And of this my last Will and Testament I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my eldest Son Robert Brett Sole Executor
and loveing brother Edward Morris of Walmer in the said County of Kent, Yeoman, Overseer of this my said Will, desiring him the said Edward
Morris to assist my said Executor in the due and true p[er]formance of this my said will, and to use his interest, care and endeavours for the
pr[e]servation of peace and Love amongst my Children
Also I do give and bequeath unto my Son John Brett the Some of one hundred and Ten pounds of Lawfull money of England to be paid to him my said Son John Brett by my said Executor within Eighteen months next after my decease
Also I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary the Wife of John Birch the younger the Sume of twenty pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid to her my said daughter within three months next after my decease in case he the said John Birch shall upon receipt of the said twenty pounds give a full discharge to my said Executors as well for the Some of five and thirty pounds which I have allready paid him in p[ar]te of his wife’s portion and for fifteen pounds now in full of her said portion as in full of all Legacyes given to her my said daughter in and by the Last will and Testament of Robert Brett my late father dec[ease]d
Provided allways neverthelese and my Will and mind is that if the said John Birch shall refuse to give to my said Executor such a full discharge as aforesaid upon my Executors tender of the said Twenty pounds hereby bequeathed as aforesaid, that then she my said daughter Mary shall have noe benefitt of this my will any thing herein contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding
Also I do give and bequeath unto my Son James Brett the Sume of five pounds of like Lawfull money of England to be paid to him my said
Son James Brett within Six months next after my decease
Also I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Brett the like Sum of five pounds of like money to be paid to her my said daughter Ann
by my said Executor within Six months next after my decease
Also I do give and bequeath unto my Wife Ann Brett the Sum of five Shillings to be paid to her my said Wife Ann by my said Executor
within one week next after my decease
All the rest and residue of all and singular the goods, catle, Chattells household stuffe, plate Linnen, moveables and p’sonall estate whatsoever, wheresoever and of what nature, quality or degree soever the same shall exist and be, I give unto my said Son and Executor Robert Brett, he my said Executor well and truly payeing all my debts, Legacyes, funerall charges and Probate of this my Will
And as touching and concerning all those two peeces or p[ar]cells of pasture and fresh Marsh Land containieing togeather by estimation five acres
more or less with their appurt[enance]s lyeing & being in the p[ar]ish of Shoulden in the Said County of Kent, att or near a place there called
the Range now in my own occupation and which I sometyme since purchased of James Pettit
I do give and devise the said two peeces or pcells of Land with their appurts unto my Said Son Robert Brett and his heires for ever
In Witness whereof I the said John Brett first above named too this my Last Will and Testament in
two Sheets of Paper thereof my hand and seale have sett and put, dated the day & yeare first above written
John Brett
Sealed, Signed, read, published and declared by the said John Brett first above named to be his Last
Will and Testament the said fifteenth day of June Anno dini 1696 In the presence of:
Will [blank space]; William Barber by his marke; W: Verrier
Probatum fuit 1st July 1696
Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 21st- 22nd October 2021
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of John Brett