Will of John Gibbs

of Worth, Kent

In the name of God Amen the last daye of August in the Fortieth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Ladie Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England, Fraunce and Ireland, defender of the Faith etc. one thousand Five hundred Nintie Eight
I John Gibbs of Woorde next Sandwich in the Countie of Kent Yeoman de make and ordaine this to be my last will and testament in manner and forme followinge, vizt.
First I will and bequeath my soule to the Allmightie God the [Creator?] Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer and my bodye to be buryed at the discretione of my Executary

Item I will and bequeath unto the Churchwardens to the use of the p[ar]ishe Churche of Woorde sixe shillings eighte pence And to the poore people of the same pishe tenn? shillings to be distributed to them one [on] the day of my buryall by the advice and knowledge of my Overseers or one of them
Item I will and bequeath unto the minister? of the Parishe yf hee preache at my buryall sixe shillings and eight pence

Item I will and bequeath unto Stephen Stevenson my servannt Fortie shillings to be paid to him at the adge [age] of twentie and one yeres yf he be then alive to Receave the same
Item I will and bequeath unto Thomas Dods my Servannt one twoe yearings Ewe sheepe
Item I will and bequeath unto John Gibbs of Woodnesboro[u]gh a bushell of wheate
Item I will and bequeath to every of my maidservannts twoe shillings apeece

Item I will and bequeath all that my lease and terme of yeres yet to come of that my dwellinge howse and lands in the same in manner and forme followinge vizt.
The usadge and occupacione of the same unto Elizabeth my wife for and untill the Feaste of St. Michaell tharchangell next after that my sonne Richard shall and doe Come to be of the adge of twentie and twoe yeres
And yf it shall happen that my said sonne Richard to decease before the said appointed terme or feaste of St. Michaell Then I will that my said wife shall enioye and hould the usadge and profitt of the said premisses untill my sonne Auwsten doe and shall Accomplishe the adge of twoe and twentie yeres and untill the Feaste of St. Michaell tharchangell then next after the said Awsten shalbe of the said adge of twoe and twentie yeres
And then after the Accomplishment of the said yeres I will & bequeathe all that my lease and terme of yeres yet to come and the Intereste and Right thereof to be had to my sonn Richard and his assignes For ever
and if my said sonne Richard Channce to decease before the Foresaid terme that hee should Come to have the same Item? (then?) I will & bequeath all the said lease and terme of yeres yet to come unto my said sonne Awsten and his assignes for ever so that Allwaies Provided that my said wife shall and maye have and enioye to her and her assignes the aforesaid terme to her before Assignes

The Residue of all my goods & Chattells and Cattells my debts beinge paid & my legacies p[er]formed I will and bequeath That if it shall after apprisement made be devided and Consciece into fowar partes And the the..nce ? parte thereof I will and bequeath unto my three Children vizt. Richard, Awsten and Elizabeth Equally Emonge and betwene them portione and portione like to be paid to them as they shall come and be of the adge of twentie and one yeres and the one of them to be the others heire
Item my will and mynde is that if my Daughter Elizabeth do happen to be married before the adge of one and twentie yeres that then she shall have that portione wch to her belongethe

Item I will and bequeath that my wife shall keepe bread up and mayntaine my said three Children or Cawse them to be kepte bread upp and maynteyned untill they shall accomplishe the tyme they should have Receyved their Portions And that she my said wife nor her Assignes shall not aske or have any allowance for their keepeinge and bringinge upp soe that my said children may Receave their portions Freelie wthout any delayement transfer? ther? .... will

Item I will and desire that after my ..... for .. aprisement of my moveable goods, That Mr Edward Isacke Esquier, William Falkner, John Robens thelder, John Paramore, Mathewe Stodderd and John Robens the younger or soe many of them as at this my Request shall come to be praysers [appraisers] of my said moveable goods to be praysers of the same

Item I will and bequeath that after my decease my foresaid wife Refuse? That shall or doe Chandge her Estate to matche and marry Again that then she shall putt in hande by securtie such as shalbe thoughte meete and Fitt unto my Overseers or their Assignes for the full performance of this my last will and testament thereof

Item I doe make and ordaine Elizabeth my said wife to be my Sole Executrixe prayeinge her to see my debts paide and my legacies p[er]formed

Also I desire my good master Edward Isacke esquire and Robert Prowse of Eastry yeoman to be the overseeers of this my last will and testament. And I will unto them or either of them for their labor and goodwill twentie shillings and their several charges and expenses to be borne by my executrix when and where they or any of them shall travell aboute any business of this my last will and testament

Item I will bequeath and my mind is that if my said wife do chance to marry before that she should putt in such bonds to my overseers as is before Refuted?
Item I will that she shall have the sole benefit of this my last will and testament and then my overseers to enter as my executors and then to p’form this my laste will and testamente

This is the last will of me the said John Gibbs made and declared the day and year first written aforesaid concerning to the disposing of all my lands, and tenements, viz.

First I will and bequeath unto Richard my son all that my lands in the parish of Woodnesborough called and knowen by the name of Aech... now in the occupation of my brother Stephen Gibbs or his Assignes withall the Evidences to the same belonging to be had to him my said son Richard and his heirs forever

Item I will and bequeath unto my son Austen all that my lands and tenements in Worde now in the occupation of John Underdowne and one ___ Bruce? with all the writeings and Evidences to the same to be had to him my said son Austen and his heirs forever

And then I will and bequeath unto Elizabeth my wife all the governance usadge and profit of all that my lands and tenements above willed until that my said sonnes Richard and Awsten shall severally come and be of the adge of one and twenty years soe that my said wife doe from time to tyme keep Reparations and paye the lords rent And also if that she my said wife soe long shall live

Witness hereof Cornelius Barbar, Nicholas Mossbredde and Robt Prowse

Probatum fuit: 5th November 1599

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh Mason, 12th February 2022

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