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Chelsfield Wills - Part 1  Abstracts of will from Chelsfield proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
Mary Fuller of Chelsfield dated 18 April 1837

Abstract of the will of Mary Fuller of Chelsfield spinster dated 18 April 1837.
   It is my wish to be decently buried in the family vault at Shoreham, Kent, and that mourning may be provided for my servants at the expense of my estate.
   "Knowing my Executor to be prompt in all his transactions I feel assured that he will not disapprove of my request which is that all the legacies hereinafter by me bequeathed or which I may bequeath by any codicil hereto may be paid and transferred respectively within a twelve month after my decease and I direct my Executor to burn all the letters that may be found in my possession at the time of my decease without reading them or permitting them to be read."
   I give to my sister Sarah Waring the wife of Thomas Waring Esq. all my household goods and furniture, household fixtures etc. for her own use and I direct that all my carriages, carts, live and dead stock, farming and gardening implements, brewing utensils, greenhouse plants and outhouse and outdoor fixtures and effects shall be disposed of by my Executor and applied as my general estate.
   I give to my brother in law Thomas Waring in his character as my Executor a legacy of £50. To my servant Mary Gillet £19 and to Ann Cuthbert my other servant £19. Should I have a long illness immediately preceding my decease I particularly request my Executor to reward the servants and nurses who may be fatigued by attending on me. I cannot specify the sum therefore I leave that to his sense of right and should my two female servants Mary Gillet and Ann Cuthbert continue in my service many years from the date hereof I wish the said legacies to them who shall so continue added to by an additional pound for each year from the day of the date hereof, all at the discretion of my Executor.
    I give to Maria Himsley spinster, niece of the late Mr. Charles Collyer, Jane Carrington of Burnham, Essex, Sarah Bannister and Mary Brooker £19 each.
   I give to Sarah Brooker, niece of the above named Mary Brooker, £5, and to Caroline Gillett, Edith Dawson, Jane Willoughby, Sarah Johnson, Martha Lever, Ann Brooks daughter of the said Martha Lever and Martha wife of Thomas Johnson my tenant £10 each.
   I give to James Thornton the postman £19, to [blank] Saker of Shoreham an old workman of mine £5. To Stephen Testor £10 and in case he should happen to predecease me I give his legacy to his daughter Sarah Morgan.
   I give to William May my gardener £10, and to the Poor of the parish of Chelsfield for food and clothing the first winter after my death but not during the winter in which I may die a legacy of £50 to be distributed by the Rev. Doctor Tarleton or other the Rector for the time being of Chelsfield, to whom I direct the same to be paid out of such part of my effects as I can lawfully charge threwith, to be distributed to such persons and in such manner as he shall in his discretion think proper.
    I give to my brother in law Thomas Waring, Dr. Waring of Chislehurst, William Nash of Peckham, Surrey Esq., Henry Chapman of Darenth near Dartford esq., Edward Rogier, Lieutenant RN, of Ramsgate, James Colyer of Farningham Esq., Robert Crawford of Chelsfield Esq., J... Harris senior of Chelsfield Esq., the said Dr. Tarleton, Mrs. Sarah Gibson of Weybridge, Mary Cecilia Waring, wife of Dr. Waring, Martha wife of the said Henry Chapman, Miss Ann Colyer of Farningham and ...... Harris wife of James Harris senior £10 each for rings in remembrance of me.
   I give to Sarah, wife of William Porter of Dartford £150 £3% Consolidated Bank Annuities and should she predecease me than I give this legacy to William Porter, and should he also die before me then this legacy is to be applied for the benefit of the creditors of the said Sarah and William Porter - this clause being added by me at the request of the said Sarah Porter.
   I give to Elizabeth, wife of the said William Nash, £400 like Bank Annuities and to Emma Williamson, Mary Nash, William Nash, Edwin Nash and Thomas Nash, children of the above named William Nash, £100 like Bank Annuities each.
   I give to Maria Waring, Sophia Waring and Ann Waring spinsters £400 like Bank Annuities each. I give to Mary wife of the said Edward Rogier £400 like Bank annuities, and to Matilda Waring and Walter Waring, two of the children of the said Dr. Waring, £150 like Bank Annuities each.
   I give to Charles Colyer junior of Farningham £150 like Bank Annuities and his mother's portrait. I give to George Comber, Sarah Ann Comber, Elizabeth Comber and Caroline Comber, children of the late Robert and Sarah Ann Comber of Hadlow £100 like Bank Annuities each, the legacies of any who may be under age to be invested by James Colyer for the benefit of such legatees until age 21.
   I give to Elizabeth wife of the said Robert Crawford £100 like Bank Annuities, and to George Morland Crawford, Robert Dawson Crawford, Henry Crawford, Ann Elizabeth Crawford, Matilda Crawford, Susan Frances Crawford and Georgiana Crawford, children of the said Robert and Elizabeth Crawford, £100 like Bank Annuities each. I give to my two God-daughters Mary Eleanor and Ellen Crawford, also children of Robert and Elizabeth, £150 like Bank Annuities each.
   I give to Susan Elvy of Chelsfield spinster £400 like Bank Annuities for her own use and benefit and a further legacy of £600 like Bank Annuities to be transferred to her and the same with the dividend thereof to be by her applied in such way as she shall think proper in her absolute discretion for the benefit of her father and mother James and Susan Elvy, but should either of them die in my lifetime it is still my wish that this last legacy should be paid to Susan Elvy and the whole £1000 Bank Annuities should be transferred from my name to that of Susan Elvy, and I give her also £50 towards payment of the legacy duty.
   I give to the Rev. William W... Peete £100 like Bank Annuities and to Mary Frances Durban of Malling, Kent widow £100 like Bank Annuities.
   The residue of my personal Estate and effects I give to my nephews William Waring and John Fuller Waring equally, share and share alike, as tenants in common and not as joint tenants, each to be the other's heir if either die in my lifetime. Any of the above legacies to any woman who may be married at my decease shall not be subject of liable to the debts control of engagements of her or their husband, but solely for her own their own separate use.
   I appoint my brother in law Thomas Waring sole Executor.
   Mary Fullr witnesses Chas: Thos: Shrimpton 117 St. John Street Road near Islington Elizabeth Ellis 10 New Boswell Court, Carey Street.

Codicil dated 20 June 1839.
   The legacy I have given for the benefit of the poor of the parish of Chelsfield I direct shall be distributed by my Executor, but if he should have died before me then only in that case is the money to be distributed by Dr. Tarleton or the Rector of Chelsfield for the time being.
   In addition I direct my Executor to pay to the Chelsfield Clothing and Coal Club all subscriptions and premiums up to the end of the year in which I may happen to die.
   Mary Fuller witnesses Susan Elvy, Chelsfield Mary Gillett, Chelsfield.
Will and codicil proved 26 December 1842 by Thomas Waring Esq. the sole Executor.
[PCC will PROB11/1972]

Transcribed by Geoffrey Copus 

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