Mason Will 1768

Will of Zebulon Mason

of Biddenden, Kent

Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 17/98/88b
Submitted by James Canney

In the name of God Amen I Zebulon Mason of the Parish of Biddenden in the County of Kent Cordwainer being sum What Ill but of Sound and Perfect Mind and Memory (praised be God for the same) do this 17th? day of July in the seventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third over Great Britain France and Ireland King defender of the Faith and in the Year of our Lord 1767 make and Declare this my last Will and Testament in Manner Following
First I commend my Soul to God that gave it and my Body I committ to the Earth to be decently buried at the Discretion of my Executor hereinafter named as touching that Worldly Estate with which God hath been pleased to bless me with I Give and Dispose thereof as Followeth

I Give and Bequeath to John Bates son of William and Mary Bates of Lydd in Kent the sum of Ten pounds of Good and Lawfull Money to be paid by my Executor hereinafter named in Three Months after my Decease into Mr. Richard Pullen(s) Hands to be kept for him till his Aprenty Ship [Apprenticeship] is Ended Also I give and Bequeath to the said John Bates my Little Violin and Musick Books

Also if it shall please God that I die before the time of his Apprenty ship is Ended I bind my Executor to find or provide for the sd. John Bates Good and Sifficient Cloathing of all sorts the sd. Term of his Apprentiship
Also I bing [bind?] my Executor not to claim in any of the Goods that my present wife Mary Marson (as written) hath brought & is now in my house upon no terms whatsoever

Lastly I Give and Bequeath unto Edward Mason now living at Leeds in Kent all my read Money and Securities for Money Debts, household Goods, Stock in trade and all other my Personal Estate of What Nature soever that I shall be possessed of at the Time of my death he thereout in the First place paying and Discharging all my Just Debts Funeral Expences and the charge of proving this my Last Will and Testament
and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my sd. Kinsman Edward Mason aforesaid sole Executor of this my last will and Testament

And Lastly I do hereby revoke& make void all former will(s) by me made and Declare this only to be my last Will and Testament
In Witness whereof I the said Testator Zebulon Mason have hereunto sett my Hand and Seal the au and Year within Written
Zebulon Mason

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Zebulon Mason as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us Who have hereunto in his presence Subscribed our Names as Witnesses
Thos. Gravett Senior; Thomas Gravett Junior

The before Registered Will of Zebulon Mason dec[eas]ed was proved the Twenty fourth day of Feby. 1768 before the Reverend George Hearne Clerk Surrogate to the Worshipful Francis Simpson Doctor of Laws Official General to the Reverend the Archdeacon of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Edward Mason the Sole Executor named in the said Will he being first Sworn duly to perform the same

Notes:
Zebulon Mason was buried at All Saints, Biddenden, Kent, on 9 Feb 1768, Clerk of this parish.
He was the son of John and Elizabeth Mason, baptised at Biddenden on 14th January 1691/2.
See Will of his father, John Mason the Elder of Biddenden: PRC 17/87/38j, made & proved in 1729;
and Sister Dinah Mason (of Biddenden): PRC 17/98/93, made 1739 & Proved 1768.

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh Mason 3rd June 2022

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Will of Zebulon Mason
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