Thomas Blechynden of Swanscombe 1702-1740
The Will of Thomas Blechynden, Lord of Swanscombe Esquire
Made 1735 and Proved 1740
In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Blechynden of Swanscomb in the County of Kent Gent being in good health of body and of Sound and disposing Mind Memory and Understanding praised be God for the same do make publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in writing in manner and form following (that is to say) ffirst and most Principally I do with all humility Resign up my Immortal Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping through the meritts death and passion of my dear Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ to have and receive full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my Sins and to Inherit Eternal Life in the Kingdom of Glory and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors herein after named And as for the disposition of all such Worldly Estate as God of his bounteous goodness hath been pleased to bestow upon me I give devise and bequeath the same as followeth ffirst I will that all such just Debts as I shall owe at the time of my decease as well those Secured by Mortgages or otherwise upon my Reall Estate as all other my just Debts of what nature or kindsoever – my Funerall Expences and the Charge of proving this my Will be paid and discharged by my Executors out of my personall Estate.
Also I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving wife the custody and use of all my household ffurniture plate and things of what sort or kindsoever for and during the term of her natural life if she shall so long remaine my widow and after her decease or second marriage which shall first happen I give and bequeath the same unto my Eldest Son Thomas. Also I give and bequeath to my said loving wife for her own use her Gold Watch and Chain her picture set with Diamonds and all her Jewells and Apparel whatsoever and likewise her Riding padd my Chariot and with two of my Coach Horses and Coach Harness for the same as she shall make Choice of And my Will is that neither the said Household Goods Plate and things so devised to my said wife during her Widowhood nor the said Watch Picture Jewells Chariot and Horses so devised to my wife for her own use as aforesaid shall be liable to the payment of any of my said Debts
Also I devise unto my Brother Doctor Richard Blechynden the Reverend Major Nourse and Mr. Robert Wilton and their heirs all those my Mannors Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever which I purchased of Mr. Walker Weldon of Swanscomb in the County of Kent Gent deceased and also all my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments which I lately purchased of the Right Honourable Sir John Conyers Knight And all other my Mannors Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Reall Estate whatsoever and wheresoever with their Appurtenances And the Reversion and Reversions Remainder and Remainders thereof to hold to the said Doctor Richard Blechynden the Reverand Major Nourse and Mr. Robert Wilton their heirs and Assigns upon Trust that they the said Doctor Richard Blechynden Major Nourse and Robert Wilton and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the heirs and Assigns of such survivor shall and do by sale or Mortgage of all or any part of my said Mannors Messuages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and premisses as they in their discretions shall think fitt raise so much money as my Personall Estate not herein before devised shall prove deficient for the payment of all Incumbances upon my said Reall Estates and all other my just Debts and Charges of my ffunerall and subject to the payment thereof Then upon Trust that they the said Doctor Richard Blechynden, the Revd. Major Nourse and Mr. Robert Wilton and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Heirs and Assigns of such Survivor do and shall receive the Rents Issues and Profits of all my said Mannors Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments which shall remain after my said Debts are paid and satisfied and pay one third part of all the said clear Rents and Profits unto my said wife for the term of her Natural Life if she shall so long remaine my Widow but in case she shall Marry a Second Husband Then to pay her only one fourth part of the said clear Rents and Profits for her Life.
And my Will is that the payment of the said portion of the said Rents and Profits to my said wife as aforesaid is in full satisfaction and Barr of her Dower and Thirds out of all my Reall Estates And that the same shall not be paid to her in Case she Claims her Dower or Thirds out of any of my Estates reall or personall And upon this further Trust that (Subject to the payment of such of my said Debts and Incumbrances as my personall Estate not herein before devised shall prove deficient to pay and Satisfy and Subject to the payment to my said wife during her widowhood of one clear third part of the Rents and Profits of my said Reall Estate as shall remain after my said Debts and incumbrances are satisfied or of one fourth part of such Rents and Profits for her Life if she shall Marry a Second Husband They the said Doctor Richard Blechynden Mr. Nourse and Mr. Robert Wilton and the Survivors and Survivor of them and the Heirs and Assigns of such Survivor shall stand and be Seized of all my said Mannors Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments which shall so remain after my said Debts and Incumbrances shall be paid and satisfied as aforesaid as to one other Moiety thereof To the use and behoof of my said Eldest Son Thomas his heirs and Assigns for ever And as to the other Moeity thereof to the use and behoof of my Daughter Lydia and Younger Son Richard and all and every other children that my said wife shall be with child of at the time of my decease and their Heirs equally to hold as Tennants in Common and not as Joint Tennants
And my Will is that my said children and their Heirs in the aforesaid proportions when and as they shall respectively attain their respective ages of one and twenty years And that they do in the mean time pay and apply such part of the Rents and Profits of the said several parts and proportions of my said Estates as they in their discretions shall think fit for the Education and Maintenance of my said children And I do appoint them the said Doctor Richard Blechynden the Reverand Major Nourse and Mr. Robt. Wilton and my said wife Guardians of my said Children until they shall attain their respective ages of one and twenty years And I make the said Doctor Richard Blechynden the Reverand Mr. Nourse and Mr. Wilton Executors of this my said Will And I give to such of them as shall prove my said Will and Act in the said Trusts Twenty Pounds apiece for their Care and Trouble therein And I direct that they shall not be answerable for each other or for any Loss which shall happen in placing or putting out any of my said Estates or the Execution of the said Trusts
And my Will is that if my personall Estate shall amount to more than sufficient to pay all my Debts and Incumbrances that the overplus therof (if any) shall be preserved and placed out for the benefit of the said Thomas my Eldest Son to be paid to him at his age of one and twenty years.
And I do hereby Revoke Disannull and make void all former Wills by me heretofore made And do declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Blechynden have to each sheet of this my said Will contained in two sheets of paper Sett my Hand and to the last of the said sheets affixed my seal this fifteenth day of April in the eighth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the grace of God of Great Britain ffrance and Ireland King Defender of the ffaith et. and in the year of our Lord 1735. Thomas Blechynden / Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Thomas Blechynden the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed our names as Witnesses hereunto Nichos. Harman. Wm. Wake. Sarah Potter.
This Will was proved at London the fourth day of September in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and fforty before the * * * * *Worshipfull Robert Chapman Doctor of Laws Surrogate to the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Robert Wilton one of the surviving Executors named in the said Will to whom Admin. was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased being first sworn duly to administer the Keeper Major Nourse Clerk the other Surviving Executor first renouncing…
Elizabeth Blechynden of Seavington, Kent, died 1776
The Will of Elizabeth Blechynden 1776 – Made 1765 Proven 1776
In the Name of God Amen, I Elizabeth Blechynden of Seavington in the County of Kent widow being of sound perfect and disposing my memory and understanding (God be praised) do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in writing in manner and form following (that is to say) Whereas upon or previous to marriage with late deceased husband George Blechynden my father Edward Horne since deceased entered into an article of agreement to lay out the sum of one hundred pounds in the purchase of Lands and Tenements to be settled to such uses as in the said article is mentioned and expressed of and touching a certain Messuage or Tenement and Lands in Kingsnorth in the said County and whereas no such purchase hath been made but the said one hundred pounds was paid by my said father unto my said husband in his Life time who gave my said father a Bond to indemnify him on account of such payment and the said one hundred pounds since the Death of my said husband coming to my Hands I have given to my said husbands Executors and Trustees a Bond to pay the said one one hundred pounds according to the purport of the said article Now I do hereby declare that the said one hundred pounds is yet in my hands and I do by this my Will charge my Executrix hereinafter named with the payment thereof by and out of my personal Estate hereinafter given and bequeathed to her and I desire that she will take care the same be paid according to the purport and true meaning of my said Marriage Articles and Bonds and to see that the said Bonds be delivered up to her but nevertheless not to abridge or hinder my said Executrix in or to her share or interest therein.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son George Blechynden the sum of forty pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain and to my Grandaughter Elizabeth Blechynden two? Guineas in Gold and to my Niece Elizabeth Horne? one Guinea in Gold which said three Legacies my will and mind is shall be paid by my Executrix hereinafter named by and out of my personal Estate hereinafter given to her within six Months next after my decease.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son John Blechynden his Executor admons and assigns to his and their use and benefit all those my true parts and all my parts and shares Right Title Term Estate and interest
of and in certain Lands and Tenements lying and being in Ruckinge in the said County which is held by Lease of the Dean and Chapter of Christ Church Canterbury he and they paying thereout the sum of twenty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain unto my daughter Jane Blechynden within six months next after my decease and I do give and bequeath the said sum of twenty pounds unto my said daughter Jane Blechynden accordingly with full power and authority to and for her my said daughter Jane Blechynden her Executors admons and assigns to enter into and upon my said Leasehold Estate and premises and receive the Rents Issues and profits thereof until she or they shall be fully paid and satisfied the said Legacy of twenty pounds and all Costs and Charges occasioned by the nonpayment thereof.
Item I give and forgive unto my Grandaughter Elizabeth Kennett the sum of fifteen pounds which I advanced and paid in or towards placing her out apprentice.
Item I give and bequeath unto my said Grandaughter Elizabeth Kennett the further sum of ten pounds of like lawful money of Great Britain within six months next after my decease and the further sum of ten pounds of like lawful money at her age of twenty one years.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandaughter Katherine Kennett the sum of five and twenty pounds of like lawful money within six months next after my decease and the sum of ten pounds of like lawful money at her age of twenty one years which said legacies so as aforesaid given to my Grandaughters Elizabeth Kennett and *Elizabeth Kennet my will and mind is shall be paid by my Executrix hereinafter named by and out of my personal Estate hereinafter given to her and my will and mind is that if either of my said two Grandaughters Elizabeth Kennet and Katherine Kennet shall happen to die before she shall have received her respective legacy or legacies before mentioned then the other or survivor shall have the legacy or legacies of her so dying which shall not have then become payable provided always that if I shall advance any Monies for or towards the placing out of my said Grandaughter Katherine Kennet Apprentice then the Monies which I shall so advance for her shall be deducted out of her said legacy of five and twenty pounds before mentioned to be given to her any thing in this my will mentioned to the contrary and whereas it is proposed that a certain Quantity of Timber Trees now standing and being on a certain farm and Lands lying in the parishes of Mersham and Bilsington or out of them in the said County shall be felled and taken down with the Tops and Ten thereof one Moeity of which said farm and Lands belongs to my said Grandaughters Elizabeth and Katherine Kennett and the other Moeity to their cousin Mrs Dorothy Kennett and it is also proposed that one Moeity or half part of the Monies arising by the sale of the said Timber computed at about twenty pounds shall be paid into my Hands for the use and benefit of my said Grandaughters Elizabeth Kennett and Katherine Kennett for which I am to give a Note or Memorandum or other Security for the payment thereof to them as they shall severally attain their ages of twenty one years Now my will and mind is that if I shall take the said half part of the Monies arising by the sale of the said Timber then my Executrix hereinafter named shall pay the same to my said Grandaughters Elizabeth Kennett and Katherine Kennett according to the purport of such Note Memorandum or other Security shall be thereupon delivered up to my said Executrix and my will and mind further is that if my said Executrix shall be sued or troubled for or concerning the taking down and selling such Timber (other than for the Monies thereby arising that shall be actually and bona fide at the time of my decease in my Hands) then and in such case the aforesaid Legacies of ten pounds a piece so as aforesaid ordered to be paid to my said Grandaughters Elizabeth and Katherine Kennett and ordered to be paid at their respective age and ages of twenty one years shall not be paid but shall be and remain in the Hands of my Executrix hereinafter named as void Legacies any thing in this my Will contained to the contrary.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandson James Elliott son of my daughter Mary Elliott one Guinea in Gold to be paid into the Hands of his said Mother and her receipt shall be a discharge for the same.
Item I give and devise unto my son Edward Blechynden and his Heirs one annuity yearly Rent or sum of three pounds and four shillings of lawful money of Great Britain to be issuing going and paid out of all that my Messauge or Tenement Barn Lands and premises situate lying and being in Seavington aforesaid which I purchased to me and my Heirs of and from William Maborn during the term of the natural Life of my said daughter Mary Elliott by yearly payments free and clear of all reductions for Taxes or otherwise the first payment thereof to begin and be made on that Day twelve Month happening next after the Day of my Death In Trust nevertheless for the sole use and benefit of my said Daughter Mary Elliott during her natural Life and to be from time to time paid into her own Hand separate and apart from the Reverand (Dr??) Richard Elliott her husband and her receipt shall be a sufficient discharge for the same and my will is that the said annuity yearly Rent or sum of three pounds and four shillings shall not be subject to the Debts Control or Engagements of her said Husband and if it shall happen that the said Annuity yearly Rent or Sum of three pounds and four shillings shall be behind or unpaid unto the said Edward Blechynden his Heirs or Assigns in part or in all by the time and space of twenty one Days next over or after any of the yearly Days and times of payment on which as aforesaid the same ought to be paid altho’ no Demand shall be thereof made then it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Edward Blechynden and his Heirs into and upon the said Messuage and Lands in Seavington aforesaid or into or upon any part or parcel thereof to enter and Distrain and the Distress and Distresses then and there found and taken from thence to load bear drive take and carry away impound and keep sell or dispose of until the said annuity yearly Rent or Sum of three pounds and four shillings and all arrears thereof and the Costs and Damages for nonpayment thereof sustained and the charges of distress shall be well and truly satisfied contented and paid.
Item I give and bequeath unto my said sons Edward Blechynden and John Blechynden their Executors admons and assigns all my said Messuage or Tenement Barn Lands and premises hereinbefore mentioned to be lying and being in Seavington aforesaid for and during the full end of term of one hundred years to commence from the day of the death of my said Daughter Mary Elliott from thence next ensuing and fully to be Compleat and ended without Impeachment of waste In Trust nevertheless and for the Intent and Purpose and under and subject to the declaration hereinafter mentioned of and containing the same Term and subject to the said Term of one hundred years and to the payment of the said annuity yearly Rent or Sum of three pounds and four shillings and to the Remedies for the raising and payment thereof as aforesaid I give and devise the said Messuage or Tenement Barn Lands and premises hereinbefore mentioned to be lying and being in Seavington aforesaid unto my said Daughter Jane Blechynden her Heirs and assigns for ever and as to for and concerning the said term of one hundred years hereby given and limited to the said Edward Blechynden and John Blechynden their Executors admons and assigns as aforesaid I do hereby declare that the same Term is so limited to them in Trust that they the said Edward Blechynden and John Blechynden and the Survivor of them or the Executors or admons of such Survivor by demising selling or mortgaging the said Term of one hundred years or any part thereof after the death of my said Daughter Mary Elliott or by the Rents and profits of the premises therein comprized raise the Sum of eighty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain and pay the same unto and amongst all and every the child and children of the Body of my said Daughter Mary Elliott lawfully begotten or to be begotten which shall be living at the time of the Decease of my said daughter Mary Elliott in equal shares and proportions share and share alike if more than one and if there shall be but one such child then living then to such one or only child And whereas I did sometime after the death of my said Husband take down and fell some Trees and Timber from the said farm and lands in Kingsnorth aforesaid now my will and mind is that if any of my children or any person or persons claiming under them or any of them shall sue vex or trouble my Executrix hereinafter named for or on account of my taking down or disposing of the said Trees and Timber or the Monies which did arise therefrom or any part thereof then and in such case the person or persons so suing vexing or troubling my said Executrix shall have no benefit or advantage of this my Will and I make and ordain my said Daughter Jane Blechynden whole and sole Executrix of this my Will and I do give and bequeath unto my said Daughter Jane Blechynden to her own use and benefit all and singular my Goods Chattels and personal Estate not hereinbefore given and bequeathed except such Goods and Effects which in a Note wrote with my own handwriting and put up with this my Will shall appear to be otherwise disposed of which Note shall be a part of this my Will then my said Executrix paying my just Debts Legacies my funeral expenses and the Charge of proving this my Will and my Will and Mind further is that is shall and may be lawful to and for my said Trustees hereinbefore named by or out of the Trust Moneys coming to their Hands to deduct all such Costs Charges and Expenses which they or any or either of them shall be put unto in the management or performance of the Trusts hereby in them reposed and also that they my said Trustees or other or any of them shall not be chargeable or accountable for any Sum or Sums of Money other than such Sum and Sums of Money which they or any or either of them shall actually receive by virtue of this my will and lastly I do hereby revoke all former and other Wills by me made and so declare this to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Elizabeth Blechynden the Testatrix to this my last Will and Testament contained in seven sheets of paper together annexed have to the first six sheets thereof only set my Hand but to this seventh or last Sheet have set and put my Hand and so Dated the twenty eighth Day of September In the fifth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King George the third and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty five Elizabeth Blechynden Signed Sealed published and Declared by the said Elizabeth Blechynden the Testatrix for and as her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who hereunto at her request and in her presence subscribed our Names as Witnesses John Horne Mary Horne Elizabeth Webb.
* Assume this is an error in the will and that it should read “Katherine Kennet”
Probate: 1776
This Will was proven at London the twelfth Day of September in the Year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and seventy six before the Right Worshipful Sir George Say Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully Constituted by the Oath of Jane Blechynden Spinster the Daughter of the Deceased and the sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom admon was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased having been first sworn by Commission only to administer.
PROB 11/1023/381