Underdown Will 1580/1

Will of William Underdown

of Birchington, Kent

Source: Consistory Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 32/34/121
Submitted by Margaret Glenn

In the name of God Amen the xxvijth [27th] daye of November in the yeare from the Incarnation of our lord and saviour Jesus Christe a thowsand fyve hundreth and fourscore [1580]
I Willm Underdowne of the p[ar]ishe of Byrchington in the Ilse of Thanett within the Countye of Kente husbandman beyinge sycke in my bodye but of a perfacte and good remembrance thanks be to God therefore doe make and ordayne this my prsent laste will and Testamente in mannr and fourme followynge
Furste and above all thinges I bequeath and yelde upp my soule into the m[er]rcifull hands of allmyghtye God the Father the sonne and the holye Ghoste a blessed Trynitye and one true and everlastinge God and I hope to be saved by the meritts and passyon of my lord and onlye saviour Jesus Christe
Item I will that my bodye be buryed in the Churchyarde of the pishe Churche aforesayd under the Palme [probably a Yew] thare and besydes the alleye

Item I geve to Elizabeth my dawghter the some of Tenn pounds of good and lawefull mony of England to be payd to her at her aige of xxtye yeares or at the daye of her maryage wch cometh and channceth furste
Item I geve to my dowghter xpian [Christian] the some of xli [£10] of the lyke lawefull monye of England to be payd to her at her aige of xxtye yeares or at the daye of her maryaige wch channceth furste
Item I geve to the childe that my wyfe nowe beareth in the wombe the some (of) xli of good and lawefull monye of England to be payd to the sayd Childe at thaige of xxtye yeares or at the maryaige daye of the same wch cometh furste

And yf it happen that eyther of my sayd twoe dowghters viz. Elizabeth or xpian shall departe this lyfe to gods m[er]rcye before the[i]r maryage dayes or ther aiges of xxtye yeares then my will mynde and intente is that the portion or portions of the deceased shall remayne and be to the use of the sayd child that my wyfe nowe goeth withall in case yt be a man childe
but yf yt be a mayde childe then my will and mynde ys that yf any of my sayd three children shall departe this lyfe before the receyte of ther portions before by me to them bequethid That the portion or portions of the deceased shall remayne and be to the use of John my sonne yf he then shalbe Lyvinge
otherwise my mynde and will is that yf John my sonne shalbe deceased before my sayd daughters shall have receyved ther porcons in that case amongest all my sayd dawghters one to be an others heyre

Item in consyderacon of the bringinge up of all my sayd children I will that Alice my wyf shall have the custodye of ther porcons wch before to them I have bequeathed untill ther severall tymes by me in that behalf before set downe and appoyntid

Provided allwayes and my verye will and mynde ys in case the sayd Alice my wyfe shall happen to marrye that eyther the sayd Alice before the tyme of her marryage shall paye and deliver to my overseers hereunder named the before expressed somes of monye amounting to the some of xxxli [£30] to the use of my sayd Children or els that the sayd Alice by bonde sufficient shall put in suertye to my overseers for thannseryage [the answering] of the sayd some to the use of my Children

Item all the resydue of my moveable goodes my debts and Legacyes beyinge payed and my funerall discharged I geve and bequeath to Alice my wyfe and I ordayne and make the sayd Alice my wyfe to be sole executrix of this prsent my laste will and testament
and my brothers John Underdowne and John Colman the younger to be the overseers of the same

These beyinge witnes: Henry Shene; Thomas Monse and Rycherd Sherleye [scriptor]

This is the Laste will and Testamente of my the sayd Willia Underdowne made the daye and yeare aforesayd of all my Lands and ten[emen]tes scituate lyinge and beynge in the pishe aforesayd

Furste I will in consyderation of the bringinge up of my Children that Alice my wyfe shall have my howse and lands wherein I dwell and wch I doe occupye untill John my sonne shall come to his aige of xxj yeares keepinge the same from tyme to tyme well and sufficientlye repayred

Item I geve and bequeath to the sayde John my sonne all my lands and tentes lyinge and beyinge within the aforesayd Countye of Kente at his aige of xxj yeares to him his heyres and assignes for ever in fee symple
the sayd John my Sonne payinge to the Childe that my wyfe nowe goeth withall in case yt be a man childe iijli vjs viijd [£3 6s 8d] iiijor [4] yeares nexte followinge the tyme that he the sayd John my sonne shalbe of thaige of xxj yeares

Thes(e) beying witnes before written, viz
Henry Shine; Thomas Monse and Ricus Sherleye [scriptor]

Probatum fuit: 5th january 1580/81

Notes:
William Underdown, paterfamilis was buried at All Saints, Birchington, Kent, on 30 Nov 1580.
William Underdown married Colleta Coleman at Birchington on 30 Sep 1571.
Colleta Underdowne was buried 12 Sep 1574 at Birchington.
William Underdowne then re-married at Birchington to Alice Cheston on 7 Jun 1575.
Children: Elizabeth 12 Sep 1576; Christiana Sep 1576; John 17 May 1579; Robert 16 Apr 1581 – all baptised at Birchington
Alice Underdowne remarried Thomas Monse (one of the witnesses) on 16 May 1581 at Birchington.

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh A. Mason, 17th March 2023

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Will of William Underdown
Created by Maureen Rawson