Thomas Alchin - Gentleman of West Malling – 1769/70 (PROB 11/952)

In the name of God Amen I Thomas Alchin of West Malling in the County of Kent Gentlemen being sound in mind and memory and understanding praised be God therefore do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say Imprimis I commend my soul unto Almighty God my Creator hoping and trusting for salvation by and through the only ……….  and mediation of my dear Redeemer Jesus Christ my body to the earth to be decently not pompously buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named and as to the worldly estate God hath been pleased to bless me with I give and dispose thereof in manner following that is to say I give and devise unto my nephew George Alchin all that my moiety or half part of all those several pieces or parcels of land hereditaments and premises with their appurtenances now in the occupation of Mr Francis Brooke lying and being in the parishes of East Malling and West Malling in the said County of Kent to have and to hold the said moiety and premises with their appurtenances unto him the said George Alchin his heirs and assigns forever Also I give and bequeath unto my said nephew George Alchin the sum of four hundred pounds to be paid him at six months next after my decease and I give unto him his fathers and brothers pictures and his own picture in miniature and I give and devise unto my nephew Stephen Hooper Alchin all those my several houses and tenements outhouses barns stables buildings yards gardens and premises with their appurtenances now in the several occupation of George Webb (?) Thomas Whiffen George Chubb John Drury and Benjamin Meopham (?) situate and being in the town of Tonbridge in the said County of Kent which I purchased of my late brother Mr George Alchin deceased to have and to hold the said several houses and tenements outhouses barns stables yards gardens and premises aforesaid unto my said nephew Stephen Hooper Alchin for and during the term of his natural life and from and after his decease I will that the same shall go to the heirs male of his body to be begotten on his now present wife Susanna equally to be divided between them share and share alike and in default of such issue I will that the same shall go to my nephew and godson Thomas Alchin and his heirs forever. Also I give and bequeath unto my said nephew Stephen Hooper Alchin the sum of six hundred pounds to be paid to him at six months next after my decease and I give and bequeath unto my nephew Thomas Rowley the sum of three hundred pounds to be paid him at six months next after my decease and I give and bequeath unto my niece Ann Sanders the sum of three hundred pounds to be paid her at six months next after my decease Also I give and devise unto my said niece Ann Sanders all those my houses and tenements yards gardens and appurtenances now in the several tenures and occupations of Thomas Hodges (?) Widow Marshall Widow Large and Richard Firth (?) situate and being in the town and parish of West Malling to hold the said houses and tenements with their appurtenances unto my said niece Ann Sanders for and during the term of her natural life she keeping the same in good and tenantable repair and from and after her decease I will that the same shall go to my said nephew and godson Thomas Alchin and his heirs forever and in case my said niece Ann Sanders should be left a widow and should choose to come and live in Town Malling then and in such case I hereby give her the house and premises now in the occupation of the Widow Lye situate and being in the Middle Row in the said town for and during the time she shall continue Thomas Sander’s widow and no longer then and from thenceforth I will that the same shall go to my nephew and godson Thomas Alchin and his heirs for ever and I give unto my said niece Ann Sanders my late dear sister Ann Alchin’s picture whom she dearly loved but to be returned to my said nephew and godson Thomas Alchin at her decease and  give and devise unto my said nephew and godson Thomas Alchin all that my own house wherein I now dwell and also the house in the occupation of Edward Brownson situate and being in Town Malling aforesaid with the yards ………. and appurtenances thereunto belonging and also all that my stable in the occupation of William …………… to hold the said houses stable and premises with their appurtenances unto my said nephew and godson Thomas Alchin for and during the term of his natural life and from and after his decease I will that the same shall go to the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten share and share alike and for default of such issue I will that the same shall go to the heirs female of his body lawfully to be begotten share and share alike and for want of such issue I will that the same shall go to my nephew George Alchin and to his heirs for ever provided always and I do hereby declare my mind and will to be that the aforesaid several ………….. and bequests herein before contained are given devised and bequeathed unto my said nephews George Alchin Stephen Hooper Alchin Thomas Alchin and Thomas Rowley as aforesaid are given devised and bequeathed unto them in full of all rights title property claim and demands whatsoever which they either or any of them or their either or any of their heirs executors or administrators can or may have given claim or demand or be any ways …………. Unto for or by reason of or on account of any sum or sums of money at any time or ………… by his survived on him or their or any of their accounts out of my real or personal estate and also that my said nephews George Alchin Stephen Hooper Alchin Thomas Alchin and Thomas Rowley shall before they …………………… their several and ……………. Severally execute such careful ……….  …………. And confirmations as council shall advise thereby ……….. and discharging my said real and personal estate of and from all further claims and demands thereunto and I give unto my said nephews George Alchin Stephen Hooper Alchin Thomas Alchin and Thomas Rowley and to my nephew Thomas Sanders and to their four respective wives five pounds each for mourning And I give unto William Mason my kinsman at Boxley in the said County of Kent the sum of twenty pounds and to his sister Mary Mason the like sum of twenty pounds to be paid to them respectively at six months next after my decease and I give unto Henry Alchin of Plaxtoll wheelwright and to his sister Ann Alchin ten pounds apiece to be paid to them respectively at six months next after my decease Also I give unto Richard Knowles now at Birling the sum of ten pounds to be paid him at six months next after my decease and I give unto John ………. Twelve pence a week every Monday morning provided he attend Divine Service if he is in health and able so to doAlso I give and bequeath unto my good cousin William Arthur …………….  ………….. Wapping the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid him at six months next after my decease and lastly I do nominate constitute and appoint my said nephews George Alchin Stephen Hooper Alchin and my said nephew and godson Thomas Alchin Executors of this my last Will and Testament and my mind and will after all my just debts funeral charges the charges of the probate of this my will legacies and bequests are fully paid and satisfied I do hereby give devise and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature kind or quality soever the ………….. not being before by me disposed of unto my said nephew and godson Thomas Alchin and to his heirs for ever and I hereby revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and seal to wit my hand at the bottom of the first sheet and my hand and seal to the last sheet and my seal at the top of the first of the two said sheets where both the said sheets are fixed together this fifth day of April one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine Thos Alchin The writing contained in this and the preceding sheet of paper was signed and sealed by Thomas Alchin the Testator and by him published and declared as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence and the presence of each other of us have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereof Thos Newnham Rebeckah Brownson Edwd Brownson.

This Will was proved at London on the fourteenth day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine before the Worshipful George Harris Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful George Kay Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oaths of George Alchin and Stephen Hooper Alchin the nephews of the deceased and two of the Executors named in the said Will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer power reserved of the making the like grant to Thomas Alchin the nephew also of the said deceased and the other Executor named in the said Will whom it shall apply for the same.

This Will was proved at London on the twenty second day of June in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy before the Worshipful George Harris Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Worshipful George Kay Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Thomas Alchin the nephew also of the deceased and the other Executor named in the said Will to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods chattels and credits of the said deceased having been first sworn duly to administer.