Cooke Will 1596

Will of Christopher Cocke

of Godmersham, Kent


Source: Consistory Court of Canterbury PRC 32/38/112
Submitted by Shelagh Mason
In the Name of God Amen
I Christopher Cocke of the pishe of Godmersham in the Countie of kent Husbandman being of whole minde and in good and p�fecte Remembrance praysed be almightie god therefore doe make and ordeyne this my p�sente Testament conteyning my last will in mannr and forme following videlit [Videlit (actually Videlicet) means �to wit� or �that is�]
first I comend my Soule unto allmightie godmy creator trusting in Jesus Christ only through his death and passion to have full remission of all my sinnes whatsoever, And my body to be buryed in the Churchyard of Godmersham aforesaid

I will towards the Reparacons of the said pish Church of Godmersham twelve pence
Item to the poorer peop[le] of he said pish other twelve pence To be delyvered amongst them at the discretion of my Executrix

Item I will unto Martha my eldest daughter Twentie shillings yearely duering her naturall lyffe to be payed her halfe yerely out of the profitts of my house and Land in Godmersham by the owners and occuoyers of the same for the tyme being videlit
At the Annunciacon of our Lady the Virgin one ten shillings And at the feaste of Sainte Mychaells Tharchangell other Ten shillings every yere duering the terme of her naturall lyffe or before to be payed orderly unto her on every of the feste dayes in the which it shalbe due at my dwelling house in Godmersham betweene the hours of one and three of the clocke in the afternone of the said severall dayes

I will unto Elizabeth my youngest daughter halfe one dozen payer of sheetes and one dozen of napkyns one portnett and one kettle And three pounds of good and lawfull money of england to be payed unto her by my said Executrix at her age of xxij yeres

Item I will yt my bedsyteedle in my parlor fether bed bolster pyllowes coverlett and blankets and my Joyned Coubbard and my little square Table ther with my greate brasse pott yt they be Standerds unto my house and yt they remaine there unto the use of my twoe sonnes Christopher and Willm Coke Delivered unto them by my said Executrix when as Christopher my eldest sonne shalbe of thage of xxij yeres And when as Willm my Sonne shall accomplishe the Age of sixtene yeres to be equally devyded betwene them

Item I will yt all such debts and duties as I owe of Right or constience [conscience!] unto any person be well and truly contented and payed by my executrix hereafter named without any Delaye or contradicon Immediately after my decease

Item I will that after my debts legacies and funerall expenses are payed and performed All other my goods Chattells Cattells money and moveables whatsoever remayne and be unto Elizabeth my wyfe whom I make an ordeyne my sole Executrix of this my testament and last will
And I do further ordeyne John Chapman of Godmersham aforesaid Gent. my Overseer of the same

Dated the xiiijth daye of January in the Reigne and thirteth yere of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God of England, France and Ireland Queene Defender of the Faith etc. / 1596 /

This is the last will and testament of me the said Christopher Cock of and concerning all that my messuage or Tent. [tenement] housing courte garden and hemp Spott thereunto belonging scituate lying and being in Godmersham Street aforesaid conteyning by estimacon Fyve acres of Land more or less

Item I will that after I decease all yt my messuages or Tenement as aforesaid shalbe unto Elizabeth my wyffe untill my said Sonne Christopher do come unto his full age of Twentie and Twoe yeares shee keping the Reparacons thereof duering the said terme The remaynder unto him the said Christopher and to the heires males of his body lawfully begotten
And for want of such issue The Remaynder unto my Sonne Willm And to his heires for ever

All wayes provyded that the said Christopher my sonne doe paye unto his brother Willm att his age of one and twentie yeares the some of Tenn pounds of good and lawfull money of England

And further my will and meaning is That yf my sonne Christopher doe departe this mortall life before he doe accomplish his said age of Twentie and two yeres or otherwise die without yssue male of his body lawfully begotten Then the said house and Tenn Acres of Land either more or lesse to remayne and be unto Willm my youngest Sonne and unto his heires for ever

Christopher Cocke his marck
Witnesses unto this will and testament Thomas Bishop Christopher Denne his marke

Probatum fuit: 1st February 1596

Notes:
Martha Koke c: 5th April 1579, Godmersham (where c = christening)
Elizabeth Cooke 21 Apr 1584; William 27 Oct 1594; Christopher (junior) not found.


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Will of Christopher Cocke/Coke
Created by Maureen Rawson