First I will that all those debts and duties I owe in righte or confirme to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shalle ..... and truely contented and paid or ordeyned to bee paid within convenient tyme after my decease by my Executors hereafter named:
Item I give and bequeath unto my sonn John Durling my Best suit of apparell to bee
delivered unto him presently after my decease by mine Executors hereafter named:
Item I give unto my said sonn John Durling the some of Tenn pounds to bee paid within a
Twelvemonth and a Day:
Item I give and bequeath unto Ann Durling daughter of him the said John Durling the some
of Five pounds to bee paid to the said Ann Durling at the Age of one and Twenty yeares or the
day of Marriage which shall first happen.
Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Durling daughter of him the said John Durling
the like some of five pounds to bee paid her att the Age of one and twenty yeares or day of
marriage which shall first happen
Item I will and Bequeath unto John Durling Sonn of him the said John Durling All that
small cottage or Tenement and bakside with the Appurtenances contyneing by Estimacon three rods
more or lesse nowe in the occupation of my said sonn John Durling:
Item I will and Bequeath unto my sonn William Durling the some of five pounds to bee paid to the said William Durling his Executors Admitted or assignor within A Twelvemonth and A day next after my decease:
Item I will and bequeath unto my sonn Thomas Durling All that messuage or Tenement with the Appurtenances thereunto belonging or appteyning Togerther with the Cherry Orchard and one part or parcell of ground conteyning together by Estimacon four Acres more or lesse now in the occupation of Nicholas Court his assignee or assignees:
Item I give and bequeath unto my two Sonnes George Durling and Thomas Durling all the
rest of my Estate with all Lands goods Chattells moveables ......... of Household Stuffe and
all the Stocke with the Appurtenances thereon to belonging to my now dwelling house commonly
called or Known by ye name of Parke house Farme Situate and being in Eynsford aforesaid
And doe make and ordeyne George Durling and Thomas Durling Executors: of this my last will
and Testament And I doe order and appointe my Executors to pay the some of one hundred pounds
Oute of my Stocke beeing upon A mortgage of the house where Nicholas Court nowe liveth
And I doe appoint my Executors George Durling and Thomas Durling to pay unto the Minister which
shall preach my funerall Sermon the some of Tenn shillings
And I doe revoke all former wills and Testaments by me in any wise heretofore made and declared
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Durling the Elder have hereunto sett my hand and Seale the
day and yeare above written:
Signed sealed published and declared to bee the last will and Testament of Thomas Durling the
Elder in the presence of us -
the marke of Richard Lan.. - John Evans - David George (?)
Memoranda that I Thomas Durling doe give and bequeath unto Jane Lony the some of Five
pounds to bee paid by mine Executors above named within a yeare and A day next after my decease
And I Thomas Durling doe charge and require my Executors to deliver unto my wife Elizabeth Lambe
(?) such goods as in wright or consionce were hers in the tyme of her widdowhood or the tolle
full value of them;
In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written.
the marke of Thomas Durling ye Elder
Thomas Durling senior was a yeoman of Parke House, Eynsford. A yeoman owned land of more
than 40 shillings a year annual value. This qualified him to serve on a jury and vote for the
shire knight. He himself was likely the son of a Thoma Durling born in the parish about 1583.
Jane Durling married Henry Honey at St.Martin's 12.2.1667 - aged 16.
Mary Turnbridge married Nicholas Court - she could have been a widow and born Durling.
Nichols Culpepper was a near contemporary and, himself a physican and herbalist, only reared
his daughter Mary to adulthood out of 7 children. Nicholas was devoted to tobacco and died
relatively young leaving his wife to bring up his daughter.
All this fits together save for the addendum to Thomas's will which mentions his wife by name:
Elizabeth Lambe; she may be a second wife. Further investigation is indicated.
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Thomas Durling