Francis Alchin of Marden – 1593

In the name of God amen the 12^th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand five hundred ninety and three and in the five and thirty year of the reign of our sovereign lady Elizabeth by the Grace of God Queen of England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith etc I Francis Alchin of Marden in the county of Kent and diocese of Canterbury being weak in body but of good and perfect remembrance thanks be given unto Almighty God therefore do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following First of all bequeathing my soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator redeemer and sanctifier steadfastly trusting and believing that by the precious blood shedding by Gods son Jesus Christ all my sins and offences are freely pardoned and forgiven me And my body to be buried wheresoever it shall please God to appoint Item I give unto the poor people of the parish of Marden aforesaid three shillings four pence to be bestowed amongst them within one month of my decease at the discretion of my executor Item I give unto my son John Alchin my best joined bedstead one feather……. and feather bolster the feather pillow one pair of blankets one coverlet and one fine pair of sheets to be delivered unto him at his age of one and twenty years Item I give and bequeath unto Richard Waghorne …………….of Staplehurst my brother in law my doublet and hose of …… and my ……(soldiers’) cloak to be delivered unto him within one quarter of a year after my decease Item I will and bequeath unto my father in law John Marshall (?) my best cloak and I also ordain ….. the said John Marshal mine executor All the residue of my moveable goods chattels ready money and plate I give unto Sara Alchin my wife In witness whereof I the said Francis Alchin have set my hand and seal the day and year first above written These being witnesses William Wilkinson William Taylor Solomon Boyer minister of Marden

This is the last will and testament of me the said Francis Alchin made and declared the day and year above dated concerning the disposition of my messuage or tenement and all and singular my lands in Marden aforesaid Item my will and mind is for the answering and discharging of my debt legacies and other charges whatsoever being indebted to sundry persons that mine executor abovenamed John Marshal shall have full power and authority to make sale of six pieces or parcels of land with a lodge thereupon unto any manner of person or persons which pieces or parcels of land rightly descended and came unto to me the said Francis by the late will and testament of Robert Alchin my father of  (Marden?) late deceased concerning by estimation twenty five acres of land more or less and which now are in the occupation of the said John Marshall mine executor abutting onto other lands of me the said Francis and of Samuel (Tone?) gent against the north to the lands of John Hodges and of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester against the ….. to the lands of Edward (Masson?) knight against the east and to the Queens…… those ……against the west and the ……...with all and singular the appurtenances  ……………belonging……………And if it shall so fall…………that after the sale of the said six pieces or parcels of land and the lodges thereupon the same of money for the ……………….shall not amount to the sum of money ………. my debts legacies and other charges shall extend unto Then my will and mind is that so much money as shall be wanting for the compassing and discharging of all such debts legacies and other charges as my executors may be burdened and charged with all over and beside the receipts of money for the aforesaid six pieces or parcels of land and the lodge upon the same shall be ………of the moveable goods chattels and ready money before given unto Sara Alchin my wife so that my will and mind is that my executors will not be ……… or burdened any manner of way Item I give and bequeath unto Sarah Alchin my wife five pieces or parcels of land which are called the first (Hamforth ?) mead the little (Hamforth?) and great (Hamforth?) the third ………. The fourth the Long Wood and the fifth the Little Croft adjoining to them to have and to hold the said five pieces and parcels of land unto her the said Sara and to her assigns until such time as my son John Alchin accomplishes the full age of one and twenty years making no …….. nor ……… upon the said lands but only to receive and take sufficient ………… and other ……………. from the said lands from time to time during the said term Item I give unto my son John Alchin the aforesaid five pieces or parcels of land before bequeathed called the first (Hamforth ?) mead the little (Hamforth?) and great (Hamforth?) the third ………. the fourth the Long Wood and the fifth the Little Croft when he shall accomplish his full age of one and twenty years to have and to hold the said five pieces or parcels of land unto him and to his heirs in fee simple for ever And if it shall fortune that my said son John shall not live unto the said age of one and twenty years Then I give and bequeath unto my wife Sara so surviving her said son the aforesaid five pieces or parcels of land during all her time and term of her natural life making no ……… but taking sufficient ………. as aforesaid And after the decease of my said wife and after the decease of my said son so deceasing without heirs of his body lawfully begotten I will the said five pieces or parcels of land unto my brother Edward Alchin (of Horsmonden) and his heirs forever Item I will give and bequeath unto my wife Sarah Alchin my mansion house or tenement in Marden aforesaid with all the easements (?) and ……. thereunto belonging one orchard and seven pieces or parcels of land with appurtenances thereunto belonging containing by estimation twenty and six acres of land more or less and also one small tenement with a garden plot thereunto belonging now in the tenure and occupation of Jaspar Rogers …… in Marden aforesaid to have and to hold the said premises with the appurtenances to them belonging unto the said Sara and her assigns until such time as the said John Alchin my son shall accomplish the age of one and twenty years ………………… nothwithstanding hereunder following viz That the said Sara or her assigns do pay or raise to be paid yearly unto Mary Alchin of Staplehurst my mother according unto my fathers will one annuity or yearly rent of ten pounds And also upon said Dandiron (?) that if my said mother shall depart this natural life before the said John my son shall accomplish the age of one and twenty years then from the time of my said mothers departure the said Sara my wife do yearly pay out of the said five tenements and seven pieces of land with appurtenances unto the use of my said son John for ……… and raising of a stock of money for him the full sum of six pounds which I will shall remain in the hands of my executors to be paid unto my …. said son John at his aforesaid age of one and twenty years Also my will and mind is that the said Sara my wife during all the said …….. from time to time shall well and sufficiently maintain all the …….. of the said premises with repairing and refitting taking upon the said six and twenty acres of land sufficient timber And also shall ……….. and make the lodges and outhouses of the said lands having in and upon the said premises sufficient ……… for ………. Item I give and bequeath unto my foresaid son John Alchin if he shall accomplish the full age of one and twenty years all those my mansion dwelling house and the other small tenements with all the housing thereunto belonging and the foresaid orchard and seven pieces or parcels of land containing by estimation twenty six acres of land with all and singular the appurtenances unto them belonging to him and to his heirs in fee simple for ever And if it shall so happen that my son shall depart this life before he shall accomplish the full age of one and twenty years Then my will and mind is that Sara my wife surviving my son shall enjoy the said four tenements and lands next before given with the appurtenances whatsoever until such time as my said son John have been of 21 years of age and lived so long paying to my mother as aforesaid and repairing and sustaining the houses and fencing the lands as aforesaid And when that term of years so expired and if my said son be so deceased I do give the said four tenements and seven pieces or parcels of land containing by estimation twenty six acres of land more or less with all and singular the appurtenances unto them belonging unto my brother Edward Alchin of Horsmonden and to his heirs in fee simple for ever Provided nevertheless that the said gift made unto my said brother Edward shall upon said dandiron that the said Edward or his heirs do pay ………. To be paid unto my sister Harriet Waghorne or her heirs thirty pounds of good and lawful money of England within one year next after the said Edward shall enjoy the said premises And also the said Edward or his heirs shall pay or cause to be paid unto my sister ……. or to her heirs the full sum of ten pounds within one year next after the said Edward shall enjoy the said premises And also that the said Edward or his heirs shall pay or cause to be paid unto Marjory Marshal Dorothy Marshall and Elizabeth Marshall my wives sisters five pounds of good and lawful money of England by equal portions to be paid unto them within one whole year next after the said Edward shall enjoy the said premises And also that the said Edward or his heirs shall pay or cause to be paid unto Sara Alchin my wife the full sum of thirty pounds of like lawful money of England within one half year next after he shall enjoy the said premises In witness whereof I the said Francis Alchin have set my hand and seal the day and year first above declared These being witnessed also abovenamed who have also set their hands William Wilkinson William Taylor and Salmon Boyer Minister of Marden The mark of William Taylor the mark of William Wilkinson Francis Alchin

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