Burgess Will 1819

Will of Robert Burgess

of Queenborough, Kent


Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury PROB 11/1619/198
Submitted by John Howe
In the Name of God Amen
I Robert Burgess of the Borough of Quinborowe in the County of Kent Gentleman being sick and weak in Body but of Sound and perfect mind memory and understanding (Praised be Almighty God for the same) but considering the uncertain Continuance of this mortal life and the many Hazards and Dangers that we frail beings are daily obnoxious and liable to and being Willing and desirous to settle my Worldly affairs Whilst I have Strength and Capacity so to do do make Publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say)
First and Principally of all I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God (who gave it me) in all humble hopes and with a firm assurance of its future Happiness as in the Disposal of a being infinitely Good and my Body I commit to the Earth (when it shall please God to take my life) to be decently interred at the discretion of my Exors. [Executors] hereinafter named And as to such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I give and dispose of the same in Manner and form following (that is to say)

I give and devise all and every my messuages Lands tenements and Heredits. [Hereditaments] Parts Purparts and Shares of Messuages Lands tenements and Heredits. (sic) Situate lying and being in the said County of Kent or elsewhere or elsewhere within the Kingdom of Great Britain unto my Brother William Burgess his heirs and Assigns for ever

But it is my Will and meaning and I do hereby Expressly direct and declare that my Sisters Frances Burgess and Elizabeth Burgess shall and may have the Liberty and Priviledges of Occupation and being tenants to my said Brother William Burgess his heirs and Assigns for the Messuage or tenement With the Appurts. [Appurtenances] Situate lying and being in Quinborowe aforesaid and now in my own Occupation together also with half a Leeze of Land on Quinborowe Green now also in my own Occupation for and during so long time as they shall continue single and unmarried but no longer at and under the yearly Rent or Sum of Fifteen pounds
And if either of my said Sisters shall marry then the unmarried one shall have the same Liberty and Priviledge Solely
And I hereby give devise and bequeath unto my said Sisters such Liberty and Priviledge accordingly

I give and bequeath unto my Sister Frances Burgess he Sum of five hundred pounds of Good and Lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid her by my said Exor. [Executor] hereinafter named at the End of two years next after my decease

I give and bequeath unto my Sister Sarah the Wife of John Swift of Minster in the Isle of Sheppey in the said County Esquire the Sum of Fifty pounds of Good and lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid her by my said. Exor. hereinafter named within six months next after my decease

I give and bequeath unto my Sister Mary the Wife of William Whitnall of Milton next Sittingbourne in the said County Miller the Sum of Fifty pounds of good and lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid her by my said Exor. hereinafter named within six Months next after my decease

I give and bequeath unto my Sister Hannah the Wife of Thomas Bishop of the Borough of Quinborowe aforesaid Gentleman the Sum of Fifty pounds of good and lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid her by my said Exor. hereinafter named within Six Months next after m decease

I give and bequeath unto my Nephews and Nieces Thomas Bishop, Elizabeth Mary Bishop, Rebecca Bishop, William Bishop and Hannah Bishop (Sons and Daughters of my said Sister Hannah Bishop) the Sum of Fifty pounds each of good and lawful Money of Great Britain when and so soon as they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years to be paid them respectively by my said Exor. hereinafter named when and as they shall respectively attain that age

I give and bequeath unto my said Brother William Burgess his Exors. and Admors. [Administrators] the Sum of four hundred pounds of Good and lawful Money of Great Britain Upon trust that he my said Brother William Burgess his Exors. or Admors. shall and do pay interest for the same at the Rate of five pounds per Centum per Annum unto my said Sister Frances Burgess for and during the term of her natural life by equal half yearly Payments
and from immediately after the decease of my said Sister Frances Burgess then to pay the said Sum of four hundred pounds unto all and every the Children of the said Frances Burgess Equally (if more than one) their Exors. and Admors. but in case my said Sister Frances Burgess shall die without Issue then to pay the said Sum of four hundred Pounds within three months next after her decease unto and between himself and my other Sisters his and their Exors. and Admors. equally

I give and bequeath unto my said Brother William Burgess his Exors. and Admors. the Sum of four hundred pounds of good and lawful Money of Great Britain Upon trust that he my said Brother William Burgess his Exors. or Admors. shall and do pay Interest for the same at the Rate of Five pounds per Centum per Annum unto my said Sister Elizabeth Burgess for and during the term of her natural life by equal half yearly Payments
And from and immediately after the decease of my said Sister Elizabeth Burgess then to pay the said Sum of four hundred pounds unto and all and every the Children of the said Elizabeth Burgess equally if more than one their Exors and Admors. but in case my said Sister Elizabeth Burgess shall die without issue then to pay the said Sum of four hundred pounds within three Months next after her decease unto and between himself and my other Sisters his and their Exors. and Admors. equally

I give and bequeath unto my said Sisters Frances Burgess and Elizabeth Burgess all my household Furniture Plate linen and China to be delivered unto them by my said Exor. hereinafter named within one month next after my decease

I give and bequeath unto my Good Friend Thomas Cooper of George Street Adelphia in the City of Westminster my Favourite Bay Mare to be delivered unto him by my said Exor. hereinafter named within one month next after my decease

I give and bequeath unto my Good Friend Robert Southey my Double milled Chaise Coat to be delivered unto him by my said Exor. hereinafter named within one month next after my decease

And my Will and meaning is and I hereby direct that my Stock in Trade Fixtures etc. shall be valued and appraised by two indifferent persons as soon after my decease as conveniently it can be done one to be named by my said Exor. hereinafter named and the other by my said Sisters Frances Burgess and Elizabeth Burgess and that the said Stock in Trade Fixtures etc. shall be sold to my said Sisters Frances Burgess and Elizabeth Burgess by my said Exor. hereinafter named at and for such Price and Sum of Money as the same shall be valued and appraised at and that my said Sisters Frances Burgess and Elizabeth Burgess shall and may pay for the same in manner following (that is to say)
One third part of Such Valuation and Appraisement at the End of Six Calendar Months next after my decease one other third part thereof at the End of Twelve Calendar Months next after my decease and the remaining third part at the End of Eighteen Calendar Months next after my decease

And my Will and meaning further is and I hereby direct and declare that in case my said Sisters Frances Burgess and Elizabeth Burgess or either of them shall during the time that they shall during the time that they shall remain Single and carry on the Business which I am now engaged that my house at Quinborowe aforesaid Stand in Need of a farther Capital to carry on the same that then my said Exor. hereinafter named Shall and do accrue and lend them or her for that purpose any Sum of money not exceeding the Sum of one thousand pounds out of the Residuum of my Personal Estate and Effects not by me here before disposed of on Interest at Five pounds per Centum per Annum on their or her giving the best Security in their or her person? for the same

And all and every my leasehold Messuages Lands and Tenements and all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Goods Chattels Rights Credits Ready Money Securities for Money Monies in the Publick Stocks or Funds and Personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind sort or quality soever the same shall be and consist (from and after payment of all my just Debts funeral Expences the Charges of Proving this my last Will and testament the several Legacies by me hereinbefore given and bequeathed and other incident Charges and Expences) I give and bequeath unto my said Brother William Burgess his Exors. Admors. and Assigns But Subject and liable to the before directions of and concerning my said Stock in trade fixtures etc. and the advancing of such Sum of money not exceeding One thousand pounds unto my said Sisters Frances Burgess and Elizabeth Burgess as aforesaid

I hereby make name and appoint my said Brother William Burgess Sole Exor. of this my said last will and testament and hereby revoke and make null and void all former and other Will and Wills and other testamentary dispositions by me at any time heretofore made and declare his only to be my last will and testament

In Witness whereof I the said Robert Burgess the testator have to this my last Will and testament contained in five Sheets of Paper to the first four Sheets Set my hand and to the fifth and last Sheet thereof my hand and Seal this twentieth day of June in the forty first year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland King Defender of the Faith And in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one
R. Burgess

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Robert Burgess the testator to be his last Will and testament in the presence of us the Witnesses here under written who have at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other hereunto Subscribed our names as Witnesses to the due Execution of this his said last Will and testament
Thos. Sutton - George Sibbard - Peter Sutton

On the 16th August 1819 admon. (with the Will annexed) of the Goods Chattels & Credits of Robert Burgess late of the Borough of Queenborough in the County of Kent deceased was granted to Elizabeth Burgess Widow the Relict & Administratrix (with the Will annexed) of the Goods of William Burgess deceased whilst living the Brother Sole Exor. & Residuary Legatee named in the said Will having been first sworn by Comon [Commission] duly to Admor. the said William Burgess Survived but is since dead without having Proved the said Will. Exd.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 14th May 2020.


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Will of Robert Burgess
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