Will of William Henry Solly

of Sandwich, Kent

First I Give and bequeath unto my Brother Richard Solly Twenty Guineas for mourning to be paid him by my Executrix hereinafter named within One Month next after my Decease

Also I Give and bequeath unto my Son Joseph Solly all my Books to be Delivered to him within three Months after my Decease
Also I Give and bequeath unto my said Son Joseph Solly the Sum of Two thousand Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid him by my said Executrix out of my Personal Estate when and so soon as he shall attain his Age of Twenty one years

Provided always Nevertheless and it is my Will and Meaning and I do hereby Direct and declare that it shall and may be lawful to and for my said Executrix by and with the Consent and Approbation of my said Son Joseph Solly at any time or times before he shall attain his said Age of Twenty one years to lay out the said Sum of Two thousand pounds in one or more Purchase or Purchases of Freehold Lands and Tenements or to invest and place the same out at Interest upon Good Real Securities or Parliamentary Stocks or Funds to and for the use and Benefit of my said Son Joseph Solly his Heirs Executors Admors. [Administrators] and Assigns from and Imediately upon his attaining the said Age of Twenty one years

But if he shall dye under that Age without leaving Issue of his Body lawfully begotten Then and in such Case I will and Direct that the said Sum of Two thousand pounds (if then remaining) in Money or if laid out in a Purchase that the Purchase so made therewith shall be and remain to such Uses and purposes and Subject to such Conditions and limitations as is hereinafter Expressed concerning the same

Also I Give and Devise all my Messuages Lands Tenements and Heredits. [Hereditaments] and Real Estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto my Dear and loving Wife Christian Solly for and During the Term of her Natural Life She keeping the same in Good and Tenantable Repair and Suffering no part thereof to go to any and doing no Waste thereto
And from and Imediately after her Decease I Give and Devise all my said Messuages Lands Tenements and Heredits. and Real Estate unto and to the use and behoof of my said Son Joseph Solly and of his Heirs and Assigns for ever

Also I Give and bequeath the use Interest Dividends and Annual Profits of All the rest and residue of my Goods, Chattels, Effects, ready Moneys, Monies in the Funds, Bonds, Bills, Notes, Mortgages in Fee or for years and all other my Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever of every Kind not herein before bequeathed or disposed of unto my said Wife Christian Solly for and during the Term of her natural life if she shall so long continue my Widow
And from and Imediately after her decease or Marriage again which shall first happen I Give and bequeath the said Rest and Residue of my said Personal Estate and Effects unto my said Son Joseph Solly his Executors Admors. and Assigns for ever

Provided always Nevertheless and my Mind and Will is and I do hereby order and Direct that if my said Son Joseph Solly shall Die under his said Age of Twenty one years without leaving Issue of his Body lawfully begotten Then and in such Case my said Wife Christian and her Assigns notwithstanding any future Coverture shall hold and Enjoy and receive and take to her and their own use and Benefit the Interest Dividends and Annual Produce of the said Sum of Two thousand pounds herein before by me Given to my said Son (whether the same be then remaining) in Money or Land out in a purchase And also of the said Residuum of my said Personal Estates for and during the Term of her natural life

and from and after her Decease and my said Son Joseph Solly being dead under the Age of Twenty one years aforesaid
Then it is my further Will and Meaning and I Do hereby also order direct and Declare that the said Legacy or Sum of Two thousand pounds so by me Given to my said Son Joseph Solly whether then remaining in Money or laid out in a Purchase and all my said Messuages Lands Tenements and Heredits. and Real Estate and the said Residuum of my said Personal Estate shall Descend, fall and go unto my Cousins Richard Heaton Solly, Maria Solly, Richard Rose, Anne Rose, Mary the Wife of John Hedges of Deal in the said County of Kent Esquire and Mary the Wife of Edward Jacob of Faversham in the said County Esquire or to such one or more of them and to the Heirs Executors Admors. and Assigns of them or of such one or more of them and in such Parts Shares and Proportions, manner and Form as she the said Christian my Wife shall from time to time and at any time or times during her life by any Deed or Deeds, Writing or Writings to be by her Sealed and Delivered in the presence of two or more Credible Witnesses or by her last Will and Testament in Writing to be by her Signed sealed published and declared in the presence of three or more such Witnesses Direct, Appoint, Give, Devise or bequeath the same

And in default of such Direction, Appointment, Gift, Devise or Bequest or in Case any such shall be whereby a Complete Disposition shall not thereof be made, Then as to and for so much and such parts thereof whereof no such Division, Appointment, Gift, Devise or bequest shall be made, I Give, Devise and bequeath the same unto my right Heirs Executors and Admors.

And further notwithstanding the Bequest of the said Residuum of my said Personal Estates unto my said Wife for her life if she Continue my Widow as aforesaid I do hereby Order and Direct that my said Son Joseph Solly shall have my Gold Watch, Gold Horse? Buttons and Silver headed Walking Cane And I do desire her my said Wife to Deliver them to him Imediately after my Decease

And also I Order and Direct that my Just Debts and Funeral Expences the Costs of Proving this my last Will and Testament and other Incident Charges shall be paid and Satisfied out of the said Residuum of my said Personal Estate
And I further Order and Direct that if my said Son Joseph Solly shall be living at the time of my Death that an Inventory of all my said Personal Estate shall be Imediately taken and that my said Wife Christian Solly and my said Son Joseph Solly shall each Sign a part thereof acknowledging the same

And Lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former Wills by me made and do Constitute and Appoint my said Wife Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament
In Witness whereof I the said William Henry Solly the Testator have hereunto set and affixed my hand & seal the Day and year first above written
W. H. Solly

Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Henry Solly the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses
H. Jordan - Wm. Cronk - W. Philpott

This Will was Proved at London the Eighth Day of September in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy before the Right Worshipful George Hay, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, lawfully Constituted by the Oath of Christian Solly Widow the Relict of the Deceased and Sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom Administration was Granted of all and Singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased, she having been first sworn by Commission Duly to Administer.
Exd.

Notes:
“Mr. William Solly of Sandwich & Mrs. Christian Wickes of Dover” were married on 17th September 1744 at Holy Cross, Goodnestone-next-Wingham, Kent.
[This does not mean that William and Christian were necessarily Widower and Widow at marriage, but rather that they could be from notable local families. William is given as a “Gentleman” in this Will.]

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 28th November 2020

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