Francis Will 1716

Will of Leonard Francis

of Mersham, Kent

Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 16/367 F/3 or: PRC 17/83 13f
Submitted by Shelagh Mason

In the Name of God Amen the seven and Twentieth day of May in the Year of our Lord God 1715,
I Leonard Francis of the Parish of Mersham in the County of Kent, Cordwainer, being of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God therefore, calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body, and that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, that is to say
Principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it and for my Body I Commend it to the Earth, to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner in the Churchyard of Mersham aforesaid at the discretion of my Executor – and that I have a Funeral Sermon at my burial, nothing doubting but at the general Ressurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life, I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form

Imprimis I give and bequeath to Christian my dearly beloved Wife all my Household Goods that I has with her and was her own when I married her to be returned to her again and no other to be delivered to her by my Executor Imediately after my decease
And I also give an bequeath unto her as a further Legacy (of) one pound Ten shillings per annum – to be paid unto her by my Executor hereafter named by two equal proportions (that is to say) Fifteen shillings on the Five and Twentieth day of March after my decease and the other Fifteen Shillings on the Twenty Ninth day of September and so to be paid Yearly to her by my Executor so long as she keeps her self a Widdow and no longer

Item I give and bequeath unto my Four Grandchildren (that is to say) Peirey, Elizabeth, Leonard and Christian Francis, my Son Richard’s Children, the Sume of Fifty Shilling apeice to be paid as they Severally attain to the age of one and Twenty years or marry which shall happen first to be paid unto them by my Executor hereafter named

Item I give to well beloved Son Richard Francis, whome I likewise Constitute make and ordain my only and Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament All and Singular all the rest of my Moveable Goods, Chattells and Household Goods more than my Wife is to have, of what kind soever by him freely to be possessed and Enjoyed

And I do hereby Utterly disallow revoke and disanul all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies, Requests, Executors by me in any ways before this time named, willed and bequeathed, Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and year above written
Leonard Francis
Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said Leonard Francis, as his last Will and Testament in the present [presence] of us the Subscribers
Anne Miller; Mary Miller her mark; Thos. Miller

Probatum fuit: [Latin] 16th March 1716
Examined by me Geo: Plomer N : Pub. [Notary Public]

Note: Leonard Francis was buried at St. John the Baptist, Mersham on 14th March 1716, and was certified buried in Woollen.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 29th April 2021

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Will of Leonard Francis
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