Will of Edward Simons

of Marden, Kent

First I give unto the poore People of the Parish of Marden foure Pounds to be distributed amongst them upon the next Saint Thomas his day which shall follow after my decease
Item I give and bequeath unto my Sister Anne Charlton twentie shillings to buy her a Ring in remembrance of mee
Item I give unto my Sonn in Law James Fletcher of Barming twentie shillings to buy him a Ring also in remembrance of mee
Item I give unto my Grandchild Thomas Fletcher Five pounds to be payd unto him when hee shall attaine to the Age of One and twentie yeares

Item I give and bequeath unto Ann my beloved wife my best Bedd with thappurtenances [the appurtenances] thereunto belonging Standing in the Parler-chamber, together with all the furniture in the said Chamber, except the two case of drawers and the things conteyned in them, and two paire of sheets, and two paire of pillowcoates

Item I give unto Elizabeth Simons my eldest daughter Five hundred Pounds to be payd unto her within one Qaurter of a yeare after my decease

Item I give and bequeath unto my five younger daughters Jane, Mary, Martha, Philadelphia & Margaret Simons unto each of them five hundred pounds to be payd unto them at their severall Ages of One and twentie yeares
But if one or more of my said five daughters shall dye before such Age of one and twentie yeares, Then the five hundred pounds of such daughter or daughters soe dying shall be to my Executor

And if any of my aforesaid daughters shall marrie before shee come to the Age of One and twentie yeares with the good likeing and approbation of her Mother, her Uncle Maplisden & Brother William Simons or any two of them, That then shee shall have Three hundred pounds payd her at her day of Marriage and the other two hundred pounds when shee shall attaine to the Age of One and twentie yeares

And my Will and mynde is that my Executor shall allow for and towards ye Maintenance of such of my younger Children as shall not live with him after my decease unto each Child twelve pounds by the yeare untill shee attaine to the Age of twelve years and Fifteene Pounds by the yeare afterwards untill shee come to the Age of Fifteene yeares And at their severall Ages of fifteene yeares my will & mynde is that hee pay unto each of them Thirtie pounds for one yeare to put them out to some publick School And after the determination of that yeare, then twenty pounds by the yeare untill they shall come to the Age to retaine their portions

And my Will and mynde is that if any of my aforesaid daughters shall happen to marrie before my decease, and have received a portion of mee in my life time, That then shee shall have noe power or right to demand hir portion before bequeathed by virtue of this my Will

Item I doe give and bequeath unto my Sonn William Simons All my Goods and Chatells both reall and personall, and all my houshold stuff, Plate and lynnen whatsoever not before bequeathed for and towards the Payment & discharging of my funerall Expences debts legacies and daughters portions and for the better Payment and discharging of my said daughters portions

I doe hereby devise unto my said Sonn William and my Brother in Law Edward Maplisden of Marden aforesaid gent and the Survivor of them My house and lands with thappurtenances thereunto belonging lying in the Parish of Eastchurch in the Isle of Sheppey to be sold when the eldest of my two youngest daughters shall or might attain her Age of One and twentie yeares for the Payment of two youngest daughters Portions; But if my said Sonn William shall otherwise pay off the same, I doe then give the aforesaid house and Lands together with thappurtenances thereunto belonging to him and his heires for ever

Item I doe give and bequeath unto my said Sonn William Simons All my Lands tenements and hereditaments lying in Marden and Yalding and to the Heires of his Bodie
And if hee shall happen to dye without issue of his Bodie, Then my Will and mynd is that all my lands, tenements and hereditamts last bequeathed unto him, together with my household stuff, Plate and lynnen formerly given unto my Sonn William be equally divided betwixt my Six daughters or soe many of them as shall be then living, unless any of my aforesaid Daughters shall happen to marrie or be then married with a Simons, with the good liking and approbation of her Mother and her Uncle Mapilsden, Then my Will and mynde is that such daughter as shall soe marrie or be then married shall have for her part and share of the said Lands lymited to be divided betweene my said daughters The Mansion house where I dwell with soe much land thereunto adjoining & may most conveniently be used with the same as shall amount to her share and part of the lands formerly bequeathed unto mee by my deceased Father, and soe much over and above her share and part thereof as shall be to the full value of the Lands wch [which] I purchased of John Sawle of Halding, or the Lands itselfe to her and her heires for ever

I bequeath unto such daughters as shall soe marrie the house and lands with the appurtenances thereunto belonging wch I purchased of William Snatt of Hunton gent unto her and her heires for ever, and all ye houshold stuff, Plate and lynnen formerly given unto my Sonn William

And I do by these Presents nominate and appoint my said Sonn William Simons sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament, and my two Brothers in Lawe Edward Mapilsden of this Parish gent and Richard Beston of Hunton gent Overseers of the same

In Witnesse whereof whereas this my Will conteynes two sheets of paper to the first I have set my hand, and to the last I have set my hand and Seale
Edward Simons

Subscribed, sealed and published in the presence of
Wm. Bing - John Luxford

Probatum fuit: [Latin] At London 8th January 1679/80, to William Simons

Exd. [Examined] Wm. Dewe, N.P. [Notary Public]

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 29th August 2020

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