Wood Will 1784

Will of Thomas Wood

of High Halden, Kent


Source: Archdeaconry Court of Canterbury PRC 17/101/78b, Original Will: PRC 16/4459 W/7
Submitted by April Ashton
In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Wood of High Halden in the County of Kent Farmer being of sound and well disposing Mind Memory and Understanding (Praised be God for the same) tho’ sick and weak in Body Do make publish & declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say)
First I recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping that Through the Merits Death and Passion of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer to obtain full pardon and Remission of all my Sins And my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the Discretion of my Executors herein after mentioned and as to the Worldly Estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I Give and bequeath the same as follows

Imprimis I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Thomas Wood the Sum of Fifty Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be raised and levied out of my Estate to be paid him Twelve Months after the time of my decease

Also I Give and bequeath unto my Son Richard Wood the Sum of Fifty Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be raised and levied out of my Estate to be paid him Twelve Months after the time of my decease

And also I make this reserve that if in case my Two Sons Thomas Wood and Richard Wood shall happen to take the Farm I now hold of Mr. Thomas Wilsons of Tenterden which shall be taken at a fair Appraisement That then my Will further is that my Son Thomas Wood and my Son Richard Wood shall have their Fifty Pounds paid them (that is to say) Fifty pounds to my Son Thomas Wood and Fifty Pounds to my Son Richard Wood to be paid out of the Effects arising from the said Lands by a Fair Appraisement

Also I Give and Bequeath unto my beloved Wife Mary Wood All the Rest and Residue of my Estate or Remainder of my Goods and Chattles, Ready Monies, Stock in Trade, Book Debts and all other my Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what Nature of Kind soever which I shall Dye Possessed of or any ways intitled to at the Time of my Decease to be by her freely Possessed and Enjoyed during the time or term of her natural Life Charged with the Payment of all my Just Debts and Fuenral Expences that I shall owe at the Time of my decease

And also after the decease of my beloved Wife Mary Wood I Give to my Son James Wood to my Son Edward Wood and to my Daughter Mary Wood to my Son William Wood to my Son Henry Wood to my Son John Wood share and share alike or the Survivor of them All the Personal Estate that my Wife Mary Wood shall die Possessed of or any wise intitled unto at the time of her decease to be by them freely Possessed and Enjoyed

And I do hereby Constitute and appoint my beloved Wife Mary Wood and my Son James Wood Joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament
And I do hereby revoke and disannul and make void all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made And do declare this to be my Last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Wood the Testator have Set my Hand and Seal this Twelfth Day of December One thousand seven hundred and Eight four (see note)
Thos. Wood

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Thomas Wood the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto in his presence and at his Request and in the Presence of each other subscribed our Name and Names as Witnesses
James Jennings Junr. - Joseph Hawkins his mark.

The before Registered Will of Thomas Wood was proved the Eleventh Day of May 1784 before the Reverend Joshua Dix Clerk, Surrogate to the Worshipfull Andrew Coltee Duracel, Doctor of Laws, Official General to the Reverend Archdeacon of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Mary Wood the Surviving Executor named in the said Will, She being first Sworn duly to perform the same.

Note: Thomas Wood was buried 10 Jan 1784 at High Halden, so the date in the will should be 1783.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 24th December 2020


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Will of Thomas Wood
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