Will of Elizabeth Swift

of Sheerness, Kent

I direct in the first place that all my just Debts and funeral expences may be paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently may be after my decease
I Give devise and bequeath all my Stock in Trade Household Goods and Furniture Implements of Household China Linen ready Money Securities for Money Book Debts and all other my real and personal Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind sort or quality soever the same may be and consist unto Samuel Crayden of the Parish of Minster in the said Isle of Sheppey Butcher his Executors or Administrators Upon the Trusts and to and for the several Intents and Purposes hereinafter next mentioned (that is to say)

Upon Trust that the said Samuel Crayden shall and do immediately after my decease make sale and dispose of all and singular my said Stock in Trade Household Goods Furniture Linen China and all other my Effects either by public Sale or by private Contract for the most Money and best Prices that can be procured had and gotten for the same and also collect and get in all debts that may be due and wing unto me at the time of my decease and the Money arising and to be produced from such Sale or Sales and collected and got in as aforesaid together with such ready Money as I may die possessed of (after paying and discharging thereout the Legacies hereinafter by me given and bequeathed) I do direct may be put out at Interest at the discretion of my said Trustee or held by him

upon Trust that he the said Samuel Crayden his Executors or Administrators shall and will pay the amount of such principal Money so arising produced and to be received as aforesaid together with the interest that may from time to time grow due thereon unto my Grand daughter Elizabeth Swift her Executors and Administrators upon her attaining twenty one years or on the day of her Marriage in case she should happen to be married before that period
But in case my said Grand daughter should not live to attain the said age of twenty one years and shall die unmarried then
Upon Trust that my said Trustee Samuel Crayden shall and do pay the amount of such principal Monies and Interest unto my Grandson Thomas Crayden Smith his Executors or administrators upon his attaining the age of twenty one years

But in case it should happen that neither of them the said Elizabeth Swift and Thomas Crayden Smith shall live to attain the age of twenty one years but in case it should so happen that neither of the said Elizabeth Swift and Thomas Crayden Smith shall live to attain the age of twenty one years and the said Elizabeth Swift shall die sole and unmarried but without issue then
Upon Trust that the said Samuel Crayden his Executors or Administrators shall and do from and immediately after that event happening pay and apply the said principal Monies and Interest so arising and to be received as aforesaid unto and amongst such of the Child or Children of my Son James Swift as shall then be living his her of their Executors or Administrators to be equally divided between them if more than one share and share alike upon his her or their respectively attaining the age of twenty one years

But in case either of them shall happen to die before he she or they shall attain such age Then I give and bequeath the same to the Survivors or Survivor of them his her or their Executors or Administrators

I give and bequeath all my articles of plate unto the said Samuel Crayden his Executors or Administrators
Upon Trust that he or they shall equally give and divide the same unto and between my said Grand Children Elizabeth Swift and Thomas Crayden Swift their Executors or Administrators upon their attaining their respective ages of twenty one years But in case either of them should happen to die before attaining that age then it is my Will that the whole thereof be given to the Survivor of them her or his Executors or Administrators

I give and bequeath my Shop for the residue and term of years now to come of the Lease and all my Trade and Business of a Butcher to the said Samuel Crayden And I do direct that he carry on and Exercise the same therein
I give and bequeath unto my Son James Swift the Sum of Fifty pounds

I give and bequeath unto my Apprentice George Mackett the Sum of Ten pounds together with a Suit of Mourning to be provided for him by my Executor hereinafter named immediately after my decease It is my Will and I do hereby direct that the Indentures of Apprenticeship of the said George Mackett be cancelled by my Executor upon my decease and that he be emancipated from any further Service under the same

I give and bequeath unto my Servant Mary Cooper a Black Bombazet Gown to be purchased for her by my Executor

And I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Samuel Crayden Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void al former and other Will and Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be my last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I have to this my Will written and contained on two Sheets of paper to the first sheet thereof subscribed my name and to the second and last Sheet thereof my name and seal this fifth day of June in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three
Elizabeth Swift

Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Elizabeth Swift the Testatrix as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses
R.R. Piercy Clerk to Mr. Silvester, Queenborough - Thomas Edmeades - William Edmeades

This Will was proved at London the Twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three before the Right Honorable William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Samuel Crayden the Sole Executor named in the said Will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 14th May 2020.

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