Simons Will 1593/4

Will of William Symons

of Staplehurst, Kent


Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 17/49/123
Submitted by Kevin Robards
In the name of God Amen The xth daye of November in the yeare of our Lord God one thowsand five hundrethe nintie and three
I Willm Symons of Stapleherst in the countie of Kent, sicke of bodye, but of good and p[er]fecte memorie, God be praised, do make & ordeine this my last will and Testament in manner & forme following, that is to saye,
First I comend my soule into the handes of Allmightie God my maker, hoping assuredlie through the onelye merites of Jesus Christ my saviour, to be made p[ar]taker of Lyfe evrlasting And I comend my bodye to the earthe whereof yt was made

Item I give and bequeathe unto the sixe children of John Simons my sonne deceased, namely, Willm., Thomas & John, Anne, Marie and Catherin to evry of them five poundes of lawfull Englishe monie at theire sevrall ages of Twelve yeares, to be put out by mine executor or overseer heereafter named, to the best p[ro]fite they cann; and by my executor to be payed unto the sayde children wth the p'fites thereof at theire sevrall ages of one and twentie yeares, or at theire dayes of mariage, wch shall first happen
And yf yt shall happen anie of the sayde children to decease before they accomplishe theire sayde ages of one and twentie yeares, & before that be not maryed, that then my will is, that everye suche porcon with the p'fite thereof of him or her so deceasing shalbe equallie devyded amongst the children then surviving

Item I give unto Joane widowe of my sayde sonne John one yearlye annuitie of xxs to be p[ai]d unto her out of the p'fites of a lease whiche I have of Mr. Edward Moore, Knight, untill the youngest childe of the sayde sixe children shall accomplishe the age of twelve yeares. And the first payment thereof to begin, at the feast of St. Michaell the Archangell newxte coming after the date of these prnte

Item I give unto Willm Simons sonne of Tho. Simmons my sonne xs, wherewith my will and minde is that his sayde father shall within one yeare nexte after my decease buye his sd. sonne two Lambes.

The residue of all my goodes and Cattelles, I give unto Thomas Symons my sonne, whom I make and ordeine the sole executor of this my p[rese]nte last will and testam[en]t. And I make Robert Peerson mine ovrseer thereof

This is also the last will and Testament of me the sayde Willm Symons made and declared the daye and yeare abovesayde, concerning the disposicon of all my lands & ten[emen]tes, that is to say

First I give and bequeath unto Thomas Simons my sonne before named all those my Lands lying upon the Denn of Henherst in the sayde pishe of Stapleherst whiche of late I purchased of George Newenham to have and to holde to my sayde sonn and to his heires forevr
Upon condicon that my sd. Sonne his heires executors and assignes do well & trulye pay all the sevrall legacies and bequestes before given unto the sayde sixe children, according to the true intent and meaning of this my last will and Testament

And yf yt shall happen that my sayde sonne his heires executors or assignes do not paye the sayde sevrall legacies accordingle, that then yt shalbe lawfull to evrye of the sayde sixe children to whom suche defaulte of payment shalbe made to enter in and upon the sayd lands and the same quietlye to occupye and injoye untill suche time as theire sd. Legacies before mentioned be unto them fullye satisfyed and payed

Also my will is that yf it shall happen my sd. sonne his heires executors or assignes do not paye the sd Annuitye of xxs according to my true intents and meaning above specifyed, that then yt shalbe lawfull to the sayde Joane or her assignes, at evrye suche defaulte of payment to enter in and upon the foresd. lease landes, & the same quietlye to occupie and enjoye untill her sd. Annuitye before specifyed be unto her fullye satisfyed and payed

Item I give and bequeathe unto my sayde sonne Thomas Simons all other my Landes and Tentes. lying in the parishe of Stapleherst aforesayde: To have and to holde to him and to his heires forevr

In wytnesse whereof I have heerunto set my hand and seale the daye and yeare first abovewritten
The mrke of Wm Simons
in the prsence of: John Grimsted; John Sharpe, John Frenche; Peeter Parris

Probatum fuit: 11th February 1593/94

Note: 2 Jan 1593/93 William Symons an anncient housholder was buried at All Saints, Staplehurst.

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh A. Mason, 16th June 2023


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Will of William Symons
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