Item, I will these to be bestowed at my burial to the poor people of Kingstone 209 shillings and for the poor people of Barham another ten
shillings by my Executor.
Item, I will and bequeath to Agnes my wife two keyn Of the best to be delivered to her immediately after my
decease by my Executor.
Item, I will all my household stuff and plate shall be divided in three parts that is to say between Agnes my wife and my two sons Vincent and Thomas these pieces except the hanging in the hall, the hanging in the parlor, the hanging in the loft over the parlor, the great table in the hall, and the great table in the parlor, the furniture and all the brewing vessels and the quern (handmill) which shall go with the house I dwell in.
Item, I will unto Thomas Denne my sonne one gray gelding which the said Thomas already has in his custody.
Item, I will in the division of my said household my wife shall give as her third part my best feather bed
with the banister to the same and I will that my said wife in consideration of the said bequest of the third part of all the
household and plate to her made shall not have any reasonable or third part of all my goods and chattels or bed furnished, but if she
do claim the same by color (?) Of any law or custom, then I will this my bequest to nothing any household or plate or any other bequest
hereafter in my will to be made to my said wife shall be utterly void
by me William Denne.
Words spoken by the Testator in the morning before he dyed and not then written [nuncupative]
I will that Vincent Denne my son shall be my sole and whole Executor of this my last will,
written by my son Thomas and subscribed with mine own hand
and the residue of all my goods debts obligations and all other things except lands and goods hereditaments
my debts and legacies paid I give to my son - Vincent and his children
and I make John Coppin my overseer to whom I give five pence
and I charge my two sons named that they disagree not for the devil like a ranging lyon will do much
and I charge Sir Henry Chrispe Knight ruler in that case at variance for I will bind them to agree and if they do fall bargain
about my will be that is in fault and first beginnith the variance shall lose the benefit of my will.
In witness thereof Francis White Minister John Nash, Evelyn Nash, John Browning, Agnes Denne the wife of the Testator, Mary Coppin, the wife of John Coppin daughter to the Testator and Katherine Gookin, the wife of John Gookin another of Testators daughters.
This is the last will of William Denne made the day and year above written.
First I will and bequeath to Thomas Denne my son and to his heirs forever my tenament called Denne, With? all the lands, tenements
and hereditaments lying & being in the parish of Addisham, Beakesbourne and Heath which I purchased of Sir Henry Crispe, Knight.
Item I will to the said Thomas Denne and to his heirs forever, my tenement called Denne With all the lands, tenements and
hereditaments which I purchased of Mr. Isaacke.
Item I will to the said Thomas Denne my son and to his heirs forever one other tenement in the parish of Addsham at Coping Marsh in the
occupation of Holberte, With all the lands thereto belonging which I purchased of Thomas Tufton.
Item I will to Thomas Denne my son an annuity or rent charge which I have out of the lands and tents, which late were to
John Tufton lying at Denne in Addisham to him and to heirs to have and to hold all the aforesaid tents land hereditaments annuity
or rent charge with all other foreever of my lands tenements and hereditaments the which lying in Addisham, Beakesbourne and Heath.
Except the tenements and hereditaments in Beakesbourne which I purchased of Richard Allen of Addisham unto the said Thomas Denne all
evidence, writings, charters, monuments and obligations touching or concerning the lands, tenements and hereditaments above will and
bequeath to the said Thomas to be delivered by my Executor to the said Thomas within one month next after my decease.
I will that Vincent Denne my Executor when and at what time it shall be thought to be delivered by the said Thomas Denne and his heirs or
assigns shall present and follow at the cost and charges in the law of the said Thomas Denne heirs or assigns all such suits as shall be
purchased and sued by the said Thomas in the name of the said Vincent his Executors or assigns upon any obligation or touching the assurance
of the lands, tenements, and hereditaments above willed and bequeathed to the said Thomas
and I further will that the said Vincent my Executor shall not release discontinue.... or hinder nor refuse to
present and follow any said obligation or obligations or suits to be taken or had the same upon payment, that I will the said Vincent
shall forfeit and pay unto Thomas his brother as money and as .... as money and as .... of money as contained in the said obligation or
obligations beside the cost and charge in the law contained in that behalf
and I further will the said Vincent shall suffer the said Thomas his executors or assigns to receive and take up to his or
their own use or uses all such sums of money as shall be received or gotten by the said suits or by means thereof.
Item, to Vincent Denne my son and to his heirs forever my mansion house at Kingston with all other messuages land, tenements .... and hereditaments whatsoever with the appurtenances lying and being in the parishes of Kingston, Bishopsbourne, Barham, High Hardes, Stelling and Hythe or West Hythe or elsewhere in the county of Kent or Canterbury except the lands, tenements and hereditaments before willed and bequeathed to the said Thomas or hereafter to be willed by those person or persons.
Item, I will and bequeath to Vincent Denne my son my messuage or tenement or lands, tenements & hereditaments
which I purchased of Richard Allen of Addisham lying in Beakesbourne to have and to hold the same to the said Vincent for the term of his
natural life without payment of after his decease.
I will the same shall remain to William Denne son of the said Vincent to his assigns and heirs forever provided that if the said
William Denne the son of the said Vincent shall fortune to die during the life of me the said William Denne then I will that after the
decease of the said Vincent that said lands shall remain to John Denne another son of the said Vincent to him and his heirs forever.
Item, I will and bequeath to Agnes my wife five pounds yearly to be paid out of the lands tenements and hereditaments before willed, to Thomas my son to have and to hold the same so long as the said Agnes shall live sole and unmarried, and if it fortunes the said Agnes by not quarterly paid then I will that she shall and may enter into the said lands above willed unto the said Thomas and there to disarm and distress to retain until she be of the said rent thereof satisfied and paid.
Item I will that Agnes my wife............. after my decease, my tenement or messuage at Beakesbourne with the lands, tenements and hereditaments which I bought of Richard Allen of Addisham so long as she shall live sole and unmarried and paying yearly... to the said Vincent and after his decease to three pounds of lawful money of England at the feast of the year, that is to say St. Michaelmas, Christmas, the Annunciation of our Lady and Midsummer Day. Then I will the said Agnes shall and may enter into the said lands tenements and hereditaments above willed unto the said Vincent by equal portions to be paid and if the rent be hindered then the said Vincent and after his decease then to ..... the inheritance should ... for the ...and ..... the and parcel be fully sacrificed and paid provided always and never the less my will is that Agnes my said wife shall claim by this my will no part of any of the said rent or yearly rent payments or occupation of the said house and lands in Beakesbourne before the said Agnes do severly release unto the said Vincent and Thomas their heirs and assigns all title and her right of dower of and in the land tenements and hereditaments before to them and either of them will and bequeathed by me William Denne.
Proved ACC Canterbury 23 Oct 1572
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of William Denn