Will of John Greenstreet

of Wingham, Kent

Imprimis I Give and Devise unto my said Loving Wife Susanna All and every my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever whether Freehold Leasehold or Copyhold situate lying and being at Switham or elsewhere in the said Parish of Wingham and in the several Parishes of Staple, Goodnestone and Nonington in the said County of Kent To have and to hold the said several Messuages Lands Tenement and Hereditaments unto my said Wife Susanna and her Assigns for and during the Term of her Natural Life She my said Wife keeping all the said Premises in good and Tenantable Repair and duly paying the Land Tax Quit Rents and other Outgoings in Respect thereof which on the Landlord’s part ought to be paid

And from and after the Decease of my said Wife I Give and Devise All and every my said Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments with their and every of their Rights Members and Appurtenances unto my Loving Sons Thomas, John, Stephen and William Greenstreet, and to my Loving Daughter Elizabeth Greenstreet and their Heirs forever, equally to be Divided between them Share and Share alike and to take as Tenants in common and not as Joint Tenants

Also I Give unto my said Wife Susanna for and during the Term of her Natural Life the free Use Wearing and Enjoyment of all and every my Household Goods and Furniture Plate Linen and all other Matters and Things whatsoever in and about my Dwellinghouse at the Time of my Death And also of all my Stock Cattle and Husbandry Utensils
And from and after the Decease of my said Wife I Give and every the same Matter and Things unto my said Children Thomas, John, Stephen, William Greenstreet and Daughter Elizabeth their Executors or Administrators equally to be Divided between them Share and Share alike

And it is my Will And I do hereby Order and Direct that my said Wife shall within three Months next after my Death Cause a true and perfect Inventory and Appraisement of my said Household Goods Plate Linnen Stock Husbandry Utensils and other Things to be made out by two Men of Able Judgment
And that she my said Wife shall immediately or so soon afterwards as conveniently may be enter into Bond unto my said Children or such of them as may be thought Adviseable or unto some Person In Trust for them in a sufficient Penalty with Condition thereunder written for the Surrender or Delivery of such Household Goods Plate Linnen Stock Husbandry Utensils and other Matters and Things as shall be Comprized in such Inventory

And also for Payment of such Clear Money as shall Arise by Sale of my Corn and Grain in Stock at my Death And of the Crop growing (if any such shall be) Which Delivery and Payment to be so made by the Executors Administrators or Assigns of my said Wife within three Months next after her Death (Common Ware and the Use of my said Household Goods Plate Linnen Husbandry Utensils and the Death of Cattle and other unavoidable Accidents or Casualties in any of the Matters aforesaid Excepted)

And as to the Residue or Remainder of my Personal Estate of what Nature kind or Degree the same shall or may be or Consist at the Time of my Death (after Paying thereout all and every my just Debts Funeral Expences and the Charges of Proving and Executing this my Will and every Thing incident thereto) I Give and bequeath the same and every Part thereof unto my said Sons Thomas, John, Stephen and William and also to my said Daughter Elizabeth, their Executors Administrators or Assigns equally to be Divided between them Share and Share alike my said Son John first paying the Sum of thirty four Pounds which he is Indebted to me

And in Order that my Will may be Carried into Execution with as little Trouble as may be to my said Wife and Children and to prevent any Dispute which may arise between them I do earnestly Request that they my said Wife and Children do upon every doubtful Occasion which may Arise Consult my good Friend Robert Finnis of Popshall in the Parish of Waldershare in the said County of Kent Yeoman whose Abilities and Integrity may be Depended upon
And I do Intreat the said Robert Finnis to Advise and Assist my said Wife and Children in the Premises And do Revoke all former Will or Wills by me at any Time heretofore made and Declare this only to be my last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I have to this my said Will contained in three Sheets of Paper to each Sheet thereof set my Hand and Seal the Second day of October In the Twenty first year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britian France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith and so forth And in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty one
John Greenstreet

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said John Greenstreet the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who at his Request and in his Presence have hereunto Subscribed our Names as Witnesses
Ed: Sayer; Henry Sayer - both of the Parish of Wingham - Robt. Westfield

November 22nd 1794
Susanna Greenstreet Widow the Relict of the Testator and sole Executrix named in this Will was duly Sworn as usual And that the Goods Chattels and Credits do not amount in Value to the Sum of three hundred Pounds
Before me: John Gostling, Surrogate

Notes:
John Greenstreet was buried at St. James, Staple, Kent on 26 Oct 1794.
“Switham”: From Hasted’s History and Topography... of Kent TWITHAM, now usually called Twittam, is a hamlet in this parish, adjoining to Goodnestone

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh A. Mason, 12th February 2024

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