Will of John Den

of Tilmanstone, Kent

In Dei Noie Amen in the fyrste daye of februarye Anno Dm 1557 [=1 Feb 1556/7] and in the thirde and fourthe yere of phillipp and marye
I John Den of the p’ishe of Tylmanston beynge in good and p’fect remembrance thankes be to god not w’tstandynge sicke in bodye do make my testament and laste wyll in maner and forme followynge Fyrste I bequethe my sowle to allmyghtye god to the blessed vyrgyn mary and to all the hollye companye of heven and my bodye to be buryed in Tilmanston churche yarde

Itm I will have at my forthfare a trentall of masses wythe dyridge at my monthes mynde as manye w’t dyrydge and at my twelvemonthes mynde like wyse a trentall w’t dryrge after the moste solempne fashyon used in the church
Itm I bequethe to the poore peple at my forthfare monthes mynde and twelve monthes mynde at everye tyme XXs and as for mete and drynke for the people I putt yt to the dyscretyon of my executors as they maye be honestly refreshed
Itm I bequeath to every one of my godchildren one ewe to be delyvered by myghelmas next after my decease

Itm I bequethe to my syster Awdlest Xs and to my sister christyns Xs
and to wyllyam Den the sonne of James Den late deceased Xs and to Thomas Den his brother Xs and to Peter Den their brother Xs and to John Den their brother Xs and to gelyane and cyseley Den there systers to eyther of them Xs

And to Lawrence Awdlest Xs and to Thomas Awdlest Xs
and to John Pamores wyfe Xs and to vyncent Awdlest yongest dawghter Xs
and to my brother John [the younger] Den’s dawghter Johane Xs
and to Marye Godfrayes my systers dawghter Xs and to James Godfray Xs

Itm I bequethe to Agnes my wyfe my annuytye in the range terme of her naturall lyfe whiche is yerelye XXs XXd
and after to remayne to Rychard Ower
And also XXXij acars of lest [leased] lande taken of Rycharde Ower to Agnes my wyfe tyll myghellmas nexte after my decease free for I have payde for yt for iX yeres to come and afterwarde the profecte of the saide lest for the said terme to remayne to John Church and to Thomas Ower
and if eyther they of them do die before the year be expired that then his part to remain to the other living I will that my executors shall have ? hereof till they come to 20 years of age.

Item I bequeath to John Churche 45 wethers and 45 ewes and to Thomas ower 45 wethers and 45 ewes to be delivered at 20 years of age and if either of them die before the come to the age aforesaid then his part to remain to the longer liver.
Item I bequeath 40 ewes to the poor people of this Parish of Tilmanstone after this sort that the most honest men of substance shall put them out to farm for the most vantage for the poor with the advisement of the vicar for the time being for ever and the money thereof ? to be delivered to the poor people at two times in the year that is to say on St Thomas ? day before Christmas and on Good Friday by even portions these to be delivered at Michelmas next after my decease.

Item I bequeath to Richard Ower £40 upon ? ? that he be a good husband and Christyns? that honest men will testify for him to be my Executors that then they shall deliver him at Candlemas come the twelve months £20 and at Candlemas next after £20
if no honest man will witness so for him that then I will my Executors shall pay this £40 of his debts where they so most need and necessary.

Item I bequeath to John Church and to Thomas Ower to either of them £10 to be delivered as before at the age of 20 years and if either of them die before the time appointed his part to remain to the longer liver.
Item I bequeath to Matthew Wolfe a seame of wheat and a seame of barley to be delivered at Michelmas next after my decease.
Item I bequeath to John Hayward a seame of barley to be delivered at Michelmas next after my decease.
Item I bequeath to John Wolfe a seame of barley likewise to be delivered at Michelmas.
Item I will that all my bequeaths bequeathed to John Church and to Thomas Ower if they both die before they come to the years appointed Agnes my wife then alive(?) that then she to have the disposing of it and if she die before and they two dye after before the tyme appoynted that then yt shall remayne to the nexte heyer

Itm I bequeath to Eden Harrison XLs
Itm I bequeath to Christyan Colverhouse Xs
The Residue of all my moveable goodes my debtes and bequethes fully contentyd and paide I geve to Agnes my wyfe the whiche Agnes and John Den [the younger] my brother I make my executors And I geve to my brother John Den for his labor iiij£

The saide John Den beynge in p’fecte rememberence but sicke in bodye and seynge his wyfe sicke also on the XXivth daye of october called for his wyll to here yt redde causid his brother James Den to be putt owtt and Alice Owers bycause they were dedde and sayde yf my wyfe dye of this dicease that then I geve the resydue of all my moveable goodes my debtes and bequethes payde I geve to John Den my brother the whiche John Den my brother I make sole executor to dyspoce for my sowle and all christen sowles as he thinkes beste wytness Thomas Lylford vycar Matthewe wolfe and John Wolfe wythe other …

Probatum fuit - 22nd Nov 1557

Note: he was mentioned in brother James Den’s will written 23 Aug 1557 Tilmanstone [and we now know that James died before 24 Oct 1557]

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