Will of William Neam, Yeoman of Birchington

Probate 11/750
PCC Edmunds Quire 284-328
Proved 13 Oct 1746

In the name of God Amen. I William Neam of the parish of Birchington in the Isle of Thanet in the County of Kent Yeoman being in good Health and perfect Memory (blessed be God therefore) do this eighteenth day of April in the twelfth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland king defender of the faith and so forth and in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty nine make and publish my last Will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) First I commend my Soul unto the Hands of Almighty God who gave it me trusting through the efforts of my Saviour Jesus Christ to obtain Pardon of my Sins and to inherit everlasting Life and my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the Discretion of my Executrix and Executor hereinafter named. And as for the worldly Estate wherewith it has please God to bless me I give and dispose thereof as followeth (that is to say)

First I give and devise unto my two sons William Neam and John Neam and to their Heirs and Assigns forever equally to be divided between them All that my Messuage or Tenement lying in the said Parish of Birchington and currently in the several Occupations of Gervas Copper and Thomas Thunder and also the Barn Malthouses Edifices and Buildings Yards Ways and Passages and fifty Acres of Arable land thereunto belonging and apportioning and therewith formerly gotten employed and enjoyed ( they my said sons paying and allowing out of the same as I have hereinafter directed and appointed)

And I also give and devise unto my said two sons William Neam and John Neam and to their Heirs and Assigns forever to be equally divided between them All those two Pieces or Parcells of Arable land which I lately purchased of William [Fobb?] of Acol [Beo---] lying and being in Birchington aforesaid and containing together by Estimation Fourteen acres [Freehold?] the said Messuage or Tenement Bran Malthouse Edifices Buildings Yards Passages and Lands abovementioned with those and every one of their Appurtenances unto my said two sons William Neam and John Neam their Heirs and Assigns forever as Tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants.

I also give to my Daughters Mary, Jane and Elizabeth the Sum of two hundred pounds apiece to be paid to them at their several and respective Ages of twenty one years.

Also I give to my Daughter Sarah Neam the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds to be paid to her at her like Age of twenty one Years And I also give and devise unto my said Daughter Sarah (for her to [become?] seized of at the said Age of twenty one years) and to her heirs and assigns forever All that my Messuage or Tenement with the Shop and Garden spott thereunto belonging with those and every of their appurtenances lying and being in the Street of Birchington aforesaid and now in the Tenure or Occupation of William Darby

And I also devise unto my Daughter Ann Neam and to her Heirs and Assigns forever all that my Messuage now divided and lott in two dwellings with the Barn Garden Orchard Lime Kiln and four Acres of Arable Land thereunto belonging and therewith formerly [Gotton?] and Occupyed with their and every of their Appurtenances situate lying and being in Birchington aforesaid and which said Messuage or Tenement is now in the several Occupations of Clement Bedingfield and Thomas [-o-shott] she my said Daughter Ann in like manner to [become?] seized of the same at her Age of one and twenty Years.

Also I hereby Will and Direct that if any and or more of my said Daughters shall happen dye before they attain to their Age of twenty one Years that then and in such Case the Legacy or Legacies I gave and devise to her or them hereinbefore given shall be equally divided amongst all and every [of] my said Daughters as shall be then surviving.

Also I hereby direct and appoint that if in case either of my said Sons William or John shall happen to dye unmarried that then the surviving Brother shall be seized of Possess and Enjoy to himself his Heirs and Assigns for ever all the whole Estate herein before devised and given to his deceased Brother so the surviving Brother paying to each and every of my said Daughters as shall be then living the Sum of fifty pounds apiece over and above the Legacies and devises herein before to them given and that as they shall attain their several ages of twenty one Years.

And as to the rest residue and remainder of my Goods Chattels and Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever after the above mentioned Legacies my just debts and funeral expenses are paid and discharged I give the same unto my loving Wife Jane Neam and to my said two Sons William and John to be equally divided between them Share and Share alike.

I also Will and direct that my said Wife shall and may continue in the farm I now use called Gore End and take and receive all the profits thereof for and towards the Maintenance and bringing up of all my aforesaid Children untill my son William shall attain his Age of twenty one Years or untill his day of Marriage which shall happen first I will and direct that he my said Son William shall and may take an occupy the said farm to and for his own use and Benefit.

I also further direct and appoint that whensoever my said Wife Jane shall leave and [absent?] herself of and from the said Gore End farm that then my said two Sons William Neam and John Neam shall provide and allow that she my said Wife Jane their Mother shall and may Live and Dwell Rentfree during the term of her natural Life in that part of the Messuage or Tenement to them my said Sons herein before devised now in the Occupation of Thomas Thunder or in that part of the same now in the Occupation of Gervas Cooper which of the two She my said Wife may choose. My Will also further is that the said last mentioned Messuage or Tenement with the Barn Malthouse Edifices Buildings and fifty one acres of Land thereunto belonging shall be chargeable with and that my said two Sons shall pay Out of the Rents and Profits thereof unto my said Wife Jane their Mother the sum of forty Pounds a Year yearly and every Year for and toward her maintenance with all my young Children untill such time as my youngest Child living shall attain the Age of twenty one Years and from and after the Youngest Child so attaining the age of twenty one Years then that my said Sons shall pay unto their Mother the sum of twenty pounds a Year for and during the term of her natural life.

Also I nominate and appoint my said Wife Jane and my said Son William jointly to be my Executrix and Executor of this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I the said William Neam have to this my last Will and Testament contained in one Sheet of Paper set my hand and seal the day and Year first above written

William Neam

Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Neam the Testator as and for his Last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who at his Request and in his Presence have hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnesses

John Covell John Penry John Wallis

This Will was sworn at London before the Worshipfull Robert Bonnor Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of the right Worshipfull John Bottesworth also Doctor of Laws master Keeper or Commissary of the prerogative court of Canterbury lawfully constituted the thirteenth day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty six by the Oaths of Jane Neam Widow the Relict and William Neam the Son of the deceased and Executors in the said Will named To whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and credits of the said deceased being sworn first only to administer.






 

Contributor: Michelle Desmond
Editor: Martin Neame
www.neamefamily.com

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