Watts Will 1688

Will of John Watts

of Deal, Kent & London

Source: Consistory Court of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Archives PRC 32/55/376
Submitted by Margaret Wills

In the name of God Amen I John Watts Victualler Inhabitant in Deale in the County of Kent, now resident in London being weake and infirme in body, but of good sound and disposeing mind and memory, praised be Almighty God for the same, yet considering with my selfe the frailty and uncertainty of human state, and how certain wee are to dye, and the time thereof most uncertain, and as much as in me both for the ending all controversies that may arise amongst my relations touching my estate, doe make ordaine and declare this my Last will and Testament in manner and forme following, that is to say
First and principally and above all other things I recomend my soule in the most gracious hands of God my heavenly Father and Creator hopeing and assuredly believing in and through the meritorious death and passion of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to have remission of my sinns and transgretions in this life And my body I comitt to the earth to be decently and in Christian like manner interred at the discretion of my Executrix herein after named Not doubting but when my soule and body shall be reunited I shall be made pertaker of everlasting bliss and happinesse in the life to come,
And as touching and concerning such worldly estate and temporall substance as God in his great goodnes hath beene pleased to blesse me with, and to leave to disposall I give devise and bequeath the same as followeth, vizt.

Imprimis I will that all such debts as I shall truely owe at the time of my decease shall be first paid by my Executrix herein after named
Item I give and bequeath unto my sonne Henry Watts the sume of Twenty pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid unto him within twelve monthes after my decease, which Legacy I will shall be in full of all claimes and pretences that my said sonne can or shall (in) any wayes claime or pretend to of in or to my Freehold estate scituate and being in Deale in the County of Kent aforesaid as also to all other my estate whatsoever either reall or personal otherwise than hereafter in and by this my will is limitted and appointed

Item I give unto my daughter Sarah Rogers, wife of Henry Rogers one twenty shilling peece of Gold and no more by reason I have already advanced a porcon with her in marriage, and to her said husband Henry Rogers I give him a Ringe to weare in my remembrance
Item I doe give unto my daughter Winnifrith Coppin widow a twenty shilling peece of Gold and no more I have alsoe formerly advanced money as a porcon with her

Item I give devise settle and bequeath unto my deare and welbeloved Wife Mary Watts my Executrix hereinafter named All those my Freehold Lands Messuages Tenements and hereditaments scituate lying and being in or neere the Towne of Deale in the County of Kent aforesaid with all and every the rights and appurtences To have and to hold the said Freehold prmisses unto my said wife Mary dureing the terme of her natuall life
And after her decease Then I doe hereby wholly and soly give will and devise and bequeath the said Freehold prmisses hereinbefore given unto my said wife unto (and) amongst my Children the said Henry Watts, Elizabeth Watts, Jonathan Watts, Richard Watts, Martha Watts, Hannah Watts, Hester Watts, Joseph Watts and George Watts, or to such or so many of them as shall be liveing at the time of the decease of my said wife Mary each of them share and share alike

Item all the rest and residue of my Lands Messuages Tenements goods Household stuffe plate ready money Chattells and estate whatsoever (as well reall as personall) not herein before by me given and bequeathed I doe hereby wholly and soly give will devise and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my said deare and loveing wife Mary Watts and to her heires Executors and administrators forever

And I doe hereby strictly charge and require my said sonne Henry to be dutifull and obedient to his mother whom I do request to advance his porcon according as he shall in duty to her demeane himselfe, And as she shall thinke requisite

And I doe hereby make name ordaine and constitute my said wife Mary full and sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament
And lastly I doe hereby revoke disanull and make void all former and other wills and Testaments by me at any time heretofore made And doe ordaine and ratifye these prsents for and as my last will and Testament

In Witnes whereof I the said John Watts to this my Last will have sett my hand and seale the Seaventh day of June Anno dini 1688 and in the fourth yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord James the second by the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland, defender of the faith &c.
Jo Watts

Signed sealed published and delivered by the said Testator to be his Last will and Testamt. the day and year above written and subscribed by us as witnesses thereunto in the prsence of the said testator
William White; Mary White; The marke of Francis Baker; Geo: Fuller in Fanchurch streete London

Probatum fuit: 8th October 1688

Notes:
Henry Watts, s. of John and Mary, was baptised 8 Jun 1668 at St. Leonard, Deal, Kent.
Daughter Sarah Watts married John Moore 23 Dec 1675, and then Sarah Moore married Henry Rogers 21 Jul 1685, both at Deal.
Daughter Winifrid Watts married George Coppin 20 Nov 1679. Winifrid Wats daughter of John & Mary was baptised 10 Jan 1663, Deal.

Transcribed by Mrs. Shelagh A. Mason, 4th July 2023

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Will of John Watts
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