Item: my body to be buried where it shall please God I do depart this mortal lyfe.
Item I give to the poor people of Appledore the sum of twenty pounds to be paid Forty shillings every
year for the space of ten years, and the first payment to begin at Christmas next following after my
decease half yearly to be paid by my Executor
Item I give to every of my men servants, and maid servants Twenty shillings a piece over and above
their wages which then at the time of my decease shall be due unto them, my mind is that it be paid at
the end of their year if they stay out their year, and if my Executor be not minded to keep them so
long, if not when they go away to be paid by my Executor.
Item I give to my sister Ellynor Watts Twenty shillings a year during the natural lyefes of her, and her husband, Edmund Watts of Harrietsham in the county of Kent, And my mind and will is, if my sister�s husband shall depart this mortal life before my said sister, then my sister to have yearly during her natural life the some of Four pounds to be paid her Quarterly by my Executor, and if that she or he shall not be paid as aforesaid, Then I will she or he shall by virtue of this my will, distrain upon any of my lands, and to withhold the distress either by sale, or otherwise, till they be fully satisfied according to my will.
Item: I give to every one of my said sisters children the sum of Three pounds a piece as they shall severally come to the age of One and Twenty years, and so many as be of age, to be paid at midsummer next following after my decease
And further my mind and will is, whereas Marke Horolston als Hilston of the parish of Barham my brother in law standeth bound in a bond of the sum of Fourscore pounds or their abouts if therefore my said brother in Law do well and truly pay, or cause to be paid unto my Executor the sum of Three and Twenty pounds, Six shillings eight pence of lawful money of England due unto me, And also Thirteen pounds sixe shillings four pence likewise lawful money of England for and concerning a Legacy due to one Gregory Watts of Lydd son of Gregory Watts of Appledore deceased when the said Gregory shall come to the age of One and Twenty years, or if he be of age before my death, Then within One quarter of one year after my decease, then my Executors or Executor to redeliver to my said brother in law his said bond.
Item I bequeath to Elizabeth Lister my wife all her wearing apparel as well woollen as linen, and all
my household stuff whatsoever and my said wife to bestow on my said children what she shall think best at her will and pleasure.
Item I give to my said wife my grey ambling nag with the saddle, bridle, and all other furniture thereunto belonging.
Item: I give to my said wife all my hoggs, geese, Ducks, and poultry about my now dwelling house whatsoever.
Item I give to my wife Five Seams of wheat of the best, and Fyve seames of barley or malt at her
choice and Forty bushels of oats. All which said Corn to be delivered by my executor within one month after my decease.
Item my mind and will is, That my said wife to have the guardianships, and bringing up of my Two children till they shall come to the age of One and Twenty years, or at their day of marriage which shall happen first.
Item all the rest of my moveable, and unmoveable goods unbequeathed I give and bequeath unto my two Daughters Elizabeth and Agnes, which my mind and will is should be should to the best value, as it shall be praised by Four honest men, And within Two years next after my decease, and my mind is my Executor shall purchase so much lands to the use of my said two daughters and their heirs as the overplus of my moveable goods shall amount unto and for default or purchasing so much lands, the money to be putt out to profit for my said Two daughters to the best use until they shall accomplish their ages of One and Twenty years, or day of marriage which shall happen first and then to pay if and they profit.
My mind and will further is that my wife, her heirs or executors, administrator, or assigns shall not at any time fell waste or cut down any of my Acre woods, nor any of my timber trees standing upon any of my Lands whatsoever. My mind and will is; that my Executors shall provide all necessaries for the finishing of my new building at Tenterden, and furnish the same within one year next after my decease.
Item I give to every one of my godchildren Three shillings four pence to be paid within one year after my decease by my Executor.
Item I will my Executor shall pay unto my said Daughters every half year forty shillings to either of
them, and that yearly until they shall accomplish the age of One and Twenty years, or day of marriage out of my said Goods.
Item I give to one Gillian Marshall my kinswoman, sometimes the wife of one John Widows of Brensytt the some of Three pounds to be paid at midsummer next following after my death, and the keeping of her Two kyne which she sent me until Michaelmas next being in 99 (?) and then to have them again if they live
Item I give to Robert Piper of Iden my servant so that he doe continue his year according to his bargain the sum of twenty shillings, to be paid him at the end of his year or as my other servants are to have theirs.
Item my mind and will is my wife to have her dwelling in my now dwelling house until Michaelmas next.
My mind and will further is that whereas I stand bound in Recognizance to George Chute the
elder esquire in the some of Two Thousand pounds for the payment of certain legacies unto John and
Mathew Sloweman the sons of John Sloweman of Breed in the County of Sussex deceased due at
their several ages of One and Twenty years by the gift of Pascall Sloweman late of Appledore
deceased, and also to accompte and pay unto the said John Sloweman after Six pounds in the hundred
by the space of so many years as he the said John shall come to the said age of One and Twenty years
and my mind and will further is that my Executor shall sell so much of my Goods within one year
next after my decease, as shall satisfy the said recognizance, and profit thereof which shall then be
due, so as he allow for the profit of the said money after Six pound of the hundred for the time he hath
it as I do to the use of the said John Sloweman, and Mathewe Sloweman to be paid, and delivered to
the said George Chut esquire so as the said George shall redeliver the said Recognizance cancelled
with a sufficient discharge in lawe to discharge my heirs and Executors, against the said John and
Mathew Slowman and if the said George Chut shall refuse so to doe then I will my Executor shall put
the said money forth to the use for the satisfying of the said John and Mathew Slowman, and the
profits thereof as the said George Chut should have done when they shall accomplish the age of One and Twenty years.
Item I give unto my wife so much Legges, and Fagotts for fire as shall be requisite to be used until Michaelmas next.
Item I give my said wife three of my best Kine at her choice and the keeping of them, and her horse,
hogs and poultry to her, at my now dwelling, and on the lands to the same belonging, until the feast of
Saint Michael the ark angel next after my decease.
As concerning my lands Tenements and Hereditaments, this is the last will and Testament of me the said William Lister.
First I bequeath unto Elizabeth my wife all my house and tenement with the lands at Burrowes Isle lying with the parish of Tenterden for the term of Fifteen years next after my decease to be accomplished if she so long live, and yearly thirty loades of wood during that time to be had to her use, and to be felled out of the lands of that Tenement at the appointment of my Executor in regard of her jointure and towards the education and bringing up of my two daughters until their age of One and Twenty years or day of marriage.
Item: also I will and bequeath unto my said wife the some of Twenty pounds by year to be paid half
yearely Tenne poundes by my Executor so long as she shall be charged with the education and bringing up of my said daughters.
Item I give and bequeath to my wife all jewels, silver, and gold, as shall be in her own custody except
my silver spoons which be in number one and Twenty which I will shall be equally divided betwixt
my said wife and my two daughters and my mind and will is my wife to have the custody of all the
said silver spoons until my said daughters shall come to the age of one and twenty years or day of marriage.
Item I will bequeath to my said two daughters all my lands tenements and hereditaments to be had to them and their heirs for ever equally to be divided between them when the said Agnes my daughter shall accomplish the full age of one and twenty years except the house and land before given to my wife for fifteen years, the said Elizabeth and Agnes my daughters to be paid the profit of my lands by my Executor when they or either of them shall come to the age of one and twenty years or day of marriage so far forth as it shall amount unto them my mind is that if any of my daughters dye without heirs of their bodies, one to be the others heir, and if my said daughters Elizabeth and Agnes depart this mortal life before they shall accomplish the age of one and twenty years, and without heirs of their bodies lawfully begotten, then my mind and will is all my lands tenements and Hereditaments� in Tenterden and Appledore shall remain unto my said sister and her heirs of her body lawfully begotten for ever, except the house lands and hereditaments before given unto my wife which I will she shall have during her natural life if my said daughters shall die without issue.
Item I give unto William Curtes of Tenterden Jurat twenty pounds, who I do ordain and make my Executor of this my last will and Testament to receive my goods, and debts, and the profits of my lands unbequethed unto my wife and to pay my debts, and legacies and to bring my body to the earth where it shall please God and my said Executors entering into bond unto George Chute esquire within one year in such certain sums of money as shall seem meet and convenient by the said George Chute that they shall yield a an account of the said moveable goods, and profit of my lands to my said daughters at their several ages of one and twenty years or day of marriage which shall first happen, whom I do ordain and make my overseer of this my last will and Testament, and do give him for his pains a gelding worth ten pounds or ten pounds of lawful money of England at his choice.
In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal the day and year first above written witnesses at the making and delivery.
By me William Lister, John Hopton , Robert Wolball , George Curtis.
This is a Codicil to be annexed unto the last will and testament of me the said William Lister declared the day and year above said
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of William Lister