Will of Sir William Kempe

of Wye, Kent

Item I will to the high aulter there for my tythes negligently forgotten xxs
Item to the reparacons of the church of Wye Five pounds

Item I give and bequeath to Cicely my daughter three hundred marks at her marriage [One mark is approx. two thirds of a pound in value}
Item I bequeath to the marriage of Faythe my daughter three hundred marks
Item I give and bequeath to the marriage of Mary my daughter three hundred marks

Item If Margaret my daughter be put out of the house where she is now nun and then she be disposed to marry I give and bequeath to her marriage three hundred marks and if she not be disposed to marry then I will Thomas my son have the said three hundred marks and to pay her yearly during her natural life five marks with meat and drink or ten marks and no meat and drink

Item whereas I have of the demise and grant ofReynold Scott Esquire and John Tuke Gentleman for [the] term of Twenty yeares a Messuage called Olantigh with all the lands thereto belonging and divers other manors lands and tenements comprised in a deed indented made by the said Reynold and John unto me I Will that Dame Eleanor my Wife have the said Messuage with all the lands and tenements comprised in the said deed indented for term of twelve yeares so that she may receive the said twelve hundred marks before bequeathed to the marriage of my daughters aforesaid

And after the twelve yeares I will that the said Dame Eleanor have the said messuage with all the said lands and tenements thereto belonging to the full term of Twenty yeares if she so longe live and to pay yearly during the said term to every one of my six younger sons forty shillings and the residue of the said manors lands and tenements comprised in the said deed I will that Thomas my son have paying to every one of his brothers forty shillings

And if my said wife be not disposed to inhabit and dwell in the said messuage after the said twelve yeares then I will that Thomas my son have the said Messuage with all the lands thereunto belonging and to pay to every one of his brothers out of the said lands fortie shillings yearly as his mother should have done during the full residue of the said term of twenty yeares

Provided always that if it happen my wife to die after the said twelve years and before the said twenty years be expired then I will that Thomas shall have the said messuage and all the foresaid manors lands and tenements clearly without paying anything to his brothers

Furthermore I will that if my wife be not disposed to dwell and inhabit in the said messuage and go from thence at any time within the said twelve yeares then I will that Thomas my son have the said messuage and lands thereto belonging paying yearly during the said term of twelve yeares the value thereof to his mother for the levying of the said twelve hundred marks

Furthermore I will that my wife shall receive the profits of the lands that I have during the nonage of Henry Iden and she to find him conveniently during his nonage for to help to levy the said twelve hundred marks

Provided always and my very will is that if my foresaid daughters or any of them happen to die before they be married then I will my said son Thomas to have the money to them bequeathed that be departed

The residue of my goods I will to my well beloved Dame Eleanor my wife whom I ordaine to be my executrix and to dispose for me and my children as she shall think most convenient

These being Witnesses at the making hereof
Reynold Scott Esquire John Tuke Gentleman

Probatum fuit 4th July 1599 to Lady Eleanor Kemp the relict and executrix named in the will of William Kempe Knight deceased having been sworn to well and faithfully administer and to exhibit a full and true Inventory of all and singular the goods rights and credits of the said deceased on the second day after the feast of All Souls next to come and also to render a plain and true account thereof

Notes:
Sir William Kempe, Knight, Wye is buried at Wye on 30th January 1539
See Wills of his Wife Eleanor and 2 of his ten children:
Dame Eleanor Kempe: PROB 11/43/638 Proved 1560
Son Anthony Kempe : PROB 11/94/3 Proved 1599
Son George Kempe: PROB 11/72/479 Proved 1588

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 8th October 2018. All rights waived for personal use � BUT please quote source and reference.

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