Will of Mary Cooke

of Ickham, Kent

I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Cotton Wife of Thomas Cotton of the parish of Ickham in the said County Husbandman and unto Mary Cotton Daughter of the said Thomas Cotton all my wearing apparel as well Linnen as Woolen

Also I give and bequeath all my Money, Securities for Money and all my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever that I shall be Interested in or Intitled unto at the time of my decease unto Walter Cheavele of the City of Canterbury Carpenter his Executors or administrators Upon this special Trust and confidence
that he the said Walter Cheavele shall and do pay unto the proper Hands of the said Elizabeth Cotton and to and for the use and benefit of the said Elizabeth Cotton and Mary Cotton her daughter (out of the Money, Security for Money and personal Estate herein before given in Trust to the said Walter Cheavele) the sum of eight pounds yearly at two half yearly payments to be paid so long as there shall be either Principal or Interest to be paid to the said Elizabeth Cotton separate and apart from her said present or any after taken Husband and so as not to be subject or liable to his or their debts controul or engagements

And I do hereby order and direct that the receipt or receipts of the said Elizabeth Cotton under her hand alone and without her said Husband or any after taken Husband shall from time to time notwithstanding her Coverture be a good and sufficient discharge or discharges to my said Trustee and Executor for the said principal, Interest, Proceeds and profits or so much thereof for which such receipt or receipts shall be given

And I do hereby make nominate and appoint the said Walter Cheavele sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament
and my mind and Will are and I do hereby order and direct that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Walter Cheavele his Executors and Administrators to deduct and retain out of my said Personal Estate all and every such sum and sums of Money, Costs, Charges, Expences and Damages whatsoever which he or they shall or may pay, expend, sustain or be put unto for or by reason or means of this my Will or of the Trust aforesaid

And also shall not be answerable of accountable for any sum or sums of Money as he or they shall actually receive by Virtue of this my Will not for any loss which shall happen of the said Trust Monies without the wilful default or neglect of my said Trustee his Executors or Administrators
And lastly I do hereby revoke all former Wills and declare this to be my last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I the said Mary Cook the Testatrix have to this my last Will and Testament contained in one Sheet of paper set my Hand and Seal this eighth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy three
The mark of Mary Cook

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Mary Cook the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other
Danl. Jennings - Geo: Hammond

This Will was proved at London the thirty first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six before the Right Worshipful Sir George Hay Knight, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper of Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Walter Cheavele the sole Executor named in the said Will to whom Admon. was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased he having bee first sworn by Commission duly to administer Exd.

Note: Mary Cooke was buried 31st March 1776, aged 85, at St. John, Ickham, giving her a birth date of circa 1691.

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh Mason, 17th January 2021

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