First I will and desire that all my just debts funeral expences and probate of this my Will be first paid and discharged by my Executors herein after named
Item I give devise and bequeath unto John Amhurst Walter of Marden Gentleman and his Heirs all that
one Messuage or Tenement with the buildings lands and appurtenances situate in Staplehurst in the
County of Kent and now in the occupation of Joseph Underhill
And also all my Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind or quality soever
of which I shall die possessed interested in or intitled unto In Trust only and for the only proper use &
behoofe of my Mother Martha Foster for & during the Term of her natural Life
Hereby impowering him the said John Anhurst Walter my said Trustee alone to receive the rent of my
said Farm and also the interest of all such Moneys as shall arise and become due from any security or
securities whatsoever and upon receit thereof to pay the same to my said Mother Martha Foster by half
yearly payments in such a manner as the rent & interest thereby rec�ed shall appear to amount unto
And my Will is that her receit or acquittance alone (notwithstanding she should happen hereafter to
marry again) shall from time to time be a sufficient discharge for the same
And my will further is that my said Trustee his Executors or administrators shall not be charged or
chargeable with or accountable for any more of the aforesaid Trust money than he shall actually receive
or shall come to his hands by virtue of this my Will nor with any loss or damage in the insufficiency or
deficiency of any security or securities on which the said Trust money or any part thereof shall or may be
invested nor for any misfortune loss or damage which may happen in the Execution of the aforesaid
Trust unless the same shall happen by or thro� his own wilfull neglect or default
And also that it shall & may be lawful for my said trustee by and out of the aforesaid Trust money to
reimburse himself all reasonable charges that he may be put unto in the Execution of the aforesaid Trust in him reposed
And from and immediately after the decease of my said Mother Martha Foster I do hereby impower as well as order & direct my said Trustee to sell & dispose of the said Farm & lands before mentioned for the most money that can be had or got for the same
And the money arising by such sale together with all principal & interest that shall appear to be due to
me (when received by my said Trustee) I do hereby will and desire my said Trustee to pay unto the
several persons herein after mentioned in manner following (that is to say)
unto Joseph Williams the younger of Marden aforesaid Shopkeeper and Taylor the summe of Eight pounds
to Richard Mellyam of Staplehurst aforesaid the summe of Six pounds
And all the residue and remainder unto my four sisters (that is to say)
Elizabeth now the wife of James Webb
Lydia now the wife of William Hutson
Ann now the wife of ___ Underdown
and Margaret now the wife of John Davis
and also to my neice Elizabeth Homewood daughter of ____ Homewood
equally to be divided between them share and share alike
And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said mother Martha Foster and the said John
Amhurst Walter joint Executrix and Executor of this my last Will and Testament
And lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former & other Will & Wills by me at any time
heretofore made Declaring this and no other to be my only last Will & testament
In Witness whereof I the said William Foster the Testator to this my last Will & Testament contained in
two sheets of paper have to the first sheet thereof set my hand and to the second & last sheet thereof
set & affixed my hand & seal the day & year above written
Wm: Forster
Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Foster the Testator as & for his last Will &
Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other at his request
have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
William East - Joseph Waghorne - Jos�h Williams
August 12th 1784 John Amhurst Walter one of the Executors herein named was sworn to the truth and
faithful p�formance hereof and as usual
And that the deceased�s Effects will not amount to �100. Power reserved &c.
Before me John Gostling, Surrogate
Notes:
William Forster was buried 14 Sep 1783 at Staplehurst
Yalding 10 October 1774 Wm Hudson ba & Lydia Forster sp botp married by banns, witnesses Richard Nye, Wm Humphrey
West Farleigh 12 October 1770 James Webb ba & Elizabeth Foster botp married by banns, witnesses John Webb, Sarah Dalton
Yalding 13 Oct 1781 Richard Underdown ba & Ann Forster sp botp married by banns, witnesses John Davis, Wm Humphrey
East Farleigh 5 Oct 1778 John Davis ba otp & Margaret Foster of Loose sp married by banns, witnesses Richard Davis, John Dalton
Francis & Martha Fo(r)ster had many children baptised at Yalding including:
Elizabeth 16 Nov 1746, Ann 17 Nov 1754, Liddy 3 Mar 1752, Margaret 18 Apr 1756 and William 18 Oct 1761
Francis Foster married Martha Allen 30 Jun 1741 at Yalding
Martha Foster was buried at Yalding 16 Sep 1800 aged 80.
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of William Foster