Item I will and bequeath unto my sonn William two peeces of land lying in Stowting, one called by the name of Priestway and the other by the name of Jeameshay both Containeing Eight acres more or less, to him and to his heires for ever
Item I will and bequeath unto my Sonn Henry my Homestall wich I now live in with the Barne, Stable and other outhouses belonging to it and all the rest of my Lands in Stowting which was given to me by my Father to him the aforesaid Henry and to his heires forever
Item I give unto my daughter Ann one hundred Pounds to bee paid unto her within one yeare after my decease by my sonn Henry
and for want of such paym[en]t it shall bee lawfull for the said Ann or her assignes to enter upon all the Lands of the aforesaid Henry
and to enjoy the same untill she shall be fully Satisfied and all such charges as she shall be put unto;
Item I give unto Martha Wise my grandchild Twenty shillings a yeare yearely during her natural life, halfe yearely by my sonn Henry, the first payment to begin at St. Michaell or at our Lady day, which shall happen first after my decease, and for want of such payment, it shall be lawfull for the aforesaid Martha or her assignes to enter upon any of the lands of the aforesaid Henry and to take any distres and to detaine and keep the same untill she shall be paid, and all such charges as she shall be put unto;
Ite I will and bequeath unto my Sonn Mathew Court my upper house and Barne and all other Houses thereunto belonging which I
purchased of John Burrell and all the lands thereunto belonging w[hi]ch was bought with it, and one acre of woodland which I
purchased of Thomas Hogbin of Stowting, those and every of those I give unto my sonn Mathew and to his heires for ever,
paying unto his brother Stephen Court his heires or assignes one hundred pounds which I gave him upon Mariage to be paid him within
one yeare after my decease
and also paying unto Martha Wise my grandchild Twenty shillings a yeare, yearely during her naturall life, halfe yearely, the first
payment to begin at St. Michaell or at our Lady day, which shall happen first after my decease, and for want of such payment, it shall be
lawfull for the aforesaid Martha or her assignes to enter upon any of the lands of the aforesaid Henry and to take
any distres and to detaine and keep the same untill she shall be paid, and all such charges as she shall be put unto;
Item I give unto my other three grandchildren William Wise, Henry Court and Mary Court tenn shillings apiece to be paid unto
them within three months after my decease by my Executor
Item I give unto Mary Impett my Servant five pounds to be paid unto her within six months after my decease by my Executor
Item I give unto the poor of the parish of Stowting Twenty shillings to be paid unto them within three months after my decease by my
Executor
Item I give unto my four Sonnes and my daughter Ann, all my houseallstufe [household stuff] both linin and woollin or of what sort els[e] soever to be equally divided between them
Item I make and ordaine my sonn Mathew Court my hole Executor, and doe give unto him all the rest of my moveable goods, as corne, chattels, or of what other sort soever, paying all my debts and such Legacies which are heare sett downe for him to pay and my Funerall expences
And this I acknowledge to be my last will, desireing the Lord to give you all A blessing with it,
whereunto I sett my hand and Seale the eleventh day of August in the yeare of our Lord Christ one Thousand six hundred eighty and one;
The marke and Seale of William Court the Elder of Stowting
Sealed and delivered in the Prsents [Presence] of:
the marke of Julian Knowler; Thomas Hogbin; Stephen Court
Probatum fuit: 3rd September 1681
Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 28th July 2021
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of William Court