Linch Will 1573/4

Will of Simon Lynch

of Staple, Kent


Source: Consistory Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 32/32/59
Submitted by Margaret Glenn
In the name of God Amen The xxvj [26] daie of Februarie in the yere of our Lorde God 1573/74 Anno regni Elizabethe Regine xvjth
I Symon Lynche of Staple in the countie of Kente gent(leman) being of good and parfect remembrance (thankes be to God) do make this my last will and Testamente in fourme following
firste I comende my Soule into the mercifull handes of Jesus Christe my only redemer and Savyour And my bodie to the yerthe [Earth]

Item I will that my Farmers of my Tenements in Staple & Wingham viz Bax Saunders, Salmon and John Cockeshall everie of them bestowe upon their severall tenements one yeres farme upon Reparations of the saide tenementes without further Rent paying for that yere And I will that they shall contynue in the same Tenements during their life payinge the yerelie Rentes they now paye without any improving or raysing the same Rentes, So they kepe the reparacons of their saide tenements well and sufficientlie and use them selves honestlie

Item I geve to everye one of my housholde servantes vjs viijd [6s 8d] besides their wages
Item I geve to Jerome Courthorpe my graye horse colte whiche I bought of Robert Goodside
Item I geve to Mr. Willm Partriche my Stone horse whiche is withe Mr. Gibbs
Item I geve to Mr. Frances Willesbide? my newe Chamblet gowne, and my newe russet Satten dublet

Item I will that my brother Jervyce Lynche, parson of Elmestone have his patent of xxli [£20] by yere delivered to hym to do his pleasure therwith and one of my gownes suche as liketh hym to choose and two Angell nobles
Item I geve to my sonne Edwarde Shorte a litle gilt Boull
And to Richarde Ruck, sonne of Thomas Rucke my greatest stone vase ? covered with silver and gilt

Item I geve to everie of my daughters and to every of my sonnes wyves xls shillings apece to make them Ringes:
And I geve to everye of my saide daughters children and sonnes children one Angell noble apece
Item I geve to everie one of my Sisters xxs apece to make them Ringes
Item I geve to Mr. Edward Roberts, late of Hawkherste [Hawkhurst] my best gelding

Item I geve to Symon Lynche my youngeste sonne one dozen of Silver Spoones with strawberye hedes, my second silver Saulte and some suche parte of my housholde (stuff) not being the principall stuf, to helpe to furnishe his house in London; as shalbe thought convenient by my wif (to whome herein I have shewed fullye my minde) so as the same extende not to any furth(er)? parte of suche my Stuf

Item I geve to Chr'ofer Quilter frelie all that plate latelie his and assured or soulde to me for monye lent or delyvered hym as appearethe, whiche plate is in the custodie of Mr. John Brome, Comissarie of Burye

Item I will that Jone my wif shall have her dwelling and abidinge in my house called Groves in Staple during the tyme of her wydowhode withe suche convenient upper chambers in the southe ende there beinge the newe buildinge and suche necessarye comodities and Easamentes as she shall thincke mete and the using and occupying of so muche housholde stuf of myne as she shall thincke mete and necessarie for her own use there and not els where Also that she shall have there frelye at the cotes? of suche of my Sonnes or other owners of my house at Groves aforesaide duing the tyme abovesaude, suche her dyat and fyer [fire] and all other necessarie Intertaynmente mete and convenient for her as dutie requireth

And if it shall fortune my saide wif to mistake her entertaynment or useage in my saide house as aforesaide Then I will that suche Owner of my house called Groves shall yerelie contribute and paie to her xli to be paide her at the iiij usuall feastes quarterlie, for and in consideracon and recompence of her saide dyatt and other comodoties whiche she there should have had And she to be where she shall better like at her pleasure
Also I geve to my saide wife one of my smale gilt Boulles
Item I geve to Marye Crumpe my Servannte a Cowe

Item I geve to the saide Jone my wif during her naturall lif Twentie powndes by yere to be paide her quarterlie (at the fower usuall feastes by even porcions) by Symon Lynche my youngest sonne aforesaide out of certen mesuag Landes Tenements Mershes and other hereditaments lying at or nere Sandwiche whiche are herafter in this my last will & Testament geven to the saide Symon and his heires

Upon Condicon that my saide wif shall clerelie relinquishe and release her Joynture or dower according to her faithfull promise
And if it happen the saide yerelie rente of Twentie poundes to be behunde unpaide in part or in all within xiiij daies next after any of the saide feastes in wch the same ought to be paide That then it shalbe laufull to my saide wif of her assignes in the premisses or any part thereof to enter & distrayne and the distres there so taken and had to impounde and with holde untill the saide yerelie Rente and everye part thereof forth withe suche costes and damages by that occasion had shalbe to her fullie satisfied and paid

Item I geve to the said Jone my wif one lease of certen Landes in Horsemonden in the occupacon of Lawrance Forster

The Residue of all my moveable goodes and Cattles monye plate housholde stuf and Jewells whatsoever not by this my will otherwise geven dysposed or appointed my debtes legacies and funeralls contented and paide I whole geve to Willm Lynche my eldest sonne whome I make sole Executor of this my last will and Testamente

Provided alwaies and my will and mynde is that my said sone Willm shall have the lease of the Manor of Downcourte with the which profitts thereof but during his lif and that upon condicon he doe faithfullie performe and observe and not willinglie infringe or breake this my will and Testamente
And also do suffer Willm Quylter of Burye to enioye those Thurtye Acres of lande parcell of the saide lease of Downcourte lying in Mellfelde accordinge to the will of the mother of the said Willm Quylter aforesaide
And also do paye my debts and all Rentes and farmes going out of the saide lease Excepte those Thurtye Acres of Willm Quylter aforesaide
And further do suffer the saide lease to be kept for more saftye thereof as hereunder is declared

The Remainder of which saide lease after the deathe of the saide Willm my Sone I will and geve to Willm Lynche the eldest sonne of Willm my Sone when he shall accomplishe his age of xxiiij yeres to have and to houlde to the saide Willm for (the) terme of his life And after his decease to the heires males of his bodie laufullie begotten
And for lack of such issue I will the said lease to Symon Lynche Second Sonne of the saide Willm my sonne at his age of xxiiij yeres to have and to houlde the saide lease to the saide Symon for terme of his lif And after his decease to the heires males of his bodie lyfullie begotten
And for lack of such issue I will the saide lease to John Lynche my second sonne and to his heires males
And for lack of suche issue of the saide John I will the saide lease to Thomas my sonne and to his heires males
And for lack of suche issue I will the same to Symon my youngest sonne and his heires males for ever

Whiche saide lease I will and desier to be kepte in suche wise as shalbe thought best for save garde of the same by th'advice of Mr. Roger Manwood one of the Quenes Maiesties Justices of the Comon Pleas at Westm[inste]r, Mr. Willm Gybbs and my cosen Mr. Cr'ofer Harflete my dere and trustie good frendes with all other writing and evidences as concerne my landes in Staple, Wing[h]am, Woodesnergh [Woodnesborough] and Goodneston(e) by this my last will geven to the saide Willm my sonne, As the same maye safelie come and be to the use of suche as by this my present last will and Testament is lymited and appoynted without couurte? dealinge

Item I ordeine and make Mr. Justice Manwood aforesaid my trustye overseer of this my last will and Testamente
And if any Ambiguitie Question haryance or dou[b]t shall happen to arise or growe in and aboute this my last will and testamente betwen my saide wif children or other wise that then I will the same to be adjudged and ordered by the said Mr. Justice Manwood accordinge to my true meaninge And that the same order shalbe as effectual as if I had wrytten the same withe myne owne hande To whome I geve Six poundes xiijs iiijd over and above my Annuytie of xls by yere by me herebefore grannted hym duringe his life

Item my will and desier is that Mr. Willm Gibbs and my cosen Mr. Chrisofer Harflete my verie frendes be Coadintors? to my sonne Willm, with whose counsell in any wise I advise hym he do his busines for his bettr saftye to avoide perier?
Item I geve to my saide cosen Harflete my Gon of golde which latlie was my brother Sowthaickes, And to Mr. Gibbs my baye stone horse in my Stable unhandled with assured truste of their frendships in theis my causes even as I wolde do by them in like case

Item I will that the saide Crofer [Christopher Harflete] shall have one litle peece or Slip of lande parcell of Chilton felde and parcell of the saide Manor of Downcourte conteyninge by estimacon one Rode or lande more or lesse as the same is nowe severed of, Syding to the Landes of the said Crofer called Rolles close to the north to the landes parcell of the saide Manor called Horsebrokes to the South And hedding to the Landes parcell of the saide Manor called Chilton felde to the west and to the Drove waye in Mellfelde to the East Excepte to me the saide Symon my heires and Executors fre(e) liberye to dryve carrye and recarrye in and throughe the prmisses at al tymes convenient
To have and to houlde the saide pece of lande to the saide Crofer his Executors and assignes unto the ende and terme of xxj yeres; To have commencement or beginning from the feast of Saynte Michaell tharchangell whiche shalbe next after the ende or determinacon of one lease whiche Robart Goosford holdeth or the premisses among other thinges The saide xpofer his Executors or assignes yelding and paying to me my heires Executors or Assignes yerelie at the feast of Sainte Michaell tharchangell Twentye pence of laufull monie of Englande

Item I will that my wood at Herne aliendie? felled and now appointed to be felled shalbe sould by my said Executor Also that my saide Executor receaved the half yeres farme due at the feast of Th'annunciacon of our lady next payable for the Mes[suage] called Ridgewaye and landes in Herne, the monye of whiche saide wood and farme I will shalbe inployed towardes the payment of my debt and legacies and performannce of this my last will and Testament

And as touchinge the disposition of all my Landes Tenementes and hereditamentes whatsoever in the countie of Kente, my will and mynde therein is as followeth

Firste I will and geve to Willm Lynche my eldest Sonne my messuage called Groves and all and singuler Landes Tenementes and other hereditamentes whatsoever withe th'appurten[a]ncs purchased of dyveis severall parsons lying & being in the parrishes of Staple, Wingham, Woodnesbergh and Goodneston(e) in the saide Countie (Excepte xxij Acres of Mershe in Woodnesbergh aforesaide likewise geven to John my sonne

And also I geve to the saide Willm my sonne my Marshe called Cannon marshe in the parrishe of Ashe To have and to houlde the saide Mesuage Landes Tenementes Mershe and other the premisses to the said Willm Lynche for terme of his life without ympeachement of waste
And after the decease of the saide Willm I will the saide Mesuage, Landes, Tenements and other hereditamentes unto Willm Lynche eldest sonne of the saide Willm my sonne when he shall accomplish the age of xxiiij yeres To have and to houlde the saide mesuage and premisses to the saide Willm and to the heyres males of his bodie laufullie begotten
And for lack of suche issue I will the saide Mesuage Landes and Tenementes aforesaide to Symon Lynche seconde sonne of the said Willm my sonne when he shall accomplishe the age of xxiiij yeres To have and to houlde the saide mesuage and premisses to the saide Symon and to the heires males of his bodie laufullie begotten
And for lack of suche issue I will the saide Mesuage Landes and Tenementes aforesaide to John Lynche my second sonne and to his heires males
And for lack of suche issue of the said John I will the saide Mesuage Landes and Tenementes aforesaide to Thomas my sonne and to his heires males
And for lack of suche issue I will the saide Mesuage Landes and Tenementes aforesaide to Symon my sonne and to his heires males for ever

Item I geve to the saide John Lynche my sonne All my houses landes Tenements and woodes in hoothe [Hoath?] Also my wood and lande called Ryders horthe, and my Landes in Chistlet, And all my landes and tenements in Preston and Elmeston(e) : And all and singuler thos(e) landes Tenements Rents Mershes and hereditaments in Fordwiche, Wyckham [Wickhambreaux], Preston and Woodnesbergh aforesaid or els where whiche I latelie purchased of Henrye and Edwarde Lewys, And the revercon and Revercons of all and singuler the premisses To have and to hould the saide Landes Tenementes and hereditaments aforesaide to the saide John my Sonne, the lease of the Channtrye garden at Padbroke remayninge in the handes of Mr. Gibbes

Item I geve to Thomas Lynche my Thirde Sonne all that my mesuage called Ridgeware, And all my landes and tenements and other hereditaments in the parish of Herne To have and to hould the saide Landes Tenementes and hereditaments aforesaide to the saide Thomas Lynche for terme of his life And after the decease of the saide Thomas to the heyres males of the saide Thomas for ever
And for lacke of suche issue I will the saide mesuage landes and Tenements aforesaide to my saide Sonne John Lynche and his heires for ever

Item I geve to Symon Lynche my fourth sonne, my houses landes Tenementes and hereditamentes in Sandwiche or within the liberties of the same, And twentie twoo Acres if mershe called the Saltes in Woodnesbergh aforesaide whiche marshe I latelie purchased of Chr'ofer Engleham To have and to hould the saide Landes Tenementes and Marshe with thappurtencs to the saide Symon and his heires for ever
Upon condicon that he the saide Symon his heires Executors or Assignes do paie to his mother duringe her life Twentie pounders by (the) yere out of the saide houses, marshe and prmisses according as is by this my present laste will and testamente to her before lymited geven and appointed

Also I geve to the saide Symon my sonne my lease interest and terme of yeres whiche I have in the Wynde Mill besides Cannterburygate nere Sandwiche To have and to hould to the saide Symon for all the terme of yeres yet to come therein upon the condicon aforesaid
Provided alwaies that where by this my prsente last will and testamente there is lymited to the saide Willm my eldest sonne but an estate for life in the landes and Tenementes to hym geven

Neverthelesse my will and minde is that it shalbe lauful for the saide Willm by his dede of Anuitie or by his last will Sealed and subscribed with his owne hande and Seale to graunte to Marye his wife that now is, or to any other his wife or wyves whiche herafter maye be, one yerelie Rente or Annuities of ten poundes by (the) yere during the life or lyves of suche his saide wife or wyves with Clause of distres(s) by non paymente Whiche saide graunte of Annuitie in fourme aforesaide made shalbe as effectuall to all intents and purposes agenst theieres [the heirs] in the Remaynder or Reverson as though the same Willm wer(e) seased of the saide Landes and tenements solye to his owne use in fee Symple

In witnesse whereof I the said Symon Lynche to this my present last will and testament my Seale have set and subscribed the same withe myne owne hande dated the daie and yere first abovesaide
Sealed subscribed pronounced and delivered in the prsence of C Harflete; Steven Ruck; Martyn Halfnode
Dn subscript per me Symone Lynche

Probatum fuit: 20 March 1573/4.

Notes:
Simon Linch, gent. was buried at Staple 5 March 1573/4
Son William Lynche married Mary Colliar 19th February 1564/65 at St. Mary the Virgin, Sandwich, Kent.

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh Mason 11th April 2022


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Will of Simon Lynch
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