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Will of Gifford family of Fawkham

Will of George Gifford of Fawkham (25 January 1695)

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Reference: National Archives: TNA/PROB 11/479 sig. 231

Will of George Gifford of Fawkham, 1704 (PRO PROB 11/479 sig. 231)

In the name of God Amen, I George Gifford of Pennis in the parish of Fawkeham in the county of Kent, esquire, being in perfect health and memory (God praised) but being duly mindful of my death, this five and twentieth day of January in the year of our Lord God 1695 do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following: first in an humble manner returning my soul to God who gave it, I do give my body to the earth to be buried by my executor hereafter named by the grave of my most beloved daughter Margaret in the parish Church of Eynsford in the said county of Kent. And I do appoint my executor to lay upon my grave a marble stone within half a year with this inscription in these words "Quis hie sepultus quaris? Nuper fui Georgius Cifford armiger, pater virginis proximo subteraneo carcere habitantis. Nunc filius putiedinis et frater vermium nomen meum evanuit cum vita, quam post cunas in libris consumpsi quos pene simul eum vita clausi. Abi hospes quam vellem plus virtuti et minus me permisissem vitiis. Bene vixisse pulcherimum. Epitaphium meum meo". I go give to and Mr Gilson, vicar of Eynsford aforesaid the sum of 40 shillings, desiring him to preach a sermon to those who shall be at my burial. Also I do give the sum of £3 of lawful money to be distributed by teh said Mr Gilson to such poor people of the parish of Eynesford, as do usually frequent the said parish Church. Also I do give the sum of 40 shillings to be distributed by my executor amongst such of the poor of the said parish of Fawkeham as he pleaseth. Also I give the sum of 40 shillings to be distibuted by my executor to such poor people of the parish of Dartford in Kent, as Mr John Umfry of Dartford aforesaid shall inform him are fittest to receive his sum. And I do give 20 shillings to the rector of Fawkeham for the time being. Also I do give to every servant in my house who shall be there at the time at my death and have been there for the space of a year 30 shillings over and above their respective wages. Also I do give to my grandchild Margaret Petley and to her husband £10 a piece to buy them mourning. Also I do give to my granddaughter Mary Gifford the sum of £1,000 to be paid unto her at her day of marriage if she marry with her father's consent, or do outlive her father unmarried; if I do not pay the same in my lifetime and not otherwise. Also I do give unto my granddaughter Jane Gifford the sum of £500 of lawful money to be paid unto her at her day of marriage if she marry with her father's consent or do outlive her father unmarried and not otherwise. Also I do give unto my niece Mary Neipis, my brother's daughter, the sum of £40 of lawful money to be paid her to her own hand so that her husband may have no power to dispose of any part thereof by right, quarterly payments by even portions, the first quarterly payment to be upon the first usual quarter day which shall first happen after my death. Also I do give the sum of £10 to be equally divided between such children as her sister did have, who shall be alive at my death, although I know not one of them. Also I do give teh sum of £5 to Rose Channdler, daughter of my sister Harriott deceased, both which legacies I do appoint to be paid within three months after my death. Also I do give unto my cousin John Wells and to Mr Samuel Browne, to each of them a ring of 30 shillings in remembrance of my love and respect I ever had for them. Also I do give unto my old acquaintance Mr George French, a ring of twenty shillings. And I do make my beloved son Thomas Gifford my full and sole executor, to whom I give all my real and personal estate whatsoever and many lands, tenements and hereditaments whatsoever, charged nevertheless with the payment of my debts, legacies and ffuneral expenses. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal the same being all of my own handwriting.

George Gifford

Memorandum I did intersine the 24th line with my own hands, my intent being if I give or agree to give £1,000 in marriage with my granddaughter Mary, that then she is to have no further sum of money.

Memorandum: I have given security to Mr Selby to pay a thousand pounds to him for the portion of the said Mary, who by consent he is to marry, so that I do revoke the legacy of £1,000 given to the said Mary absolutely. January 28th 1700/1.

Memorandum: this will was signed, sealed and published by the said George Gifford, to be his last will and testament in the presence of us, whose names are subscribed as witnesses thereunto which we did in the presence of the said George Gifford and at his request. Gaspar Adolphus, Lucy Yates, Nicholas Cox.

Proved at London 3 November 1704.

Will of Thomas Gifford of Fawkham

Reference: National Archives: TNA/PROB 11/483 sig 229

In the name of God, Amen, I Thomas Gifford of Fawkham in the county of Kent, esquire, being well in bodily health and of a sound and disposing mind and memory (praised be God) do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following.

He leaves his soul to God and body to be buried in the chancel of Eynsford Church. He gives £3 to the poor of Eynsford and 2 guineas to Mr Tilson, vicar there. He gives 40 shillings to the poor of Fawkham and 20 shillings to the rector of Fawkham. He gives 30 shillings to each of his servants who have been with him at least a year at the time of his death. He gives £10 each to Percival Hart of Lullingstone and Finch Umfrey of Ash cum Ridley for mourning.

"Item: I do give, devise and bequeath all that my farm with the appurtenance whatsoever situate and being in the parish of Cooling in the said county of kent and now or late in the tenure or occupationo f Willilam Smalle, his assignee or assigns; and all that my farm with the appurtenances whatsoever situate and being in the parish of Hartley in the said county of Kent, and now or late in the tenure or occupation of Thomas Underhill, his assignee or assigns. And all that my other farm with the appurtenances whatsoever situate and being in the parish of Horton Kirby in the said county of Kent and now or late in the tenure or occupation of Francis Cumote, his assignee or assigns, to my worthy friend Percival Hart of Lullingstone aforesaid, esquire and his heirs and assigns upon special trust and confidence reposed in him.... that he and they shall and will stand seized of the said 3 farms .... for the sole use and behalf of my daughter Margaret Petley, now the wife of Thomas Petley of Riverhead, esquire, during the continuation of the couverture. And that the said Percival Hart, his heirs and assigns shall and will pay or cause to be paid unto my said duaghter Margaret Petley, all the rents, issues and profits arising from the premises before mentioned, in such wise that here said husband shall take no benefit or advantage thereby. And from and immediately after the determination of the couverture, my will and mindd is that he the said Percival Hart, his heirs and assigns shal with all convenient speed make sale of all the premises before mentioned and the money arising by such sale, I dispose of as followeth (that is to say) I give and bequeath to my 3 grandchildren Gifford Petley, Ralph Petley and Jane petley, the sum of £600 of good and lawful money of England to be equally divided between them. And the overplus arising by such sale if any there be, I give and bequeath to my 2 beloved daughters Mary Selby and Jane Gifford ...."

He gives Percival Hart £100 in trust for daughter Margaret Petley, again her husband is not to benefit. Other bequests are: to children of daughter Mary Selby: £600 to be divided amongst them. To daughter Jane Gifford: £600 and £500 left to her by their father. To daughters Mary Selby and Jane Gifford: all his personal estate, provisions relating to this.

Daughters Mary Selby and Jane Gifford appointed executors.

Dated 30 October 1704. Witnesses: Richard? Cablle? (S), Finch Umfrey (S), Nathaniel Loveden (S)

Proved at London 12 June 1705.