Holmes Will 1753

Will of Joseph Holmes

of Hastingleigh, Kent

Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury PRC 17/94/301
Submitted by Shelagh Mason

In the Name of God Amen The seventh day of August in the year of our Lord 1738.
I Joseph Holmes of the Parish of Hastingleigh in the county of Kent Yeoman being very weak in body But of Perfect mind and Memory thanks be unto God therefore calling into mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament that is to say
Principally I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and for my body I commend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the Discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the General Resurection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God and as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in the life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form

Imprimis I give and bequeath to Joseph Holmes my Kingsman (sic), son of my brother Thomas, deceased two of the beste paire of sheets and my two Large Silver Spoons marked with an J.H.

I give and bequeath to the Children of my Brothers John Thomas and William Holmes and to the children of my Sisters Anne Swaine and Elizabeth Marshall as being now living as followeth as my will and desire is that should have it or any part of it all my personal estate as moneys Goods and Moveables to be equally devided alike every Child his Share only my Will and Pleasure is that my abovesaid Kingsman Joseph Holmes to have the abovesaid Sheets and Spoons moreover and above his Cost Legacy or any of them

Item my Will and Pleasure is that first of all that my debts and Funeral Expenses be first discharged and what is left more or less to be equally devided amongst them

Item I likewise Constitute make and ordaine my beloved Kinsman Nicholas Swaine of Hastingleigh in the County of Kent my only and Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament And I do hereby whoily disallow revoke and disanul all and every other former Will Testament Legacies and Executors by me in any way before this time named willed and bequeathed Witnessing and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the day and year above written.
Joseph Holmes

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Joseph Holmes as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us the Subscribers / Viz /
Thomas Miller Ann Fryer Anne Miller

The before registered will of Joseph Holmes deceased was proved the fifth day of June 1753 before the Revd Wm Brodens Clerk Surrogate to the Worshipful Edward Simpson Doctor of Laws Official General to the Revd the Archdeacon of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Nicholas Swaine the sole Executor herein named he being sworn duly to perform the same

Notes:
Joseph Holme�s christening, with brothers John, Thomas and William, are not yet found � but possibly in the Elham area, due to the following:

21 Apr 1663 Thomas Homes married Ellen Foxe at Elham
27 Oct 1691 Elizabeth Homes married John Marshall at Elham
Anne Ho(l)mes appears to have married a Nicholas Swaine � but not found as yet (Commonwealth?)

Joseph Holmes was buried 17th May 1751 at Hastingleigh.

The Joseph Holmes, son of Thomas Holmes mentioned above is:
17th July 1720 � son of Thomas and Mary Holmes, christened St. Mary, Elham, Kent.
Family group:
13/10 1705 C Elizabeth
31/05 1709 C Anne
14/12 1712 B John
?/04 1712 C John
09/10 1713 C John
12/03 1716 C George
10/04 1717 C Sarah
25/01 1720 B George
17/07 1720 C Joseph
18/02 1722 C William

26th October 1704 Thomas Holmes married Mary Brice at Elham.

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Will of Joseph Holmes
Created by Maureen Rawson