First I Give and Bequeath unto my loving Wife Jane Cook and her Assigns for and during the Term
of her Natural Life [if she shall so long continue my Widow unmarried] All that my Messuage or
Tenement Stable Outhouses and Buildings thereunto belonging commonly called or known by the
Name or Sign of the Blacksmiths Arms with the Garden thereunto belonging containing by
Estimation One Acre more or less Situate lying and being in Willesborough aforesaid and now or late
in the tenure or occupation of my Son Robert Cook or his Assigns
And also all that my One Part or parcell of pasture Land commonly called or known by the name of the Broomfield
containing my Estimation Six Acres more or less lying and being in Willesborough aforesaid and now in my own Occupation
And from and after the decease of my said Wife Jane Cook or her Second Marriage I give and devise the same Messuage and Lands unto my four Sons Robert Cook Peter Cook John Cook and Stephen Cook and their Assigns for ever equally to be Divided between them Share and Share alike to take and hold as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants
Item my Will and Mind further is that my said Son Peter Cook shall continue in my Business of a Blacksmith which I now use and in order to enable him to follow the same Business I give and bequeath unto my said Son Peter Cook all my Stock in Trade as Iron Coale working Tools and Utensils which shall be about and belonging to my Trade and Business of a Blacksmith in the Ship I now use in Willesborough aforesaid at the time of my Decease
Item all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Personal Estate of what Nature or kind so ever the same are (after my just Debts funeral Expenses and the Charge of proving this my last Will and other Incident Charges are fully Satisfied and paid) I give and bequeath the same unto my said Loving Wife Jane Cook and her Assigns for and during the Term of her Natural Life (if she shall so long continue my Widow)
And from and after her Decease or Second Marriage I give and bequeath all such then remaining Personal Estate unto my said four Sons Equally to be divided between them Share and Share alike
Item I make ordain Constitute and Appoint my said living wife Jane Cook and my Son Peter Cook joint Executrix and Executor of this my Will hereby revoking all former Wills by me made Declaring this only to be my last Will and Testament
In Witness whereof I the said Robert Cook the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament
contained in this One Sheet of paper set my hand and Seal this fourth day of April in the Six and
Twentieth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the second by the Grace of God of Great
Britain Frances and Ireland King Defender of the faith etc. and in the year of our Lord One Thousand
Seven Hundred and fifty three
Robert Cook
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Robert Cook the Testator as and for his last Will
and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request Subscribed our Names as
Witnesses hereto.
William Wyborn - William Hayward - Thos.Pemble
On the Twenty fifth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty One Administration with the Will Annexed of all and singular the Goods Chattles and Credits of Robert Cook the Elder late of Willesborough in the County of Kent deceased was granted to John Cook one of the natural and lawful Sons and as such One of the Residuary Legatees Substituted in the said Will he having been first Sworn duly to Administer Jane Cook Widow the Relict and Peter Cook the Son Executors and the said Jane Cook residuary Legatee for Life dying before either of them had taken Execution of the said Will
From Willesborough parish registers:
7 Nov 1718 C Robert s. of Robert and Jane Cook Willesborough, Kent
13 Aug 1721 C Peter s. of - � �
11 Apr 1725 C John s. of - � �
7 Dec 1729 C Stephen s. of - � �
7 May 1732 C Richard s. of - � �
16 Mar 1737 Bu Richard Cook
14 Apr 1753 Bu Robert Cook (the Elder)
7 Jun 1760 Bu Peter Cook
6 Mar 1761 Bu Jane (widow) Cook
25 Mar 1764 Bu Stephen Cook
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Robert Cook