Longley Will 1697

Will of John Longley

of Chatham, Kent


Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury PROB 11/438/50
Submitted by Kevin Robards
In the name of God Amen the third day of February the seventh yeare of his Maties [Majesties] Reigne King William Anno Domini one thousand Six hundred ninety five
I John Longley of Chatham in the County of Kent Yeoman nowe being not well in body but of a sound disposeing memory and understanding (praised be God for the same) and desirous to settle my estate in peace doe make and ordaine this my present last Will and Testament in manner and forme following
First I recommend my Soul to Almighty God that gave it me and my body I leave to returne to the Earth to be decently buryed at the discrecon of my Executor herein after named and as for my worldly estate that God hath blessed me with I dispose of as followeth

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Benton now wife of John Benton of Sandhurs and unto Anne Robbens now wife of Andrew Robens of Bedenden in the County of Kent all the Linnen that is in my great Chest at John Bentons and Pewter and all other goods that I have there in his house to be equally divided between them two
I give more to be equally between the abovesaid Elizabeth and Anna one Silver bowle and Eight Silver Spoons which Silver bowle is about house and the Spoons in my Chest at Andrew Robbens at Bidenden
I give unto Anna Robbens more all that debt that her husbands with and upon bond which is twenty pound

I give unto my three grandchildren Sarah Benton, John Benton and William Benton five pound apeece to be paid unto them at there age of one and twenty yeares or theire day of marriage which shall first come

all the rest of my personall Estate I doe give unto my Sonn John Longley of Chatham deducting soe much as will pay and satisfye all my debts, Legacies, Funerall expences, Probate of this my Will who I make and ordaine sole Executor of this my present last Will and Testament desireing him to performe according to the true meaning hereof
and as for touching and concerning the disposeing of my messuages lands and tenements I dispose thereof as followeth

Imprimis I give and devise unto the said John Longley my Sonn and Executor and to his Heries and Assignes for ever all that my messuage or tenement barne orchard garden close and backside and twelve acres of land more or less thereunto belonging
And alsoe more thirty five acres of land called Ramesden land more or less all which land lyeing in Benenden which I lately purchased of Mr. Alaxander Read and now in the occupation of John Austen and John Crutall

but my mynd and will is that if my son John Longley should dye without Heires that then my two daughters Elizabeth now the wife of John Benton And Anna the wife of Andrew Robbens shall have it to them and their Heires for ever and doe to the longest Survivor of them

I give and devise unto my daughter Elizabeth Benton now the wife of John Benton Eight peeces of Land which Mr. Thomas Freebody lately left and now in the occupation of Walter Springet called Dingelden Land in Benenden by estimacon thirty acres more or less to her and her Heires for ever
But if the said Elizabeth should happen to dye without Heirs then it shall be for the use of John Longley and his Heires for ever if he be then liveing and if he bee dead then to Anna Robbens and her Heires for ever if she be then liveing

further my mind and will is that out of this thirty acres of land my well beloved wife Mary Longley shall be paid tenn shillings a yeare dureing her naturall life

I give and devise unto Anna Robbens the wife of Andrew Robbens one messuage or tenement, one barne, orchard, garden, close and backside And three peeces of pasture land and one peece of woodland now in the occupation of Walter Springet called by the name of Standen in Benenden to her and her Heirs for ever
But if it shall happen that the said Anna Robbens shall dye without Heirs then it shall be for the use of John Longley but if he be dead then to the use of Elizabeth now the wife of John Benton and her Heirs for ever

I give and devise unto my two daughters Elizabeth now the wife of John Benton and Anna now the wife of Andrew Robbens more two peeces of land called the Robbenses lyeing in Sandhurst in the occupation of John Hollands to them and the Heirs for ever
But if any of my two daughters shall happen to dye wthout Heires then my mind is that he Survivors of them shall have the same to them and there Heirs for ever

and further Whereas by one Indenture bearing date the twenty fourth day of September one thousand six hundred ninety five Mr. George Werner and William Leke of Chatham in the County of Kent fefers [feoffees?] in trust for me and my Heires and Assignes of all my Lands in Benenden and Sandhurst my mind and will is that they shall within one moneth after my decease surrender up their trust unto the parties abovementioned which I have given it unto and I doe hereby utterly renounce and make voyd all former Wills by me made

In Witnesse hereof I the said John Longley set my hand and seale the day and yeare first above written
John Longley

Signed sealed published and declared by the said John Longley the Testator to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us
William Ringer - John Lade - Sarah Ringer

My mind and will is that if John Longley my Sonn within written whome I have made Executor of this my last Will and Testamt. shall refuse to take the same then my two Daughters shall be Executors in his rome and sted and that which I have given him shall (be) theirs and he shall have nothing of my Estate
In Witnesse hereto I sett my hand and seale dated the day and yeare first above and within written Febry 3 : one thousand Six hundred ninety five
John Longley
Sealed published and declared in the presence of us: William Ringer - John Lade - Sarah Ringer

Probatum fuit: [Latin] 7th May 1697 to son John.

Notes:
Elizabeth Longley married John Benton 21st June 1683 at St. Nicholas, Sandhurst, Kent.
Anne Longley married Andrew Robbins 22nd April 1690 at St. George, Benenden, Kent, thus: “Andrew Robbins of Biddenden and Anne Longley of Sandhurst were married by Licence.”

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 27th August 2020


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Will of John Longley
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