Will of Esther Denne

of St Margaret's, Rochester, Kent

I give and bequeath to my nephew the Reverand 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 .... Board.
Also I give and bequeath to my nephew the Reverand 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 my 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 ... rings and my silver milk pott.
Also I give and bequeath to my brother Henry Denne a ring,
and to his son John Denne this ring I had from my father,
and to my nephew Henry Denne and to my nephew Thomas Denne six large silver spoons,
to my niece Mary Denne my ring in .... enamel.

To my niece Sarah Parker, wife of .... Parker the mourning ring I had .... 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 Blaxland�s daughter, my silver snuff box
and to my niece Elizabeth Blaxland a ring.
Also I give to and bequeath to my brother and sister Hollingbery the sum of Twenty pounds apiece for mourning
and to my said sister Hollingbery all my wearing apparel (except two long cloaks) and the household linen I have at her house.
Also to my niece Hester Hollingbery her daughter, my ......... an easy chair, my .... and my black writing box.
To my niece Sarah Hollingbery my large silver spoon marked ED. Three tea spoons, strainer tongs and silver sponge box. And my ....
to my nephews John Thomas and Henry Hollingbery, each a ring,
and also to my said nephew Thomas Hollingbery my prayer book with silver clasps marked DG.

And lastly after my debts, legacies, and funeral expenses are past 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 remain of my real and personal estate whatsoever to my said nephews and niece the said Reverend John and Samuel Denne and their 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 also all former or other Wills by me at any time here before made. Declaring his only to be my last Will and Testament in subject 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 grant 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.
Esther 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 Testator
Henry Thornton, the mark John Sadbury, Will Stubbs

This will was proved at London the thirteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Four before the Right Worshipfull Sir Edward Simpson, Knight, Doctor of Laws, Master ..... Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Lawfully constituted by the oath of the Reverend John Denne, Doctor of 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.

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