Inprimis I give unto my beloved wife Anne Muddle tenn pounds a yeare of lawful English money to be paid unto her quarterly by way of dowrye out of my house and lands lying in the parish of Hollingbourne aforesaid during the terme of her natural life and noe longer
And in the next place because it is uncertayne whether she be with childe
or noe at the making of this my last will or may be at any tyme hereafter
before my death with a sonne (having at this tyme only daughters) in that
case I give and bequeath unto my sayd sonne and to his heyres for ever
all my sayd lands and Tenements in Hollingbourne aforenamed
But if otherwise my sayd wife should have noe sonne by mee Then I give
and bequeath all my sayd houseing and lands in Hollingbourne aforesayd to
my eldest daughter Dorothy Muddle and her heyres for ever
Item I likewise give and bequeath unto my youngest daughter Anne Muddle
my houses and land lying in Maydstone neere unto the Waterside and to her
heyres for ever
And if either of these two dye without heyres of their owne bodyes lawfully begotten then to be heyres either to other and if they both dye (and their mother should be with childe with a daughter then that daughter to be heyre to her sayd sisters But if there be noe thyrd daughter then to descend to my sisters children equally betwixt them
And if it soe fall out that my wife should have a sonne by mee then I give my sayd houses and lands in Maydstone to my eldest daughter Dorothy and to her heyres for ever willing that my youngest daughter Anne then doe goe away with her portion of money only hereafter given her in this my last will and testament
As alsoe if there should be a sonne which should happen to dye without heyres then the daughters to be heyres to him in their severall courses as before is appointed (vz)? the eldest to the land in Hollingbourne and the second to the houses and lands in Maydstone And thus much for my lands only
And for my goods and chattells I further dispose of them as followeth
First I give unto my eldest daughter Dorothy the summe of Fifty pounds of
lawful English money and secondly to my youngest daughter Anne the summe
of Forty pounds And if there should be a third daughter the like summe of
forty pounds
All these legacies to be paid at their severall ages of one and twenty
yeares And if either of them dye before they attayne unto the sayd ages
then to be heyres either to other
Item I give unto my Nephew and Godsonne Richard Hunt the summe of five pounds of the like lawfull English money to be paid within one yeare after my decease
Item I give unto my sisters sonne James Picknoll the summe of Twenty shillings of the like money to be paid at the like tyme
Item I give all other my goods and chattells not formerly given my debts and funerall expences likewise being discharged unto my beloved wife Anne Muddle whom I doe make my sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament
As alsoe I doe further appoint and ordayne my two brothers in lawe Thomas Streyne and John Betts to be Overseers of this my last will and Testament And doe hereby give them power and authority in case my sayd wife should marrye againe or in trust her father Figge or any other to the danger? of preiudiceing of my sayd children in their Estates and portions formerly given them to enter upon all my sayd lands and moveables goods and chattells what soever as Guardians to my sayd children allowing my sayd wife her part and portion of the sayd goods and chattells and moveables according to the apprizement first made of the same after my decease and her tenn pounds a yeare formerly given her out of my lands for her life and noe more And they my sayd overseers to take charge presently of my sayd children and their Estates as well in lands and goods as Guardians unto them and to see to their Education and bringing up and to be accomptable unto them as they shall attayne unto their severall ages formerly as hearsed provided that if my sayd wife have a desyre to have the keepeing of my sayd children her selfe that shee may doe soe before any other at such rates as shee and my overseers shall agree and they may be provided for in an other place
And in witness that this is my last
will and Testament I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this sixteenth
day of September Anno Domini 1652 Richard Muddle In the presence of
John Crampe Clerke and Samuell Muddle his marke
This Will was proved at London the twenty eighth day of October in the yeare of Our Lord God one thousand six hundred fifty two before Sr Nathanaell Brent Knight Doctor of Lawes and Master Keeper of the Prerogative Court by the oath of Anne Muddle the relict of the sayd deceased and sole Executrix therein named To whome was Committed Ad�on of all the sayd deceased�s goods Chattells debts shee being first legally sworne by virtue of a Commission in that behalf � forth well
Notes:
Richard's sister Sarah married Richard Picknall 31 Jan 1636/7 at Hollingbourne
Their son James Picknall was baptised 20 May 1638 at Hollingbourne
Richard Picknall was buried 10 Jan 1642/3 and Richard Muddle was a bondsman in the administration of his goods
Thomas Strayne of Bredgar, tailor, married Jane Muddle in 1628 (lic)
John Hunt married Mary Muddell at Bearsted 18 Oct 1636
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Richard Muddle