Will of John Wood

of Cranbrook, Kent

First I give and bequeath unto John Adams now or late of Ratcliffe Highway London Brewer and Isaac Ballard the Younger of Cranbrook aforesaid Innkeeper the Sum of Seven hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid to them or the Survivor of them within Six months next after my decease by my Executors hereinafter named

Upon Trust and confidence nevertheless and to the intent and purpose that they the said John Adams and Isaac Ballard and the Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators do and shall place out and invest the same in or upon some good real or Government Security or Securities and shall and do pay and apply the yearly Interest and produce thereof as the same shall arise or be received into the proper hands of Rebecca Wood otherwise Carberry who now lives with me and is Sister of the said John Adams for her own sole use and benefit during her natural life to the intent that the same may not be at the disposal of or subject or liable to the Controul acts debts or engagements of her present or any other husband but at her own sole and separate disposal

And my Will is that the receipts of the said Rebecca alone under her hand for the interest and produce thereof or of any part thereof shall (notwithstanding her Coverture) be sufficient discharges to the persons so paying the same for so much for which such receipts shall be given

And upon this further Trust that the said John Adams and Isaac Ballard and the Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators shall and do pay and assign or transfer the said Trust monies and the Stocks or Securities in or upon which the same shall be laid out and invested to such person or persons and for such uses and purposes as the said Rebecca (notwithstanding her Coverture and whether sole or Covert) shall from time to time and at any time hereafter by any deed or Writing or by her last Will and Testament and duly Signed in the presence of two or more credible Witnesses dispose give direct or appoint And in default of such disposal direction gift or appointment Then in Trust after her decease to pay the same to the Executors or Admors. [Administrators] of the said Rebecca

Also I give and bequeath unto the said Rebecca all and every such Household Goods and Furniture as were her property when she came to live with me together with twelve Gallons of Wine And also the use and profits of my Cows for Six months next after my decease with liberty to feed and keep the same in the Land and Premises now in my occupation upon the Hay and Grass there growing and being during the said Six months together with the use of my Household Goods and Furniture during the time aforesaid and Free liberty for the said Rebecca and her daughter Rebecca Carberry to live in my dwelling house for Six months next after my decease without paying or allowing any thing for the same And I also give to the said Rebecca and her said daughter the Sum of Ten pounds each for mourning to be paid by my Executors immediately after my decease

Also I give and devise unto my Son John Wood, Isaac Cloake of Ebony in the said County of Kent Grazier and Samuel Reader of Cranbrooke aforesaid Peruke maker and to their Heirs and Assigns forever All and every my Freehold Messuages Lands Woodlands Premises and real Estate whatsoever and wheresoever with their Appurtenances Upon Trust and confidence nevertheless and to the intent and purpose that the said John Wood, Isaac Cloake and Samuel Reader and the Survivors or Survivor of them his Heirs or Assigns shall and do as soon as conveniently may be after my decease sell and dispose of my said Messuages Lands Woodlands and Premises and Real Estate and every part thereof either together or in parcels by Public Auction or Private Contract and in such way and manner as they or the Survivors or Survivor of them is Heirs or Assigns shall think proper and do pay and apply the monies arising thereby to the uses and purposes herein after mentioned

Also I give and bequeath to the said John Wood, Isaac Cloake and Samuel Reader and the Survivors and Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators All and every my Goods Chattels monies and securities for money and all other my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresover and every part thereof (except what is herein otherwise disposed of)

Upon Trust that they the said John Wood, Isaac Cloake and Samuel Reader and the Survivors and Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators shall and do sell and convert into money all such parts thereof as shall not consist of monies or securities for money and shall and do call receive and get in such parts thereof as shall consist of monies debts and Securities for money (Except Four hundred pounds Stock in the Four per Cents to be applied to the purposes hereinafter mentioned) and shall and do pay apply and dispose of the monies arising from my Personal Estate as aforesaid and by and from such Sale and disposition of my real Estate in manner following (that is to say)

That they the said John Wood, Isaac Cloake and Samuel Reader and the Survivor of them his Executors or Administrators shall and do by and out of he said Trusts monies in the first place pay my just debts, the Legacies before and hereinafter mentioned, my Funeral Expences and the Probate of this my Will and other incident charges, together with the charges and expended in executing the said Trusts
And after payment thereof shall and do pay and divide the remainder of the said trust monies unto and amongst the several persons following to whom I give and bequeath the same in manner hereinafter mentioned (that is to say)
Unto my said Son John Wood one fifth part thereof;
unto all and every the Children of my late daughter Elizabeth Blackmore deceased One fifth part thereof;
unto my daughter Mary the Wife of Thomas Blundell one fifth part thereof;
unto my daughter Sarah Wood one fifth part thereof
and the remaining fifth part thereof unto all and every the Children of my late daughter Ann Winch deceased
to be paid them respectively in twelve months next after my decease

And I give the Four hundred pounds Stock before mentioned unto the said John Wood, Isaac Cloake and Samuel Reader and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Executors or Administrators of such Survivor Upon Trust to pay the Interest and produce thereof as the same shall become payable unto my Son Henry Wood for his support and maintenance
And Upon this further Trust to pay the whole or any part or parts of the principal of the said Four hundred pounds Stock to the said Henry Wood if my said Trustees shall in their discretion think it will be for the benefit and advantage of my said Son Henry so to do

But as some of my Children have already had parts of what (I) intended them and which they have given me receipts Now it is my Will and I hereby direct that so much as already has or shall in my life time be paid by me to any of my said Children or to my Sons in Law Thomas Blackmore and Benjamin Winch (and for which receipts shall or may be given) shall be outset or deducted out of their respective shares and be accounted as part of their shares of my Estate and Effects
And it is my Will that the shares hereby given to the Children of my late Daughters Elizabeth Blackmore and Ann Winch deceased shall be paid to their Fathers the said Thomas Blackmore and Benjamin Winch to be by them applied and made use of as they shall judge to be most for the benefit and advantage of their said Children

And I do hereby declare that the receipt and receipts of the said John Wood, Isaac Cloake and Samuel Reader or the Survivor of them his Heirs and Assigns under their or his hands or hand shall be a good and effectual discharge or good and effectual discharges to the purchaser or purchasers of my said Messuages Lands Wood Lands and Premises or any part or parts thereof and to his her and their Heirs Executors Admors. and Assigns for so much of such purchase money for which such receipt or receipts shall be given
And that after such receipt or receipts had and given such purchaser or purchasers his her and their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns respectively shall be absolutely acquitted and discharged of and from such purchase monies and shall not be answerable or accountable for any loss misapplication or nonapplication thereof or of any part thereof

And my Will is that my said last named Trustees and Executors and each and every of them and the Heirs Executors and Admors. of them and each and every of them shall be saved harmless and indemnified out of my Estates and Effects of and from all damages and expences which shall or may happen or come to them or any or either of them for or by reason of their or any of their taking upon them the Trusts hereby in them reposed

And I do hereby make and appoint the said John Wood, Isaac Cloake and Samuel Reader Executors of this my Will and do give to the said Isaac Cloake and Samuel Reader the Sum of ten pounds each of lawful money of Great Britain for their care and trouble in executing the Trusts reposed in them by this my Will to be taken by tem when they shall think proper And I do hereby revoke all former Wills by me made and declare this to be my only last Will and Testament

In Witness whereof I the said John Wood the Testator have to each sheet of this my last Will and Testament contained in three sheets of paper set my hand and seal the day and year first written
John Wood

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said John Wood the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereunto, the words “such parts thereof” being struck thro’ with a Pen in the second sheet.
Chas. Willis - George Oyler - Saml. Reader Junr.

This Will was proved at London the ninth day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety six before The Right Honourable Sir William Wynne Knight, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of John Wood the Son of the deceased, Isaac Cloake and Samuel Reader the Executors named in the Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattles and Credits of the deceased having been first Sworn by Comon [Commission] duly to Admr.
Exd.

Notes:
30th June 1796 John Wood, aged 81 died, and was buried at St. Dunstan, Cranbrook on 3rd July 1796.
This gives a birth year of 1715 + 1 year. It should be noted that John was NOT born in Cranbrook.
On 4th January 1781, Mr. Thomas Blackmore, Bachelor of Tenterden, Kent, married Elizabeth Wood, Spinster, otp. at St. Dunstan, Cranbrook.
On 17th February 1789, Benjamin Winch, Bachelor of Hawkhurst, Kent married Ann Wood, Spinster, otp. at St. Dunstan, Cranbrook. Witnesses were: Sarah Wood and John Wood.

Transcribed by Shelagh Mason 25th December 2020

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