Item I give unto my daughter Roberta the wife of Thomas Pine als Hukens the sume of ix poundes of Lawfull englishe money To bee paid unto her within one whole yeare next after my decease by myne Executor
Item I give and bequeath unto John Cooke my sonne all my Messuage and all my landes being in the parish of Smarden and Beathersden To bee holden to the said John Cooke my sonne And to his heires for ever
Upon this Condicon that the said John Cooke my sonne shall pay unto Stephen Cooke my sonne the sume of six poundes of good and lawfull Englishe money yearely during the naturall life of Joane my wife To bee paid to the said Stephen quarterly by even and equall portons (That is to saie) att the Feast of St. Michaell Tharchangell att the Feast of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ att the Feast of Thannuncianon of the blessed virgin Mary And att the Feast of St. John the Baptist by even and equall porcons as aforesaid The First payment to begin att the next of the said Feasts after my decease
And to pay the said Stephen my sonne the some of eight poundes of lawfull englishe money yearely duringe his naturall lie after the decease of Joane my wife To bee pad by even porcons quarterly att the said Feasts in manner as aforesaid
Provided allwayes and it is my will That Joane my wife and Stephen Cooke my sonne shall have their dwelling in the house or messuage in Smarden where Walter Laurence now dwelleth during their naturall lifes or any one of them both And to take and have the profitt of the orchard garden and Close They or one of them keeping the Reparacons thereof without skipp or wast
And further it is my will and mynd that if Joane my wife shall enter upon my landes for her dowry or Widdowe right Then myne Executor shall pay unto Stephen Cooke my sonne the sume of Threescore poundes of lawfull englishe money within one whole yeare next after such enter made by her
The Residue of all my goodes and chattells whatsoever unbequeathed I give and bequeath unto John my sonne
And I make and ordaine the said John my full and whole Executor of this my present Testament and Last Will
In Witness whereof I have hereunt sett my hand and Seale the day and yeare first above written Stephen Cooke his marke
Sealed in the presence of us Samuell Bottinge Henry Pollard
Probatum fuit 1634 (no day or month given)
Notes:
Stephen (Steaven) Cooke is the son of William Cooke of Smarden christened there 21st January 1572.
I can find no marriage to a Joan(e) � but I did find her burial as a widow in Smarden on 28th July 1637.
I have not found the birth of their children given in the Will: Stephen, John or Roberta
Cooke, but John was possibly christened at Smarden in 1599 � no parents� names were given in early christenings.
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Stephen Cooke