Will of Symon Cooke

of Smarden, Kent

This is the last will of me the forsaid Symon Cooke made by me p�sonally rehersed the day and yere above said [27th March 1523] and yn the 14th yere of of kyng Henry the 8th

First I will that as soon after my decease my feoffe shall suffre Elizabeth my wyf to occupy to have receeve the p�fits of my messuage my garden and v peces of lande with a forstall so under sett lyeing and beyng which said messuage conteynyng yn all 10 acres of and whether more of it be or lesse duryng all the terme of her lyff she keping competently the repration thereof duryng all the said time

And after the decease of the said Elisabeth my wyf I will that the said messuage garden 5 peces of lande and forstall with thappertences shall remayne to Symon Chursted my godson and the heyres of the body of the said Symon lawfully begoten for ever
And if [it] so be that the said Symon Chursted my godson decease without heyres of hys body lawfully begoten then I will that the said messuage 5 peces of land and forstall with thapp�tenances shall remayne unto Johanne my daughter duryng all the terme of her lyf she kepyng competently the reparations thereof duryng all the said terme ofher liffe

And after the decesse of the said Johanne my daughter I will that the said messuage gardyn 5 peces of land and forstall with thapp�tenances shall remayne unto Thomasine Gervis and to the heyres of her body lawfully begotten forever
And if [it] so be that the said Thomasine Gervis decesse without heyres of her body lawfully begotten then I will that my feoffes then heyres or assignes shall sell all the said messuage garden 5 peces of land and forstall with thapp�tenances yn and for the best price that they can or may

And 10marks of the first payment of the money of the said sale comyng p�ceievd and receeved I will ordeyne of the said money to an honeste preste to syng in the paryshe chirche of Smarden for my soule the first yere and aftr that the sale of the said messuage garden 5 peces of land and forstall is made so long as until the said preste hath desired to have for his labours 26s 8d

Also I ordeyne for the amendyng of the fteway betwist my messuage and the crosse of Smarden Hill 6s 8d ..... Also I ordeyne thereof to the moste nedefull worke of the paryshe of Smarden viis 8d....

Written in margin � and unclear where it should be inserted
... the said Elisabeth my wif to have and occupy and preserve the p�fitts of 2 peces of my and called Westfelde and mayden crosse for the space of one yere next after my decease I will that my feoffe shall suffer...
[follows on here:] Johanne my daughter to have and occupythe said 2 peces of land duryng all the terme of her lyf

And after the decese of the said Johanne my daughter I will that the said two peces of land hall remayne unto Thomasyn Gervis my goddaughter to her mariage And to the longest liver of her husband that she shall mary with and her And if the said Thomasyne decese unmaried then I will my feoffe their heres or their assignes shall sell the said two peces of lande yn and for the best price and manr that they can or may And the money of the sid sale comyng

And also all the residue comyng of the sale of my foresaid messuage garden and eces of lande and forstall I will that my foeffes their heires or heir assignes shall every yere and yerly delver and distribute to power people moste nedeful within the parshe of Smarden yn the day of Saynt Stephen the mordue? next after suche daye five marks And so yerely in the siad day of Saynt Stephen to be delivered and distributed to power people 5 marks as long as all the money comyng of the sale of my said messuage gardyne forstall and all my lands will endure

Item I will and ordeyne to any of my feoffes 6s 8d so that they sell my lands at the farme above rehersed

Witness of the said testament and laste will
William Norton of smarden Peter Glover of Btreseden John Chursted and William Cooke

Probatum fuit 14th December 1523

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