Woodward Will 1683

Will of Mathew Woodwar

of Tilmanstone, Kent


Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury PRC/17/75/440
Submitted by Pam Woodruff
In the name of God Amen. I Matthew Woodwar of Tilmanston in the County of Kent Yeoman, somewhat indisposed in body, yet of perfect and sound memory, the Lord be praised. (herby revoking all former and other Wills heretofore by me made) Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following. That is to say.
First I committ my Soule unto Almighty God, who gave it, in hope that thro my Redeemer Jesus Christ it shall be made partaker of eternall life. My Body I commit to the earth, from whence it came, to be by my Executor hereafter named, decently interred near my Relations in Tilmanstone Churchyard. And as to the Estate which it hath pleased God to blesse me withall I do hereby dispose thereof as followeth.

Imprimis I give devise and bequeath all that my Messuage or Tenement in Tilmanstone wherein I now dwell together with the barns stable out houses and all the lands arable and pasture thereunto belonging containing in the whole by estimacion thirty acres more or lesse purchased of John Boys Esq. unto my second son Leonard Woodwar and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten
Hee and they and such other persons to whom the said estate shall come well and truly paying unto my wife Joane during her life the yearly summe of 20 shillings and permitting the said Joane to continue in the said house for the space of three months after my decease
and likewise paying unto my eldest son Richard Woodwar during his life the yearly sum of Fourty shillings
And also paying the summe of ten pounds unto my third son Matthew Woodwar within six months of my decease
And likewise unto my daughter Anne Woodwar the sum of twenty pounds within twelve months after my decease

And I will that if my said sonne Leonard shall dy without issue of his Body then all that my said Messuages and lands aforesaid with the appurtenances shall discend and go to my own right heirs for ever

Item I do hereby devise unto my said wife Joane the said annuity or yearly rent charge of twenty shillings during her naturall life
And unto my said son Richard Woodwar the said annuity or yearly rent charge of Fourty shillings during his naturall life
both payable at the two most usuall Feasts or terms of payment in the year viz. the feasts of St Michael the archangell and of the Annuncation of the blessed Virgin by even and equall porcions the first payment to commence on the first of the said Feasts which shall happen next after my decease
and for default of payment I do hereby impower the said Joane and the said Richard Woodwar severally to distrain for the said respective summes upon all or any part of the Messuage and lands aforesaid

Item I devise unto my said Son Matthew Woodwar the said Summe of ten pounds to be payd within six months after my deceaase
Item I devise unto my said Daughter Anne Woodwar the said summe of Twenty pounds to be payd unto her within twelve months next after my decease
And in default of due payment of the said summes or either of them I do hereby impower the said Matthew Woodwar and Anne Woodwar severally to enter into and upon the said Messuage lands and premisses and to receive and retain to their own use the profits thereof untill they shall be fully satisfyed and payd the said respective summes of ten pounds and twenty pounds

Item as to the house and lands in Tilmanston lately purchaced by me of John Hogben and Anne his wife I devise the North part of the said house now in the widow Lamberts occupation and all that spot of land lying eastward of the said house unto my said Daughter Anne Woodwar during her naturall life
All the rest of the said house and lands together with free passage to the Well there and also the Remainder of the said north part and the said spot of ground lying eastward after the decease of my said Daughter Anne I do hereby devise unto my said eldest son Richard Woodwar his heirs and assigns for ever

Item as to the Revertion of all that my Messuage and four acres of land in Tilmanston aforesaid with the appurtenances purchased of Richard Fogge Esq. now in the occupation of Richard Brice I devise the same unto my fourth son Benjamin Woodwar his heirs and assigns for ever
he the said Benjamin and his heirs paying unto my said sonne Matthew Woodwar the summe of twenty pounds of lawfull money of England within six months after the decease of my said wife Joane

Item I give unto my said son Matthew Woodwar the said sume of twenty pounds to be payd within six months after the decease of my said wife over and above the sum of ten pounds herein before bequeathed him
and in default of payment of the said twenty pounds as aforesaid I do hereby impower the said Matthew Woodwar to enter into the said last mentioned Messuage lands and premisses and to receive and retain the profits thereof untill he shall be fully satisfyed and payed the said summe of twenty pounds

Item my Will is that if any of the abovenamed Legatees shall happen to dy before their respective Legacyes become payable that then one Moiety of such Legacy shall remain and be to the Devisee of such lands and tenements on which the said Legacy was hereby charged and that the other moiety shall be equally divided among the rest of my children

Item I give unot my said wife Joane all my Poultry not exceeding the number of ten fowl
And lastly I do hererby ordain constitute and appoynt my said son Leonard Woodwar Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament

And in Wittnesse that this is my last Will and Testament I have hereunto set my hand and Seale the seven and twentyeth day of Aprill in the thirty fift year of the Reign of King Charles the Second Annoque Domini 1683
Mathew Woodwar

Signed Sealed and Published by the said Matthew Woodwar to contein and be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us and in the presence of the said Matthew Woodwar subscribed and Testifyed by us
Jeff Boys - Will Sladden - Tho. Boys - John Ayen

Probate granted the 15th August 1683 to Leonard Woodwar, son


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Will of Mathew Woodwar
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