Will of Richard Bourne

of High Halden, Kent

First I Give and Bequeath unto my loving Wife Sarah the live and Dead Stock upon the Farm where I now live together with such Household furniture as belongs to my part of it being the Property of my said Wife Sarah (for and during the Term of her Natural Life only)
and from and immediately after her decease to my Son Richard Bourne and my Daughter Sarah the Wife of Robt. Ballard of the Parish of High Halden aforesaid, share and share alike

Unto my Son Richard Bourne I Give, Devise and Bequeath all and Singular my Messuage or Tenement with the Lands and Hereditaments to the same belonging together with the Fields called or known by the Name by the Baker Fields and the Carpenters Shop with the land enclosed therewith which said Messuage or Tenement is now in the Tenure or Occupation of the Widow Oliver or William Hughes? or both of them and Lands in my own occupation the whole being situate, lying and being in the Parish of High Halden aforesaid and to his Heirs and Assigns for ever (Subject nevertheless to the following conditions namely

That he peaceably and quietly suffers his Sister Sarah the Wife of Robt. Ballard aforesaid and the said Robt. Ballard to the use (of) the Field ajoining the Turnpike Road called or known in the Name of the Bocker field for the Term of Ten Years from my decease And also to let them have the Fruit Growing on the Farms? in the Orchard the lowest part to one with one Row above the ..... ? behind the Tenement in the Occupation of the Widow Hicer ? Crops aforesaid across the said Orchard to the ..... ...... field for the same share of time without having any acknowledgement for the same to him his Heirs or Assigns

But my Will expressly is that they the said Sarah and Robert Ballard aforesaid shall immediately give to my said Son Richard the said Field and their right to the part if they should happen to get into any Business for themselves or if they Rough ? or in any case convert the said Field into Tillage during the Term aforesaid

And as to the Messuage or Tenement Built on the said Premises and now in the Tenure or Occupation of my Son and Daughter Ballard aforesaid together with the Garden as far as not to hinder the Passage into the Barn for a Waggon
I Give, Devise and Bequeath the same unto my Grandson Richard Bourne, Son of my Daughter Sarah aforesaid and his Heirs and Assigns for ever when he attains the Age of Twenty one Years
but if he should happen to die before he attains the Age of Twenty one Years then I Give, Devise and Bequeath the same unto my Daughter Sarah aforesaid her Heirs and Assigns for ever provided he has no lawful Heirs to take the same

Also I Give and Bequeath the Sum of Ten Pounds of Lawful Money of Great Britain unto my Grandson Richard aforesaid which said Sum of Ten Pounds (as in the Rent accruing from the said Messuage or Tenement until he shall attain the Age of Twenty One Years) I Give and Bequeath Upon Trust unto my Executor hereinafter named to expend upon him for Clothes and if he desires it towards being put Apprentice

Unto my Daughter Sarah aforesaid, I Give, devise and Bequeath unto her Heirs and Assigns for ever All that my Messuage or Tenement with the Lands and Hereditaments to the same belonging, situate, lying and being in the Parish of High Halden aforesaid and now in the Tenure of occupation of ........ Morely or his Undertenants

And as to all the rest, residue and remainder of my Estate not hereinbefore given and devised after the Payment of all my Just Debts, Funeral Expences and the Expences attending the execution of this my Will I Give and Bequeath equally between my Son Richd. and my Daughter Sarah aforesaid Share and Share alike

My Best Bureau I Give and Bequeath to my Son Richard
and I do nominate my said Son Richard and James Jennings of High Halden Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and making void all and every other Will and Wills at any time heretofore made by me and do declare this to be my last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the day and Year first above written
Richd. Bourne

Signed, Sealed, Declared and Published by the above named Richard Bourne as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto
William Rowlands, Clerk; James Medhurst; William Boots

Memorandum:
In the Presence of us who[se] names are Mentioned We do certify that we heard Mr. Bourne say it was his Will that his Son Richard Bourne should have the live and dead Stock on the Farm lying in the Parish of Bethersden which he now useth
This memorandum is made by his desire to Contract the whole of his present property going according the Tenor Will which he at the same time signed as he has also done this
Dated the this 25th day of May (?) 1808 Richd. Bourne
Witnesses hereto: William Rowlands, Clerk; James Medhurst; William Boots; James Jennings

The before Registered Will of Richard Bourne deceased Was Proved the Seventh day (of) October 1808 before the Reverend Joshua Dix, Clerk, Surrogate to the Right Honorable Sir William Scott, Knight, Doctor of Laws, Official General to the Reverend the Archdeacon of Canterbury, lawfully constituted by the Oaths of Richard Bourne the Son and James Jennings the Executors named in the said Will, They being first sworn duly to perform the same.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 12th October 2021

Return to Kent Genealogy