First as to my Lands (to say) the Mannor of Frullton now in the occupation of JOHN KNOTT at the Rent of
one hundred pounds per annum I value it as it cost and I esteeme it well worth two thousand pounds. And that
every hundred pounds given out of the same and soe proportionally for a greater or a lesser sume shall receive
as an Annuity or Rent charge forever the sume of five pounds per annum for every hundred pounds. But my
meaning is that everybody concerned as well as my Wife as the children shall beare a proportionable share if
any abatement shall be either by Assessments Taxes reparacons or otherwise. And everybody shall receive
proportionally shorte of what it shall come shorte of the value in the whole. My meaning is that said farme shall
be from time to time lett by my Executors and they to pay to everyone theire severall proportions. Onely my
Wife shall during her life receive her moity herselfe of the Tennant and for want of payment according to the
Tearmes of the Lease she is hereby enabled to distraine for the same as alsoe may everybody else concerned for
their severall partes if it shall not be paid them within two moneths after the time that the Tennant is or shall
be bound in his Lease to pay his rent. And if anyone concerned necessitated or desirous to sell his her or theire
parte I doe hereby obleidge them first to offer it to theire Elder Brother my Sonne JOHN at the rate of two
thousand pounds for the whole which if he refuse to give they shall be at liberty to dispose thereof to anybody
else. But my desire is also that they shall give to him the refuse thereof at the rate another man will give
provided allwaies that whenever my Sonne JOHN shall payor tender the said sume to them that are or shall at
that time be at the full age of twenty and one yeares. My meaning is that they shall take it and the rent of
Annuity shall from thenceforth cease and the rent charge shall be void.
As to my Coopperis House what I give to everybody out of that it is upon Condicon that they shall be
observable to the Conditons Rules and Directions hereafter expressed.
First that my two Sonnes JOHN and DANIEL MATSON shall have the management thereof for themselves and all concerned as to laying in Stock of Coles caske and iron and Stones not exceeding fifty/sixty pounds value per annum. And in those yeares when the house workes for which everybody shall provide and lay downe theire parte of the money in due time They the said DANIEL and JOHN shall appoint workmen oversee order and dispose of all things for the making and selling the Coopperis repairing and utensils and for the doeing of all things necessary and needful for to be done about the same and to give an accompt thereof every yeare for all persons concerned therein for which shall and may allow themselves out of the profits thereof sixteen pounds per annum equally to be divided between them and all necessary Charges allowed them.
And because partnership in Cooperis Houses have sometimes proved contentious by the disagreement of the Owners thereof to prevent which and that noe person may give trouble I doe order and appoint that if any person shall not be satisfyed with the selling and disposeing of the Coopperose by my sonns JOHN and DANIEL that then such person soe dissatisfied shall and may take their parts in kind takeing it from the scale as it is wriged and dispose thereof themselves first paying theire partes of all Charges if it be not before paid. Provided allwaies that every body concerned shall be concluded and consenting to such directions as is hereafter given.
For because there is in England so much Copperis made more than the works can consume if there be not some expedient found to make at halfe our third parte lesse than in now made it is impossible it can be sold at any rate for if it come to foure pounds per tonn or lesse there will not be the more consumed or used for the cheapnesse thereof and will be as great a dragg at foure or lesse than now at six. Therefore if it shall be propounded and agreed by the generality of the Makers for some to be paid for laying still by others that continue to make as if it shall be agreed for every House to lay by heave up in a hedge or put in a House or Lodge under a locke the owner not to keep the key one third parte of the stones or stuff of the beads belonging to every House. I say in any of these cases or something like them I doe not onely counsel and advise but order and appoint that my two Sonnes JOHN and DANIEL shall agree either to worke and pay others that lay still or make noe copperis and to be paid by the others that continue working soe much per Tunn as shall be agreed upon or to lay-up one third parte of the stones or beads if it be soe agreed upon by the generality of the makers and that they doe the like.
Then everybody concerned in my Coppens House shall doe the like and be concluded thereby and consenting thereto provided allwaies that before my two Sonnes JOHN and DANIEL shall make any agreement to any of these three things (Yizt) To make and pay others that lye still or to lye still and be paid by others or to heave up one third of the beads or such like things, I say before such agreement they shall Councell and advise with theire two Brothers ROBERT and JAMES MATSON and take their consent and approbacon to such agreement before they conclude the same. Furthermore if by approbacon of theire said Brothers ROBERT and JAMES the said JOHN and DANIEL shall thinke fitt to sell to certaine persons for Tearme of yeares my meaning is that all persons concerned shall be concluded by such bargaine by them made and take theire proportion of money as it comes in.
Furthermore if my two Sonnes JOHN and DANIEL with the approbacon of theire Mother my Son-in-Law JAMES HOUSEMAN and hys Wife and everybody concerned that is of age I say if an opportunity offer to sell the Copperis House and such an offer happen that shall be approved of by all that are of age that then I doe order and appoint that my Children then under the age of twenty one yeares shall be concluded thereby and the money arising thereby for theire partes shall be put to Interest for theire advantage at the discretion of my Executors and theire Guardians if they shall choose any. I doe further order that if the Makers shall not agree to some such expedient as aforesaid there that then my Sonnes JOHN and DANIEL shall keep on making whilst Copperis will sell at five pounds or four pounds fifteen shillings per Tonn. But if it will not sell that then by approbacon of theire Brothers ROBERT and JAMES and theire Mother they may cover theire beads and make no more till there shall be a probability of a better price.
Furthermore my meaning is that if any of the children shall desire to sell his her or theire parte of the Copperis House that they shall first offer it to theire elder Brother JOHN and not to sell it to anybody else if he will give as much as another. If he shall refuse they may not sell to any other but upon the Conditions aforesaid. And that the buyer should be observant to the Rules and Directions before given.
As to that parte of my Estate called Stocke out of which I give what is to be given in money
which being lyable to casualty and thereby to be diminished and made lesse And also by the blessing of God
upon our endeavours may as probably be encreased and augmented
Therefore my Meaninge is that within six months after my decease a True and Just Inventory shall be taken by
my Executors takeing to theire assistance some of my Overseers and appointing indifferent persons to doe the
same that a true and just value may be put upon every parte thereof, And the sume given out of that parte of
my Estate called Money or Stocke being three thousand foure hundred and seaventy pounds I say 3470 pounds
if it shall come shorte of the same by a just appraisement then my Meaninge is that every one of the children
concerned not the Mother shall be abated proportionable to what is given them by my Will. And if it shall
please God that the same shall be augmented then every one of the Children shall receive theire equall shares
thereof (except my Sonne John) who shall have a double share thereof to say two tenth partes of the increase
and the other eight (to say) EDWARD DANIEL JAMES MARY CHRISTOPHER NATHANIEL NICHOLAS
and HENRY the other eight tenth partes as suppose it should be tenn score pounds (to say) two hundred
pounds JOHN to have fourty and twenty pounds apiece for EDWARD DANIEL JAMES MARY
CHRISTOPHER NATHANIEL NICHOLAS and HENRY and soe pro rata for a greater or lesser sume.
Further my Intent is that the housing not bequeathed in my Will shall be accompted as money or stock and to
be sold at the discretion of my Executors towards payment of my Legacies.
And thus having declared at large the Condicions on which I give I now proceed to the particulars of what I
give in which I may be the shorter because my Meaning is declared in the Articles foregoing.
First to my loveing and deare Wife MARY I give and bequeath the Moity or one halfe of my Farme called
Sollton now in the occupation of JOHN KNOTT to receive halfe the Rent and Profitt thereof dureing her
naturall life to receive of the Tennant halfe yearely to begin upon the twenty fifth March or twenty ninth
September next after my decease according as by Lease he is bound to pay to my said Wife.
I further give one tenth parte of my Copperis House dureing her naturall life upon the condicions above expressed.
Further to my said Wife I give the house at the .... late Mr. Seomes now in the occupation of MOSES NASH at the Rent of twelve pounds per annum to her and to her Heyres to dispose thereof as she pleaseth. Further to my said Wife I give in money or out of the Stocke the sume of three hundred and fifty pounds to be paid as followeth (to say) one hundred and fifty pounds to be paid her downe at a Moneth after my decease one hundred and fifty pounds at a yeare and a halfe after my decease and the other hundred pounds three yeares after my decease. In the meantime to be paid Interest thereof till time of payment. And if in case she dye before it or any parte thereof shall fall due that she may by Will dispose thereof to whom she pleaseth.
It is to be noted that before this last menconed Article of my Will concerning my Wife I intended to have inserted the reason why the increase of the Estate (if any be) is to be divided betweene eight I say nine children onely and not to my Daughter MARGARETT nor Sonne ROBERT. I say the reason thereof is because they allready have the greatest parte allmost all theire portions and soe are not lyable to be abated of that if in case the Stock shall come shorte of what is given. The like might be said for my Sonne EDWARD but there are other circumstances cause the contrary.
Unto my Sonne JOHN who hath been to me the Staffe of my Age and the Support of my House to him I give
and bequeath the sume of five hundred pounds or one quarter parte of my Farme called Sraton (to say) �250
being one eighth parte thereof next after my decease and the other one eighth parte being
�250 after the decease of his Mother to him and his heyres for ever
To my said Sonne I further give my now dwelling house with all the Cellar Vaults buildings and gardens thereunto
belonging to him and his Heyers forever. The Mortgage on the house late CHAMBERS's not intended in this
gift although in my owne occupation.
To him I further give one fifth parte of my Copperis House which fifth parte I value at sixe hundred pounds to
him as I doe proportionable to all the rest. I say to him I give said fifth parte to enjoy the same according to
the condicions above menconed.
Unto him my said Sonne I further give out of the Stocke or in money the sume of one thousand pounds
on Condicions above expressed.
Item to my Daughter MARGARETT now Wife of JAMES HOUSMAN after the death of her Mother one
tenth parte of my Copperis House to have and enjoy the same forever upon condicion above expressed which I
value to her as to all the rest at three hundred pounds for one tenth which is at �3000 for the
whole and neare upon soe much it cost. This with what I have allready given her is according to Agreement
made with Mr. HOUSEMAN and is more than he insisted upon or can demand by said Agreement as he may
well remember.
To my said Daughter I doe further give the sume of twenty pounds to be paid her sometime within two yeares
to buy her a piece of plate. I say within two yeares after my decease.
Item I will and bequeath to my Sonne ROBERT one tenth parte of my Copperis House to enjoy the same
forever after my decease upon condicions before expressed and as hereafter shall be expressed, because this with what he hath allready had
is as much as my Estate will beare to give him soe that he will have his whole portion at my death. And the rest must
stay for a parte till after the death of their Mother and that he may stay for one hundred pounds till that time I
give him one tenth parte of my Copperis House upon the Condicon following.
Whereas I doe hereafter give to my Sonne CHRISTOPHER amongst other bequests two hundred pounds after
the decease of my Wife and considering it will be too much for CHRISTOPHER to forbeare his
hundred pounds Therefore I doe order and appoint my Sonne ROBERT to take one of those hundred pounds
upon himselfe and shall pay to CHRISTOPHER six pounds per annum and after my decease till the decease
of his Mother and after that shall pay him one hundred pounds and CHRISTOPHER shall then assigne over
to him one of the said hundred pounds soe given him. My Meaning further is that if before the death of my
Wife CHRISTOPHER shall want that hundred pounds and that it shall be thought by my Wife and my Sonne
JOHN that it may be for CHRISTOPHERs good and preferment to receive it that then my Sonne ROBERT
shall pay to his Brother CHRISTOPHER the said hundred pounds when it shall be wanting to him upon
which payment shall assigne over to him. I say CHRISTOPHER shall assigne over to ROBERT the said
hundred pounds to him and his Heyres forever to enjoy after the death of his Mother and the Interest of six
pounds per annum shall from thenceforth cease and be no more paid.
Item Unto my Sonne EDWARD I doe not onely forgive him what he oweth me but doe give unto him the sume
of two hundred pounds to be paid unto him fowre yeares after my decease or parte of it sooner if my Sonne
JOHN shall think and to agree thereto in the meantime Interest till it be paid.
I further give unto my Sonne EDWARD yearely two Tunn of Copperis to take it from the scale when it is made
without paying any money if it be not sold in Contract, If it be then to receive the money it is sold for. And
this two Tonn to be delivered him yearely soe long as he shall live (to say) halfe a Tunn from MARY's parte
halfe a Tonn from NATHANIELLs parte halfe a Tonn from NICHOLAS his parte and halfe a Tonn from
HENRYs parte
Item Unto my Sonne DANIELL I will and bequeath one hundred pounds out of my Farme called Sollton to
enjoy after my decease to him and to his Heyers forever. And fifty pounds more out of the said Farme not to enjoy
till after his mothers decease.
To him I further give one one tenth parte of my Copperis House to him and to his Heyres forever upon
condicions aforesaid which I value to him at three hundred pounds.
To him I further give in money or Stocke the sume of four hundred and fifty pounds pounds to be paid him at
sixe months after Demand or rather continued in the Trade if he and his Brother JOHN agree therein which I
leave to consideration. But is my advice and desire it should be soe for such a proportion of the Trade as they
shall agree upon.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Sonne JAMES fifty pounds out of my Farme called Sollton to have and enjoy
the same forever after the decease of his Mother.
To him I further give one tenth parte of my Copperis House upon condicions before expressed which I value to
him at three hundred pounds.
To him I further give the sume of four hundred and fifty pounds to be paid him at sixe months after Demand
till which time to be paid Interest. And soe I intended for DANIELL alsoe although it not be expressed (to say)
that Interest shall be paid till the Principle is paid or agreed.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter MARY the sume of three hundred pounds out of my Farme called
Sollton to her and to her Heyres forever as followeth (that is to say) one hundred and fifty pounds parte thereof
next after my decease and one hundred and fifty pounds other parte thereof after decease of her Mother.
To her further I give one one tenth parte of my Copperis House which I value to her at three hundred pounds
upon condicions before expressed. And alsoe upon this condicon following (that is to say) she shall deliver to
her Brother EDWARD from the Scale after it is made and in caske halfe a Tonn yearely during his naturall life.
To her I further give the sume of one hundred and fifty pounds to be paid her three yeares after my decease till
which time Interest to be paid.
Item Unto my Sonne CHRISTOPHER I bequeath fowre hundred pounds out of the Mannor of Sollton to
receive the profit thereof to him and to his Heyres forever as followeth vizt. two hundred pounds parte thereof
next after my decease and two hundred pounds parte thereof after the decease of his Mother. But for one
hundred pounds of the two latter hundred I have ordered his Brother ROBERT as above to supplye him.
To him I further give the sume of two hundred and fifty pounds to be paid him three yeares after my decease
except my Sonne JOHN shall thinke fitt to furnishe parte thereof in the meantime to pay Interest till it is paid.
Item To my Sonne NATHANIEL I give the sume of three hundred pounds out of my Farme called Sollton to
him and to his Heyres forever to have and enjoy after the decease of his Mother.
To him I further give three hundred pounds to be paid him sixe monthes after demanded, or if he shall have in
his hands in making Mault two hundred. Then that he keep the same or any other lesser sume Interest to be
paid till the money paid that shall be shorte.
To him I give one one tenth parte of my Copperis House which I value at three hundred pounds and upon
condicions before expressed. And alsoe upon condicon to deliver his Brother EDWARD halfe a Tonn yearely
during his life as is before expressed in the Article of EDWARD and MARY.
To him I further give my house and Mault House late bought of the HARTS to him and to his Heyres forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Sonne NICHOLAS out of my Farme called Sollton the sume of two hundred
pounds vizt one hundred pounds next after my decease and the other hundred pounds after the decease of his
Mother to enjoy both to him and his Heyres forever.
To him I further give one tenth parte of my Copperis House upon condicions aforesaid. And alsoe that
upon condicon he deliver to his Brother EDWARD halfe a Tonn yearely as long as he shall live as in the
Articles of EDWARD and MARY.
To him I further give the sume of five hundred and fifty pounds to be paid him at his age twenty one yeares till
which time Interest to be allowed him.
Item I will and bequeath to my Sonne HENRY out of my Farme called Sollton the sume of three hundred
pounds to him and his Heyres forever vizt two hundred pounds parte thereof next after my decease and the
other hundred pounds after the decease of his Mother.
To him I further give one one tenth parte of my Copperis House which I value to him as to the rest at three
hundred pounds to enjoy the same upon condicions before expressed. And alsoe there shall go out of his parte
to his Brother EDWARD halfe a Tonn yearely during his life as in the Articles of EDWARD and MARY.
To him I further give the sume of one hundred and fifty pounds to be paid him at his age twenty one yeares till
which time Interest to be allowed him.
Item Unto my God daughter MARY the Wife of Mr. NICHOLAS HAYWOOD and to JAMES PAULL her
Brother I give to each of them forty shillings to buy them Rings.
Unto PARTHENIA PAULL I give the sume of five poundes.
Unto SUSANNA PAULL MARGARETT PAULL and JUDITH PAULL the sume of three poundes apeece.
Alsoe to DOROTHY PAULL (if she be living) the sume of three poundes to be paid to them a yeare after my decease.
Unto my Brother WILLIAM MATSON I give him twenty shillings to buy him a Ring and to his sixe children twenty shillings apeece.
To my Sister MARY Wife to my Brother JAMES I give the sume of fourty shillings to buy her a ring and to the five children of my bro James
the sume of twenty shillings apeece.
TO RICH. OYNE Sonne of my Sister BENNET and to JOYCE GARDYNER Daughter of the said Sister the sume of twenty shillings apeece.
And to JOHN OYNE if he be living the sume of twenty shillings.
Alsoe to him I give the Residue of the Money I received for his parte of the Land all which I might c1aime for his educacon there being more due to me but parte of it I sent in a Baile of Kersies to New England and the Rest stands as due to him in the Books and I doe intend that he shall have it if living, but he having been missing allready two or three yeares and if he be not heard of in foure yeares more then I doe appoint the same to be divided between RICH. OYNE and JOYCE GARDYNER as also if anything come of the kersyes sent to New England with an obigacon to returne it to him if he should arrive afterward.
Unto the Poore of St. Marys I give the sume of five poundes and to the Poore of St. James the sume of five
poundes to be distributed by my Executors in three monthes after my decease.
And to the Poore of Shepherds Well I give the sume of fortye shillings to be distributed tenn shillings to
Widdow WALLYER if living And the rest by my JAMES when he shall thinke fitt to dispose of it.
I further give to the Poore of the Parish of St. James (to say) foure poore people of the said parish foure loafes
of good bread of the full value of two pence per poore to be given at the Church of St. James every Sunday in
the forenoon forever. To foure poore aged people to be delivered by the Churchwardens and Overseers or any
one of them in their absence by the Clerke of the Parish for providing of which I give the sume of thirty five
shillings per annum out of my now dwelling house forever. To be halfe yearely paid to the Churchwardens and
Overseers halfe yearely to provide the said bread provided that when my Sonne JOHN shall purchase a peece
of Land of that value or an Annuity of thirty five shillings per annum out of the Lands and settle it for the use
aforesaid then the said house I now dwell in shall be acquitted of such incumbrance as aforesaid.
As to those who shall receive the same if living at my death I doe appoint that Old EVERAT called by the name of Old
CAYER AMY NETHERSOLLE ELIZABETH ROBERDS Widdow of Blind Readwood and shall receive the
same weekly during theire naturall lives And after the death of them or any of them other shall be named in
theire rooms by my Executrix or Executor whilest living and afterwards by the eldest of my children living and
soe soe long as they shall continue and afterward for ever by the Minister Churchwardens and Overseers of
the Poore. My intent and meaning is that they shall allwaies choose people of good Life And if after they are
chosen and admitted in that they prove otherwise to be of a lewd life and conversation and after being
admonished by the Minister of the Parish and will not be reclaimed then it shall be in the power of the Electors
to put them out and others in theire roome to put in.
And lastly I now make my deare Wife MARY and my Loveing Sonne JOHN full and wholly Executrix and Executor to this my last Will and Testament beseeching the Lord to Strengthen and enable them well to performe the same.
And I doe desire my loveing friends WILLIAM STOKS Mr. FREDERICK DEVINCK Mr. GO. FINCH and my loveing Brother JAMES MATSON to take upon them the Overseership of this my Will desireing them that they shall give theire Council and advice to everyone as need shall require to whome I give as a token of my Love the sume of forty shillings apeece to buy each of them a Ring.
I doe hereby further declare that my meaning is that what is given to my Wife by this my Will shall extinguish and take offe any pretence to any other parte of my Estate by virtue of a Bond given her before marriage or any other pretence whatsoever. And alsoe for what is given to any of the Children they shall aquitt any other c1aime or pretence to any other parte of the Estate as my Sonne JOHN shall acquitt and cancell the Annuity of twenty pounds per annum out of Sollton and DANIEL his Deed upon the house and Maulthouse late Harts
Further JO. MARGARETT ROBT and EDW shall aquitt any pretence upon tenn pounds apeece given them by their Grandmother MATSON. Alsoe every one of the Children shall aquitt theire pretence to tenn pounds apeece left them by their Grandmother CROOX for she made noe Will but had one hundred and twenty pounds in my Hands and she allwaies she would have it equally divided amongst said Children provided allwaies that this clause shall not extend to take of the right of my Sonne JOHN to the Ballance of his Accompt as it stands in the Booke being about pounds �___ to which is to be added the 24th June next one hundred and fifty pounds. I say one hundred and fifty pounds for his Sallery and parte of Profitt not that he is yet Partener. But I doe every yeare allow him something proportionable to what God blesseth us with and will be all togeather when the said one hundred and fifty pounds is added togeather besides what is given him by Will.
I JOHN MATSON above menconed doe acknowledge the above menconed writing to be of my own handwriting and my true Intent and Meaning as my last Will and Testament at that time I wrote it, but being some considerable time since I doe neverthelesse confirme every Article thereof except what is hereafter expressed to be altered. And my Will and Meaning is as followeth. Vizt.
First Whereas amongst other things I have given to my deare Wife Mary one tenth parte of my Copperis House dureing her life and afterwards to my Daughter MARGARETT HOUSEMAN I doe hereby make void that upon the consideracons following. (That is to say) more than I have given to my said Wife by my said Will I doe hereby give to her one halfe of all my householde stuffe plate and Linnen to be by her disposed as she pleaseth except one suite of Table Linnen for my Daughter HOUSEMAN and one suite more for my Daughter MARY which I give and bequeath to them.
And I doe give my Daughter MARGARETT HOUSEMAN one tenth parte of my Copperis House to enjoy the same imediately after my decease she paying to her Mother seaven pounds per annum dureing her naturall life by halfe yearely payments. And my said Daughter shall not further be concerned in my said Will. The twenty pounds thereby given to her I give to her Sonne my Grandchild JAMES HOUSEMAN to be paid to him as is directed to be paid to her.
To my Sonne ROBERT one tenth parte of my Copperis House he paying to his Mother out of the same seaven pounds per annum halfe yearely to be paid dureing her life and he not to be further be concerned in my said Will notwithstanding what is above expressed.
To my Sonne JAMES having since the above lynes given him a portion I doe hereby give him one tenth parte of my Copperis House he paying to his Mother seaven pounds per annum dureing her life by halfe yearely payments and he not to be further be concerned in my Will.
And to my Sonne Christopher I doe remitt and acquit him of all moneys paid to him to this Day. And further I give to him five hundred pounds to be paid him in two yeares after my decease to which I give him thirty pounds per annum halfe yearely to be paid him from the Day of the date hereof till the Day of payment and he not to be further be concerned in my last Will and Testament notwithstanding what is above said.
Those partes of Sollton Farme that are given as above to my three Sonnes ROBERT JAMES and CHRISTOPHER I hereby order and bequeath to my Sonne JOHN to him and his Heyres forever towards the payment of my Debts and Legacies and for the better enabling him to performe this my last Will and Testament.
And my Will and Meaning is that what I have given yearely to the Poore I intend it onely to continue for five yeares after my decease and no longer unlesse my Executor shall thinke fitt.
And soe I conclude this my last Will and hereunto putt my Hand and Seale this two and twentieth day of October 1686 and in the second yeare
of the Raigne of Our Soveraigne Lord James King of England etc. JOHN MATSON
Signed Sealed Published and Declared to be the last Will and Testament ofthe said JOHN MATSON in the
presence (after the interlining //during her life//).
ROBERT ROOTS THOMAS RAYMOND JOHN SIMMONDS
Probate 15 December 1686
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of John Matson