Will of Henry Strevens

of Saint Peter, Thanet, Kent

First I revoke all former wills by me made and of this my last do constitute and appoint my friends John Philpott of Broadstairs Schoolmaster and Edward Goodson of Upton Yeoman together with my Solicitor John Boys of Margate Gentleman my Executors
and I do give to the said John Philpott and Edward Goodson the sum of Five pounds apiece for mourning

And whereas upon the marriage with my present wife Dorothy she by a deed of Settlement hath settled upon herself all her estate and effects and with a power by deed or will to dispose of the same as she may think fit and was a party to and executed such deed under the promise and belief that during our joint lives I should have the benefit with her of the annual income and produce thereof but I have hitherto had no account thereof from her or from the trustees of such settlement
And whereas since our marriage I have at her particular wish and desire built a new house upon my estate at Callis Court and furnished it at an expence altogether upwards of eleven hundred pounds which she promised should be paid for out of her own property and income but hitherto I have been obliged to pay for the same out of my own monies and effects to the great disadvantage of my children and there are many bills yet outstanding and unpaid
now I do declare my wish that my executors should endeavour to prevail upon my said wife to perform such her several promises to me and to account to them as I consider in justice she ought to have accounted to me
and in case it shall happen that they my said executors shall be unable to obtain a just Settlement from her then it is my will and desire that so much of my estate and effects shall be turned into money as will be sufficient to pay all my outstanding debts in respect of the said new house and furniture in case I shall not leave sufficient monies behind me

And as to all the messuages lands hereditaments and real estate whereof I may die seized in fee or otherwise intitled to and all the rest and residue of stock and crop goods and chattels and Personal Estate and Effects of every description belonging to me or to which I am intitled or which my executors may become entitled to recover (such personalty being and to be subject to the payment of all other my just debts legacies funeral expences and the costs of proving this my will and performing the trusts thereof) I do give devise the same unto and to the use of the said John Philpott Edward Goodson and John Boys their heirs executors and administrators according to the nature and quality of the said estates in trust nevertheless for and to be equally divided between my four children John Stanner Strevens Edward Stanner Strevens Henry Strevens and Susanna Ann Strevens their heirs executors and administrators share and share alike when and so soon as the youngest shall attain twenty one years

and I also direct that the real estate shall then be conveyed to them in equal shares accordingly and in fee or otherwise amongst them as they can agree and as they shall direct and appoint and in the meantime and until they can take such division I do hereby authorize and empower my said executors to let my said new house either ready furnished or otherwise and carry on in conjunction with my two eldest sons all my farming business or to dispose of the same according to the best of their judgement and the full power of doing which as generally as I could do if living I entirely place in the hands of my said executors

and lastly I do hereby authorise my said executors to reimburse themselves all expences attending the execution of the trusts of this my will and do declare that they shall not be accountable for the acts or receipts of each other

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of February one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine _ Henry Strevens
(Attestation Clause)
S M Boys _ W W H W Penny _ Elijah Packer Clerks to Mr Boys Solr Margate

11 May 1852 Administration with the Will annexed to Edward Stanner Strevens the son and one of the Residuary Legatees,
John Philpot and John Boys the surviving executors having first renounced execution

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