First because there is a porcon due unto the poore of all the wealth that God blesseth man withall in tis transitory life In token therefore of my
humble thankfullnes to my most mercifull Father (for all the blessinges which of his bountifull goodnes he hath conferred upon me) I doe give, devise
and bequeath to the Master, Wardens and Commaltie [Commonalty] of the mistery of Skinners of London and their Successors for ever (by what name or names
soever they are, have bin or shalbe called, knowen or incorporated) All those my howses, messuages, landes, tenements and hereditaments, scituat, lying
and being aswell neere Paulesgate at the west end of Watling Streete in the Citty of London, as els where in the same Citty, which I purchased of Sir
Francis Trapps Byrnand, And all that my messuage or Tenement, scituate in Lyme Streete in London, wherein de la Naye now dwelleth, adjoyning
to the howse wherein Mr. John Clarke, Doctor of Phisicke now dwelleth, together with all the lightes, easements, water cowrses, comodities and
appurtenncs whatsoever to the said severall houses, messuages, landes, tenements and hereditaments belonging or in any wise apperteyning
And all my right estate, title, interest and demannd of, in and to the premisses and every parte and parcell thereof and the revercon and reversons
remainder and remainders whatsoever of all and sing[u]ler the premisses and of every parte and parcell thereof to have and to hold the same and every
parte and parcell thereof from and imediatly after my decease, unto the said M[aste]r, Wardens and Comunalty of the mistery of Skinners of London and to
their Successors for ever
Neverthelesse, I doe earnestly desire, and my will and mind is, that the Mr, Wardens & Comminaltie of the mistery of Skynners aforesaid and their
Successors for the tyme being for ever shall yeerely and from yeere to yeere for ever dispose of and imploy the rents and profittes of the premisses
to such charitable uses and purposes as are hereafter in this my will lymited, declared and appointed (That is to say)
First that there shalbe paid by them yeerely unto the Parson and Churchwardens of the parish of Bidborrough [Bidborough] in the County of Kent and to
their Successors for ever, one annuity or yeerely sume of five poundes and ten shillinges to be bestowed by the Parson and Churchwardens of the same
parish in forme following, vizt.
That the parson and churchwardens of the said parish or some or one of them shall provide weekely six loaves of good bread worth fower pence the loafe,
and shall give the same every Sabaoth day throughout the yeere and soe from yeere to yeere for ever to six inhabiting householders of the said parish
of the most honest in their opinions, who are to receive the said bread weekely at the Church of the said parish, excepte they shall be hindered by
infirmity of sicknes
Provided that none shalbe made partakers of the said guifte of bread, but such as shall usually frequent the church to heare divine service and the
preaching of God’s word, and shall receave the blessed sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, as the lawes of this Land doe and shall appointe, which course
I have already setled in my life tyme in the said parish for the constant drection of the busines for the tyme to come
And for the better incouragement of the Parson, Churchwardens and parish Clarke of the said parish of Bidborugh in the providing and due
distributing of the said bread, my will is That they shall retayne yeerely in their owne handes to the uses following six shillings (being the
remainder of the said sume of five poundes and ten shillinges), vizt. To the parson two shillings; to the chief or eldest Churchwarden two shillings
and to the parish Clarke two shillings for their paynes in warning the poore to come for their bread
Item that there shall be paid yeerely unto the parsons and churchwardens of the parish of Tunbridge in the said County of Kent and to their successors for ever, one Annuity or yeerely sume of ten poundes and eight shillinges; the which my will is shalbe bestowed by the parson and Churchwardens of the said parish in forme following, vizt. That the parson and the said Churchwardens or some or one of them shall provide weekly twelve loaves of bread, worth fower pence the loafe, and shall give the same every Sabaoth day throughout the yeere, and so from yeere to yeere for ever, to twelve residing housholders of the said parish the poorest, and most honest in their opinions, who are to receave the said bread weekely at the Church, except they shall be hindred by infirmytie of sicknes And my will is that especiall regard be had to such poore people of the parish of Tunbridge as shall dwell within my manor of Southborough in the said parish of Tunbridge
Item that there shalbe also paid to the Parson and Churchwardens of the parish of Spel[d]hurst in the said County of Kent and to their
Successors forever one annuity or yeerely sume of five poundes and ten shillinges which I will shalbe by the said parson and Churchwardens from
tyme to tyme weekely disposed of in bread unto six poore residing householders of the said parish in such like manner and according to such
direction as I have formerly set downe for the parish of Bidborough
Item my desire is that the parson and Churchwardens of the said sevrall parishes of Bidborough, Tunbridge and Spelhurst shall in their severall
Churches appoint convenient pewes or seates wherein the poore people that shalbe thought fitt to receave the said guifte of bread may sit together
to heare divine service and sermon every Sabaoth day at the least
Neverthelesse my will and meaninge is, and I doe desire the Master, Wardens and Commalty of the Mistery of Skynners aforesaid, that at their
yeerely visitacon of the Schole of Tunbridge they take accompt of the parsons and Churchwardens of the said three severall parishes of Bidborough,
Tunbridge and Spelhurst and examyne by the best meanes the(y) shall thinke fitt, whether the said bread be truely and faithfully distributed
according to the true intent and meaneing of this my will, at which tyme also my will and minde is that the poore of the said three sevrall
parishes, being partakers of the said bread shall present themselves in the Church of Tunbridge before such of the said Master, Wardens and
Com[mo]nalty of the mistery of Skynners aforesaid as shalbe there present to praise God and to give thankes to the said co[m]pany of Skynners for
their care and paynes taken in the distribucon of these my bequests amongst them
And I will that the said twenty and fower poore people, partakers of the said bread, shall also at the same tyme when they shall so present
themselves in the said Church of Tonbridge as aforesaid, receave at the handes of such of the said company of Skynners as shalbe there present,
twenty and fower loaves of bread worth fower pence by the loafe over and above their weekely allowance, vizt., each of them a loafe, to the intent
that such of the same Company of Skynners as shalbe there present, may take notice aswell of the goodnes of the bread, as also of the povertie
of the people to whome it is given
And my will, mind and meaning is, That if the parsons and Churchwardens of the said parish of Bidborough, Tunbridge and Spelhurst or any of them, shall not faithfully discharge the trust reposed in them for distributing the said bread according to this my will to the poore of their severall parishes, Then my will and minde is that the annuity or yeerely summe of money before appointed to such of the said severall parishes as so shall not faithfully discharge the trust reposed in them as aforesaid shall cease, and shalbe from thenceforth by the master, wardens and Comnalty of the Mistery of Skynners aforesaid given unto the parish of Hadlowe and Lee in the said County of Kent, to be equally devided betweene them towardes the releefe of the poore of the said two sevrall parishes in manner and forme as is before expressed Item my will and minde is and I doe desire the master, wardens and Cominalty of the mistery of Skynners aforesaid to give to the twenty fower poore people of the said parishes of Bidborough, Tunbridge and Spelhurst yeerely w[hi]ch shalbe partakers of the said bread, so much good cloth as shalbe worth twenty and fower poundes, vizt. to each one of the said poore people so much good cloth as shalbe worth twenty shillinges to make each of them winter garments, which said cloth my will and desire is that the master, wardens and Comnalty [Commonalty] of the mistery of Skynners aforesaid, shall cause to be provided and delivered one month before Christmas yeerely, or at the yeerely visitacon of the said Schole about the beginning of May (whither of those tymes they shall thinke fittest) and so from yeere to yeere for ever unto the said twenty and fower poore people of the three parishes aforesaid, that shalbe from tyme to tyme partakers of the said bread as aforesaid
Item I desire also that there shalbe paid to the parson and Churchwardens of Otford in the said County of Kent and to their Successors for ever
one anuity or yeerely sume of five poundes and ten shillinges which I will by the said Parson and Churchwardens from tyme to tyme weekely disposed
of in bread unto six poore residing housholders of the said parish in such like manner and according to such direction as I have formerly set downe
for the parish of Bidborough
Item I desire and appoint that there shalbe likewise paid to the parson and Churchwardens of the parish of Sutton at Hone in the said County of
Kent and to their Successors forever one anuity or yeerely sume of five poundes and ten shillinges which I will by the said Parson and Churchwardens
from tyme to tyme weekely disposed of in bread unto six poore residing housholders of the said parish in such like manner and according to
such direction as I have formerly set downe for the parish of Bidborough
Item my will and minde is, and I doe desire the master, Wardens and Com'nalty of the mistery of Skynners aforesaid to pay yeerely under the proviso
hereunder menconed unto the chiefe Schoole master of the free Schoole of Tunbridge aforesaid and to his Successors for ever ten poundes by the
yeere, and unto the usher of the same Schoole and to his Successors forever five poundes by the yeere, to be paid yeerely either at the Visitacon
of the said Schoole about the beginning of May, or quarterly by equall payments which shall be thought most meete by the said Company of Skynners
and so from yeere to yeere forever
Provided that if the said Schoolemaster and Usher or either of them had not diligently and carefully demeane himselfe or themselves to the good
approbacon and liking of the said Society of Skynners in the good education of the Schollers [Scholars] of the said Schoole in the feare of God and
knowledge of good learning, Then my will and desire is that payment of the said yeerely sumes of ten poundes and five poundes shall cease and
shalbe from thencforth disposed of and bestowed by the said Mr, Wardens & Cominalty of the mistery of Skynners aforesaid and their Successors to
such other charitable uses & purposes as they in their discretions shall thinke most meete
Item I desire and appointe that there shalbe likewise paid to the parson and Churchwardens of the parish of Durrant [Darenth?] in the County of Kent aforesaid and to their Successors for ever, one annuitye or yeerely sume of fower poundes, six shillings and eight pence which I will shalbe by the said Parson and Churchwardens from tyme to tyme weekely disposed of in bread unto five poore residing housholders of the said parish in such like manner and according to such direction as I have formerly set downe for the parish of Tunbridge
Item for the better encouragement and advancement of the poore schollers of the said free Schoole of Tunbridge, my will and minde is and I doe
desire and appointe, that the Master, Wardens and Cominalty of the mistery of Skynners aforesaid and their Successors forever shall yeerely pay for
and towards the maintenance of six poore Schollers at the univ[er]sities to be from tyme to tyme elected out of the said free schoole of Tunbridge, the
yeerely sume of threescore, that is to say, to each of the said six poore schollers ten poundes by the yeere, by even porcons quarterly, vizt.
fiftie shillinges each quarter
Provided allwaies that the said yeerely exhibicons shalbe given to such poore schollers of the said free Schoole who shalbe most fowardly and
capable of Learning, and who shall have bin brought up and taught in the schole by the space of three yeeres, and whole parents of their owne
estates shall not be able to afford a competent yeerely maintenance to their children at the univ[er]sities;
And my will and minde is that each of the said poore schollers shall and may have and enjoy the said yeerely exhibicon from the tyme of their
election for the space of seaven yeeres if they shall during all that tyme reside in the univ'rsitie and demeane themselves civilly and
honestly, not mispending their tyme, but shall diligently apply themselves to their studies, and principally to the study of divinity, to the end
that when it shall please God to call them to the sacred profession of the ministery, in their prayers before or after their sermons they foget
not to give God thankes for his mercy towards them in the contribucon of their benefactor for their maintenance, that thereby others may be excited
and stirred up to do good and charitable workes
And if any of the said six scholers so to be elected as aforesaid, shall before thexpiracon of the said seaven yeeres die or departe from the
univrsitie, or shall demeane himselfe so unworthily that he make himselfe thereby uncapable of the said yeerely exhibicon, or shall have other
preferment, whereby in the opinion of the master, wardens & cominalty of the said mistery of Skynners he shall not stand in neede thereof, that
then from tuyme to tyme as often as such occasion shall happen, a new election shalbe made out of the said free schoole by the said M'r, Wardens and
Cominalty of the said mistery of another or others meete person or persons to supply the said number
Item my will and desire is that the master, Wardens and Cominalty of the mistery of Skynners aforesaid and their successors shall yeerely disburse out of the rents of the said Messuages, Tenements and pr[e]misses the sume of six poundes, thirteene shillinges and fower pence for and towards the defraying of theire expences and charges of their journey at theire yeerely visitacon of the said schoole of Tunbridge being about the beginning of May yeerely
Item my will and desire is that all the residue of the rent & of the said Messuages, Landes and premisses shalbe and remaine to the Master, Wardens
and Cominalty of the mistery of Skynners aforesaid and to their successors forever, by them to be disposed of to such charitable uses and purposes
as is here expressed, vizt. And for as much as such legacies and bequests as are given and intended for charitable uses are often tymes mistaken
and imployed contrary to the true intent and meaning of the donors, Therefore my purpose is from henceforth for the true declaracon of this my will
herein, and for the setling of a course and order to be observed for the tyme to come after my decease to deliver yeerely during my lifetyme at or
before the first day of May unto the Master and Wardens of the said Company of Skynners so much money as the severall sumes above menconed to be
paid after my decease yeerely out of the said messuages and prmisses shall amount unto;
And because it is not likely that out of the said free Schoole of Tunbridge there can be suddainly taken such six poore schollers above intended as
for their learning may be fitt to be imediatly sent to the Universities, my desire therefore is, that the Master and Wardens of the Company of
Skynners aforesaid together with their visitor, having notice of this my will shall at their first yeerely visitacon of the said Schole next
ensuing the date of this my will elect one sufficient scholler out of the said Schoole to goe to the Universitie who shall receave the said yeerely
exhibicon, And so from thenceforth yeerely and every yeere at their said yeerely visitacon to elect one scholler out of the said schoole until the
full number of six poore schollers shalbe supplyed, and afterwards to supplie the same number of six poore schollers from tyme to tyme as occasion
shall require and according as the number so elected shall increase, my purpose is from henceforth yerely in my life tyme to declare the said
yeerely exhibicon vizt. The first yeere ten poundes for the exhibicon of one scholler, the second yeere twenty poundes for the exhibicon of two
schollers, the third yeere thirty poundes for the exhibicon of three schollers, and so forward according to the number elected untill the
full number of six shalbe made up, and then to continue at that number from yeere to yeere
Item my will minde and meanng is that my loving wife Dame Sara Smithe and my sonne S[i]r John Smithe shall within the space of one yeere next after my decease upon request to convay and assure unto the Master, Wardens and Cominalty of the mistery of Skynners of London and to their successors forever all and singulr the said Messuages, howses, Landes, Tenements, hereditaments and premisses with thappurtenncs [the appurtenances] to them devised as aforesaid by such reasonable conveyances, assurances, wayes and meanes as by the said Master, Wardens and Cominalty of the said Mistery of Skynners of London and their Successors for the tyme being or any of them or by their councell learned in the Lawe shalbe reasonably devised or advised and required
And as concerning all and singlr [singular] other my Mannors, Messuages, howses, Landes, Tenements and hereditaments with all and singlr their
rightes, members and appurtenances whatsoever, I doe dispose of the same as followeth, Vizt.
First I give devise and bequeath the one full moiety thereof, and of every parte thereof, and of all the rents, issues and profittes thereof or
thereby arising unto my said welbeloved wife Dame Sara Smithe for and during all the terme of her naturall life And after her decease unto my said
sonne Sr John Smithe and to the heires of his body lawfully begotten
And the other moi[e]ty thereof from and imediatly after my decease I give devise and bequeath unto my said sonne Sr John Smithe and to the heires
of his body lawfully begotten
And if my said sonne Sr John Smithe shall dye without issue of his body lawfully begotten then I give devise and
bequeath all and singlr my said Mannors, Messuages, howses, Landes, Tenements and hereditaments with all and singlr their rightes, members and
appurtenances in such manner and forme and unto such persons and to and for such uses, intents and purposes as are hereafter in and by this my
pr[e]sent last will and testament menconed expressed limited ad declared, That is to say
First I give, devise and bequeath unto my Nephew Thomas Smithe of Ostenhanger in the said County of Kent, Esquire, sonne and heire of Sr John
Smithe my late brother deceased all and singlr my messuages, Landes, tenementes and hereditaments with their appurternances, situate,
lying and being in the severall parishes of Bidborough, Tunbridge, Pensherst and Spelhurst or any of them in the said County of Kent (except my
landes in the parish of Tunbridge which I purchased from Mr. Dyke) To have and to hold the same and every parte thereof
(except before expressed) unto my said Nephew Thomas Smithe and to the heires of his body lawfully begotten and to be begotten
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my Nephew Thomas Smith sonne to my brother Sr Richard Smithe Knight, to my Nephew John Smith sonne to my late brother Robert Smith deceased and to my Nephew Thomas Fanshawe sonne to my Lady Fanshawe all and singlr my Landes, Tenements and hereditaments w[i]th thappurtenances, comonly called or knowen by the name of Otford Parke (now disparked), scituate, lying and being in the severall parishes of Otford, Sevenoke [Sevenoaks] and Seale in the said County of Kent, which I lately purchased of the right Honourable the Erle of Leicester, to be equally devided and parted amongest them the said Thomas Smith, Sr John Smith, John Smithe and Thomas Fanshawe and to the heires of their bodies lawfully begotten and to be begotten severally and respectively
Item I give, devise and bequeath unto my Nephew Sr Thomas Butler & Oliver Butler sonnes to my sister Ursella Butler and to my Nephew Sr Arthur Harris sonne to my late sister Alice Harris deceased all and singlr my Landes, Tenements and hereditaments with their appurtenancs comonly called or knowen by the name of Cottington scituate, lying and being neere Sandwhich in the said County of Kent, which I lately purchased of William Richardson gentleman, to be equally devided and parted betweene them the said Sr Thomas Butler, Oliver Butler and Sr Arthur Harris, to have and to hold the same, and every parte thereof unto the said Sr Thomas Butler, Oliver Butler and Sr Arthur Harris, and to the heires of their bodies lawfully begotten and to be begotten, severally and respectively
Item I give, devise and bequeath unto my Nephew Thomas Fanshawe and to my Nephew William Fanshawe, sonnes of my sister Joane Fanshawe all and sing[u]ler my Landes, Tenements and hereditaments with their appurten'ncs comonly called or knowen by the name of Salfaugh graing scituate lying and being in Ringingham in the County of Yorke, and all and singlr my Landes, Tenements and hereditaments with their appurten'ncs scituate lying and being in the parish of Halstead, in the County of Essex, and all and singlr [singular] my Landes, Tenements and hereditaments with their appurtenncs [appurtenances], scituate, lying and being in Lewsham [Lewisham?] in the County of Kent, w'ch I purchased of Sr Nicholas Stoddard, Knight, and all and singlr my Landes, Tenements and hereditaments with their appurten'ncs scituate, lying and being in the parish of Tunbridge aforesaid wch I purchased of Mr. Dyke, to be equally devided & parted betweene them the said Thomas Fanshawe and William Fanshawe, to have and to hold the same and every parte thereof unto them the said Thomas Fanshawe and William Fanshawe and to the heires of their bodies lawfully begotten and to be begotten severally and respectively
And as concerning my goodes, chattels, leases, plate, Jewels, houshold stuffe, ready money, debtes and all other my personall estate whatsoever and wheresoever my will and minde is, that after my debtes shalbe paid and my funerall charges discharged, the same and every parte thereof shalbe devided into three equal partes according to the annsient [ancient] and laudable custome of the Citty of London, whereof one full third parte I give and bequeath unto my said welbeloved wife Dame Sara Smithe as due and belonging unto her by the Custome of the same Citty, Another full third parte thereof I give and bequeath unto my said sonne Sr John Smith, knight as due and belonging unto him by the Custom of the same Citty in regards that neither before nor since his marriage he hath not bin advanced by me, And the other third parte, wch by the said custome is devisable by me I doe dispose of as followeth, vizt.
Item I doe will and appoint that at or neere unto the tyme of buriall my executors shall cause to be provided so much good clothe the poore and needy as shall cost one hundred poundes and to be given to such poore people without respect of persons or fraud as shall have most neede, and because I would have my funerall without pompe or vaine glory I doe appoint that my wife, my sonne and servants with my executors, the minister and clarke of the parish church where I shalbe buried togeth[e]r with such others of my executors shall thinke meete to have mourning garments
Item I give, devise and bequeath unto the fower hospitalles in or neere the citty of London one hundred poundes vizt. to the Bartholomew Hospitall neere Westminster field, London forty poundes; to Christes Hospitall in London twenty poundes; to the Hospitall of Bridewell, London twenty poundes; and to St. Thomas Hospitall in Southwarke twenty poundes
Item I give and bequeath unto every one of my household Servants which shalbe dwelling with me at the tyme of my decease twenty shillings, and for every yeere that they shall have served me not being by my endevours otherwise advanced twentie shillings, vizt. he or she that shall have served me one yeere to have twenty shillings, and if two yeeres fortie shillings, and so for every yeere twenty shillings over and beside such legacies as I shall give unto them by their particular names in this my will
Item I give and bequeath unto every one of the children of my loving Sister M'ris Joane Fanshawe that shalbe lyving at the tyme of my decease, to
each of them a ringe of five poundes price.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Loving Sister the Lady Fanshawe the sume of twenty poundes, and to every of her children that shalbe lyving at the
tyme of my decease to each of them a ringe of five poundes price, except her sonne Richard Fanshawe my godsonne to whome I give the sume
of ten poundes
Item I give and bequeath unto everie one of the children of my late sister Urshila Butler w'ch shalbe liveing at the tyme of my decease to eche of
them a ringe of fyve poundes price
Item I give and bequeath unto the Lady St Leger my goddaughter the sume of twenty poundes
Item I give to every one of the rest of her children of my late sister the Lady Katherine Hayward als. Scott, to each of them a ringe of
five poundes price
Item I give to ever one of the children of my late Sister the Lady Alice Harris deceased to each of them a ringe of five poundes price
Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Nephew Thomas Smithe of Ostenhanger sonne & heire of my late brother Sr John Smithe, knight deceased the
sume of two hundred poundes to buy him a Coach and Coach horses
And I give and bequeath to his two sisters my two neeces vizt. Katherine the Lady Baker and Elizabeth the Lady Nevell fiftie poundes a peece
Item I give to every one of the children of my late brother Henry Smithe deceased to each of them a ringe of five poundes price
Item I give and bequeath to my loving brother Sr Richard Smith the sume of twenty poundes
and to my loving Sister his wife the lady Smith I give the sume of ten poundes
Item I give to Sr John Smith the sonne of my brother Sr Richard Smith the sume of tenne poundes, and to every of the other children of my said
brother Sr Richard Smith I give to each of them a ringe of five poundes price
Item I give to my Nephew John Smith sonne of my late brother Robert Smith a ringe of five poundes price
Item I give to Sr David Watkins to buy him a guelding [gelding] the sume of twenty poundes
Item I give to Captain Edward Christian the sume of ten poundes
Item I give to my [friend?] John Wood, Doctor in Divinity as a remembrance of my love the sume of five poundes and to his wife Mrs. Alice Wood I
give the sume of five poundes to buy them ringes to wear for my sake
Item I give to my loving friend Sr Humfrey Hanford five poundes to make him a ringe to weare as a token of my love towards him
Item I give and bequeath to my loving friend Mr. Edward Cooke, Appothecary forty shillings;
to Master Valentine Markham forty shillings;
to Mr. Richard Austen of Sutton forty shillings and to his wife forty shillings to make them ringes to weare in remembrance of me
Item I give to my assured friend Sr Thomas Roe to make him a ringe to weare for my sake, the sume of ten poundes
Item I give to Mr. Robert Symonds dwelling in my howse of Bidborough, the sume of forty shillings
Item I gyve to Mr. Hughe Wilcocke the some of Fortie shillings
Item I give unto Mr. Thomas Hicks of London, Marchant five poundes to make him a ringe to weare in remembrance of me
Item I give to Mr. George Strowd a ringe of forty shillinges price
Item I give to every one of the children of M'ris Sara Clarke deceased to each of them a ringe of thirtie shillinges price
Item I give to Mr. John Woodhall the sume of ten poundes
Item I give and bequeath to the Governor of the Company of Merchants in London trading into East India, wch shalbe at the tyme of my decease, the sume of five poundes, and to the then deputy of the said Company the sume of fower poundes; And to the Treasurers of the same Company three poundes a peece in ringes; and to the twenty and fower Committees of the same Society forty shillinges a peece in ringes to weare in remembrance of me
Item I give and bequeath to Mr. Andrew Ellam, to Mr. Christopher Lanman?, to Mr. Richard Mountney, to Mr. Robert Fotherbie, and to Mr. John Robinson servants to the said Company, and to M'ris Walder widow the late wife of Mr. John Walder deceased, late also the said Companies servant, to each of them thirty shillinges a peece to make them ringes to weare for my sake
Item I give and bequeath to the Company of Merchants in London for discovery of new trades, comonly knowne by the name of the Mustovia Company,
who have testified? their love to me many yeeres, the sume of five hundreth poundes for and towards the payments of such debtes as are due by the
said company upon the old joynt Stock, wherein I doe especially appoint that the poorer sorte of their debtors, as Arthur Panthur and such
others may be first satisfied, which said sume of five hundreth pounds my will is shall be paid to the use aforesaid, over and besides such sumes of
money as I have already paid in my life tyme together with the rest of the said Company as is rated, taxed or assessed to pay for and towards the
discharge of the same debts
Item I give to the Governor of the said Company the sume of fower poundes, and to the Consulls and assistants of the same Society I give forty
shillings a peece to make them ringes to weare as tokens of my love towards them
Item I give to the Treasurer Counsell and Companies for the plantacon [Plantation] in Virginia and the Somer [Summer] Islands, comonly called the Virginia Company and the Bermudaes Company the sume of one hundred poundes to be equally devided betweene those two companies towards the buildings of two Churches viz., for each plantacon one
Item standing assured of the faithfullnes, honestie and integrity of those persons hereafter named, I doe nominate and intreate them, that is to say my loving Wife Dame Sara Smith, my sonne Sr John Smith and my loving brother Sr Richard Smith, and my good Friends Sr David Watkins and Mr. Nicholas Crispe to be the Executors of this my last will and Testament, and I doe give and bequeath unto each of them the sume of fiftie poundes for their paynes to be taken in and about the execution of this my will, over and besides the severall legacies herein before bequeathed unto them
Now for as much as there be some thinges omitted that are not now in my memory And perhaps there may be some thinges which hereafter I may alter,
therefore I have made a Codicill or schedule wherein what shalbe inserted my will and meaning is shalbe as fully performed to all intents and
purposes as if it were written in the body of my said last will and testament dated the fourth of September one thousand six hundred twenty and fower.
[Note: Inserted in the registered copy, and repeated after the will as a codicil]
All the rest and residue of my personall estate not formerly disposed of, I give, devise and bequeath unto my said wife Dame Sarah Smith and to my
said sonne Sr John Smith to be equally parted and devided betweene them, parte and parte like.
Moreover my will & meaning is that when the leases of the houses and premisses which I have by this my will bequeathed to the Skynners, shalbe
expired and thereby the revenewes increased, the proceede and increase thereof shalbe by them disposed in manner and forme following vizt.
To the parish of Sutton at Hone, the parish of Darant, the parish of Willmington, the parish of Otford, the parish of Tunbridge, the parish of
Bidborough, the parish of Spelhurst and the parish of Shorne wherein the mannor of Cottington is or any other parish wherein I shall have
landes at the tyme of my decease, And unto the poorest people therein at the discretion of my very worthy and worshipfull friends the master,
wardens and Cominaltie of the mistery of the Skynners before menconed
And I doe hereby revoke, countermaund and utterly make voide all former willes Testaments, codicills, executors, legacies and bequests whatsoever by me at any tyme heretofore made named appointed given or bequeathed. And my will minde & meaning is and I doe hereby publish and declare that theis presents only shall stand and be taken for my last will and testament and none other.
In Witnes whereof I the said Sr Thomas Smith Knight, the Testator have to this my present last will & Testament written in one and twenty sheetes
of paper with my name subscribed to every sheete have set my seale the one and thirtieth day of January Anno domini stilo Anglie
millesimo sexcentesimo vicesimo primo [1621/2] And in the nineteenth yeere of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of God, Kinge of
Engand, Frannce and Ireland, defendor of the faithe, &c, and of Scotland the five and fiftieth
Tho : Smith
Read, signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said Sr Thomas Smith the Testator to be his last will and Testament on the day and
yeeres above written in the presence of
William Skellton; Henry Whitaker; Robertum Heath; Hum: Dison Notary Publique
Now forasmuch as there be some thinges omitted that are not now in my memory, and perhaps there may be some thinges which hereafter I may alter
Therefore I have made this schedule or Codicill, wherein what shalbe inserted, my will and meaning is shalbe as fully performed to all intents and
purposes as if it were written in the body of my said last will & testament
dated the fourth of September one thousand six hundred and twenty and fower.
Mr. John Leaveston in plate twenty poundes, M'ris Leaveston in plate twenty poundes,
Sr John Merrick, Sr John Worstenholme; Sr William Russell; Sr Nicholas Fortescue; Sr John Osborne; Sr John Cooke; Sr Franncis Goften; Sr Richard
Sutton, Mr. William Burrell; Mr. Samuell Wrote; Mr. Richard Edwardes; Sr Nathaniel Riche; Samuell Argall, Mr. Josia Fant, in ringes forty
shillings a piece
Mr. Scott a ringe of Thirtie shillinges, Arthur Leavet in money twenty poundes; John Capper in money five poundes;
Adam Bowen in money five poundes; Fra: Reynoldes in money five poundes;
Mr. Ellis Crispe, Doctor Dee, Doctor Meddus?, Mr Haslewood, Alder Johnson, Mr. Henry Fotherbuy; Mr. Lottpeare in ringes forty shillinges a peece.
Probatum fuit: 12th October 1625
Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh Mason, 9th January 2022
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Sir Thomas Smith