First I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Ann Branch the sum of Five pounds and also one half part of my Household Furniture
I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Jane Kennedy the sum of Five pounds
I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Smith the sum of Five pounds
I Give and Bequeath unto my Grand son John Branch the sum of Five pounds
I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Thomas Branch the other half part of my Household Furniture
and all other my personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever
I Give and Devise unto my said Son Thomas Branch All those my Messuages or Tenements with the
Lands and Hereditaments thereunto belonging called Cocks Hill in Ospringe Parish aforesaid And
also all that my Cottage and Garden at Badlesmere in the said County for and during the term of his natural life
but subject to the payment of my just Debts funeral and testamentary Expences and the
Charges of proving this my will and to the payment within three Months after my decease of the several Legacies hereinbefore given
and likewise upon condition that my said Daughter Ann Branch shall and may use occupy and enjoy the South End of my Messuages called Cocks Hill
and the Garden appurtenant thereto for and during the term of her natural life and I do hereby give and devise the same to her accordingly for
that purpose
And from and after the decease of the said Thomas Branch I Give and Devise the said Freehold
Estates to his Children lawfully begotten who shall be living at the time of his decease or be born in
due time after share and share alike if more than one and if but one then the whole to such only Child
their her or his Heirs and Assigns
But if my said Son Thomas Branch shall die without Issue as aforesaid then I Give and Devise the said Freehold Estates to the said John Branch
his Heirs and Assigns
And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my son the said Thomas Branch Executor of this my will
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the day and year first aforesaid
John Branch
Signed sealed and declared by the said John Branch the Testator as and for his last Will and
Testament in the presence of us who were present at the same time
Wm. Boorman; Heny Fox; M. T. Bush
The before registered Will of John Branch deceased was proved the fifth day of February 1839 before the Reverend John Pechey Francis, Clerk, Surrogate to the Worshipful Sherrard Beaumont Burnaby, Doctor of Laws, Official General to the Reverend the Archdeacon of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Thomas Branch, Son of the deceased the sole Executor named in the said Will He being first sworn duly to perform the same.
Notes:
John Branch, bachelor married Grace Bowles, spinster, both of Ospringe, by licence on 29th July 1784 at SS Peter & Paul, Ospringe, Kent.
Grace Branch of Cocksett, aged 65 was buried 30 Sept 1827 at Ospringe
John Branch of Cocksett Farm aged 80 was buried 30 Jan 1839
Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 11th September 2022
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of John Branch