Will of Thomas Christen

of Goodnestone-next-Wingham, Kent

Item I bequeath to the poore mens Boxe in the churche of Godnestonne xxd
Item I bequeathe to my daughtr Anne xpen [Christian] my beste Cowe

Item I do give all the residue of my moveable goodes to Elizabeth my wife in this Condycon
that she shall paye or cause to bee payed unto William Smythstonne vijli [£7] of lawfull money accordinge as it is mentioned in a certayne wrytinge
And also shee shall paye or cause to be payed unto Thomas Goldfinch vli xjs [£5 11s] of Lawfull money within five yeres after my decesse
And also she shall paye all other my debts Bequests Legacies with other Costs and Charges Accordinge to the true meaninge of this testament and laste will

Item I do make and ordayne to be sole Executrix by this Testament and Laste will Elizabeth my wife

The witnesses to this pnte [present] testament and last will
Anthony Roger, Clerk; William Apleton and Thomas Goldfinche and others

This is the testamente and last will of me Thomas Christen made the daye and yere above written concerninge my houses and landes

First I will that Elizabeth my wife shall have my houses wherein I Dwell with all the Landes thereto apperteying duringe hir naturall life Except alwayes my parte of the house and lande called Portyne and Crockshare
And she also shall kepe well sufficiente the reparacons of the said houses duringe hir lives tyme And she also shall neither stripe nor waste or sell my tymber execepte it bee for the reparacons of the houses duringe hir tyme

And after the decease of my wife I will that my Eldeste sonne Thomas Christen shall have my said houses where I Dwell in fee simple
he payeinge to his three bretheren William, Thomas the Younger and Robert to eche of them fourtye shillinges And the said money to be payed in thre yeres after one hole yere of his entrance into the houses and landes, that is to saye, fourtye shillinges a yere to beginne with the eldeste and so to the youngeste

And if it happen any of the said three bretheren to dye before the money be receyved then th'one to be th'others heire of the said money
And if it happen my eldest sonne Thomas to dye without Lawfull issue Then shall Willm my sonne have my houses And Landes And if Willm dye without Lawfull issue Then shall Robert my sonne have my houses and Landes

Provided allwaies That if Elizabeth my wif do not paye well and truelie all my Debtes specified in this Testament and Laste will Then Elizabeth my wif shalhave neither parte nor portion of my goodes houses nor landes any thinge in this Testament and Laste will the contrary not withstandinge

Item I will that my sonne John Christen shall have my parte of the house and Landes Called Portyn and Crockshare for his p[ar]te and he shall neither medle nor have any parte or portion of my houses and Landes wherein I nowe dwell excepte all his foure Brothers do dye without issue

The witnes to these pntes are written above

Probatum fuit: 9th June 1564

Note: Thomas Christen, Householder, was buried 9 Mar 1563 at Holy Cross, Goodnestone-next-Wingham, Kent.

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh A. Mason, 14th August 2023

Return to Kent Genealogy