Item I bequeath to the High Altar in that place, for tithes unpaid and mistakenly forgotten, two (...), and to the Brotherhood of the
Holy Cross in the church in that place, one quarter of barley.
Item I bequeath to the parish priest in that place, six pence.
Item I bequeath to every one of my godsons and goddaughters, one measure of barley.
Item I bequeath to the fabric of the church of Wymlyngweld [=Womenswold] one quarter of barley.
Item I bequeath to the fabric of the church at Berham [=Barham] six shillings and eight pence [vjs viijd].
Item I bequeath to all the daughters of Thomas A Denne, twelve measures of barley;
and to the said Thomas A Denne my son, two hives of bees.
The rest of all my goods not bequeathed I give and bequeath to Michael Denne my son and to Simon Longe, whom I ordain, appoint and constitute my executors, and Thomas A Denne my supervisor, that they should dispose of and arrange all my goods with regard to my soul so that the same may transcend into the heavenly kingdom.
This is the last will of me John Denne of the parish of Kyngeston, made the penultimate day of October in the year of the Lord one thousand four hundred and seventy three and in the thirteenth year of the reign of King Edward IV of England after the conquest.
William Audele, Robert Fort, Thomas Rolff and Simon Long, my trustees, are seised of and in diverse lands and tenements in their demesne as of fee to my use, for the purpose of fully implementing my last will ... in respect of the same lands and tenements; that is to say,
the aforesaid trustees immediately after my death should make over unto Michael Denne my son the title of the tenement or messuage in the
parish or (ancient?) town of Sandwich, with its appurtenances, of which my aforesaid trustees are seised thereof for my use, to
have and to hold to the same Michael and his heirs, on condition that he and his heirs should keep that same
tenement or messuage repaired and maintained.
And if he should not, I will that my aforesaid trustees and their heirs should reclaim the same tenement or messuage with its appurtenances,
and should sell it for the best price they can get, and the money that is then received into the hands of the same trustees, their heirs or
assigns should be disposed of and distributed according to their discretion, that is to say, for celebrating
masses and for other charitable works in the aforesaid church of Kyngeston, in such a way as will seem best to
them for assuring the safety of my soul, and the souls of my relatives and friends, and of all the faithful
departed, and especially for the safety of the soul of Richard Kyngeston, recently a fellow-monk of Christ
Church in Canterbury;
and that immediately after my death my aforesaid trustees should cause to be made
over to the aforesaid Michael the title of that principal dwelling-house in which he lives, and all other lands and
tenements lying and being in Denne or in the parish of Kyngeston, Wymlyngeweld or Berham
whereof my aforesaid trustees are seised for my use as aforesaid, to have and to hold to the same Michael and his heirs;
and that the aforesaid Michael should have for himself and his heirs all that tenement in Berham
called Santonns, with all the appurtenances belonging to the same and relating to it; and three roods of land
which were of John Baker, and five roods of land which were of William Poshe, lying in Deryngston in the
aforesaid parish of Berham whereof my aforesaid trustees are similarly seised in the aforesaid way.
And that the aforesaid Michael should have for himself and his heirs that (... ... ...) of one quarter of barley, and take possession of those lands and tenements which were of Henry Usbarn lying in the aforesaid parish of Wymlyngeweld;
and that Thomas Denne my son should have for himself and his heirs all that tenement or messuage situated in the parish of St Clement in the said town of Sandewich, with its appurtenances; and that the same Thomas should have for himself and his heirs all those lands lying in Romney Marsh at Le Beakyn in the parish of Demechurche [=Dymchurch]; and those nine acres and one rood of land with its appurtenances lying at Kyngeston which I purchased from William Haute, knight, and John Dygges esquire, whereof the aforesaid trustees are seised to my use as aforesaid.
And further I will that my executors should arrange for ten priests to
celebrate mass for my soul in the parish church of Kyngeston aforesaid on the day of the burial of my body, and
one month from the day of my death ten priests to celebrate mass for my soul in the aforesaid church.
And that they my executors should distribute ten shillings to the poor and for the celebration
of masses and funerals and other divine services in the aforesaid church for my soul and for the souls of my
relatives, friends and benefactors and of all the faithful departed, and especially for the soul of the aforesaid
Richard Kyngeston, namely every year after my decease at Lent for a term of twenty years, which [sum] is to be
raised and drawn from the aforesaid lands and tenements which were made over to the aforesaid Michael in
the aforesaid way; and that the same Michael thenceforth will take on that charge;
and that my aforesaid executors should arrange for a stone to be laid over the site of my burial to a height of one and a half feet.
And I will that each one of my aforesaid trustees should have three shillings and four pence for his labours in his
role as executor of this my last will.
And that the aforesaid Michael should have for himself and his heirs all the other lands and tenements in the parish of Wymlyngeweld or
anywhere else that were disposed by me above and of which my aforesaid trustees are seised to my use in the aforesaid way.
In witness whereof to this my last will I have fixed my seal. Dated the day and year stated above.
Probatum:
The present will was proved on the 20th day of the month of January in the year of the Lord one
thousand four hundred and seventy five [=20 Jan 1475/6], and administration of the goods was granted to
Michael Denne etc., the other co-executor having died. [i.e. Simon Longe, will 1474 PRC/17/2/369b]
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of John A Denne