Longley Will 1785

Will of Joseph Longley

of Chatham, Kent


Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury PROB 11/129/665
Submitted by Kevin Robards
In the name of God Amen I Joseph Longley of Chatham in the County of Kent Mercer being of sound and perfect Mind and Memory do revoke all former Wills by me heretofore made and hereby make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following
It is my request mind and desire That my Body be interred within a Leaden Coffin in a decent private manner near my late Honored Father and Mother that a large and good Vault be made and built and thereon or near there be laid or placed a good Stone with the Arms and Names of the Family buried there to be Engraved on the said Stone
And I do dispose of my Worldly Estate as followeth (that is to say)

I give and bequeath unto my Grandson John Longley one hundred pounds sterling
unto my Granddaughter Mary Longley the like Sum of one hundred pounds sterling
and unto my Granddaughter Frances Longley the like Sum of one hundred pounds sterling
to be paid to them respectively at their respective ages of Twenty one Years or respective days of Marriage first happening by my Executors hereafter named

Item I give and bequeath unto my Son John Longley the Sum of Twenty pounds to be by him applied towards the Keeping in repair the General Baptist Church in Heaviside Lane [now Hammond Lane] in the Parish of Chatham aforesaid and towards the Renewal of the present Lease thereof with the Governors of the Chest when the same shall come incourse or be renewed

Item I give and bequeath unto John Benton (Son of William Benton late of Sandhurst in the said County of Kent) the Sum of Ten pounds Sterling
and to John Benton the Younger his Son the like Sum of Ten pounds
to be paid to them respectively in three Months next after my decease

And I give to each of my Maid Servants living with me at the time of my decease three pounds and unto my Servant Boy then living with me Forty Shillings for Mourning
Item It is my request and I do hereby request my Executors hereafter named within one Month after my decease to abate deduct and allow unto my now Journeyman Alexander Gardiner the Sum of Fifty pounds out of and from the Debt he now owes me

Item I give and devise all and every my Manors Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Real Estate whatsoever and wheresoever which I shall die seized of unto and to the use of my only Son the said John Longley his Heirs and Assigns for ever
And I give and bequeath all and every the rest and residue of my ready Money, Securities for Money, Monies in the Public Stocks or Funds, Creditors, Stock in Trade, Household Goods, Furniture and Implements of Household, Chattels, Effects and Personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever which I shall be intitled unto or possessed of at the time of my decease (my just debts, Legacies, Funeral and all incident Charges being thereout first paid and satisfied) Unto my said Son John Longley his Executors Administrators and Assigns

And I do constitute and appoint him my said Son John Longley sole Executor of this my Will and declare this to be and contain as and for my only last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I the said Joseph Longley the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament set my Hand and Seal this thirteenth day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine
Joseph Longley

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Testator Joseph Longley as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have Subscribed our Names as Witnesses
Rot. Wise - Nathl. Pearne - Thos. Tomlyn

This Will was proved at London the thirtieth day of August in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty five before the Worshipful John Fisher Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of John Longley the Son of the Deceased and sole Executor named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer.
Exd.

Notes:
Joseph Longley Esq'r. of the Parish of Chatham was Bury'd in the General Baptist Burying Gro. in Heavysides Lane on the 6 Aug 1785. [RG4/756]
Governors of the Chatham Chest – established in 1590 in response to the many injured seamen left destitute due to injuries sustained during the Anglo-Spanish war of 1585-1604. It provided financial relief for injured or disabled Royal Navy seamen for over 224 years.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 8th January 2021


Return to Kent Genealogy

Will of Joseph Longley
Created by Maureen Rawson