Devall Will 1672

Will of John Devall

of Hawkhurst, Kent


Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 16/288 D/1 or: PRC 17/73/184
Submitted by Kevin Robards
In the name of God Amen I John Devall of Hawkerst in the Countie of Kent Clothier, being Sicke and weake in body but of sound and p[er]fect mind and memory (Thankes be given to God therefore) doe this present Six and Twentieth day of May in the yeare of our Lord One Thowsand Six hundred seaventy Two, make and ordaine my last will and Testament in maner following
in the first place I doe recommend my Soule to God that gave it mee, And my body I leave to returne to the earth from whence it came and to receive a decent buryall (at the discrecon of my Executor hereafter named) And touching the disposicon of such Estate as God hath beene pleased to blesse mee within this World, I doe dispose thereof as followeth

Imprimis I doe give and bequeath unto John Devall my Sonne for and towards payment of my Debts, Legacies, Funerall Expences, probate of this my Will, And other Charges touching the same, All and every my goods, Chattells and personal Estate whatsoever

And for and towards the purposes aforesaid, I doe alsoe will and appoynt my Messuage, Lands and Tenements containing by estimation Eighteene acres with the appurtenances in Hawkerst aforesaid (now in the occupacon of mee or my Assignes) shalbe sold by my said Sonne and my sonne William or the survivour of them, or the heries of the said Survivour (with what Convenient Speede, and at the best price that they can get for the same
And I doe give unto my said Sons John Devall and William Devall and to the survivors of them, and to the heires of the said Survivour full power and Authority to sell the said Messuage, lands and Tenements with the appurtenances accordingly (As fully and effectually as I might or could sell the same (where [were] I liveing) And I doe will and appoint that the moneys ariseing by the sale thereof shall be paid unto my said sonne John Devall (for and toward the purposes aforesaid)

And I doe will and bequeath unto Frances my wife Tenn shillings of lawfull money of England

And I doe further will That (after my debts, Legacies, funerall expences and probate of this my Will, And all charges of or touchinge the execucion of this my will are fully paid and discharged That the residue remayneinge of my aforesaid goods, chattells and personal Estate, And of the moneys ariseinge of or by the Sale of my said Messuage, lands and Tenements with the appurtenances shallbe equally devided and paid unto and among all my Children (That is to say)
The said John Deveall and William Devall (my Sonnes) and my daughters Elizabeth Devall, Mary Devall, Jane Devall and Rachell Devall

And I doe make and ordaine my said sonne John Devall Sole Executor of my last will and Testament
And for the better ascertaineinge and quieting of what ye remainder of my said Estate shall amount unto, the same shallbe referred to Peter Crothall, Thomas Mercer (Clothier) and William Moys (All of Hawkerst aforesaid) or any two of them or the Survivour of them
And that my said Executor shall account unto them or any two of them, for and touchinge my said Estate, And likewise that what they, or any two of them, or the said Survivour of them, shall in Writeing (under their or his hands or hand) ascertaine to be the remainder of my said Estate shallbe consistinge to all my Children concerned therein

In Wittnesse whereof to each sheete of this my last will and Testament (being three in number) I the said John Devall (the Testator) have set my hand, and to the last of them my seale And have published and declared the same to be my last Will and Testament in the presence of them whose names are hereunto Subscribed
John Devall

Read, subscribed, sealed and published to be the last Will and Testament of the said John Devall (the Testator) in the presence of:
Rich: Kilburne; Thomas Mercer and William Moyse

Probatum fuit: 23rd July 1672

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 17th July 2021


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Will of John Devall
Created by Maureen Rawson