Will of Richard Cooke

of Speldhurst, Kent

Item whereas I owe unto my brother in Lawe Anthony Harmer of Rotherfeild in the County of Sussex Husbandman the Summe of Tenne Poundes of lawfull money of England upon a bond now my will mind and true meaninge ys that my Executrix heareafter named shall first before any other Legacy bee payd pay or cause to bee payd unto the said Anthony Harmer his Executors [Executors] or Assignes the sayd summe of Tenn Poundes att fower severall Payments in manner and forme following, vizt.
the Summe of Fifty shillinges by the yeare in the Fower yeares next and ymediatly ensueinge after my decease the first payment thereof to beginne and bee made in the first yeare next and ymediatly (sic) ensuinge after my decease and soe to continue yearly to bee pays untill the sayd Anthony Harmer bee fully satisfyed and payd

Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Anne Cooke the Summe of Twenty poundes of lawfull money of England to bee payd unto her by mine Executrix hereafter named at the severall payments in maner and forme following, vizt. the Summe of Forty shillinges by the yeare of lawfull money of England in Ten yeares next and ymmediatly ensuing after the first fower yeares after my decease bee expired the first payment of the sayd Forty shillinges p Annum [per annum] to begin and bee made in the first yeare next and ymmediatly ensuinge after the Expirncian [Expiration] of the first Fower yeares after my decease and soe to continue yearely to bee payd untill the said Twenty Poundes unto the sayd Anne Cooke bee fully satisfyed and payd

And as touching my Tennement wherein I now dwell and the Landes thereunto belonginge conteyninge by estmiacion six Acres more or lesse lyinge and benig [being] in Speldhurst aforesayd
I will and bequeath the same unto Anne my wyfe whom I make and ordaine to bee the Executrix of this my last Will and Testament
To have and to hould the sayd Tennement and lands afforesayd unto the sayd Anne my wyfe for an duringe the whole terme of her naturall lyfe for and in Consideracion that she ys to pay the Legacyes abovesayd to the partyes above named

And yf the sayd Anne my wyfe doe happen to dye or depart this lyfe before the Legacyes above sayd bee fully payd in manner and forme afforesayd then I Will the said Tennement and Landes above sayd to be Executors and Assignes of the sayd Anne my wyfe To have and hould the same unto them only dueringe soe long time untill they as some of them shall have fully payd the Remayndr [Remainder] of the Legacyes above menconed beinge unpayd att the time of her death in such maner as the sayd Anne my wyfe showld have payd the same

And my will and mind ys that the sayd Anne my wyfe her Executors Assignes (yf they shall use the same) shall keepe the Messuage wherein I now dwell and all the buildinges thereunto belonginge well and sufficiently repayred and all the Landes well and Tenant like Fenced and inclosed at all times during the whole time that they shall life and receive the Proffitts of the same
And after the decease of the sayd Anne my wyfe and that the Legacyes abovesayd bee fully payd by the sayd Anne my wyfe her Executors or Assignes in manner and forme afforesayd then I will and bequeath my said Tennements and landes afforesayd unto my sonne Thomas Cooke to have and to Hould unto him for and dueringe the whole Terme of his naturall lyfe

And after the decease of my sayd sonne Thomas Cooke I give and bequeath my sayd Tennements and landes with the appurtenncs unto John Cooke the sonne of my sonne Thomas Cooke and to his heirs for ever

Provided nevertheless uppon Condicon that the sayd John Cooke the sonne of my sayd sonne Thomas Cooke do and shall after the death of Thomas Cooke and when hee doth enjoy the sayd Tennement and Landes afforesayd Pay or cause to bee payd unto Anne Cooke and Mary Cooke his two Sisters the sommes of Five poundes a peece of lawfull money of England att two severall payments to each of them severally in maner and Forme followinge vizt
to each of them Fifty shillinges apeece within one yeare next after the sayd Thomas Cooke his Father’s decease and allso Fifty shillinges apeece more within two Yeares next after the sayd Thomas Cooke his Fathers decease yf the sayd Anne and Mary shall have then Accomplished their severall Ages of one and Twenty yeares any yf they have not then accomplished their severall ages of one and Twenty yeares then to pay or cause to be payd the same unto them and eyther of them in maner and forme afforesayd when they shall have accomplyshed their severall Ages of one and Twenty yeares

And I ordaine and appoint my lovinge friend John Finch of Speldhurst aforesayd Gent(leman) and my lovinge brother in Lawe Anthony Harmer of Rotherfeild aforesayd Husbandman to bee Overseers of this my last will and Testament desiring them and eyther of them to bee carefull in seeinge this my last will truely performed

In Witness whereof I the sayd Richard Cooke have hereunto sett my hand and Seale even the day and yeare first above wrytten
Richard Cooke his marke

Read sealed signed published and acknowledged to bee the last will and Testament of mee the sayd Richard Cooke in the presence of us
Richard Harmer - William Coleman

Probatum fuit: Decimo quarto dei mensis Junij Anno domini 14th June 1648

Note: Richard Cooke married Anne Danne 28th October 1639 at St. Mary the Virgin, Speldhurst.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 26th April 2020. All rights waived for personal use – BUT please quote source and reference.

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