Item I give to the poor mens box of the Parish of Littlebourne six shillings 8d.
Item I will and bequeath unto Thomas Denne my son fourscore pounds of lawful money of
England to be paid him by �20 a year as if need require by five pounds quarterly within four
years next after my decease.
Item I give unto Christopher
Denne my son three score pounds to be paid him at his age of 21 years if he so long live otherwise I
will the said �60 unto Margery my wife.
Item I will and bequeath unto Elizabeth Denne my daughter
twenty pounds at the day of her marriage or at her age of 22 years which shall first happen.
Item I will unto my daughter Anne Denne �20 at the day of her marriage or at her age of
18 years which shall first happen.
Item I give to each of my daughters Mary Denne and Margery Denne twenty pounds apiece at
their several ages of 18 years or at the several days of their marriages which shall first happen.
And if it happen any of my foresaid daughters do die before their several marriages or before they severally
shall accomplish their several ages beforesaid then I will that her or their part so deceased shall remain
unto such of those my said daughters as shall survive.
Item I will unto Alice Parker my daughter six
pounds thirteen shillings four pence over and above the marks which her father Paul Parker did
bequeath her at the day of her marriage or else at her age of twenty years.
Item I will unto David Denne
and John Denne my sons all my brewing vessels and three beds for servants with their furniture in the
loft behind the back door and all my racks and mangers and two ploughs two courtes(?) and my malt
mill.
Item my will is that David Denne my son shall not enter upon the farm of my manor of
Littlebourne until the Feast of Saint Michael next after my death nor meddle with any profits thereof
save from the said Feast but shall quietly suffer Margery my wife to have and enjoy the same wholly
during the said time and thenceforth to have the moiety thereof until my son John shall accomplish the
age of 21 years if she so long do live.
Item my will is that John Denne my son shall not enter upon the
said farm until he come to the age of 21 years nor shall meddle with any profits thereof save from the
said time if his mother shall so long live but shall quietly permit her to enjoy the same during the said
time.
Item I give to Alice Rigden my daughter five pounds to be paid to her within one year after my
death.
Item I give to William Parker my wifes son my sorrel nag that is gelded.
Item I will to every of
the many servants that I shall have in covenants at the time of my death three bushels of barley and to
every of my boys that shall be in covenant at the time of my death two bushels of barley and to each of
my maid servants as shall be at the time(?) end(?) of their several covenants if they behave themselves
dutifully and do my wife faithful service.
The residue of all my goods moveable and chattels unbequeathed my debts being paid and my legacies being performed I give unto Margery my wife whom I make my sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. Provided always and my will is that if my said wife do marry again then before her said marriage she shall put in sufficient bond unto my overseers of this my testament or to the survivor of them to pay my legacies and to find my children meat drink and apparel until they shall accomplish the age of fourteen years and if any of my children be not content to perform this my last Will and Testament then my will is that he or they shall receive no legacy nor reap any benefit by this my testament anything before mentioned to the contrary notwithstanding.
And I make my brother Michael Denne and Valentine Austen of Adisham my
overseers of this my testament and I do give to either of them for their pains 10s apiece.
Also I give unto Margery Denne my wife my tenement with the lands thereto belonging (which I late purchased of
Mr Selby) during her natural life she paying the lords rent and keeping reparations watertight and wind
tight and after her decease I give the said tenement and lands unto Christopher Denne my son and to
the issue of his body lawfully begotten for ever and for want of such issue to Thomas Denne my son
and his heirs forever. Witness whereof I have set my hand to these present by me David Denne.
Witnesses thereof
Henry Rigden, William Parker, Nicholas Stacy, Thomas Skipworth.
Probatum 1586
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of David Denne