French Will 1834

Will of John French

of Woolwich, Kent

Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury Prob11/1840
Submitted by Ros Dunning

In the Name of God Amen I John French of the Parish of Woolwich in the County of Kent being by the long continued and mercy of God my heavenly father in soundness of mind for which great mercy I offer up my grateful thanks do for for the satisfaction of my own Mind and the future peace of my family and for the settling and disposing of all that temporal Estate and Effects which the Lord hath been pleased to favour me with do make and declare this my last Will and Testament in writing and form following that is to say I commend my Immortal Soul to Almighty God the Creator thereof and my body I humbly commit to the earth in hope of a joyful Resurrection to eternal life through the all sufficient merits of my Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ

Item I give and bequeath to my beloved Wife Elizabeth French all Money goods linen Plate wearing apparel and all other Estate or Effects which shall be due owing or belonging to me at the time of my decease for her use and support during her mortal life

and what shall remain at her decease after all just debts and funeral expences are paid
I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Ann French my dwelling house and all its furniture for her own use and three fourths of all the money that may then remain
the other fourth of the money to be divided between my two sons viz George French John J French and Elizabeth French my eldest daughter

Be assured my dear children that the difference does not arise from caprice or humour or difference of Affection for as far as I am able to judge of my own feelings I know of no difference But it is from a principle of justice

And if it should please God to call the aforesaid Mary Ann out of time into Eternity before her mother�s decease then her Sister and Brothers to be equal sharers

And I appoint my son John Joseph and Thomas French my Son in Law with my beloved Wife Elizabeth French to be the whole and sole Executors to this my last Will and testament

In Witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of December in the Year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and twenty nine John French Signed sealed and declared in the presence of
Thos Hallifax _ Joseph Clark

Whereas Jn French of the Parish of Woolwich in the County of Kent have duly made and executed my last Will and testament in writing bearing date 27th day of December 1829 Now I do hereby declare this present writing to be Codicil to my said Will and I do direct the same to be annexed thereto and to be taken as a part thereof

And I do hereby give and bequeath to my four children namely Elizabeth George John Joseph and Mary Ann an equal part of the Money that may be in the Bank of England

and I do hereby ratify and confirm my said Will in all the other particulars thereof In Witness whereof I the said John French have to this Codicil set my hand and seal this sixth day of December in the Year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and thirty two John French
Thos Rice _ Willm Edwards

Proved at London with a Codicil 18 December 1834 on the Oaths of John Joseph French the Son and Elizabeth French Widow the relict the surviving Executors

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Will of John French
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