Goldfinch Will 1651/2

Will of William Gouldfinch

of Minster in Thanet, Kent


Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury PROB 11/215/633
Submitted by Carole Brett
In the Name of God Amen This seaventeenth daie of Januarie Anno domin 1647[/48]
I William Gouldfinch of the parishe of Minster in the Isle of Thanett in the countie of Kent yeoman being weake of bodie, but of sound and perfect memorie, thanckes be given to God therefore, doe make and ordaine this my Last will and testament in manner and forme followeinge
First I recomend my soule into the handes of Allmightie God my maker and my bodie to the earth whereof it was made to be buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter menconed

Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter Sara nowe the wife of Peter Ambrose the sume of five poundes of lawfull money of England to be paid unto her within one yeare next after my decease
Item I give unto Marke and Sara Ambrose children of him the said Peter Ambrose the sume of twentie shillings a peece to be paid unto them at their severall ages of sixteene yeares
Item I give and bequeath unto the poore people of the parishe of Minster aforesaid the sume of twentie shillings of like Lawfull money to be paid unto them by my executor at the daie of my buriall

Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Gouldfinch my second daughter the sume of one hundred and tenn poundes of lawfull money of England to be paid unto her by my executor at her daie of marriage or one of one and twentie yeares which of them shall first happen
Item my will and meaninge is that in case the said Elizabeth shall not thinke good to live with my executor, and accept of such maintenance of meate; drinke and apparell as hee shall allowe her, that then my executor or his assignes shall yearlie and everie yeare yeild and paie unto the said Elizabeth my daughter or her Guardian to the use and benefitt of the said Elizabeth the sume of sixe poundes per Annum of Lawfull money of England for the interest of the said one hundred and tenn poundes, and for her maintenance untill shee shall accomplishe her said age of one and twentie yeares or daie of maryadge [marriage] as aforesaid

Item I give and bequeath unto Martha my youngest daughter the sume of one hundred and tenn poundes of like good and lawfull money of England to be paid her by my Executor hereafter menconed, when shee shall attain her age of one and twentie yeares or daie of maryaged, which of them shall first happen
And my will and meaneinge is that my said Executor shall find my said daughter Martha for the interest of the said one hundred and tenn poundes sufficient meate, drinke, and apparrell and paie for her schooleinge untill shee shall accomplishe her age of fowreteene yeares
And afterwards in case the said Martha shall not thinke good to live with my executor, then my Executor or her assignes shall yearelie and everie yeare paie unto the said Martha or her Guardian to the use and benefitt of her the said Martha the sume of sixe pounds per Annum of Lawfull money of England untill shee shall accomplishe her said age of one & twentie yeares or daie of marriage as aforesaid

And my will and meaneinge is, that if both or wither of my said daughters Elizabeth and Martha shall happen to die before their said ages of one and twentie yeares or daies of marriage as aforesaid That then the porcon or porcons of her or them soe deceased shalbe equally devided, and distributed amongst all my Sonnes and daughters then liveinge

Item I give and bequeath unto my Sonne John Gouldfinch the sume of fortie poundes of lawfull money of England over and above whatsoever I have allreadie given him to be paid unto him by my Executor within one yeare next after my decease
Item I give unto Elizabeth daughter of him the said John Gouldfinch the sume of twentie shillings of Lawfull money of England to be paid unto her att her age of sixteene yeares by my Executor

Item I give unto Joane my nowe wife the sume of twentie shillings of Lawfull money of England to be paid unto her by my Executor within one moneth next ensueinge the daie of my death

Item I give and bequeath to my Sonne Thomas Gouldfinch (besides that three hundred poundes, which upon her marriage I entered into bond to paie him) the sume of fiftie poundes of Lawfull money of England to be paid unto him by my said sonne John Gouldfinch his heires Executors or Assignes within three monethes after the decease of Joane my nowe wife out of all that my messuage with thappurtennaces [the appurtenances], and sixe acres of land lieing in the Parishe of Minster aforesaid in the occupacon of Samuell Chambers his assignee or assignes

And if my sonne Thomas departe this life before the said Joane my nowe wife, then my will is, that the said legacie of Fiftie poundes shalbe paid by my said sonne John his heires or assignes to the childe or children of the said Thomas his bodie then liveinge or to their Guardian to their use within three monethes as aforesaid after the decease of Joane my wife but if hee leave now issue of his bodie then the said legacie to be void

Item I give & bequeath to Roberte Gouldfinch my eldest Sonne the sume of fiftie poundes of Lawfull money of England to be paid by my said sonne John his heires or assignes within three monethes after the decease of the said Joane my nowe wife out of all that my mess[uage] and Lands aforesaid in Minster in the occupacon of Samuell Chamber his assignees or assignes
and if my said Sonne Roberte departe this life before the said Joane my nowe wife then my will is that the said Legacie of fiftie poundes shalbe paid by my sonne John his heires or assignes to the childe or children of the said Roberts body that shalbe then liveinge or to their Guardian to their use within three monethes after the decease of the said Joane, but if hee leave noe issue of his bodie then the said legacie to be void

And all the rest of my personall estate, goodes, and chattells whatsoever the legacies before bequeathed except the legacies to be paid as aforesaid out of my lands paid, and my debts and funerall expences paid and discharged I give and bequeath to my said sonne Roberte Gouldfinch, whome I doe make and ordaine sole Executor of this my Last will and testament

This is the Last will and testam[en]t of mee the said William Gouldfinch made and declared the daie and yeare abovesaid, touchinge and concerninge my reall estate

I give and bequeath all that my messuage with thappurtennces and sixe acres of land more or lesse to the same belonginge scituate, Lieinge and beinge in the Parishe of Minster aforesaid in the occupacon of Samuell Chamber his assignee or assignes after the decease of the said Johane my wife unto my Sonne John Gouldfinch his heires and assignees To the onelie proper use and behoofe of the said John Gouldfinch his heires and assignes forever

Provided allwaies that if the said John Gouldfinch his hieres executors and assignes doe not paie the said legacies of fiftie poundes a peece to my said sonnes Roberte and Thomas Gouldfinch accordinge to the p[u]rporte of this my will, Then it shall, and maie be Lawfull for the said Roberte and Thomas Gouldfinch and either of them, and the heires and assignes of them and either of them into the said messuage, Landes and premisses to enter and to receive the profitts thereof untill they and either of them shalbe fullie paid their said legacies together with all charges in Lawe or otherwise

In wittnes whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the daie and yeare above written
The marke of William Gouldfinch
Signed sealed and published in the presence of us
Rt. Fletcher and Mathew Dasom?

Probatum fuit: 27 Feb 1651/52

Notes:
William Goldfynch, Yeoman, married Sarah Fuller, spinster, on 17 Dec 1618 at St. Mary, Minster, Thanet, Kent, by Licence.
Sarah Goldfinch was buried on 5 Aug 1641, wife of William, at Minster.
William Goldfinch, Widower, Yeoman, married Joan Pamphlet, widow of Daniel Pamphlet, Yeoman of Minster, Thanet on 6 Jan 1644/45 at St. Mary Magdalene, Monkton, Kent, by Licence.
Peter Ambrose of Minster in Thanet, Yeoman, Widower and Sarah Goldfinch, same parish, virgin, about 21, d. of William Goldfinch, same parish, Yeoman who consents. At Minster. Licence Jan 29 1643/44.

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh A. Mason, 11th September 2023


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Will of William Gouldfinch
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