Swatland Will 1694

Will of Nicholas Swatland

of Brenchley, Kent


Source: Prerogative Court of Canterbury PROB 11/423/321
Submitted by Margaret Wills
In the name of God Amen I Nicholas Swatland of Brenchley in the County of Kent Husbandman being at this present somewhat ill in body but of sound mind and memory (praised be God for the same) doe make my last will and testam4ent in maner following
First I give my soul to God who gave it mee and my body I comit to the earth to bee decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Judith the sume of one hundred pounds of good English money to bee paid by my Executor hereafter named into the hand and custody of my Sonn in Lawe Thomas Baker to bee by him put out at interest in his owne name
In trust for my daughter Judith for her p'ticular maintenance and livelyhood during the terme of her naturall life

and after her decease the interest of the said one hundred pounds I order to bee paid to such child or children of the said Judith as shee shall have lawfully begotten on her body untill they attaine unto their severall and respective age & ages of one and twenty yeares share and share alike and to the survivors and survivor of them and then the whole to bee paid unto them by the said Thomas Baker equally to bee divided amongst them share and share alike

But if my said daughter Judith shall dye without any Child or Children on her body lawfully begotten then
I give the sume of tenn pounds part thereof unto my sonn in lawe Thomas Baker
and also the sume of tenn pounds more unto my sonne in lawe William Baker
and also the sume of tenn pounds more unto my daughter in lawe Elizabeth Wood the now wife of Francis Wood
And the residue of the said one hundred pounds I give unto my Executor hereafter named

And for the secure payment of the said one hundred pounds unto the said Thomas Baker for the uses aforesaid I doe order that the said Thomas doe ymediately after my decease take into his Custody the severall bonds and Securityes hereafter menconed vizt.
One bond or obligacon From David Wooddee and brother made to mee for Eighty pounds for payment of Forty pounds with interest;
another bond made from Thomas Austen to mee for twenty pounds for payment of Tenn pounds with interest;
another bond from Mr. Monckton and sonne to mee for Forty pounds for payment of Twenty pounds with interest;
a Note from Mr. Woodgate to mee for Twenty pounds
and a bond from Thomas Stone to mee for twenty pounds for payment of Tenn pounds with interest
And that hee the said Thomas Baker receives the severall sumes of money of the severall persons aforesd. and what amounts to above the said one hundred pounds to pay to my Executors hereafter named
and I do order that my Executor hereafter named shall not in any wise whatsoever molest or hinder the said Thomas Baker in any wise whatsoever but shalbee aiding and assisting him therein to receive the same

Item I give and bequeath unto my said Sonn William a feather bedd, bedd steddle, matt and cords as it now stands in the little Chamber with the Furniture thereunto belonging
I also give him tenn pounds to bee paid him one yeare next after my decease by my Executor hereafter named
Item I give and bequeath unto my kinsman Thomas Swatland of Brenchley the sume of ten pounds to bee paid unto him within one yeare next after my decease by my Executor hereafter named
Item I give and bequeath unto the said Thomas Baker the summ of ten pounds to bee paid unto him by my Executor hereafter named within one yeare next after my decease

Item all the rest and residue of my ready money, goods, cattles and chattells and personall estate whatsoever and wheresoever my debts and legacyes before and hereafter menconed being first defrayed, satisfyed and paid together with the charge of my buriall and the Probate of this my p'sent last will and testament I give unto my sonn Richard Swatland who I make sole and onely Executor of this my present last will and testament

Item I give unto my daughter Judith the one half part of my linnen and also one Featherbedd, bolster, matt and cords, curtaines and vallance, bedd steddle with all the furniture thereunto belonging as it now stands in the Hall Chamber
Item I give unto Mary Norman the sume of five pounds to bee paid unto her within one yeare next after my decease

Item I make James Hofer of Town Sutton [Sutton Valence] and the said Thomas Swatland Overseers of this my present last will and testament, and to the said James Hofer I give the sume of Forty shillings desiring them to bee aiding and assissting to my Executor to see the due Execucon of this my will and to see the same duely proved

In Witnesse whereof I the said Nicholas Swatland the Testator have hereunto set my hand and seale this present one and twentieth day of August Anno dini one thousand six hundred ninety fower
The marke of the above named Testator - Nicholas Swatland

Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Nicholas Swatland the Testator in the presence of us who subscribed our names as witnesses thereunto in the presence of him the said Testator
Hen: Weller - Thomas Jarret - the marke of Francis Wood

Probatum fuit: [Latin] 6th December 1694

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 14th Jan 2021


Return to Kent Genealogy

Will of Nicholas Swatland
Created by Maureen Rawson