Will of William Simons

of Marden, Kent

I devise ratifye and confirm unto my Daughter Philadelphia Simons her Heirs and Assigns for ever all that Messuage or Tenement Farm Land and premisses now or late in the occupation of Iden Playne and all that Messuage Farm Lands and premisses now or late in the occupation of William Stone both which said Messuages Farms Lands and premisses are situate lying and being in the parish of Marden aforesaid and by me setled on my said Daughter Philadelphia Simons in Full satisfaction of the sum of Five Hundred pounds which I promised to pay and Give unto my said Daughter on her Relinquishing or Reassigning to me all my personal Estate Formerly made over to her

I also Give and bequeat unto my said Daughter the sum of Fifty pounds of lawful British money to be paid her within three Months next after my decease
I also further Give and bequeat unto my said Daughter Philadelphia Simons all the Household Goods and Furniture that is abovestairs in the Chambers and Lofts there in the house where I now dwell together with the Gold Rings plate and Linnen there contained (Except only such as I have hereafter dispose(d) of and Give(n) to my son Edward)

Item I do hereby ratifye and confirm all my Messuages Lands and Premisses contained in my Marriage Settlement unto and Upon the Several Uses therein Expressed and declared which will after my decease decend and Goe to my Eldest son
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Eldest son Edward Simons the bed bedding and other Furniture of the Chamber wherein he usually lyes and also the furniture of the Chamber next to his wherein the Men servants lye and also one Bed with the Furniture in the Chamber where the Maid Servants usually lye

Item I Give and Bequeath unto my said son Edward Simons all the Household Goods and Furniture below stairs in the Roomes in the said House where I now dwell and not elsewhere so that my said son Edward have all my Goods below Stairs and my said daughter Philadelphia have all my Good(s) abovestairs (except as aforesaid) according to the true Intent and meaning of this my last Will

Item I Give devise and bequeath unto my Youngest Son William Simons one Annuity or yearly Rent Charge of Twenty pounds Free and Clear of and from all Taxes and Deductions whatsoever to be Issuing and Going out of all my Messuages Lands and Hereditaments hereinafter devised To have and to hold the said Annuity or Yearly Rent Charge of Twenty pounds p. Annum Free and Clear of and from all Taxes Charges and deductions as aforesaid unto my said Son William Simons and his Assigns for and during the Term of his Natural Life by half Yearly payments (to Wit) at Lady Day and Michaelmas the first payment hereof to begin and be made on the First of the Feasts aforesaid that shall happen and be next after my decease

and for the better ratifying and paying the said Annuity of Twenty pounds per Annum when the same shall become due by this my Will I Give and Devise unto my said Daughter Philadelphia Simons and my Trusty Friend and Kinsman Mr. John Tanner of Hunton? in the said County of Kent their Executors and Administrators of all my Messuages Lands and Heriditaments whatsoever not Included in the said Settlement made on my said Daughter or my Marriage Settlement for the Term of Two Hundred Years

Upon Trust after the Ratifying of the said Annuity to attend the Inheritance of the said Lands heriditaments and premisses and Subject thereunto I Give and Devise the Freehold and Inheritance of the same Lands Heridtaments and premises unto my Granson Boys Simons, Eldest son of my said son William Simons and to the Heirs of his Body lawfully to be begotten and for Default of such Issue I Give and devise the same to my Right Heirs for ever

I Give unto the poor of Marden aforesaid Forty shillings to be distributed at the discretion of my Executors
I Give unto every Household servant that shall dwell with me at my decease Forty shillings apeice

Item all the Rest and Residue of my Personal Estate herein not before Give and disposed of I Give and bequeath after payment of my debts Legacys and Funeral Expences unto my said Granson Boys Simons when he shall attain the age of One and Twenty Years and until then to be and remain under the Care of my Executors

And I constitute and appoint my said Daughter Philadelphia Simons and my aforesaid Friend and Kindsman Mr. John Tanner Joynt Executors of this my Will desiring those my said Executors to take due care to Maintain and Educate my said Granson Boys that he may be Further educated at One of the Universitys and brought up a Clergyman
and unto my said Executors I Give unto each of them Ten pounds apeice for their Care and Trouble about the Execution of this my Will over and above their Charge and Expence therein which they are to retain out of my said Estate

and I do hereby revoke all Former Wills by me made
In Witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament Contained upon Two Sheets of paper set my hand at the Bottom of the First Sheet and put my hand and seal to the Second and last sheet this Twenty Fourth day of August One Thousand seven Hundred and Twenty one
Will Simons

Signed Sealed published and declared by the said William Simons the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have at his Request subscribed our Names as Witnesses in his presence The Interlineations being first made in prsence of
Daniel Startup; Thomas Outteridge; S: Walter

Probatum fuit: 18th September 1731- to Executors Philadelphia Simons and John Tanner.

Notes:
Mr. William Symonds was buried at St. Michael & All Angels, Marden, Kent on 4 Sep 1731. Affidavit (sworn that he was buried in woollen).
10 Jan 1687 William Simons of the parish of Marden, Kent, Gent. and Mary the daughter of Samuel Boys, Esquire of Hawkhurst, married at St. Lawrence & All Saints, Hawkhurst, Kent.
Known children (all baptised at Marden): 26 Jul 1689 Philadelphia; 26 Feb 1693/94 Anna (Bu.: 26 Dec 1694; 14 Feb 1695/96 Jane (Bu.: 26 Feb 1724/25); 3 Jan 1697/98 Edward; 1 Apr 1703 William.
Daughter Philadelphia Symonds was buried 15 Oct 1742 at Marden. See her Will: Simons, Philadelphia, Marden 1742 PRC 17/91/53c
Grandson Boys Simons of Marden, married Esther Simons on 2 Jul 1743 at St. George the Martyr, Southwark, Surrey.

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh A. Mason, 16th June 2023

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