Whereas I have an assurance of Four hundred pounds upon my own (life) at the Equitable Assurance Office for lives Black Friars Bridge London an which I have a power to dispose of in such manner as I shall think proper Now I do hereby give and bequeath the same to my beloved Wife Elizabeth Cook In Trust that she may receive the said Sum of Four hundred pounds from the said Office and when so received to invest the same in some or one of the public funds or Government Securities or upon and other good and sufficient Securities or Security Mortgage or otherwise dispose(d) thereof as to her shall seem best for the Benefit of herself and my Children hereinafter mentioned
And when so invested or secured as aforesaid to retain and receive the Interest Dividends or produce
thereof to and for her own use and benefit and to be from the Controul Debts or Engagements of any
husband or husbands my said Wife Elizabeth shall hereafter Intermarry with, if that Event should ever
happen or with any person or persons whatsoever to the intent that she may have the free enjoyment
thereof unmolested during the term of her natural Life
and from and after her decease I do hereby give my said Wife full and absolute power to dispose of the said Four hundred pounds
and the Interest Dividends or produce thereof that shall or may be due for the same at the time of her decease in and by
her last Will and Testament in Writing or any writing purporting to be or in the nature of her last Will
and Testament or in any other deed or Instrument executed and attested in the presence of two or more
credible Witnesses give bequeath direct limit or appoint the same in such parts shares proportions
manner and form as she shall in her discretion think fit and proper unto and amongst my four Children
Vizt. Isaac Cook Richard Cook Elizabeth Cook and Mary Cook not doubting that the goodness of her
heart and amiable disposition of which I have for series of Years had the pleasure to be partner to will
make a fair and equitable division thereof
Provided nevertheless notwithstanding the before mentioned restrictions if at any time hereafter it shall appear that my said Wife shall happen to have occasion to transfer or dispose of any part of the said Sum of Four hundred pounds it shall and may be lawful for her so to do in her life time either for her own use and benefit or to apportion any or either of my said Children as she shall in her discretion think proper
Also I give and bequeath unto my said Wife Elizabeth Cook all my household Goods and Furniture plate Linen and China and wearing apparel of every sort and denomination soever That I shall be possessed of at the time of my decease to and for her own absolute use and benefit and disposal
And all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever both real and personal and whether the same shall be in possession reversion remainder or expectancy and what I can or may hereafter be intitled by any means to dispose of I do hereby give devise and bequeath the same and every part and parcel thereof unto my said dear Wife her heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns to and for her and their own use and uses benefit and benefits absolutely for ever
Provided also that if at any time my said Wife shall be minded to alter their situation after my decease that then and in that case I do hereby Will order and direct that the said last mentioned bequests shall not be subject to the Debts Controul or Engagements of her then present or any future husband as mentioned respecting the Interest Dividends and produce of the said Four hundred pounds hereinbefore expressed and declared touching and concerning the same
And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said well beloved Wife Elizabeth Cook my whole and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Will and Wills by me at any time or times heretofore made and declare this and this only to be my last Will and Testament
In Witness whereof I the said Isaac Cook the Elder the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament
contained in three sheets of paper set my Hand and Seal (that is to say) my hand to the two first sheets
thereof and my Seal to the to the tape at the top of the first Sheet that fastened them together and my
hand and Seal to this third and last Sheet this seventeenth day of September in the twenty ninth year of
the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland
King Defender of the Faith etc. and in the Year of our Lord Christ One thousand seven hundred and eighty nine
Isaac Cook
Signed Sealed Published and (declared as and for his last Will and)* Testament in the presence of us who in
his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our Names as Witnesses
attesting the due execution thereof. (* This line is missed out in the transcription from TNA.)
Elezbth Seymour F. Chelmons? A. Cosen Dr. Canon?
This Will was proved at London the sixteenth day of April In the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety one before the Worshipful Thomas Bever Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of the Right Honorable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper of Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Elizabeth Cook Widow the Relict of the deceased and Sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer
Notes:
Isaac Cook was buried 29th March 1791 at St. George, Gravesend.
Isaac Cook married Elizabeth Comport on 9th April 1767 at St. George Gravesend.
Their eight known children (all christened at St. George, Gravesend):
30 Aug 1769 Isaac Dorkin Lane Cook;
17 Feb 1771 Richard Daniel Cook;
3 May 1772 Daniel (died?);
23 Jun 1773 John Roger Cook (Bu: 17 Apr 1777);
11 Dec 1774 George Cook (Bu: 14 Jun 1775);
22 May 1776 Elizabeth Cook;
30 Aug 1777 Mary Cook;
27 Dec 1778 Sarah Lovesday Cook. (died?).
Isaac Cook, the Testator, does not appear to have been born in Kent.
Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 30th December 2019. All rights waived for personal use – BUT please quote source and reference.
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Isaac Cook