Simmons Will 1725/6

Will of Elizabeth Simmons

of Staplehurst, Kent

Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 17/84/57h
Submitted by Kevin Robards

In the name of God Amen The second day of March in the Year of our Lord 1722
I Elizabeth Simmons of Staplehurst in the County of Kent Widow being weake of Body but of perfect mind and memory, Thanks be given to God for the same, I do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say)
First and principally I commend my Soule into the Hands of Almighty God who gave it me And my Body I commend to the Earth to be decently buried in Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the General Resurreccon I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God And as touching all such worldly Goods wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I give devise bequeath & dispose the same in manner and form following

First I will that my debts and Funeral Charges shall be paid and discharged
Item I give unto my Son Thomas Simons a Gold Ring and my best bed Coverlet
Item I give unto my Grandaughter Susan Chaxfield all my wearing Apparell and the Sum of Ten pounds of lawfull money of Great Britain, which said Legacy of Ten pounds I will to be paid her when she shall attain to the Age of One and Twenty years by my Executor hereafter named
I also give unto my said Grandaughter Susan Chaxfield a Silver Spoon over and above my aforesaid Legacies
Item I give unto my Grandsons Thomas and Edward Simmons, Sons of my Son Edward Simmons and to each and either of them a Silver Spoon to be delivered to them within One month after my decease by my Executor hereafter named
Item I give unto my Granddaughter Elizabeth Furner a Silver Spoon to be delivered to her within One month after my decease by my Executor hereafter named

And after my Executor shall have paid my said Legacies and fully paid and satisfied all his Charges by paying my debts and Funerall Charges and Court Fees, That then all the rest and residue of my Goods and Chattels I give and bequeath unto my loving Sons John Simmons, Thomas Simmons, Edward Simmons and John Furner without any Quarrel or Contention to be equally divided between them

And of this my last Will and Testament I make my welbeloved Sons Thomas Simmons of Frittenden in the County of Kent my full and whole Executor
And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and annull all and every other former Wills, Testaments, Legacies, bequests and Executors by me in any wise before this Time named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my Last Will and Testament

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the day of the year first above written
Elizabeth Simmons her mark
Signed, Sealed, Pronounced and declared by the said Elizabeth Simmons as her Last Will and Testament in the prsence of:
Daniel Meathurst; Rebek: Meathurst her mark; Hen: Barfoot

Probatum fuit: 17th January 1725/26

Note: Elizabeth Simmons was buried 26 Nov 1725 at St. Mary, Frittenden, Kent

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh A. Mason, 25th April 2023

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Will of Elizabeth Simmons
Created by Maureen Rawson