hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances situate and being in a certain street called Wood Street in the place or parish called Brompton or in Gillingham in the said County of Kent or in one of them and now in the tenure or occupation of ____ Large or his undertenants
and also all those my Leasehold messuages or tenements yard banksides gardens stable land hereditaments and premises with their and every of their appurtenances situate lying and being in the several parishes of Minster aforesaid and Woolwich in the said County of Kent to have and to hold the said several messuages and tenements hereditaments and all and singular other the premises herein before mentioned unto my said loving wife for and during the term of her natural life

and from and immediately after the decease of my said wife then I give devise and bequeath the same messuages and premises as follows that is to say
I give devise and bequeath unto my son Gregory all that my said messuage or tenement hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances hereinbefore mentioned to be situate and being in Brompton or Gillingham or out of them to have and to hold the said last mentioned messuage hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances unto my said son Gregory and his heirs and assigns for ever
also I give devise and bequeath unto my son Tinewell all that my leasehold messuage or tenement hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances hereinbefore mentioned to be situate and being in the parish of Minster aforesaid and which is now in my own occupation to have and to hold the said last messuage land hereditaments and premises with their and every of their appurtenances unto my said son Tinewell his heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns
and I give devise and bequeath unto my son Bryant all that my said leasehold messuage or tenement hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances hereinbefore mentioned to be situate and being in the parish of Woolwich aforesaid and which is now in the occupation of my said son Gregory to have and to hold the said last mentioned messuage hereditaments and premises with the appurtenances unto my said son Bryant his heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns.

Also I give and bequeath all my household goods and Furniture and implements of household plate linen china jewels and all other the household Furniture in my dwelling house unto my loving wife Sarah to and for her own use and benefit and to be at her disposal

also I give and bequeath unto my son Gregory the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid to him in two years next after my decease by my Executors hereinafter named provided that he my said son Gregory shall and do execute and discharge to my said Executors for the two Legacies of fifty pounds each given to him by Mr James Cross late of Sheerness in the said County of Kent Gentleman deceased and Mary his widow also deceased which said sum of one hundred pounds I paid towards the purchase of his clerkship in Woolwich Yard and not otherwise

also I give and bequeath unto my said son Tinewell the sum of five hundred pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain
also I give and bequeath unto my said son Bryant the sum of two hundred pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain to place him out in the world if not done in my lifetime to be paid by my Executors hereinafter as soon as a proper place can be provided for him
also I give and bequeath unto my said son Bryant the further sum of two hundred pounds of like lawful money to be paid to him at the age of twenty one years by my Executors hereinafter named and in the mean time and until my said son Bryant shall attain his said age of twenty one years I do hereby order and direct my Executors hereinafter named to put the last mentioned sum of two hundred pounds out upon some good security at interest for the use and benefit of my said son Bryant

also I give and bequeath unto her my daughter Mary the further sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to her by my Executors hereinafter named in twelve months next after my decease
also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann the sum of two hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to her by my Executors hereinafter named in twelve months after my decease

and as to all the rest residue and remainder of goods chattels ready money securities for money and all other my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature or kindsoever the same and not by me otherwise disposed of after payment of all my just debts Funeral charges and the several legacies and sums of money by me hereinbefore given and bequeathed I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said loving wife Sarah her Executors Administrators and Assigns

and I do hereby appoint my said son Tinewell Guardian of my said son Bryant until his age of twenty one years and I do hereby make nominate and appoint and constitute my said loving wife Sarah and my said son Tinewell joint Executors of this my last will and testament and do hereby revoke and make void all former and other will and wills by me at any time heretofore made and declare this only to be my last will and testament

In witness whereof I the said Gregory Bentham the Testator have to this my last will and testament contained in four sheets of paper to the three first sheets hereof set my hand and to the fourth and last sheet hereof set and affixt my hand and seal this first day of March in the fourteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith cr. And in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four 1774. Gregy Bentham.

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other at his request have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses these word being first interlined in the first sheet namely
Sarah Jane Land, John Smith, Lionel Ely, Wm Dyne.

This Will was proved at London the second day of April on the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four before the Worshipful Andre Tolbee Jurat Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Sir George Hay Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of Sarah Bentham widow the relict and Tinewell Bentham the son of the deceased and Executors named in the said will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer.

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