First I doe will, give and bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Constance all my Corne Seaves, Sheep, hoggs, goods and chattells in and aboute
my dwellinge house barne and lands in Eightorne aforesaid, shee makeing noe wast nor stripp but keepeing and mainteining the same in good repaire,
Item I doe will and give the summe of tenn pounds of lawfull English money to be paid unto her yearely dureing the terme of her naturall life (she
keepeing her selfe a widdow and unmarried) by my Executor hereunder named upon the 25th day of March and the 29th daye of September by even and
equall porcons, but if my said Wife shall marry againe then the said Tenn pounds by the yeare to cease and bee noe Longer paid
Item I doe will and give unto my sonne John Birch my two Cowes which are in his keepeing
And I doe will and give unto his six Chilldren the summe of Five poundes apeece of lawfull English money to be paid att their severall ages
of One and Twentie yeares by and with the twenty Five pounds which their Father John Birch oweth me by bond and Five pounds which John Marsh
oweth me by bond
Item I doe will and give unto my sonne William Birch all my Corn, Cattle, goods and chattells in and upon his farme att Popshall in the parish of Coldred in the said County and elsewhere unbequeathed hee well and faithfully paying unto my wife Constance his Mother the said tenn pounds by the yeare as aforesd. and upon that Condistion
And of this my last will and Testament I doe hereby make and ordaine my Sonne William Birch my full and sole Executor revokeing every former will by me in anie wise made and even soe I couchide [couched] this my last will and Testament
In Wittnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this ninth daye of September Anno Dini 1679
John Birch by his marke
Signed Sealed and published in the presence of: James Downe; John Duning; Will : Stratfold
Probatum fuit: 28th January 1680/81
Notes:
John Birch died 29 Dec 1680 and was buried 2 Jan 1680/81 at SS Peter & Paul, Eythorne, Kent, aged 86
His baptism was at Eythorne on 13 Apr 1595, s. of John Byrch.
John Burch was baptised at Coldred 3 Apr 1636, son of John.
William Burch son of John & Constance was baptised at Coldred 23 Feb 1639/40
William Birch son of John & Constance was baptised at Coldred 6th June 1648.
Constance Birch was buried, aged 86, on 28 Nov 1692 at Eythorne.
Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh A. Mason, 19th September 2023
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