Will of John Cook

of Smarden, Kent

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN the first day of November in the year of the Lord 1479
I John Cook of the parish of Smerden being in possession of a sound mind and good memory In the first instance I bequeath my soul to God almighty the Blessed Mary and all the Saints and my body to be interred in the cemetery of the parish church of St Michael the Archangel of Smerden aforesaid

Item I bequeath to the high altar there for my tithes forgotten 12d.
Item I bequeath to the light of the Blessed Mary there 6d.
Item I bequeath to the light there called Logger 4d.
Item to the light of Saint John 4d.
Item to the light of Dom. Thomas Wohope 4d.
Item to the brotherhood of the Blessed Mary there 12d.

I bequeath 21�. 6s. 8d. to the marriage portions of my daughters the same to be equally divided between them so that each of them have their portion given to them at the age of 16 years and if any of them decease within the said age then her part to remain to those surviving And if all decease God forbid that then I wish and appoint that my sons then living have the whole of the same money And if both all my sons and all my daughters decease I wish and ordain to the great rood beam in the church aforesaid of Smerden 10�. 13s. 4d. if they begin that work within the term of 4 year after the decease of my aforesaid sons and daughters if on the contrary not before I wish and ordain that the said 10�. 13s. 4d. remain in the hands of my executors and as that said 10�. 13s. 4d to spend in the parish aforesaid where there is great need by the discretion of them and for the salvation of my soul

Item I bequeath to my son William 10 marks to be delivered to him when he come to his age of 20 years.

Item I wish and ordain that if my wife to be now pregnant with a son then the same son to have from the 10 marks when he come to the age of 20 years 5 marks.

Item I bequeath to Thomesine Cook my mother 6s. 8d.
Item I bequeath to John Pelle my godson 8d.
Item to William Cook my godson 8d.
Item I bequeath to each of my other godsons and god-daughters 11d.

The true residue of my goods in respect thereof not bequeathed above my debts and legacies and expenses I give and bequeath to Johanna my wife which certain Johanna together with Stephen Scott my brother I make ordain and constitute my executors and Stephen Norton overseer of this my testament and they themselves to dispose for the salvation of my soul with this effect

Witnesses John Eyherst gentleman Stephen Norton Thomas Pell and others

THIS is the last will of me John Cook of Smerden the first day of the month of November in the 19th year of the reign of king Edward IV after the conquest of England

I make Thomas Scott Nicholas Scott and Stephen Cook my feoffees

In the first instance I wish that the said feoffees after my death permit Johanna my wife to occupy and receive the profits of one messuage with a garden and 5 pieces of land with their appurtenances in Smerden upon the den of Hetherst for the whole term of the life of the said Johanna

And after the decease of the said Johanna I wish that my said feoffees deliver up the aforesaid messuage with the garden and 5 pieces of land to William my son if he then be at the age of 20 years

And if the aforesaid Johanna dies before the aforesaid William shall come to the age aforesaid thereafter I wish that the aforesaid feoffees receive the profits of the aforesaid messuage with the garden and 5 pieces of land until the said William shall come to the aforesaid age with governance and maintenance of the said William only always with the proviso for ever if the aforesaid Johanna now to be pregnant with a son thereafter I wish that the aforesaid son have the moiety of the aforesaid messuage garden and 5 pieces of land with the aforesaid William my son

And if both die within age I wish that the said feoffees after the death of the said Johanna deliver the aforesaid messuage garden and 5 pieces of land with their appurtenances to my right heir John Cooke for ever

Item I wish that Stephen Norton Thomas Pell and John Lambe my feoffees after my death permit Johanna my wife to occupy and receive the profits of two pieces of land in Smerden upon the den of Hetherst until William my son come to his age of 20 years and when he shall come to the aforesaid estate I wish that my aforesaid feoffees deliver to the aforesaid William the two pieces of land in fee simple proviso that if my wife then to be pregnant with a son I wish the said son have his part with the aforesaid William my son when he come to the age aforesaid And if both die within the age aforesaid there after I wish that Johanna my wife have the aforesaid 2 pieces of land for the whole term of her life And after the decease of Johanna I wish that the aforesaid feoffees deliver the aforesaid 2 pieces of land to my right heir John Cook for ever

I wish that John Hunt William Hamme and Thomas Petitt feoffees of Laurence Cook my father after the death of Thomesine my mother to deliver all that land and tenements which pertain to me after the decease To Richard Cook and George my brothers the right heirs of me for ever by the view and discretion of John Hetherst Stephen Norton Thomas Pell and John Hunt

Item I wish that the said feoffees of my father after the decease of Thomesine my mother deliver all that my part of one piece of land called Whetefeld in Smerden upon the den of Westbolrege to my right heir John Cooke for ever

PROBATE granted with the codicil 7th February the year aforesaid [1479/80], the administration committed to the executors in the same.

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