All my worldly goods of what name nature and quality soever they be except inheritance lands and tenements and except bondes made
either to my father or to me for assurance of inheritance lands and tenements. I give and bequeath them (except before
excepted) to Johane my well beloved wife whom I do ordain and make my sole and whole Executrix paying my debts.
And I do hereby revoke and make frustrate all former wills or testaments made by me before the date hereof.
This is the last will of me the said Vincent Denne as touching my inheritance lands and tenements in the County of Kent.
First I will that Johane my wife shall receyve and take up all rentes yssues profitts and Fermes of all my houses, lands, tenements
and hereditaments whatsoever (except my house and lands with thappertuances in Bekesbourne which I have sould to Robert Beke)
which shall be due from the time of my death until the laste daie of September which shall be in the year of
our Lord one thousand five hundred ninety and twoe and until that time my mind is that she shall keep my children
provided always that she my said wife during that time shall not fell or sell any woods, underwoods, hedgerows or trees but only for
her own fuel and the reparations of my housing.
Item I will and bequeath to John Denne my eldest sonne my capital messuage in Kingston
wherein I my selfe did dwell together with all edifices belonging, casements gardens and
outyardes to the same belonging or appertayninge and all other my messuages edifices and
buildings that I have in Kingston with all my arable lands pastures meadows woods and
other hereditaments situate lying or being in Kingston aforesaid in whose tenure or
occupation soever they may be with all my messuages arable lands pastures meadows woods
and other hereditaments whatsoever which I have situate lying or being in Bishoppesbourne
between Bercham Downe and Laughton Parke and between Borham Downe and Kingston
Reed as allso in Berham between Berhamdowne aforesaid and the Court? together with all
evidente escriptes obligac and bondes concerning only the premises before to him bequeathed or only any part thereof
to have and to hold all and singular the premises with their and every of their appertuances to the said John Denne his heirs and
assigns for ever in fee simple and to have the possession thereof immediately after my wife’s aforesaid estate
and term determined expired and ended and not before under these limitations following.
First that he the said John Denne within one quarter of a yere after my decease and after
knowledge of this poynte of my will and before she shall make any conveyance of the
premises or of any parte thereof or otherwise charge or encumber the same or any part
thereof and before he shall do any act or acts whereby this my will and the true meaning
thereof should be hindred or lett shall acknowledge one Recogniznnce or Statut before the
Cheife Justice of England or the Cheife Justice of the Common Pleas in nature of a Statut
staple of the somme of Fyve hundred pounds of Lawful money of England at the proper
costes and charges in the Lawe of the saied John Denne.
Whiche statut my will is shalbe acknowledged to Jo’ane my saied wife and to Thomas Denne my Brother and to my cozen
Robert Denne with this Defeazance in effect to be Drawne and penned by the advice and
councell of my said Brother Thomas Denne according to the true meaninge of this my will
that yf the saied John Denne his heires and assignes after my wyves saied estate and terme
ended and expired yearlie to paie to my saied wife his mother and to her assignes for and in
the name of a Joynture and in full recompense satisfaction and dischardge of all former
Joyntures to her in any Wise made and of all Dowers which she by any meanes may clayme
or challenge out of all landes and hereditaments to hym the saied John by this my will given
and out of all other my lands tenements and hereditaments hereafter by this my will to my
other children to be given the somme of twenty and fyve pounds of lawful money of England
during her life naturall at the feastes of the Nativity of our Lord the Annunciation of our
Lady the Nativity of Saint John [the] Baptist and Saint Michael the Archangell by even
porcons yearlie to be paid in the church porche of the parishe Church of Kingston aforesaid.
And allso yf the said John Denne his heires and assignes do paie to my daughter Anne
(whoe ys seaven yeres of age at Midsummer laste) or to her mother during her wydowhood
to the use of the saied Anne after my wyves saied estate ended the somme of Sixe poundes of
lawful money of England yearlie for the sustentacon and mayntenence of the said Anne by
the space of eleaven yeres after the date of this my will at the saied feastes quarterly to be paied at the place aforesaid.
And allso yf the saied John Denne his heires or assignes do content and paye on the feast daye of the Nativitie of Sainte John [the]
Baptist which shalbe in the yere of our Lord one thousand syx hundred and twoe (which is the eleaventhe yere
after the date of this my will at what time she the saied Anne shalbe of Eighteene yeres of age
to the said Anne or to her assignes (yf she be by then lyving) the somme of one hundred
poundes of lawfull money of England towardes the advanncement in mariage of the saied
Anne at the saied churche porche of Kingston aforesaied.
And allso yf the said John Denne his heires or assignes do content and paye at the place aforesaied to the saied Anne on the
Feaste Daie of Nativitie of Sainte John [the] Baptiste which shalbe in the yere of our Lord
one thousand sixe hundred and fyve (yf she the saied Anne be then lyvinge) the somme of
thirtie three poundes sixe shillinges and eighte pence of lawfull money of England more in
full payment of the somme of two hundred markes to her as aforesaid to be paid
and if it fortunethe saied Anne Denne to die before the saied time of payment of the said two hundred markes having one child or more of her body lawfully begotten and the same child or children fortune to live until the said time then if the said John Denne his heirs or assigns do content and pay to the said child or children equally between them to be divided at the time aforesaid and at the place aforesaid the said sum of two hundred marks or to the father of the said child or children if he be then alive to the use of the said child or children that then the said statute staple shall be void provided always and my will is that the said annuity of six pounds by the year shall cease at eleven years and if the said sum of one hundred pounds be paid with effect.
And I will that if the said John my son do not acknowledge the said statut with such Defeaznance in such sort as before in this my will is declared then my said wife during her widowhood my brothers Thomas Denne, Robert Denne of Darnhill, William Thomas and John Coppin my servants and the survivor of them shall take the issues and profits of all my housing lands tenements and hereditaments to him the said John my son before by this my will bequeathed until such time as they or the survivor of them have levied the said sum of two hundred marks for the said Anne my daughter in manner as is aforesaid to be paid over and before the twenty and five pounds by the year to my said wife and the six pounds by the year to the said Anne my daughter in manner as is aforesaid to be paid which my will is they or the survivor of them shall pay and discharge as is aforesaid out of the issues and profits of the premises and over and before the sum of fifteen pounds by the year which my will is they or the survivor of them shall pay to the said John Denne my son out of the issues and profits of the premises for his maintenance
provided always that if my said son John die before he be married either in my life or after my death then I will all and singular the premises before to the said John by this my will bequeathed to William my second son to him and to his heirs forever with the like charge and under the same limitations as before in this my will are limited to the said John so as the said William do acknowledge a statute staple to the said parties with the like defeznance within one quarter of a year after the death of John my son if he the said John die after my decease or within one quarter of a year after my death if the said John die in my lifetime.
And if both John and William do die before they be severally married then I will all and singular the premises before by this
my will willed to John my son to Thomas my third son to him and to his heirs forever.
And then I will that my said wife during her widowhood my brother Thomas Denne Robert
Denne William Thomas and John Coppin and the survivor of them shall take the issues and
profits of the premises to the uses aforesaid until such time as the said Thomas shall come to the age of twenty and four years
and if all the said John William and Thomas my sons die before they be severally married then I will the premises to Henry the fourth son to him and to his heirs for ever. And then I will my said wife during her widowhood my brother Thomas Denne Robert Denne William Thomas and John Coppin and the survivor of them shall take the issues and profits of the premises to the uses aforesaid and for the performance of my will in such sort as is before limited.
Item I will my manor or messuage of Bursted with all devices lands pastures woods rents
and service to the same belonging with the appertuances in the Parish of Bishopsbourne and
High Hardres to William my second son to him and to his heirs for ever provided that where
I have made a bargain with Robert Beke of Ash next Sandwich in the County of Kent
yeoman for my house and land in Bekesbourne for one hundred pounds whereof I have
received before the date hereof fifty pounds and am to receive the other fifty at New Years
tide next which house and lands were bequeathed to me by my fathers will for term of my
life without impeachment of waste the remainder to the said William my son and to his heirs
for ever if the said William my son do make sufficient assurance of the said house and lands
with their appertuances to the said Robert Beke his heirs and assigns for ever or to such
person or persons and their heirs to whom the said Robert Beke shall thereunto lymit and
appoint at or before the Feast of the Epiphany next ensuing after the date of this my will at
the costs and charges in the Law of the said Robert Beke his heirs or assigns and enter into
one bond or obligation of two hundred pounds of lawful money of England for the enjoying
of the said house and lands with the appertuances and of every part thereof saved harmless of
all encumbrances whatsoever done by him the said William or by any other by his means or procurement.
And also if the said William do suffer my daughter Jane to have and enjoy
the forty pounds parcel of the fifty which I received of the said Robert Beke being in the
hands of my brother Thomas Denne and also the other fifty pounds that is to be received at
New Years tide next and two years fearme of Burstead in lieu of the other ten pounds.
And also if the said William my son do enter into bond or obligation of threescore pounds of
lawful money of England to be paid Jane with condition for the payment of thirty and three
pounds to the said Jane at her age of twenty and one years then I will that the said William
my son shall have my said manor or messuage of Burstead with all edifices lands tenements
woods and other the premises with their appertuances to him and to his heirs for ever without
any further charge.
But if he will not agree thereunto but will have the whole sum of one hundred pounds to himself to be paid after my death or do refuse to make assurance of the house and lands in Bekesbourne together with the bond to the said Robert Beke or refuse to make the said bond to the said Jane my daughter then I will that my said daughter Jane shall have authority by this my will to free or cut down all my woods at Burstead and all the timber there according to the statute and that she the said Jane and her assigns shall have seven years utterance of the same woods and timber with free ingress egress and regress in and upon all the grounds at Burstead for her the said Jane and all other person or persons that shall buy the said woods and timber or any part thereof for that purpose during the seven years. And after the said seven years ended I will the said woods and woodlands to him the said William and to his heirs for ever and if he die before he be married then I will that all I have given him before in this my will shall remain to Thomas my third son to him and to his heirs for ever with the like charge and under the same limitations in all points limited to the said William my son.
Item I bequeath to Thomas my third son my two messuages or tenements in the Parish of
High Hardres wherein Stephen Mighell and John Bolton do now severally inhabit with all
the edifices lands and pastures now in their several mannerance or occupations situate lying
and being in High Hardres aforesaid and Becham (except twenty acres by estimation called
Crispes which my father bought of Sir Henry Crispe, Knight).
Also I bequeath to the said Thomas all my woodlands called Great Brocktons and a piece of lands of five acres more or
less called Littlewood Leaye where I have set up the frame of a little house and also a piece
of woodland lying on the same side of the highway there which two last recited parcels of
land and woodland I purchased amongst other lands from Lord Chief Baron Allst? I
bequeath to the said Thomas my son all my woodland at Pickett Meare and any woodland I
bought of Mr Lawrence below Mellfield and the woodland adjoining to Downings and one
acre of woodland lying at Bekondowne or Greene Ways among Mr Brentes woods to have
and to hold all and singular the premises with their and every of their appertuances after my wife’s said estate ended to the
said Thomas my third son his heirs and assigns for ever.
And also I give to the said Thomas one parcel of pasture ground called Green Broctons containing by estimation twenty acres now in the occupation of Christopher Nethersoll or of his assigns to have and to hold the same to the said Thomas my son his heirs and assigns for ever.
Provided and yet my will is that when by deed of gift and by act heretofore done before witnesses assigned my daughter Margaret only the sum of one hundred pounds now in the hands of Nicholas Beverley of Canterbury my will is she shall have to her paid the full sum of two hundred marks of lawful money of England and for the further payment thereof I will she shall have power and authority by this my will to fell and cut down so much wood in Great Broctons above ten years growth to make up with the said hundred pounds the said sum of two hundred marks to her to be paid. And I will that she the said Margaret shall have three years utterance for the felling of the same in due season provided always and my mind is that the said Nicholas Beverley of Canterbury shall have two years rent of Green Broctons as it now goeth after my wife’s estate ended and after the same two years ended I will that my son Nethersoll shall have two years more of the same Green Broctons and to make the most he can of the same without felling of any woods hedgerows or trees there and afterwards I will that my said son Thomas shall have the same in such sort manner and form as before in this my will is set down and declared.
Item I will to Henry my fourth son to him and to his heirs for ever my farm called Dane or Dane House now with tenure or occupation of James Court or of his assigns (except Littlewood lease) and I further will to the said Henry and to his heirs all the woodland and woods one Colehillside Bonockfield and Brickhouse and all the hedgerows east and south from Elcham Lane.
Item I will to my son Vincent my fifth son my house and lands that Fittel and Sholner dwell in and occupy with all the woods at Waterways Berthram and Lytcham Dane and twenty acres of land called Crispes which my father bought of Sir Henry Crispe with the woods and hedgerows to the same belonging
provided always and yet my will is that my said wife during her widowhood my brother Thomas Denne, Robert Denne, William Thomas and John Coppin and the survivor of them shall take the issues and profits of the three portions to my three youngest sons before given until they severally shall accomplish the age of twenty and five years and longer if the profits of the same portions will not be sufficient to fulfil my will hereafter specified that is to say that Katherine my daughter shall have five pounds of lawful money of England by the year for her education after my wife’s estate ended until such time as the said Katherine be of the age of twenty and one years or be married which of them first happen and that she the said Katherine shall have the full sum of five hundred marks of lawful money of England for her advancement in marriage to be paid at her age of twenty and one years or day of marriage which first happens which portions I will shall rise out of the profits of the said portions over and above the said six pounds by the year and the said two hundred marks levied I will shall be shifted amongst my said three youngest sons at their ages of twenty and five years.
Provided always and my will is that that my said three younger sons on to the issues and
profits of their said portions shall be allowed the sum of eight pounds of lawful money of
England apiece yearly for their sustenance and education if the same will arise out of the
profits of their portion provided also and my will is that every of the said three younger sons
shall enter upon his portion before to him bequeathed at his age of twenty and five years if
my will may then be fulfilled
provided further that if it fortune that the said Katherine my
daughter die before her said age of twenty and one years or before she be married that then
the sum of one hundred marks parcel of that which should be levied out of the issues and
profits of the portions of my three youngest sons shall be paid to my said son John (if he be
then living) or else to him that shall have his portion by this my will towards his or their charge and to cost him of them
therewith of their burden and charge aforesaid.
And also provided that if it fortune that Anne my daughter do dye before she attain the age of eighteen years or be married that then my said son John shall pay to my daughter Katherine for my said three youngest sons the sum of one hundred marks in discharge of them thereof and then I will they shall have their said portions the sooner thereby
provided also that if my said son William do refuse to make assurance to Robert Beke as is aforesaid that then the said Robert Beke shall have to him repaid his fifty pounds again and where the said Robert Beke by his bargain should have ten tons of timber together with the top thereof my mind is the same shall be taken and felled in Picklet Meare aforesaid and Great Broctons.
And my will is that every of my said sons at such time as they severally shall come to my lands by this my will shall have the evidences escriptes bondes and obligations concerning only the lands and hereditaments to them severally before willed.
Witnesses hereof Thomas Denne the writer hereof. Vincent Nethersoull, Nicholas Beverley, Stephen Mighell, Agnes Hopkyn. By me Vincent Denne.
Probatum in Latin 13 October 1591 London: Peter Johnson public notary; Johanne relict & executrix
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Vincent Denne