Denne Will 1642

Will of James Denne

of Eastry, Kent

Source: Consistory Court of Canterbury, original will 208
Transcribed by Brian Denn

In the name of God Amen I James Denne of Eastry in the County of Kent, yeoman being weak in body but of sound and perfect memory the Lord be therefore praised do renounce all former wills by heretofore made and do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. First I will and bequeath my Soul unto the Almighty my Creator who first infused the same into my body with full assurance through the merits of my Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ to be made partaker of life everlasting after this mortal life shall be ended and my body to the Earth whereof it was first formed to be buried in the church of Eastry in the County aforesaid at the discretion of my Executrix hereunder named and I nominate authorise and appoint my loving wife Dorothy to be sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament to whom I will and bequeath the sum of three hundred pounds of lawful money of England which shall she have full power to retain in her hands one hundred pounds ? ? to remain unto my said loving wife Dorothy and for her to dispose by her will or otherwise the remainder of the other two hundred pounds residue of the said three after the death of my said loving wife to come to my two sons Algenon/Arthur(?) Denne and Thomas Denne equally to be divided and in case either of them shall happen to depart this life before his part and portion shall chance to become due then the survivor to have the part of him so dying.

Item I will and bequeath to my said loving wife all and singular my household stuff, plate, rings and chattels whatsoever wherewith I shall die estated of and my will and meaning is that if any shall hereafter attempt to marry with my Executrix ? then he that shall intend so to intermarry with her shall first give bond to my overseer hereunder named for the payment of the two hundred pounds to Algernon/Arthur? and Thomas aforesaid or for default thereof my overseer to have power to prosecute against him for the same.

Item I will and bequeath to James Denne my eldest son ten shillings if he come to demand the same upon reasonable request therefore first made and to the two eldest sons of my said son James and to his eldest daughter or to so many of the three as shall be living at the day of my death the sum of twenty pounds apiece at their several ages following that is to say the sons at their ages of one and twenty years if they or either of them shall long live and the daughter at her age of eighteen years if she shall so long live but if either the said two sons and daughter of my said son James shall chance to depart this life before the time appointed for payment of their several legacies then their part and portion of him or her so dying to remain in the hands of my said Executor.

Item I will and bequeath to my son Jonathan Denne one hundred and fifty pounds to be paid unto him one month after my decease on sufficient bond for the same to be turned(?) over unto him for the same.
Item I will and bequeath to my son John Denne the sum of fifty pounds to be paid unto him six months after reasonable request therefore made.
Item I will and bequeath unto my son Algenon/Arthur? the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid unto him when he shall attain to the age of one and twenty years.
Item I will and bequeath unto my son Thomas Denne the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid unto him at his age of one and twenty years.
Item I will and bequeath unto Dorothy my eldest daughter the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid unto her at her age of eighteen years.
Item I will and bequeath unto Elizabeth my daughter the sum of one hundred pounds at her age of eighteen years.
Item I will and bequeath unto Mary my daughter the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid unto her at her age of eighteen years.

And my will and meaning is that if either of my two younger sons Algernon and Thomas shall chance to depart this life before his or their legacies shall become due by virtue of this my last Will and Testament that then he that shall chance to survive shall have and receive the legacy part and portion of him dying and also that the part and portion of my daughters dying before her or their legacy or legacies due by this my will then the said part and portion of her dying to be equally divided amongst the other daughters surviving.

Item I give to the poor of the Parish of Eastry twenty shillings to be paid by my Executor one month after my decease to whom she or he applies shall think to have most need.
And of this my last Will and Testament I nominate and appoint my loving friend John Paramour of Worth overseer of this my last Will and Testament which I do hereby authorise to see the execution of this my will.

This is the last Will and Testament of me the said James Denne made this ninth day of May in the eighteenth year of King Charles of England etc Anno Domini 1642. And for this disposing of my real estate being nine acres of marshland being in three pieces in the Parish of Sholden called Croked Hopes late by me purchased of the widow Marsh, I will the same shall be by Dorothy my Executrix sold for and towards the payment of my legacies before hereby bequeathed.

In witness whereof to this my last Will and Testament contained in three sheets of paper I have hereto set my hand and seal this said ninth day of May in the said eighteenth year of King Charles of England etc James Denne. Read sealed published and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the said James Denne in presence of
Elizabeth her mark Hatcher widow - Roger Whitehead his mark - John Paramour - John Engeham.

Probatum 9 Nov 1642

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Will of James Denne
Created by Maureen Rawson