Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my loving and deare wife Susanna Holmes during her naturall life all that Messuage or Tenemt [tenement] with the Appurtenances therewith used together with Six Acres of Land by estimation by thereof more or lesse in which I nowe live Scituate lying and being in the Burrough of Bleanegate in the parish of Chistlett in the County of Kent aforesaid and after her deceased my will and meaning is that my foresaid house six Acres of Land with thappurtenances therewith used by mee given and bequeathed to my loving wife Susanna Holmes during her naturall life and for her maintenance during the terme of her life shall be unto my loving Sonne Thomas Holmes and the heires of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten equally to be devide (sic) amongst them for ever
but if my said sonne Thomas Holmes shall happen to depart this naturall life without Issue of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten that then my will and meaning is that my said house and Land and premises in which I now live and by me bequeathed as aforesaid be unto my loving Kinsman Richard Holmes sonne of my Brother Robert Holmes of the parish of Whitstable in the County of Kent Cordwinder [Cordwainer] and to my loving Kinswoman Elizabeth Holmes daughter of my Brother Thomas Holmes late of Whitstable aforesaid in the County of Kent Taylor deceased to be equally divided amongst them during their naturall lives or the life of the longest liver of them (And) after their decease my said House Lands and premises before bequeathed to the heires of their bodies begotten and to be begotten or to the heires of the body of the longest liver of them forever soe lawfully begotten
And further That my will and meaning is that my loving wife Susanna if shee survive mee and overlive mee shall not demand of my loving sonne Thomas Holmes any Sume or Sumes of money for or concerning his board or soiourning (Sojourning?) with her during the time of his minority, but to bring him up and find him in meate drinke apparrell of all sorts working and Lodging during the time of his Minoritye
And further my will and meaning is that if my Wife Susanna after my decease doe marry and alter her life, and that my sonne doe follow or use the art imploy or after of Agriculture or husbandry for or under her that then my said living wife shall give or cause to be given to my said sonne Thomas Holmes such wages as is customarily given for such worke done by him and likewise his lodging washing diett during such time as hee doth or shall worke for her or her husband and if shee shall marry after my decease
And further I doe give and bequeath to my loving sonne Thomas Holmes the one full and equal halfe part of all and singular my goods Chattells and in my household stuffe that I shall be possessed of at the time of my decease by him to be had and inioyed imediatly after my death
And further I give and bequeath unto my loving Brother Robert Holmes two good Sheepe as I shall leave behind mee, or be possessed of at the time of my decease by him to bee had and taken
And for the residue of my Estate unbequeathed I give and bequeath to my loving Wife Susanna whome I make Executrix of this my last Will and testament and Tutrix of my loving Sonne Thomas Holmes
In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and Seale to this last Will and Testament
contained in two Sheetes of paper to each Shete my had and seale this fifteenth day of Aprill
in the twenty nynth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord Charles the Second of
England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the ffaith Anno Dini 1676
The marke of Richard Holmes
Signed Sealed and published declared and red for the last will and Testament of Richard
Holmes (words in the first leafe interlined before sealing And delivery vizt) I give or
Executrix interlined Six Acres of Land interlined premises interlined land and premises
interlined body of the interlined husband interlined in this leafe
in the presence of us James Hill Robert Browne Senr.
Probatum fuit: Quinto die Jan. 1680/1
Notes:
Richard Holmes married Susan Baker 4th July 1665 at St. Martin, Herne.
Their son Thomas was christened there 2nd Nov. 1666 � and appears to have been an only child.
Richard was buried at St. Martin, Herne on 11th December 1680, as per Will
See Will of his Wife Susan Holmes of Chislet, dated 18th September 1691 and Proved vicesima (20th) die March 1695.
Susan Holmes had previously been married to (probably) John Baker of Chislet who left a Will which was proved in 1665 (PRC17/72/117).
She appears not to have re-married, and her burial has not, currently, been found.
Richard Holmes was the son of Austin (Augustine) Holmes and Susan Reeve, who had been
married 30th April 1633 at St. Martin, Herne. Children known (all christened St. Martin, Herne):
Richard 3 Apr 1636; Robert (not found as yet); Thomas 7 Apr 1639.
Richard, s. of Robert Holmes mentioned in the Will is christened 14 Mar 1658 at Herne.
Possible earlier children: 27/08 1662 Thomas; 20/12 1663 Mary; 16/10 1665 Edward � all at All Saints, Whitstable.
Elizabeth, d. of Thomas (and Katherine) Holmes also mentioned in the Will is christened at Whitstable on 3rd April 1666. They also had a son John christened there 25th July 1665.
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Richard Holmes