Will of Hester Denne

of Rochester, Kent

I give and bequeath to my nephew the Reverend John Denne of Maidstone in the said County, Clerk my silver handled knife and fork in a case with a spoon and to his wife my India Tea Board.
Also I give and bequeath to my nephew the Reverend Samuel Denne, Clerk four silver salts and spoons my household furniture and china a box of linen my silver pepper box and my books (except two prayer books).
Also I give and bequeath to my niece Susannah Denne their sister my prayer book with silver clasps marked ED and also two stone(?) rings and my silver milk pot.
Also I give and bequeath to my brother Henry Denne a ring and to his son John Denne the ring I had from my father and to my nephew Henry Denne a ring and to my nephew Thomas Denne six large silver spoons.
To my niece Mary Denn my ring in green enamel.
To my niece Sarah Parker wife of ? Parker the mourning ring I had for my sister Elizabeth
and to my niece Margaret Solly wife of ? Solly a silver tankard and a mourning ring
and to ? Denne wife of Mr John Denne son of my late brother Henry Denne a ring.

Also I give to Hester my niece, Hester Blaxlands daughter my silver snuff box
and to my niece Elizabeth Blaxland a ring.
Also I give and bequeath to my brother and sister Hollingberry the sum of twenty pounds apiece for mourning and to my said sister Hollingberry all my wearing apparel (except two large cloaks) and the household linen I have at her house.
Also to my niece Hester Hollingberry her daughter my work for an Easy Chair my ? and my black writing box.
To my niece Sarah Hollingberry my large silver spoon marked ED three teaspoons, strainer, tongs and a silver sponge box and my ?
To my nephews John, Thomas and Henry Hollingberry each a ring and also to my said nephew Thomas Hollingberry my prayer book with silver clasps marked PG

and lastly after my debts legacies and funeral expenses are paid and satisfied I give devise and bequeath all the rest and residue of my real and personal estate whatsoever to my beloved brother Dr John Denne, Archdeacon of Rochester whom I desire to distribute the sum of twenty shillings to the poor of the Parish of Littlebourne aforesaid in bread(?)for and during the term of his natural life and from and immediately after his decease I give devise and bequeath the said rest and residue of my real and personal estate whatsoever to my sister Susannah Denne his wife for and during the term of her natural life if she shall so long continue his widow and from and after her decease or marrying again I give devise and bequeath the said rest and residue of my real and personal estate whatsoever to my said nephews and nieces the said Reverend John and Samuel Denne and their said sister Susannah Denne equally to be divided between them share and share alike and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said brother the Reverend Dr John Denne sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former or other wills by me at any time heretofore made declaring this only to be my last Will and Testament.

In Witness whereof I have set my hand and seal to each sheet thereof being contained in two sheets of paper this seventeenth day of February in the fourth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty four. Hester Denne signed sealed published and declared by the said Mrs Hester Denne as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as Witnesses in the presence of each other and in the presence and at the request of the said Testatrix.
Mary Thornton the mark of Jane Ladbury(?), William Stubbs.

This will was proved at London the thirtieth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty four before the Right Worshipful Sir Edward Simpson, Knight, Doctor of Laws, Master, Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of the Reverend John Denne Doctor in Divinity the brother of the deceased and sole Executor named in the said will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased he having been first sworn by commission duly to administer.

Return to Kent Genealogy