Solley Will 1591

Will of Stephen Sollie

of Chislet, Kent


Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury PRC 17/48/161
Submitted by Shelagh Mason
In the name of God Amen the eleventh day of November in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand five hundreth foure score and tenne [1590] and in the two and thirtieth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Ladie Elizabeth by the grace of God Queene of England Frannce and Ireland, defender of the fayth, etc.
I Stephen Sollie of Chistlett the parish of Chistlett in the County of Kent Yeoman being sicke in bodie but whole in minde and of good and perfect remembrance (God be praysed therefore) do ordaine and make this my present Testament and last will in maner and fourme followinge (That is to saie)
First I bequeathe my sowle to Almightie God hoping to be saved by the onelie merrits of Jesus Christ my onely Saviour and redeemer, and my bodie to be buried in the church yarde of Ashe in the Cowntie aforesaid

Item I give and bequeath unto the poor people of the parish of Ashe aforesaid three shillinges and foure pence of Lawfull money of England and to the poore people of Chistlett aforesaid three shillinges & foure pence of like money to be distributed to the said poore wthin one month after my decease, at the discretion of mine Executrix

Item I give and bequeath unto Stephen Richards my godson my greatest brasse pott to be delivered to his father to his use within one moneth after my decease And if it shall so happen that the father of the said Stephen doe weare out, breake or impaire the same pott, then he shall paie unto the said Stephen his sonne and my godson fortie shillings of Lawfull money of England for the same potte

Item I give and bequeath unto Margaret Awstin my daughter the wife of Valentine Awstin of Adsham one ewe
Item I give and bequeath unto Joane Richards my daughter the wife of William Richards one ewe
Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Awsten my daughter one ewe and a lambe by her side
to be delivered unto them wthin one monethe after my decease

The residue of all my moveable goods and chattells not before given and bequeathed I whollie give and bequeathe unto Margaret my welbeloved wife whom I ordaine and make sole executrix of this my prsent Testament and Last will

Item I give and bequeath unto everie one of my sonne Richard Sollies servants as well maidservannts as men servannts twelve pence a peece to be paid unto everie of them wthin one monethe after my decease, if it shalbe Lawfully demanded

Wittnesses at the readinge and allowinge of this present testament and Last will
John Prowde by his marke - William Moate and Stephen Hinsell, writer hereof

This is the Last Will and Testament of me the said Stephen Sollie made and by me personally declared the daie and yeare aforesaid concerning all my landes tenements and hereditaments in the parishes of Ashe, Staple and Wingham in the Countie of Kent or els where wthin the said Cowntie

Item I give and bequeath unto Margaret my wife my tenement at Hodon [Hoaden – north of Ash] with Hamons Barne and the Lands there unto belonginge, Also I give and bequeath unto the said Margaret my wife tenne acres of land called “Hobbes Sole” lieing and beinge in Staple aforesaid To have and to hold all and singular the said Tenement at Hodon and Hamons barne and the lands thereunto belonging (and) tenne acres called “Hobbes sole”, and the Close of Lande afforesaid called “Watergore” by estimation tenne acres with all and singular their appurtenances to the said Margaret my wife for and during the whole terme of her naturall life is she keepe her selfe a widowe, and if she shall happen to marrie after my decease then I will the one half of all and singular my Tenement Hodon and Hamons barne and the lands thereunto belonging tenne acres called “Hobbes sole”, and the Close of Lande afforesaid called “Watergore” wth their apptenances shall remaine and be to Richard Sollie and John Sollie my sonnes durine the natural life of the said Margaret my wife

Item I will and my mind is that after ye decease of the said Margaret my wife my Tenemet. at Hoden and Hamons Barne wth the landes thereunto belonginge wth their appurtenances shall remaine unto Joell Sollie my sonne his heires and assignes for ever
And if it shall fortune the said Margaret my wife to die and departe this life before Joell my sonne shall come to his age of twentie yeares then I will and ordaine by this my present testament and Last will that the said Joell my sonne shall paie out of my my Tenement at Hoden and Hamons Barne and the landes thereunto belonginge to Beniamin Sollie my sonne fortie powndes of lawfull money of England wthin foure yeares nexte after her death (that is to saie) tenne powndes yearlie

And if it shall happen the said Margaret my wife to live untill the said Joell my sonne shall come to the age twentie yeares or upward then my will and minde is and I ordaine by this my present Testament and last will that the said Joell my sonne shall have respit to pay the said fortie powndes wthin eight yeares next after the decease of the said Margaret my wife (that is to saie) five powndes yearlie duringe the said terme

Item after the decease of the said Margaret my wife I will and ordaine by this my prsnt Testament that my peece of land aforesaid called “Hobbes Sole” wth the appurtenances conteyninge by estimation tenne acres shall remaine to Daniell Sollie my sonne his heires and assignes for ever
Provided alwayes that if the said Daniell my sonne shall happen to sell the said peece of land then I will that Richard Sollie my sonne shall have it fortie shillinges in every acre better cheape than the best price than another will give

Item after the death of the said Margaret my wife I will and ordaine by this my present testament and last will that my close of land called “Watergore” aforesaid conteyninge by estimation tenne acres shall remaine to William Sollie my sonne his heires and asignes for ever
Provided also that if the said William my sonne shall happen to sell the said peece of lande then I will and ordaine by this my prsent Testament that John Sollie my sonne shall have it fortie shillinges in theire acre better cheape than the best price that another will give

Item I give and bequeath unto John Sollie my sonne my messuage or tenement called “Biholte” and the Lands thereunto belonginge, conteyninge by estimation seventeene acres of Lande bee theire more or lesse thereof to be had wth all and singular their appurtenannces situate lieinge and beinge in Staple aforesaid To have and to holde all and singular the said messuage or Tenement called “Biholt” and the Landes thereunto belonginge with all and singular their appurtenances unto John Sollie my sonne his heires and assignes for ever Yelding and payeng to Thomas Contirey [Courtney?] of the parish of Ickham in the countie aforesaid Yeoman the sume of one hundred poundes of lawfull money of England which I owe him.

Item I will and ordaine by this my prsent Testament and last will that the said Margaret my wife shall not claime or challenge any dower in the said Tenement called “Biholte” and the Landes thereunto belonginge nor in his Tenement called Pedding in the parishe of Ashe with lands thereunto belonginge nor in any Parte thereof
And that if the said Margarett my wife shall at any time claime or challence any dowerin the said landes or Tenements or in any part thereof then I will that the said John my sonne shall enter upon my peece of land aforesaid called “Hobbes sole” and my peece of land called “watergore”, and the same shall have holde and enjoye to him and his assignes during her life

Item I will and ordaine by this my present Testament and last will that the said Margaret my wife and Richard Sollie my sonne shall receive the rents and fermes that shalbe due unto me or my assigns at the feast of Snt. Michaell the Archangell next ensueinge and followinge the date of this my prsent Testament and last will for my tenement called “Nashe” and the Landes thereunto belonginge, and for my Tenement called Hoden and the landes thereunto belonginge,
paynge fortie powndes of Lawfull money of England to Mercie Harrflet widowe late wife of Christofer Harrflet of Ashe in the Countie aforesaid gentleman deceassed
and also payeinge unto Anne Smithes widdowe, some time wife of Nicholas Hole the sume of eleven powndes of lawfull money of England
And to Nicholas Trigwell Eleven powndes of like money at the feast of Snt. Michaell the Archangell next cominge

Witnesses at the readinge and allowinge of this prsent Testament and last Will
John Prowde by his marke William Moate, and Stephen Hincksell, writer hereof

Probatum fuit: [Latin] decimo nono die mensis Aprillis ano din 1591. [19th April 1591]

Notes:
Stephen Sollye “howseholder” was buried at St. Nicholas, Ash-next-Sandwich on 12th November 1590.
Stephen Sollie’s children were christened at St. Nicholas, Ash-next-Sandwich, as follows:
Joell Sollye, s. of Stephen Sollye was christened on 20 Jan 1576 at St. Nicholas, Ash, Kent.
Known siblings: Benjamin 1571, William 1574, Stephen 1579 and Jane 1583.
Margaret Solley, Widow, was buried at Ash 11th March 1600(1). She did not leave a Will.
Great Peddinge, Ash: was the ancient residence of the family of Solly, who lie buried in Ash church-yard, and bore for their arms, Vert, a chevron, per pale, or, and gules, between three soles naiant, argent. [British History Online]

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 27th October 2020


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Will of Stephen Sollie
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