Item I give unto the poore of the parrishe of Waltham xxs to be given them at my buriall
Item I give unto my wife twentie pounds to be paide unto her within one yeare after my decease
Item Item I give unto Elizabeth my daughter three pounds
Item I give unto Joane my daughter fortie shillings
Item I give unto Mary my daughter fortie shillings
to be paide unto them all w[i]thin one yeare after my decease
Item I give unto Mathew Cowrte sonne of Simon Cowrte of Ealmested [Elmstead] three pounds, sixe shillings and eight pence to be paide unto
him wthin one yeare after my decease
allsoe my will is that the some of sixe pownds w[hi]ch I have in my hands of theires be paide unto the children, and children’s children of
Thomas Cowrte my brother wthin one monthe after my decease
Allsoe my will is that three pownds, sixe shilleings and eight pence wch I have in my hand of hers be paide unto Susan Cowrte daughter of the
said Thomas Cowrte, wthin one monthe after my decease
Item I give unto Mary my Wife and unto William Coorte and unto Clement Coort my sonnes all my houshold stuffe, equallie to be devided
amongst them
the residue of all my goods I give unto William Coort and Clement Coort my sonnes equallie to be devided amongst them
Provided that Clement Coorte my sonne shall paye oute of his p[ar]te all my debts and Legacyes
And I doe appoynt William and Clement Coort my sonnes, executors of this my will
Conserning the disposeing of all my Lande,
First my will is that Marie my wife shall have her dwelling in my house that nowe I dwell in dureing her naturall life and that she shall have the
Chamber ov[e]r the parloure to her owne use
allsoe my will is that she shall have owte of my lande in Waltham and Elmestone dureing her naturall life xvj [16] pounds a yeare paide unto her
as I shall heerafter sett downe in this my will
Allsoe my will is that my sonne? Clement shall have the occupation of my house and all my lands in Waltham and Elmested except Woolfynch
and all the lands thereunto belongeng dureing the naturall life of Marie my wife and untill the Michaelmas after her deathe uppon these Condicons
that is to saye,
he shall paye unto her the xvj pounds before rehearsed quarterly by even portions at St. Michaell tharchangell, at the birthe of oure Lorde Christe,
at the annuntiacon of oure Lady and at the feast of St. John the Baptist, the Firste payment to be in the firste feasts that shall happen after my
decease
And that he shall allowe her sufficient meate and drinke for her dyet and wood for her Chamber at all times Convenient as she shall have occation
to use it, and allsoe he shall allowe sufficient meate and drinke for her maide if she shall thinke fitte to keepe one; provided that if she Claime
and dowre [any Dower] or widoweright owte of my Lands that then my will is, she shall lose the whole benefitte of this my will
Allsoe my will is that my wife shall have one tovett of hempseede sowen for her uppon the saide lands
everie yeare by my sonne Clement or his assignes in wch hempland she shall appoynte, and that my
sonne Clement shall allowe her the milke of one Kowe to be at her disposeing the whole sommertime
Allsoe my will is that my wife the fruite that shall growe uppon fower apple trees everie yeare and that
it shall be at her choyse wch trees shee will have, and soe to Continue everie yeare wth them trees soe choysed at the firste
Allsoe my will is that shee shall have the olde butterie next the Chyminey dureing her naturall life
Provided that if my wife doe marrie againe that then she shall loose the benefitte of this my will
Allsoe my will is that my sonne Clement shall pay unto my sonne William evrie yeare dureing the life of Mary my wife fifeteene pounds a yeare to be paid unto him halfe yearely by even portions, owte of the lands wch I have appoynted him to have the occupation of
Concerning my house I dwell in and all my Lands in Waltham and Elmested except Woollefynche and all the lands thereunto belonging I doe give it unto William and unto Clement Coorte my sonnes, equally betweene them, to them and to theire heires for evr
Item I give unto William Coorte my sonne, my house Called Woollefinche lyeing in Waltham and all the Lands thereunto belongeing during his naturall
life, and after his decease I give it unto William Coorte his sonne, and to his heres for evr
Allsoe I give unto William Coorte my sonne all my Lands in Bunnington dureing his life and after his decease I give it unto Mathew Coorte
his sonne and to his heyres for ever
allsoe my will is that my sonne Clement shall keepe my house and all my buildings thereunto belongeing sufficiently repaired dureing the life of Mary my wife and untill the Michaellmas after her deathe and that he shall not sell, Cutte nor digg uppe anie woodds nor tymber, but suche tymes as shallbe fitte to keepe the hedges and suche fyerwood as shall growe wthin fower foote of the hedges wch he shall have occation to make, and suche fyerwood as shallbe spare soe Cutte within fower foote of the hedges, it shallbe Lawefull for him to use at his pleasure, and not to meddle with anie other
In Witness whereof I have heerunto sett my hande and seale the day and yeare abovewritten
Mathew Coorte his marke
Witnesses heerunto: John Dunkin; Thomas Younge; Stephen Inkepet
Probatum fuit: 18th October 1615 to Johanne Cowrte als Pemble
Notes:
Mathew Court was buried at St. Bartholomew, Waltham, Kent, on 30th July 1615.
Mathewe’s Children baptised at Waltham: 1 Mar 1572/73 Elyzabeth; 11 Sep 1575 William; 26 Jan 1577/78 Jane/Jone; 22 Aug 1585 Clement.
Mathew Court married Mary Hugins 3 May 1602 at SS Peter & Paul, Borden, Kent.
Maria Court was buried 4 Mar 1620 at Waltham.
Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh Mason 13th March 2022
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Mathewe Courte