First I commend my soul into the hands of my God my Creator and Redeemer and my body to be buried in the churchyard of the parish of Boughton above named so near as you can lay me unto the tombstone under which the body of my father William Rucke lies buried. Further my will and meaning is that there be a sermon preached at my funeral the text of scripture which I have chosen to be spoken of at that time, is written in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of St John, as you shall find written in the five and thirty and one and fifty and four and fifty verses, the words are these " And Jesus said unto them I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall not hunger and he that beleaveth in me shall never thirst. I am that living bread which came down from heaven , if any man eat of this bread he shall live forever, and that bread that I shall give is my flesh, which I give for the life of the world. Whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last day. " I pray you to sing the prayer of the Holy Ghost before the sermon which is "Come holy spirit the God of mighty, Comforter of us all"
Item I give to the poor of the parish of Boughton aforenamed 10s to be paid by my executor my son William Rucke whom I do make full and wholly executor of this my last will and testament. My mind is that he should pay that monies on my funeral day.
Item I give to my Daughter Anne Rucke forty Marke of current money of England to be paid unto her within one year after my decease by my son Matthew Rucke. If my son Matthew do not pay my daughter Anne her forty Marke within the year aforesaid then my will and meaning is that he shall pay unto my daughter Anne 40s a year that is to say 10s a quarter so long as her twenty (forty?) Marke is unpaid. Item I give more unto my Daughter Anne my joined bedstead in the loft over the hall and feather bed with all that belongs thereunto.
Item I give unto my daughter Martha Rucke 20 (pounds?) of current English money to be paid within one year after my decease by my executor.
I do give unto my son William Rucke my Mansion House which I now dwell in with all the buildings thereto belonging and the nursery? at the Street Gate joining to the barn and the barn, stable and outhouses adjoining thereunto and the Harber and Lodge Orchard and workhouse with the court there adjoining and my orchard joining to the Church Way which is called Belle Close and my field called Booren? field and my field called Stemble? field. All these do I give to my son William Rucke and to his heirs forever.
Item I give unto my son Matthew Rucke my Bell House with all the buildings thereunto with an other parcel of land with two apple trees in it and it is marked out with plum trees and ways unto an other orchard called Bell Garden. All these I do give unto my son Matthew Rucke and to his heirs for ever, but my will is that if his sister Anne do not marry that she shall have two rooms in the Bell House convenient for herself to dwell in for so long as she shall live.
Item I give unto Margaret Rucke my wife Seven pounds a year out of these of my lands and certain corn, twelve bushels of wheat and eight bushels of malt to be paid yearly, my will and meaning is that my son William Rucke shall pay four pounds a year unto her and twelve bushels of wheat and eight bushels of malt and two loads of wood. My will and meaning is that my son Matthew Rucke shall pay her three pounds a year as long as she shall live. Also my will and meaning is that Margaret my wife shall have all my household, saving that in the hall the desk, books, table, four chairs, stools and all that belongs therein these and other of my moveable goods, as corn, cattle, fruit and such like, these my will and meaning is shall be my Executor's and his heirs for ever.
To this my last will and testament, I set my hand and seal by me Sirak Rucke.
Witnesses hereunto,
Simon Paramore his mark, Alexander Farley
Probate 20th October 1630 - William Rucke son Executor
Return to Kent GenealogyWill of Ciriak Rucke