Simons Will 1635

Will of Thomas Simons

of Staplehurst, Kent


Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 17/69/140b
Submitted by Kevin Robards
In the name of God Amen the twenty and seaventh day of March in the yeare of our Lord God 1635
I Thomas Simones the elder of the p[ar]ish of Stapleherst in the County of Kent, Blacksmith, beeinge sicke in body yet (thanckes bee given to God) of good and perfect remembrance doe make and ordaine this my last will and testament in manner and forme as followeth
First I will and bequeath my soule to Allmighty God that gave it trustinge in the death and merritts of Jesus Christ my onely Lord and Saviour to have everlastinge life, and my body to bee buryed in the pish Churchyard of Stapleherst aforesaid

Item I will and bequeath unto Thomas my youngest sonne my two milles one for mault and the other for oatmeale with all the appurtenances unto them belonginge with the millhouse and sufficient way to goe and come and to doe any needfull reparations as often as need shall require accordinge as formerly it hath beene acustomed heere aforetime to him and his heyres for ever

Item I give unto Isabell my wife all my goods and cattell and chattell houshold stuffe and all other moveable goods whatsoever as longe as her naturall life shall last
and after her decease unto my three sonnes William, Mickell and Thomas equally to bee devided betweene them

Item I will and bequeath unto Elizabeth my dafter the wife of Henry Hudson one broade loome now in the Custody and occupation of the aforesaid Henry Hudsonne and six pounds tenn shillings of currant English mony to bee paid to the aforesaid Elizabeth my dafter or her hyrer [heirs] by my three sonnes William, Mickell and Thomas equally betweene them

Item I give and bequeath unto Agnes my dafter the wife of John Edwards five pounds which the said John Edwards is indebted unto mee and seaven pounds of currant English money to be equally paid by my three sonnes William, Mickell and Thomas within two yeares after my decease

Item I give and bequeath unto the four Children of Henry Hudsonne Isabell, John, Thomas and Heter four pounds of currant mony equally to bee devided between them to bee paid by my three sonnes William, Mickell and Thomas when they shall accomplish the age of twenty and two yeares
Item I will and bequeath unto the two children of John Edwards my sonne in Law Joane and John two poundes of currant mony to bee paid by my three sonnes William, Mickell and Thomas as aforesaid when they shall accomplish the age of twenty and two yeares as aforesaid

Item I will and bequeath unto the five Children of Mickell Simones my sonne, Thomas, Mickell, Anes, Elizabeth and John, five poundes of currant mony equally to bee devided between them by my three sonnes William, Mickell and Thomas when they shall accomplish the age of twenty and two yeares

Item I make and ordayne Thomas Simons my youngest sonne the sole Executor of this my last will and testament
And I make John Edmitt of the pish of Frittenden mine overseer of this my will and testament

This is also the last will and testament of mee the said Thomas Simones made and declared the day and yeare above written concerninge the disposition of all my lands and tenements, that is to say,

all my landes and tenements in Staplehurst whatsoever unbequeathed I give and bequeath unto my three sonns William, Mickell and Thomas by even and equall portions to bee devided betweene them after the decease of Isabell my wife and the said Isabell muy wife to have all the profitt of all my landes and tenements duringe her life To have and to hold unto my three sonnes and ther Eyres for ever

Upon Condicon my said three sonnes there heires executors or assignes doe not well and truely pay all the severall legacyes and bequests before given unto my two dafters and eleven Children according to the true intent and meaning of this my last will and testament
... that then it shall and may bee lawfull for my said two dafters and every one of the said eleven Children to whom such default shall bee made for none payment to enter in and upon the said lands and the same quietly to occupy and enjoy untill such time as ther said legacyes before mentioned bee unto them fully satisfied and paid

In wittnes hereof I the said Thomas Simones have heereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare above written
The marke of Thomas Simones
in the presence of us:
Samuel Viney; John Wooden; The marke of Edward Denes;

Probatum fuit: 9th April 1635 - to Thomas Simones

Notes:
Thomas Simonds, Householder, was buried 31 March 1635 at All Saints, Staplehurst.
Known children (all baptised at All Saints, Staplehurst): 25 Jun 1592 William; 1 Sep 1593 Micaell; 21 Aug 1597 Elizabeth; 10 Mar 1600 Thomas (bu.: 4 Oct 1603); 11 Sep 1603 Isabell (bu.: 28 Jun 1611); 9 Sep 1606 Dorothe (bu.: 22 Aug 1612); 18 Jun 1609 Anne; 9 Jan 1619 Thomas.
Daughter Elizabeth Simons married Henry Hudsonn 30 Apr 1622 at Staplehurst.
Daughter Ann Simons married John Edwards 26 Jun 1632 at St. Mary, Goudhurst, Kent.
Son Michael Simons married Parnell Medhurst 10 Jul 1621 at Staplehurst.

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh A. Mason, 15th June 2023


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Will of Thomas Simons
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