Gainsford Will 1650

Will of Thomas Gaynsford

of Cowden, Kent


Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury PROB 11/214/152
Submitted by Lisa Smith
In the name of god amen the first of April in the year of our lord god 1650
I Thomas Gaynsford senior of Cowden in the county of Kent gent being sick and weak in body yet good and perfect remembrance (praised be god for it) do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say
First and principally I commend my soul into the hands of almighty god and let rest my body to be decently committed to the earth whensoever it shall please the same my god to call me out of the miseries of this sinful world

My will and true meaning is that Frances my well beloved wife shall have the use of half my household stuff for and during the whole term of her natural life and after her decease I give and bequeath all the said household stuff unto my five children hereafter named that is to say John Philip Robert Richard and Frances equally to be divided
I give and bequeath unto Thomas my eldest son 5s of lawful English money to be paid unto him at his full age of 21 years

All the residue of my goods cattel and chattels and household stuff whatsoever (my debts legacies and funeral expenses being first discharged borne and paid) I give and bequeath unto my said five children that is to say John Philip Robert Richard and Frances equally to be divided
And if any of them shall happen to depart this life before they accomplish the full age of 21 years then my will and true meaning is that the portion or portions of him her or them so dying shall be equally divided amongst the survivors or survivor of them

Item My will and true meaning is that the bed and all thereunto belonging with certain fine linen given unto the said Frances my daughter by her grandmother Allen shall be delivered unto her according to the true intent and meaning of her said grandmothers gift

Item I will and bequeath all that my part of the Thunder Field and Milfield as it is now severed and divided with the appurtenances lying and being in the county of Sussex containing by estimation 20 acres more or less shall within six months next after the said Thomas my son shall accomplish his age of 21 years, or before if my executrix and overseers hereafter named or the survivors or survivor of them shall in their judgement and discretion think most fit, be by my said executrix and overseers or the survivor or survivors of them absolutely sold for the best advantage and the money thereof to be made and arise I give and bequeath unto my said five children that is to say John Philip Robert Richard and Frances equally to be divided
and if any of them shall happen to depart this life before they shall accomplish the full age of 21 years then my will and true meaning is that the part or portion of him her or them for dying shall be paid unto the survivor or survivors of them my said five children

Item My will and true meaning is that if my said son Thomas shall have a desire to purchase and buy the said lands that then he the said Thomas shall have the same cheaper by £10 of lawful English money then any other (without fraud) will give for the same, anything before mentioned to the contrary thereof in any wise not withstanding

Item My will and meaning is that if my said son Thomas shall happen to depart this life before he accomplish his full age of 21 years and that after his decease my capital messuage called Cozine with the lands and appurtenances thereunto belonging shall descend and come unto the said John my son or other his said brothers Then my will and true meaning is that the portion or portions of this my said son John or other his said brothers to whom the said messuage lands and appurtenances shall descend and come as aforesaid so to him given and bequeathed as aforesaid shall be paid unto the rest of my said five children which shall be then living equally to be divided, anything before mentioned to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding

And I make and ordain the said Frances my welbeloved wife the sole and whole executrix of this my last will and testament
And I make ordain and appoint my two welbeloved brothers that is to say Richard and John Gaynsford and Michael Bassett of Chiddingstone to be overseers of this my last will and testament to whom with my said executrix or the survivor or survivors of them I do give full power and authority to make sale of my said lands as aforesaid to the uses aforesaid
And what charges my said overseers or any of them shall be at in and about any needful business concerning this last will and testament I will shall be born and paid by my said executrix the premises notwithstanding

In witness whereof I the said Thomas Gaynsford the testator to this my present last will and testament the same containing two sheets of paper have subscribed and set my hand and to the last sheet thereof my seal the day and year first before written
The mark of Thomas Gaynsford the testator

Read sealed published and acknowledged to be the last will and testament of the said Thomas Gaynsford the testator in the presence of
Tho: Weller and Nich: Wicking

Probate in Latin 19th November 1650


Return to Kent Genealogy

Will of Thomas Gaynsford
Created by Maureen Rawson