It is my Will that a true and just Inventory and Valuation shall be made of all the Goods Chattels Credits Effects and Personal Estate that I shall be possessed of at the Time of my decease and thereout and therefrom to be taken and deducted the Amount of the Inventory and Valuation of the Effects and Personal Estate of my late husband made and taken at the time of his decease Which it is my Will and Desire shall be distributed as the Law directs (that is to say)
Two thirds thereof to my Children in equal shares and Proportions
And the remaining third part being my property together with the Residue and Remainder of my Personal Estate that shall remain
after the Payment of my just Debts the Legacy hereinafter given to my Son John Beslee, Probate of this my Will and all reasonable
Charges attending the Execution thereof
I Give and Bequeath to be equally divided between my two Sons Richard Beslee and Thomas Beslee and their Heirs and Assigns for ever
I Give to my Son John Beslee the Legacy or Sum of Five Pounds of Lawful Money of Great Britain
And it is my Will that he shall also be paid all reasonable Charges and Expences that he may be put unto as being my Executor
I Give and Bequeath my Wearing Apparel to be equally divided between my Daughters Anne Wife of David Hope and Mary wife of Edward Simmons the Younger, and my Daughter in Law Mary wife of my Son Richard before named
And I Nominate Constitute and appoint my said Sons John and Richard joint Executors of this my Will and revoking all other Wills by me heretofore made Ratify and Confirm this to be my last Will and Testament
In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal the Sixth day of May in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Nine
The mark of Anne Beslee
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Anne Beslee as and for her last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who at her
request and (in) her presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses
J. Watson Wm. Day
I Anne Beslee remaining of sound Mind and Memory (thanks be to God) Do publish and declare what follows as a Codicil to my last Will and Testament within written and to be deemed and taken as part thereof (that is to say)
Whereas I have in and by my said Will Given and bequeathed the third part of my late Husband’s property and the Residuum of my Personal
Estate to be equally divided between my two Sons Richard Beslee and Thomas Beslee
I do now hereby declare and it is my Will that before such Division shall be made I Give and
bequeath thereout the following Legacies (that is to say)
To my Son William Beslee, my Daughter Ann wife of David Hope and my Daughter Mary wife of Edward Simmons the Younger Twenty
pounds each of lawful Money of Great Britain
In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand and Seal the Fourth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and
Eighty nine
The mark of Anne Beslee
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Anne Beslee the Testatrix as and for a Codicil to her last Will and Testament and to be
deemed and taken as part thereof in the Presence of us who at her request have subscribed our Names as Witnesses
William Smith, Willm. Mathews
The before Registered Will and Codicil annexed of Anne Beslee dec[ease]d was proved the
Second day of June 1790 before the Reverend Joshua Dix, Clerk, Surrogate to the Worshipful Sir
William Scott, Knight, Doctor of Laws, Official General to the Reverend the Archdeacon of
Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of John Beslee the Son of the Testatrix and one of the
Executors named in the said Will, he being first sworn duly to perform the same
Power being reserved to Richard Beslee the Son and also the other Executor, when he shall apply for the same.
Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 17th July 2021
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Anne Beslee