This is the last will and testament of me Jane Featherstone of East Peckham
In the county of Kent widow First and most particularly? I commend my poor and immortal soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named and as for such worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and dispose them as follows that is to say In the first place I order and direct that all such just debts as I shall owe at the time of my death my funeral and testamentary expenses and all other incidental costs and charges shall be paid and discharged with all convenient speed after my decease and I give and bequeath unto my servant Elizabeth Sharpe the sum of twenty pounds of lawful English money provided she shall continue to live with my brother John Montys and myself and the with the survivor of us so long as we and the survivor of us shall live but not otherwise to be paid within one month next after the decease of such survivor Also I give and devise unto my nephew Thomas Surk [Lurk?] and Mary his wife all that my messuage on Senuant? With the two pairs? Of house stable buildings several pieces or parcels of land rights members? Heredits[hereditaments?] and appurtenances thereunto belonging containing together by estimation forty two acres by the saw---- or top commonly called or known by the name of R[FD?]ickens situate lying and being in the parish of Horsmonden in the said County of Kent as that same are now in the tenure or occupation of Robert Allen or his under tenants To hold the same and every part thereof with the appurtenances unto and to the use of the said Thomas Lurk and Mary his wife and their designs? During their joint natural lives and after the decease of either of them the said Thomas Lurk and Mary his wife to the use of the survivor of them and his or her assigns during the term of his or her natural life and for and after the determination of that estate by surrender forfeiture or otherwise in the life time of the said Thomas Lurk and Mary his wife or in the lifetime of the survivor of them To the use of my nephew Oliver Lurk and his ----[heirs?] during the natural life of the said Thomas Lurk and Mary his wife and the natural life of the survivor of them Upon trust to preserve the contingent uses and estates hereinafter limited from being defeated or destroyed and for that purpose to make active and being cautious and being as occasion shall or requires yet nevertheless to permit and support the said Thomas Lurk and Mary his wife to receive and take the rents and profits thereof during their natural lives and the life of the survivor of them and after the decease of the survivor of them the said Thomas Lurk and Mary his wife To the use of all and every the child or children as well daughters as sons of the body of the said Thomas Lurk lawfully begotten or to be begotten and of their several and respective heirs and assigns for ever as tenants in common and not as joint tenants and in default of other issue to the use of my own right heirs for ever Also I give and devise unto my nephew Richard Lurk and Catherine his wife all that my farm and with the barns buildings several pieces or parcels of land rights ---- heredits and appurtenances thereunto belonging containing together by estimation thirty five acres be the same more or less commonly called or known by the name of Long Laws otherwise New Barns situate lying and being in the several parishes of Yalding and Brenchley or one of them in the said county of Kent as the same are now in the tenure or occupation of the said Richard Lurk or his under tenants to hold the same and every part thereof with the appurtenances unto and to the use of the said Richard Lurk and Catherine his wife and their assigns during their joint natural lives and after the decease of either of them the said Richard Lurk and Catherine his wife To the use of the survivor of them and his or her assigns during the term of his or her natural life and from and after the estimation of that estate by surrender or forfeiture or otherwise in the lifetime of the said Richard Lurk and Catherine his wife or in the life time of the survivor of them to the use of my nephew Oliver Lurk and his heirs during the natural lives of the said Richard Lurk and Catherine his wife and the natural life of the survivor of them Upon trust to preserve the contingent uses and estates hereinafter limited from being defeated or estranged and for that purpose to make constitute? And bring action as occasion shall require yet nevertheless to permit and suffer the said Richard Lurk and Catherine his wife to receive and take the rents and profits thereof during their natural lives and the life of the survivor of them and after the decease of the survivor of them the said Richard Lurk and Catherine his wife To the use of all and every the child and children as well daughters as sons of the body of the said Richard Lurk lawfully begotten or to be begotten and their several and respective heirs and assigns for ever as tenants in common? And not as joint tenants and in default of such issue To the use of my own right heirs for ever Also I give and bequeath unto my said nephew Thomas Lurk and Oliver Lurk all my household furniture plate linen china monies and securities for money goods chattels effects and all the rest residue and remainder of my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind or quality so ever to be equally divided amongst them share and share alike And lastly I do hereby make constitute and appoint my said two nephews Thomas Lurk and Oliver Lurk joint executors of this my will and hereby revoking all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made I declare this only to be my last will and testament In witness whereof I the said Jane Featherstone the testator have to this my last will and testament contained in these sheets of paper set my hand and seal that is to say to the first two sheets my hand and to this third and last sheet my hand and seal the eighth day of May in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventeen? Jane Featherstone Signed sealed published and declared by the said Jane Featherstone the testatrix as and for her last will and testament in the presence of us who in her presence at her request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses ----- Robt Upton Edwd Monckton Rich Crow
Proved at London 5th May 1818 before the Judge by the Oaths of Thomas Lurk & Oliver Lurk the nephews the exors to whom admon was granted being first sworn [by cornon?] duly to administer