Christian Will 1598

Will of John Christian

of Goodnestone next Wingham, Kent


Source: Consistory Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 32/30/68
Submitted by Margaret Wills
In the name of God Amen the Nynetenth day of Maye 1598 and in the Forteth yere of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Ladye Elizabeth &c.
I John Christian of Goodnestone neere Wingham in the Countie of Kent Yeoman beinge whole of mynde (thancked be God therefore) doe make and ordayne my Testament contayninge therein my last will in manner and forme following, vizt.
First I recomend my soule to God my Creator and redemer and my bodye to be buryed in the Church or Churchyard of Goodnestone aforesaid

Item I give to the foresaid Church for the reparacions thereof the some of three shillings foure pence
Item I will that all such debts and duties as I owe of right or Conscience to any p[er]son or p[er]sones shall be well and trulie Contented and paide by my Executor hereafter named

Item I will and bequeath all of my landes, Tenements and hereditaments that I have lyeinge and beinge in the p[ar]ishes of Goodnestone and Wingham to my sonne Christopher Christiane and to his heires lawfullie begotten of his bodye forever
upone Condicione that hee the said Christopher shall well and trulie content and paye or cause to be payed to my sonne John Christiane the some of One hundreth and Twentie pounds of good and lawfull money of England upon the feaste day of the Nativitye of our blessed Saviour called Christmas daye next ensueing the date hereof or wthin three dayes after the said feaste at my new mansione house in Goodnestone aforesaid wthout further delaye
And upon Condicione that the said Christopher or his heires Executors or Assignes shall delyver state and possessione of all such lands as by the right of my first wyfe Margaret Christiane I soulde to my brother Thomas Cenntre? of Ickham to the said Thomas or his heires

Item I will and bequeath to my wyfe Alice Christiane the some of three pounds by the yeare, that is to saye, the some of three pounds evrie yeare dueringe her life naturall here in earth of good and lawfull Enlishe money to be paid by my sonne xpofer [Christopher] out of my said lands in manner and forme followinge, vizt. the some of Fyfteene shillings at fower severall termes in the yeare The First payment whereof to be paide wthin one quarter of a yeare next after my dep[ar]ture out of this life And for non payment she shall enter and distraine for said non payment
Item I will and bequeath to my said wyfe the some of foure pounds of lawfull Englishe money to be paid by my sonne Christopher in manner and forme followinge, viz. the some of twentie shillings by the yeare at fower sevrall termes in the yeare &c.

Item I will that my said wife shall have her dwellinge in my nowe mansione house for the terme and space of Eight yeres next ensueinge my decease unlesse my said sonne Christopher shall have Occassione otherwise to use the said house And then I will that upone Condicione that hee the said Christopher shall paye or cause to be paide to my said wife yearlye the some of twentie shillings dueringe the space of Eight yeares that then she shall willinglie departe the said house

Item I will and bequeath to Alice my wife the use of all my houshold stufe duringe the tyme of her life Except one Fine? Cheste and the best brasse pott wch two I give to my sonne John Christiane and after her decease I will that the said houshold stufe shalbe devided betwene my sonne Christopher and Suzan Christiane

Item I will and bequeath to my said daughter Suzan Christiane the some of Twentie pounds of lawful money of Englande to be paid by my sonne Christopher when she Cometh to be one and twentie yeres of age or at her day of marriadge
Item I give and bequeath to Alice my wife one Cowe, one ewe and two lambes p[re]sentlie after my decease
Item I will and bequeath to my daughter Elisabeth Mantle twelve bushells of Barlye to be paid wthin one yeare after my decease
Item I will and bequeath to my Sister Marye Reade the Some of three shillings by the yeare and yearlie dureinge her life tyme to be paid by my sonne Christopher

Item I will and my intent is that my sonne xpofer Christian shalbe my Executor of this my Testament and last will and of the Executione of the same
I make and ordaine John Glover of Goodnestone aforesaid my Overseer and I bequeath to him for his paines the some of iijs iiijd

In witnes whereof to this pnt [present] will I sett my hand & seale the daie and yeare first above written
John Christian his marke
These being wittnesses Thomas Countrie his mrke; John Bank his mrke; Willia Clarke

Probatum fuit: 24th July 1598

Notes:
John Christian was buried at Holy Cross, Goodnestone-next-Wingham, Kent on 27 May 1598.
John Christian's first wife Margaret was buried there 11 Mar 1577/78.
Known children: (all baptised at Holy Cross, Goodnestone): Christopher 24 Aug 1575; Thomas 12 Mar 1577 (Bu.: 17 Jun 1578 at Nonington);
John Christian of Goodnestone married Alice Sweetinge of Kingston(e) on 15 Feb 1579/80 at St. Giles, Kingston (next Barham), Kent, by Licence.
Known children (all baptised at Goodnestone): Susanna 7 Oct 1582; John 25 Apr 1585.
William Mantle of St. John's in Thanet, yeom., and Elizabeth Christian, same place, v. William Christian s.p. yeom., bonds. Licence 14 Jan 1593. Married same day at Canterbury, St Mary Breadman

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh A. Mason, 13th August 2023


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Will of John Christian
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