First I will and direct that all my Just Debts Funeral Expences and the Charges of proving this my Will be fully paid and satisfied by and out of my personal Estate and if my personal Estate shall not be sufficient for that purpose then I do hereby charge my Real Estate to and with the payment of such deficiency
I Give and Bequeath unto Mary my dear and loving Wife the sum of five pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to buy her Mourning
Also I Give and Bequeath unto the said Mary my Wife the Bed whereon we usually lye and also the Dressing table and looking Glass that are now in
my Chamber called the Kitchen Chamber to be delivered unto her my said wife immediately after my decease
Also I Give and Devise unto my Grandson Joseph Kingsnorth his Heirs and Assigns for ever all that
my Messuage or Tenement with the Court and Plot of Ground Adjoining thereto, one Barn and the
Lodges adjoining thereto, one Bullock Close adjoining the said Barn, one stable and the Granary over
the same and which stable and Granary adjoin my Barn called the Wheat barn at the West side or
end thereof, one Garden and one Orchard and premises belonging containing in the whole by
Estimation forty Acres more or less with the appurtenances situate lying and being in Woodchurch
aforesaid and which I purchased to me and my heirs of and from Samuel Munn Surgeon and also all
other my Lands and Hereditaments which I purchased of the said Samuel Munn (except as herein after is excepted, that is to say)
All that my Barn called the Wheat Barn and the Bullock Close and Lodge and a small Stable on the
East side of my said Wheat barn and the stack plot or yard behind the North side of my said Barn
called the Wheat Barn and free Liberty way and passage to go and return with or without Horses
Cattle and Carriages from and out of the High way there to and from the said stack plot or yard as
hereinafter is mentioned to hold the same (except as aforesaid) unto my said Grandson Joseph
Kingsnorth his Heirs and Assigns for ever
he and they paying thereout unto my Grandson John Kingsnorth the sum of One hundred and ninety pounds of lawful Money of Great
Britain when he my said Grandson John shall attain his age of twenty one years And I do hereby
give and bequeath the said sum of one hundred and ninety pounds to him my said Grandson John
Accordingly to be paid him at his said age of twenty one years
And I do hereby Charge my Messuage Lands and premises herein before devised to my said Son Joseph to and with the payment thereof
and I will and direct that my Executors hereinafter named shall have receive and take the rents and profits of the said Messuage Lands and premises herein before by me devised unto my said Grandson Joseph until he my said Grandson Joseph shall attain his age of twenty one years and shall pay and apply such rents and profits in aid and increase of my Personal Estate for the benefit of the residuary Legatees
Also I Give and devise unto my Grandson William Kingsnorth his Heirs and Assigns for ever all
that my Messuage or Tenement (now in two Dwellings) with the Gardens and Appurtenances
thereunto belonging situate and being in Woodchurch aforesaid and now in the Occupation of
William Streaton and Thomas George or one of them their or one of their assigns or undertenants
And also all those my two pieces of parcels of Lands (late in three pieces or parcels and on part of
which the said Message stands) called the Brush Land or howsoever otherwise called or known containing by estimation eight acres more or less
with the Appurtenances also lying in Woodchurch aforesaid and now in the said William Streatons occupation
And also those my nine other pieces or parcels of Land containing by Estimation twenty eight Acres
more or less with the Appurtenances lying and being in Woodchurch aforesaid which said Lands
called the Brush Lands and the said last mentioned nine pieces or parcels of Land I purchased to me and my Heirs of and from William Davis Esquire
And also all that my Barn called the Wheat Barn (but not the stable and Granary at the West end or
side thereof) and all that Bullock Close and Lodge and a small stable at the East end or side of my said
Barn called the Wheat Barn and all that stack plot or yard behind or on the North side of my said
Barn called the Wheat Barn and also free Liberty way and passage for my said Grandson William
his Heirs and assigns and his and their Tenants and Servants from time to time and at all times with
or without Horses Cattle and Carriages to go return and pass in by and through the usual way and
Passage from the Highway there over part of the premises herein before devised unto my said Son
Joseph unto and from the stack plot or yard behind my said Wheat Barn
To hold the said Messuage Barn Lands and Premises last hereby devised unto my said Grandson William Kingsnorth his Heirs and Assigns for ever
he and they paying thereout unto my Grandson Henry Kingsnorth the Sum of one hundred pounds of lawful Money of Great
Britain when he my said Grandson Henry shall attain his age of twenty one years And I do hereby
give and bequeath the said Sum of One hundred pounds unto him my said Grandson Henry
Accordingly to be paid him at his said Age of twenty one years And I do hereby Charge my said last
mentioned Messuage Lands and Premises to and with the payment thereof
And I will and direct that my Executors hereinafter named shall have receive and take the Rents and profits of the said Messuage Lands and Premises hereinbefore by me devised unto my said Grandson William until he my said Grandson William shall attain his age of twenty one Years and shall pay and apply such Rents and profits in aid and increase of my personal Estate for the benefit of my residuary legatees
Also I Give and devise unto my Grandson Benjamin Kingsnorth his Heirs and Assigns for ever all that my six pieces or parcels of Land commonly called or known by the name of the Hardlemore Lands containing together in the whole by Estimation forty Acres be the same more or less lying and being in Woodchurch aforesaid and in Halden in the said County of Kent and which I purchased to me and my Heirs of and from ____ Clarke and others To hold the same unto and to the use of my said Grandson Benjamin Kingsnorth his Heirs and assigns for ever
Whereas I have agreed with William Bourne of Woodchurch aforesaid Carpenter to erect and build a messuage or Tenement on part of my said Lands called the Hardlemore Landes at and for the Sum of seventy pounds now in case the said Messuage or Tenement shall not be finished and built in my lifetime I do hereby direct the same to be erected and Compleated as soon as conveniently may be after my decease and the Costs and Charges thereof I will shall be paid out of my personal Estate by my Executors hereinafter named And which said Messuage or Tenement when so erected and built I do hereby give and devise unto my said Grandson Benjamin Kingsnorth his Heirs and Assigns for ever
And I will and direct that my Executors hereinafter named shall have receive and take the Rents Issues and Profits of the said Messuage, Lands and Premises hereinbefore by my devised unto my said Grandson Benjamin until he my said Grandson Benjamin shall attain his Age of twenty one Years and shall pay and apply such Rents and Profits in aid and increase of my personal Estate for the benefit of my residuary Legatees
Also I Give and Bequeath unto my said Grandson John Kingsnorth the further Sum of two hundred pounds of like money to be paid him by my Executors
hereinafter named out of my personal Estate at his Age of twenty one Years
Also I Give and Bequeath unto my said Grandson Henry Kingsnorth the further Sum of two hundred pounds of like money to be paid him by my Executors
hereinafter named out of my personal Estate at his Age of twenty one Years
Also I Give and Bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Mary Kingsnorth the Sum of Four hundred pounds of like Money to be paid her by my
Executors hereinafter named out of my personal Estate at her age of twenty one Years
Whereas Mary (the wife of John Davis) of Woodchurch aforesaid Farmer late Mary Kingsnorth widow is Justly and truly indebted unto me on a
certain bond or Obligation under her hand and seal bearing date on or about the thirty first day of January which was in the Year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and seventy seven the full sum of two hundred pounds
Now I do hereby give unto and forgive her the said Mary the sum of One hundred and fifty pounds (part of the said Sum of two hundred pounds secured
to me in and by the said Bond) She the said Mary paying the Reverend Mr. Atkinson thereout for the schooling and Education of
the said Henry Kingsnorth her son and my Grandson and also paying the additional duty of One shilling in the Pound for the Premium I have given and
paid to James Powell Surgeon for taking him my said Grandson Henry Apprentice
And the other fifty pounds (residue of the said sum of two hundred pounds secured to me by the said Bond) I do hereby give and bequeath unto
Daniel French of Wye in the said County of Kent Carpenter to be paid him in twelve Months next after my decease
And as to all the rest residue and remainder of my ready Monies and securities for Money,
Household Goods, Implements of Household, Goods, Chattels, Effects and Personal Estate
whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind or quality soever the same be (not by me
hereinbefore otherwise disposed of) whereof I shall dye possessed or which shall be any ways
due, owing or belonging unto me at the time of my decease and which shall remain after and subject
to the payment of my Just Debts Funeral Expences the Charges of proving this my Will, the said sum
of seventy pounds for building the said Messuage or Tenement on my said Hardlemore Lands and
the several Legacies and Sums of Money herein before by me given and bequeathed and all other incidental Expences
I give and bequeath the same and all my Estate and Interest therein unto my said Grandsons and
Grand Daughter Joseph Kingsnorth. John Kingsnorth, William Kingsnorth, Henry Kingsnorth,
Benjamin Kingsnorth and Mary Kingsnorth equally to be divided between them share and share alike and to be paid to them respectively
when the youngest of my said Grandchildren for the time being shall attain his or her age of twenty one years
And my Will and mind further is that my Executors hereinafter named and the Survivors or Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators shall as soon as conveniently may be after my decease call and get in such part of my personal Estate as consists of moneys or securities for money and sell and turn into Money such part thereof as doth not consist of Money or Securities for money and such of the Monies so to be called in and to arise by and from my said personal Estate as shall remain after payment thereout of my Just Debts Fuenral Expences the Charges of Proving this my Will the said Sum of seventy pounds for building the said Messuage and other incidental Expences my Will is shall be put and placed out at Interest on Real or other good securities or in the Parliamentary Funds of this Kingdom in the names of my Executors hereinafter named or in the names or name of the Survivors or Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators
and such Monies so put and placed out or such part and parts thereof as shall from time to time
remain after payment of the several Legacies and Sums of Money herein before by me bequeathed
and which I direct shall be paid at the times herein before Appointed for the payment thereof to call
in and put and place out the same again at Interest on such Securities as aforesaid as often as my said
Executors and the Survivors or Survivor of this his Executors or Administrators shall think proper
until the Youngest of my said Grandchildren for the time being shall attain his or her age of twenty one Years
And my Will is that the Interest Dividends and yearly proceed of the monies so to be put out and
from time to time continued at Interest as aforesaid shall be Added to the residuum of my Personal
Estate to increase and Augment the same for the benefit of my residuary Legatees respectively
And in case any or either of them my said Grandsons and Grand Daughter Joseph Kingsnorth. John Kingsnorth, William Kingsnorth, Henry Kingsnorth, Benjamin Kingsnorth and Mary Kingsnorth shall happen to dye under the age of twenty one years then and in such case I give devise and bequeath the Messuage Lands and Hereditaments Legacy and legacies and part and share and parts and shares as well original as by Acruing of him her or them so dying under age and of and in my real and personal Estate unto the Survivors and Survivor of them my said Grandsons and Grand Daughter equally to be divided between them share and share alike as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants and to their several and respective Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns for ever
Also I desire to be buried at Woodchurch aforesaid and to be carried to the Ground on the shoulders of Eight poor men belonging to the said Parish of Woodchurch and to such poor mean and each and every of them I give two shillings and six pence a piece and a pair of Tanned Leather Gloves
And I do hereby make Constitute and Appoint Jeremiah Curteis of the Ancient Town of Rye in the County of Sussex Gentleman, Henry Kingsnorth of Kennardington in the said County of Kent Gentleman and Benjamin Downe of Kennardington aforesaid Gentleman Executors of this my last Will and testament
And my Will further is that the said Jeremiah Curteis, Henry Kingsnorth and Benjamin Downe or any or either of them their or any or either of their Heirs Executors or Adm[inistrat]ors shall not be charged or chargeable with or accountable for any more of the aforesaid Trust Estates, Moneys and Premises than he or they shall respectively actually receive or shall come to his or their hands by virtue of this my Will nor with or for any loss which shall happen of the said Trust Estates, moneys and Premises or any part thereof so as such loss happen without his or their wilful default nor the one of them for the other or others of them or for the Acts Deeds Receipts defaults or Payments of the other or others of them but each and every of them only for his and their own Acts deeds Receipts Defaults and Payments respectively
And that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said Executors Jeremiah Curteis, Henry Kingsnorth and Benjamin Downe and each and every of them and each and every of their Heirs Executors Adm'ors and every of them in the first place by and out of the aforesaid trust Estates moneys ad premises and the Rents Interests Dividends and Profits thereof to deduct and reimburse him and themselves respectively all such losses, Costs, Charges, Damages and Expences as he they or any or either of them shall respectively sustain expend or be put unto for or by reason or means of the Trusts aforesaid or any of their or the Management or Execution thereof of any other thing relating thereof together with a suitable and full allowance for their Journeys trouble and loss of time in and about the same Trusts or any of them
And I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other Wills and Codicils by me at any time or times heretofore made
In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Kingsnorth the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in this and the four proceeding
sheets of paper set my hand and seal (to wit) my hand to the four proceeding sheets and my hand and seal to this last sheet the day and year first
abovewritten
The marke of + Thomas Kingsnorth
The writing contained in this and the four proceeding sheets of paper was signed and sealed by the
above named Thomas Kingsnorth the Testator and by him published and declared as and for his last
Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses
thereto in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other
Wm. Bourne; George Huntley; Jno. Woolllett
This Will was proved at London the twelfth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four before the Right Honorable Sir William Wynne, Knight, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, lawfully constituted by the Oaths of Jeremiah Curteis; Henry Kingsnorth and Benjamin Downe the Executors named in the said Will to whom adm'on was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased having been first sworn by Commission duly to Administer
Notes:
Thomas Kingsnorth died and was buried at All Saints, Woodchurch, on 8th April 1782.
Memorial inscription: Thomas Kingsnorth of this parish who died 2nd April 1782 aged 70 years. He had issue 2 sons, Thomas and Joseph, both of whom
died in his lifetime. Thomas the son left 6 children, Joseph, John, William, Henry, Benjamin and Mary.
Thomas Kingsnorth married Mary French, widow at Kennardington 15 May 1738
Thomas son of Thomas and Mary was baptised 19 Nov 1738 at Kenardington and Joseph 10 Oct 1742
Thomas Kingsnorth, Bachelor & Mary Fullager, Spinster, both otp., were married by Banns on 23 Aug 1761 at All Saints, Woodchurch. Witnesses: John
Fullager, William Illenden.
Their children (all baptised at All Saints, Woodchurch, Kent): Thomas 23 Oct 1761 (Bu.: 18 Oct 1766); Joseph 12 May 1763; John 9 Jan 1765;
William 24 Feb 1767; Henry 22 Aug 1768; Benjamin 6 Nov 1770 and Mary 3 Jun 1773.
Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh A. Mason, 4th April 2023
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Thomas Kingsnorth