And I hereby name make constitute and Appoint my Sons William Comport and George Comport
Executors of this my last Will and Testament
Also I hereby revoke annull and make void all former or other Wills or Testaments by me at any time
heretofore made spoken or Published And do declare this to be my only last Will and Testament
And I will and direct that all my just Debts Funeral Expences Charges or proving this my last Will
and Testament and all other incident Charges relating thereto be first paid Satisfyed and discharged
Also I give and devise All that my Annuity or yearly Rent Charge of Ten pounds of lawful money of Great Britain charged upon and payable out of All that Messuage Tenement or Farm house Outhouses Edifices Buildings several pieces or parcells of Land and Woodland containing together by estimation forty Four Acres and a half be the same more or less And two Commonings on Rye Street Common All which said Messuage Land Tenements Hereditaments and Premisses with their and every of their Appurtenances are commonly called or known by the Name of Yew Tree Farm and are situate lying and being at in or near a certain Street Village or Hamlett called Cooling Street and elsewhere in the Parish of Cliffe in the County of Kent aforesaid heretofore in the tenure or Occupation of Rhuben Bourne afterwards of William Doggett since of George Akers and now or late in the tenure or Occupation of Robert Stiles his Assigns or Undertenants
And also all that Messuage or Tenement with the Barn Stable Yard two Wells One Garden One
Orchard and three Several Pieces or Parcells of Arable Land with the Appurtenances to the said
Messuage or Tenement belonging or appertaining containing together in the whole by estimation
Twelve Acres be the same more or less All which said last mentioned Premisses are situate lying and
being at or near Upnor in the Parish of Frindsbury in the County of Kent aforesaid and are now in the
Possession or Occupation of Henry Skinner his Assigns or Undertenants
And also all that Messuage or Tenement with the Appurtenances situate lying and being in the Parish
of Cuxton in the County of Kent aforesaid at or near a certain place there called Uper Bush Gardens
otherwise Upper Birch together with the Barns Stables Gardens and several pieces or
parcells of Land Arable Pasture Fresh marsh and wood containing together in the whole by
estimation Sixty Acres be the same more or less with the Appurtenances to the said Messuage or
Tenement belonging and therewith now or heretofore demised letten used Occupyed or enjoyed
and late were in the tenure or possession of Thomas Clark Yeoman and Catherine Nokes Widow
and now are in the Tenure Possession or Occupation of me the said Michael Comport and Thomas Nokes or our Assigns or Undertenants
And also all that Brick Messuage or Tenement erected and built by George Hornsby late of Cobham
aforesaid Gentleman deceased in and upon a piece of Ground whereon an old Messuage or Tenement
formerly stood and was then called the White Lion and the Stable Yards Backsides Gardens
Orchards Lands and Appurtenances thereunto belonging or therewith now or heretofore used or
enjoyed situate lying and being in the Parish of Cobham aforesaid and late in the tenure or
occupation of George Hornsby Gentleman but now of me the said Michael Comport Which said last
mentioned Messuage or Tenement and Premises I sometime since Purchased of the said last mentioned George Hornsby
And also all that small New built Brick Messuage or Tenement with the Stable and Chaise house
which I lately erected and built on part of the said last mentioned premisses and now are in the
possession of me the said Michael Comport and William Luck
unto my said Son William Comport his Heirs and Assigns for ever Charged and Chargeable nevertheless with the Payment of the Sum of
Five Hundred Pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid within One year next after my decease towards Payment of the Debts
which I shall owe at the time of my death and the Legacies herein after by this my Will given and bequeathed
Also I give devise and bequeath All those two New built Messuages or Tenements formerly called the Old House then in the Possession or Occupation of Robert Cunning together with the Outbuildings Yards Gardens Backsides Land Ground and Appurtenances thereto belonging situate lying and being at a place called Battle Street in the Parish of Cobham aforesaid and now are in the several tenures Possessions or Occupations of Robert Cunning Thomas Biggins and Stiles their Assigns or Undertenants unto my Son Thomas Comport his Heirs and Assigns for ever
Also I give and devise All that Hophouse and Piece or parcell of Land or Ground now planted with
Hops containing by Estimation Five Acres be the same more or less which I formerly Purchased of
Thomas Atwaters situate lying and being at a place called Battle Street aforesaid in the Parish of
Cobham aforesaid and now in my own Possession or Occupation but not the Stock of Hop Poles that
shall or may happen to be in or upon the said Hop ground at the time of my decease
And also all those three new built Brick Messuages or Tenements built by me the said Michael
Comport on part of the said last mentioned Ground and Premisses Purchased by me of the said
Thomas Atwaters together with the Yards Backsides and Gardens And all and singular other the
Hereditaments and Premisses thereto belonging with their and every of their Appurtenances situate
lying and being at Battle street aforesaid in the Parish of Cobham aforesaid and now are in the
several Tenures Possessions or Occupations of William Williams John Angell and Thomas Tadman
their Assigns or Undertenants unto my daughter Susanna Comport her Heirs and Assigns for ever
Also I give and devise All that Messuage or Tenement with the Yard Garden and Backside thereunto
belonging with the Appurtenances Situate lying and being in Cobham Street in the Parish of Cobham
aforesaid and now in the Possession or Occupation of Thomas Baker his Assigns or Undertenants
And also all that new built Messuage or Tenement adjoining to the last mentioned Messuage or
Tenement and built on part of the same Ground and Premisses which I also Purchased of he said
Thomas Atwaters with the Yard Garden Backside and Appurtenances thereto belonging Scituate
lying and being in Cobham Street in the Parish of Cobham aforesaid and now in the tenure
Possession or Occupation of George Cunning his Assigns or Undertenants
And also all that Brick Messuage or Tenement with the Stable Yard Backside Garden Ground and all
and singular other the hereditaments and premisses thereto belonging with their and every of their
Appurtenances situate lying and being in Cobham Street in the Parish of Cobham aforesaid
heretofore called or known by the name or Sign of The Star and Garter and then in the Occupation
of John Ruck but now is called or known by the name or Sign of The Duke of Cumberland [Still
there now called “The Darnley Arms”] and now is in the Possession or Occupation of John Elliott his
Assigns and Undertenants unto my Daughter Ann Comport her Heirs and Assigns forever
Also I give and devise All that Messuage Tenement or Farm house with the Buildings Yard Backside Garden Orchard and several Pieces or Parcell of Land containing together by Estimation twelve Acres be the same more or less with the Appurtenances to the said Messuage or Tenement belonging and therewith now or heretofore demised letten used occupied or enjoyed Situate lying and being in the Parish of Cobham aforesaid and now in the tenure possession or Occupation of John Prebble his Assigns or Undertenants unto my Daughter Frances Comport her Heirs and Assigns for ever
Also I give and devise All that Messuage Tenement or Farm commonly called or known by the
Names of The Three Crouches Farm situate lying and being at a certain place called the Three
Crouches in the Parish of Cobham aforesaid Together with the Barn Stable Yard
Backside Garden Orchard and several Pieces of Land containing together by estimation Eleven Acres
be the same more or less with the Appurtenances to the said Messuage Tenement or Farm belonging
or therewith now or heretofore demised letten used Occupyed or enjoyed Situate lying and being in
the Parish of Cobham aforesaid and in the Parish of Higham in the said County of Kent and now or
late in the tenure Possession or Occupation of Robert French his Assigns or Undertenants
And also all that Messuage or Tenement with the Barn Stable Outhouses and buildings thereunto
belonging heretofore in the Tenure or Occupation of James Hubbard since that of John Jarrett and
afterwards of Thomas Higgins and now of Abraham Spratt his Assigns or Undertenants
And also all those several pieces of parcells of Land thereunto also belonging containing together in the whole
by estimation Twenty acres be the same more or less now in my own Occupation
And also all that Messuage or Tenement thereunto Adjoining And the Yard Backside Garden and
Appurtenances thereunto belonging heretofore in the tenure or Occupation of John Maddox since
that of Matthew Bristow and now of General Monk his Assigns and Undertenants
And also that Messuage or Tenement with the Yard Backside Garden or Orchard and Appurtenances thereunto
belonging now and for several years last past in the tenure or Occupation of Walter Baldock his Assigns or Undertenants
All which said last mentioned Severall Messuages Lands and Premises I lately Purchased of Thomas
Williams of Dartford in the said County of Kent Gentleman and are situate standing lying and being
at or near a certain place commonly called Hennis in the said Parish of Cobham aforesaid And all
other my Real Estate whatsoever and wheresoever not hereinbefore otherwise given and devised
unto my said Son George Compost his Heirs and Assigns for ever
Also I give and bequeath my Moiety or One full half part of and in all that my Leasehold Farm with the Buildings Lands Grounds and Appurtenances thereto belonging situate lying and being in Cuxton and Strood in the said County of Kent or elsewhere commonly called Ranscomb Farm [now a nature reserve of 560 acres] and now in the occupation of me the said Michael Comport and my said Son William Comport and which we now hold by Leasehold under the Right Honourable John Earl of Darnley and all my Estate Tight Title and Interest of in and to the Lease of the same Farm unto my said Son William Comport his Executors Administrators and Assigns absolutely for the remainder of the Term therein to come and unexpired He paying the whole Rent of the said Farm which shall be due for the same at the time of my Decease
Also I give and bequeath all and singular my Household Goods Furniture and Implements if Household whatsoever in upon and about the said Messuage or Tenement and Premisses called Ranscomb aforesaid And also my Moiety or One full half part of and in all the Corn in the Barns Stacks or Grainerys Hops Hop Poles Clover Seed and other Corn sowed and in the Grounds and Lands of and belonging to the said Farm called Ranscomb Farm And of and in all the Houses Mares Colts Bulls Cows Bullocks Oxen Calves Sheep Rams Lambs Boars Sows Hogs Pigs Ploughs Waggons Carts Carriages Harrows Harness and other Husbandry tackle whatsoever And also of and in all and singular other the live and dead stock whatsoever in upon or about the said Farm called Ranscomb Farm aforesaid now in Partnership between me and my said Son William Comport unto my said Son William Comport his Executors Administrators and Assigns absolutely
Also I give and bequeath All that my Leasehold Farm with the Building Lands Grounds and Appurtenances thereto belonging Situate lying and being in Cobham aforesaid or elsewhere commonly called Dabbs Place which I now Rent of Doctor Isaac Rutton and now in the Occupation of my said Son George Comport and the Lease of the same Farm unto my said Son Thomas Comport To have and to hold the same Farm Lands and Premises unto my said Son Thomas Comport his Executors Administrators and Assigns absolutely from the old Feast day of Saint Michael the Archangel which shall happen next after my decease for then then remainder of the time and term of Years to come and unexpired in the said Lease
Also I give and bequeath One good Waggon two good Carts two Ploughs two pair of Harrows One Roll two Cow Cribbs and One Barn Stuppit One long Shovel One Bushell Measure and Strike One Skry One Rake Fifteen Quarters of Sacks Five good Horses Mares or Geldings with good and proper Waggon and Plough harness for the same Two good Cows Fifty good Weather Sheep Six Hogs Twelve Loads of good Cinquefoil or Clover Foder and the Stock of Hope Poles which shall be in and upon the Hop ground belonging to Dabbs Place Farm at the time of my decease and ten Quarters of Wheat eight Quarters of Beans and Twelve Quarters of Oats unto my said Son Thomas Comport his Executors Administrators and Assigns to be delivered to him upon the old Feast day of Saint Michael the Archangel which shall happen next after my decease
Also I give and bequeath all and singular the Household Goods Plate Linnen Chinaware Furniture and Implements of Household whatsoever and of what nature or kind soever the same may consist in upon and about the said Messuage or Tenement and Premises which I sometime since Purchased of the said George Hornsby Situate and being in Cobham Street aforesaid and now in my own Occupation unto my said Son Thomas Comport his Executors Administrators and Assigns absolutely to be delivered to him within three Months next after my decease
Also I give and bequeath the Legacy or Sum of One hundred pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain unto my said Son Thomas Comport
to be paid him within Three Months next after my decease by my said Son George Comport
Also I give and bequeath the Legacy or Sum of One hundred pounds of like lawfull money unto my said Daughter Susanna Comport
Also I give and bequeath the Legacy or Sum of Two hundred pounds of like lawfull money unto my said Daughter Ann Comport
Also I give and bequeath the Legacy or Sum of Two hundred and Fifty pounds of like lawfull money unto my said Daughter Frances Comport
All which money Legacys last aforesaid given and bequeathed to my said Daughters Susanna Anne
and Frances Comport I will and direct shall be raised out of the rest and residue of my Personal
Estate and to be paid to them within One Month next after they shall have attained their respective
Age and Ages of Twenty One Years
And untill they shall respectively attain their said Age and Ages
of Twenty one Years I will and direct that my said Son George Comport shall Maintain Educate bring
up and provide for them by with and out of the Rents Issues and Profits of the several real Estates
herein before given and devised to them respectively And in lieu of paying Interest for the said respective Money legacies
And I further Will and direct that my said Son George Comport shall by with and out of the Rents Issues and Profitts of the Several real Estates aforesaid repair and maintain and keep the Buildings and Premisses of the said real Estates in good and sufficient repair untill my said Daughters Susanna Anne and Frances Comport shall attain their respective Age and Ages of Twenty One Years
And I name make and appoint my said Sons and Executors William Comport and George Comport Testamentary Guardians of my said Three Daughters Susanna Anne and Frances Comport untill they shall respectively attain their Age and Ages of Twenty One Years
Also I give and bequeath the Legacy or Sum of Fifty pounds of like lawfull money unto my Son Michael Comport to be paid him out of the rest and residue of my Personal Estate within One year next after my decease
Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughters Catherine Wife of John Knight and Mary Wife of William Cradock the Legacy or Sum of Five Guineas apiece to be paid them respectively within One Month next after my decease by my said Son George Comport for Mourning And I do not design or intend them or either of them any more by this my Will having given them their full Fortunes upon their respective Marriages
Also I give and bequeath unto my Wife Grace Comport the Legacy or Sum of Five Guineas of lawfull money of Great Britain to
be paid her within One Month next after my Decease for Mourning
And I Will and direct that the Engagements I entered into upon and before my Marriage
with my said Wife and for her benefit shall be duly and faithfully performed to her by my said Son George Comport
Also I give and bequeath All and singular other the rest residue and remainder of my Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever or of what nature or kind soever the same doth or may consist after payment of my just Debts Funeral expences and the Probate of this my last Will and Testament and other incident Charges relating thereto and the several Money Legacies hereinbefore by me given and bequeathed unto my said Son George Comport his Executors Administrators and Assigns absolutely
Provided always and it is my true intent and meaning And I do hereby Will and direct That all and every my said Sons and Daughters William Thomas George Susanna Anne and Frances Comport shall and do within three Months next after my decease or next after they or either or any of them shall have attained her or their respective Ages and Age of Twenty One years well and Sufficiently grant release convey and confirm All his her and their and each and every of their Part Estate Right Title and Interest of in and to the several Estates given and devised to them respectively in and by the last Will and Testament of their Uncle the Reverend William Pemble Clerk deceased unto such of my said Sons and his and their Heirs and Assigns for ever As I have by this my last Will and Testament given and devised the same severally and respectively
And if any or either of them my said Sons and Daughters William Thomas George Susanna Anne
and Frances Comport shall (at the request and at the proper Costs and Charges of the person
requiring the same) shall neglect or refuse to make such Grant Release and Conveyance as aforesaid
within the time aforesaid Then I will and direct that the several Gifts Devices Bequests or Legacys so
as aforesaid given devised and bequeathed to such of my said Sons and Daughters as shall so neglect
or refuse to make such Grant Release and Conveyance shall be absolutely null and void to all intents
and purposes as if the same every or any of them had not been mentioned at all in this my Will
And in such Case I will and direct that the Gift Device Bequest or Legacy do as aforesaid given
devised bequeathed or intended for him her or them so refusing or neglecting to make such Grant
Release and Conveyance as aforesaid shall go to and be equally divided amongst all the rest of my
said Sons and Daughters William Thomas George Susanna Anne and Frances as shall make such
Grant Release and Conveyance as aforesaid and to his her and their Heirs Executors Administrators
equally between them as Tenants in Common and not as Joint tenants
In Witness whereof I the said Michael Comport the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament
contained in Seven Sheets of Paper set my hand and seal to each sheet thereof this Fifth day of
January in the First year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of
Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord
One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty one
Michael Comport
Signed sealed Published and declared by the said Michael Comport the Testator as and for his last
Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of
each other have Subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereto
Anne Taylor - Robert Taylor - Henry Milton
This Will was proved at London on the second day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand
Seven hundred and Sixty One before the Worshipfull James Marriott Doctor of Laws and Surrogate
of the Right Worshipfull Edward Simpson Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the
Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of William Comport and George
Comport the Sons and Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all
and singular the Goods Chattles and Credits of the said deceased they having been first Sworn duly to Administer.
Exd.
Notes:
Three Crouches Farm: There is an area in Cobham today – but it is known as “The Three Crutches” – not “Three Crouches”.
Backside: The back outside of buildings, usually including a partially or wholly enclosed yard.
See also: http://www.tedconnell.org.uk/LFH/GRS/COB/00.htm - and search for Comport.
Cinquefoil: Any plant of the temperate rosaceous genus Potentilla, typically having five-lobed
compound leaves – part of the Clover family for cattle feed.
Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 9th July 2020
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Michael Comport