Holmes Will 1668

Will of Stephen Holmes

of Eastchurch, Kent


Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 17/72/430a
Submitted by Shelagh Mason
In the name if God Amen the one and twentieth day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord 1668
I Stephen Holmes of the parish of Eastchurch in the Isle of Shepey being sicke and weake of body, but of sound and perfect memory, I give Allmightie God thankes therefore, doe make and ordaine this my last (will) & testament in manner and forme following, That is to say
first and before all things I comend my soule into the hands of Allmightie God my maker and Redeemer and my body to the earth to be decently buryed by mine Exct. [Executor] hereafter named and appointed

Item I give unto my sone John five shillings
Item I give unto my daughter Abigail twelve pence

All the rest and residue of my goods and chattells I give and bequeath unto my welbeloved Wife Mary and the Children of her body begotten and borne and to be borne since our marriage to be equally divided amongst them The Childrens parts and porcons to be paid at their ages on one and twenty yeares; but it is my will that if either of or any of the the said Children shall dye before he she or they atteyne their severall ages of one and twenty yeares That then the survivor or survivors of them shall have the deceads [deceased�s] part

And I make and ordaine my said welbeloved Wife Mary sole Execut. [Executrix] of this my last will and Testament

And as touching my house and lands I give and devise the same unto my two sonnes John and Thomas to them and their heires for ever But it is my will that my wife shall have the profitts of my house and lands during her widowhood

Item I give and bequeath unto my two daughters Margaret and Rebecca the summe of six pounds a peece to be paid them out of my house and lands before devised to my two sonnes John and Thomas My daughter Margarets legacy to be paid within two yeares next after my decease and my daughter Rebeccahs legacy to be paid at her age of one and twenty yeares And if the said legacies be not paid unto my two daughters Margaret and Rebeccah at the times herein appointed Then it shall be lawfull to and for the said Margaret and Rebeccah to enter upon the sid house and lands and the same to hold and keepe untill they be fully satisfied the said legacies together with their costs and charges and damages by them sustained

And this is the last will of me Stephen Holmes
In Witnes whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seale this day and yeare above written
Stephen Holmes his marke

Read signed sealed and for his last will declared in the presence of
Solomon Harris his marke Mich : Baldwin Exd.

Probatum fuit: Vicesimo die May anno dini 1668 [20th May].

Notes:
Stephen Holmes was buried at All Saints, Eastchurch on 26th April, 1668.
Stephen Holmes seems to have married 3 times:
firstly to Joanne Cawston on 26th July 1630 at All Saints, Eastchurch;
secondly to Anne Mann on 29th March 1644 at St. Peter, Canterbury, by Licence. Both were of Eastchurch in the Isle of �Sheapie�. Anne Holmes burial not found;
and thirdly: 18th August 1663: Steven Homes and Mary Stoddart at Eastchurch.
Not all of Steven�s childrens� christenings have not been found due to the Commonwealth (1642-1660), in which the majority of Christening, Marriages and Burials [CMB] were not recorded.
Children found � all christened at Eastchurch:
Jone Homes 8 Jan 1636 (to Stephen and Jone Holmes);
Margaret Homes 4 Aug 1639 (to Steven and Joane Homes);
John Homes 29 Jan 1641 (to Steven and Joan Homes);
No children of Stephen and Anne have been found (probably due to the Commonwealth).
Matthew and Thomas Homes 14 Aug 1664 (to Steven and Mary Homes).
Widow Mary Holmes re-married 14th October 1669 to Thomas Huggins at Eastchurch.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 19th August 2019. All rights waived for personal use � BUT please quote source and reference.


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Will of Stephen Holmes
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