Will of Samuel Crayden

of Minster in Sheppey, Kent

I hereby revoke all former Wills by me made I will and direct that all my just debts Funeral Expences the Charges of Proving this my Will and other incidental Expences shall in the first place be paid and satisfied

I give and bequeath unto Jane my Wife all her Clothes and Wearing apparel of every sort and kind and also the Sum of thirty pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to buy Mourning and other necessaries for herself and my Children the same to be paid within one month next after my decease

Also I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughters Mary Ann Coleman, Elizabeth Coleman and Ann Hill Coleman the Sum of One hundred pounds of like lawful Money the same to be paid to and equally divided between them share and share alike their Executors Administrators and Assigns at the expiration of seven Years next after my decease or sooner if my Executors hereinafter named shall think fit and it is convenient for them to do but not to bear any Interest in the mean time

Also I give and bequeath unto John Coulter of Faversham in the County aforesaid Gentleman and Edward Kingsland Smith of Faversham aforesaid Parish Clerk (who are hereinafter appointed my Executor and Executors) the Sum of Five Guineas each of like lawful money as a small consideration for their taking upon them the burthen [burden] of the Trusts hereby reposed in them the same to be paid within one month next after my decease

And as to all the rest and residue of my ready monies and Securities for money Household Goods Implements of Household Stock in Trade Plate Linen Goods Chattels Debts Effects and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind or quality soever the same may be whereof I shall die possessed or which shall be any ways due owing coming or belonging unto me at the time of my decease I give and bequeath the same and all my Estate and Interest therein unto the said Jane my Wife and my Friends the said John Coulter and Edward Kingsland Smith their Executors and administrators Upon the trusts nevertheless and to and for the intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned expressed and declared of and concerning the same (that is to say)

Upon Trust that they or the Survivors or Survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor shall and do as soon as conveniently may be after my decease collect receive and get in all such parts of my said Personal Estate as shall consist of Monies or debts or Securities for money and all sell or dispose of and convert into Money all such other parts thereof as they shall see occasion or otherwise let demise and manage the same and act in regard thereto in such manner as they shall think fit it being my Will and intent that they my said Executor or Executors or the Survivors or Survivor of them or the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor shall have full and compleat power over my said Estate the better to enable them to pay all my debts and Legacies and fulfil and perform the intention of this my Will and that in such manner as shall appear best and most advantageous for my said Wife and Family

And the Monies arising therefrom (after and subject to the payment of my just debts Funeral and Testamentary Expences and Legacies hereby bequeathed) shall and do lay out and invest upon good real Securities or in the Parliamentary or Public Funds of this Kingdom at Interest and from time to time call in such Monies so lent and placed out at on Securities or any part or parts thereof and lend and place out the same again from time to time upon Securities of the like nature And subject thereto and to the trusts and powers aforesaid shall and do pay and apply the Income Interest Dividends and profits and proceeds thereout unto the said Jane my Wife or otherwise permit and authorise her to receive the same from time to time during the term of her natural life for and towards the maintenance and support of herself and for the maintenance and Education of my natural or reputed Son James Wyles and of all such Child or Children as I shall leave by her living at my decease or born in due time afterwards during his her or their Minority or respective Minorities

And from and after the decease or marriage of my said Wife which ever shall first happen then Upon trust to pay convey assign or Transfer the said Trust Estate monies and premises unto between and amongst he said James Wyles and all and every such other my Child or Children as being a Son or Sons shall live to attain the Age of twenty one Years or being a daughter or daughters shall live to attain that Age or be married, equally to be divided between them (if more than one) share and share alike their respective Executors or Administrators And if but one the whole to that one Child his or her Executors or Administrators And upon further Trust in the mean time to pay and apply the Interest and proceeds of every such Childs expectant share for and towards his or her Maintenance and Education

Provided always and my Will and mind is and I do hereby declare and direct that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said Trustees to pay and advance by and out of my said Estate any such Sum or Sums of money as they shall think fit for or towards the puting (sic) and placing the said James Wyles or any other of my Children Apprentice or for the suffering or establishing any of them in any Trade or Business or otherwise for his her or their benefit so as the same does not exceed the expectant share of such Child or Children respectively notwithstanding such Childs share shall not then be vested or payable anything to the contrary notwithstanding

But in case I shall leave no Child who being a Son shall live to attain the Age of twenty one Years or being a daughter shall live to attain that Age or be married Then Upon Trust that they my said Trustees or Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators shall and do (after such failure of my Issue living to become intitled as aforesaid) pay convey assign or transfer All my said Trust Estate Monies and Premises unto the said Mary Ann Coleman Elizabeth Coleman and Ann Hill Coleman their respective Executors Administrators and Assigns equally to be divided between them share and share alike

And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Jane my Wife John Coulter and Edward Kingsland Smith joint Executrix and Executors of this my Will and Trustees for the purposes aforesaid and also Guardians of my Child or Children during his her or their Minority or respective Minorities

And I do hereby declare that they their Executors or Administrators or any of them shall not be charged or chargeable with or accountable for any more of the said Trust Monies and Premises or of the Interest Dividends and produce thereof than what they shall actually receive by virtue of the trusts aforesaid nor with or for any loss which shall happen in or to the same trust monies and premises or of the Interest Dividends or profits thereof under or in Execution of the Trusts aforesaid or otherwise so as such loss happen without their or any of their Wilful default nor one of them for the others or other of them but each of them only for his or her own Acts Deeds Receipts Disbursements and defaults notwithstanding their or any or either of them joining in any part or receipt for the sake of Conformity

And also that it shall and ay be lawful to and for them my said Trustees and Executors and every of them their and every of their Executors Administrators and Assigns in the first place by and out of the aid Trust Monies and Premises to deduct retain and reimburse themselves himself and herself respectively all such loss Costs Charges damages and Expences as they or any of them shall sustain expend or be put unto or which shall or may unto them or any of them occasioned for or by reason of the Trusts so reposed in them or on the management or Execution thereof or any thing in any wise relating thereto together with a suitable and proper allowance for their Monies trouble and loss of time in and about the same Trusts

Whereas I purchased a Messuage and Hereditaments in Ospringe in the said County about six Years ago of Major William Walker which was conveyed to me to the use of my said Wife for life with the remainder to such uses & as the said James Wyles shall by deed or Will appoint

And Whereas I am now desirous that the same shall be immediately sold and the money paid to the said Jane my Wife to and for her own use and benefit the same being my property But in case the same is not sold in my lifetime then my Will is and I do hereby declare and direct that the said James Wyles shall within six Calendar months next after my decease either Convey the same unto the said Jane my Wife her Heirs and Assigns for ever or sell and Convey the same to any person who shall be desirous of Purchasing the said Messuage and Premises for the best price and most Money that can be obtained for the same and pay the money arising by such Sale unto the said Jane my Wife or her Assigns or authority and permit her or them to receive the same to and for her and their own use and benefit absolutely And in default thereof I do hereby declare that he the said James Wyles shall not have or receive any benefit by or under this my Will

And I do hereby declare that my said Trustees shall not pay assign or transfer any part or share of my said Trust Estate unto him pursuant to the trusts aforesaid but to and amongst all other my Children in manner aforesaid exclusive of him the said James Wyles

In Witness whereof I the said Samuel Crayden the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in this and the three preceding sheets of paper set my Hand and Seal (to wit) my Hand to the three preceding Sheets and my Hand and Seal to this last sheet thereof the Day and Year above written
Samuel Crayden

The writing contained in this and the three preceding Sheets of Paper was signed and declared by the above named Samuel Crayden the Testator and by him published and declared as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto Subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other
Major F. Fish - Jubs. Gn. Shepherd - Js. Shepherd

Proved at London 4th Feby. [February] 1826 before the Judge by the Oaths of Jane Crayden Widow the Relict John Coulter & Edward Kingsland Smith the Exors. to whom Admon. was granted being first sworn (by Comon) duly to admr.

Notes: £100 in 1824 is the equivalent of approx. £11,100 today.
Five Guineas was £5 and 25 pence - which is about £585 today.

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh Mason, 4th June 2020

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