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Wills of 18th CENTURY CHATHAM SHIPWRIGHTS
Prerogative Court of Canterbury (P.C.C.) Wills 1706 - 1799) - Transcribed by D.E. Williams

John BATTEN 1760

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN
I Jno. Batten senior of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright being in bodily health and sound disposing mind do publish and declare this to be my last will and testament first I recommend my soul to God that gave it and my body I commit to the earth to be interred in a decent manner next I will and bequeath to my son Jno. Batten the sum of two hundred and ten pounds and one silver tankard next I will and bequeath unto my son Edward Batten the sum of two hundred and ten pounds next I will and bequeath to my daughter Mary Batten the sum of two hundred and fifty pounds likewise to my daughter Mary Batten I will and bequeath all my household furniture linen and woollen etc. likewise to my son Jno. Batten and my son Edward Batten I will and bequeath all my wearing apparell linen and woollen to be equally divided between them likewise my will is that the profits arising from my servant in Chatham yard to be equally divided between my son Jno. Batten and my son Edward Batten and my daughter Mary Batten and after a decent internment of my body my will is that all moneys that shall remain over and above the above said legacies shall be equally divided between my sons John Edward and Mary Batten I do hereby ordain and ratify this to be my last will and testament and do hereby appoint and nominate my son John Batten Edward Batten and Mary Batten to be joint executors to this my last will and testament to see it executed in six months after date if it can be done with conveniency I do hereby renonce all other wills testaments deeds of gifts etc. in witness whereof to this said will I have set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of August 1759 and in the [twenty third] year of the reign of His Majesty King George the Second over Great Britain etc. Jno. Batten senior signed sealed and delivered in the presence of Jno. Joye

Affidavit dated 10th May 1760
Appeared personally John Pearne of the parish of Saint George in the East in the county of Middlesex sailmaker and being sworn on the holty evangelists to depose the truth and deposed as follows to wit that he hath known and been well acquainted with John Batten senior of the town of Chatham in the county of Kent deceased for forty years and upwards before and to the time of his death and with his manner and character of handwriting having often seen him write and subscribe his name and the sd, John Pearne having carefully viewed and perused the paper writing hereunto annexed purporting to be the last will and testament of the said deceased beginning thus "in the name of God amen I Jno. Batten senior of Chatham in the county of Kent shipwright" and ending thus "in witness wherof to this said will I have set my hand and seal this thirtieth day of August 1759 in ye [    ] year of the reign of His Majesty King George the Second over Great Britain etc." and thus subscribed "Jno. Batten senior" doth in his conscience verily believe that all the said will saving the name "Jno. Joye" thereto subscribed as witness and also the subscription thereto "Jno. Batten senior" and also the words "signed sealed and delivered in the presence" was and is all of the proper handwriting of him the said John Batten senior deceased John Pearne the day aforesaid the said John Pearne was sworn on the truth of the premises by me Geo. Harris surrogate prest. Edwd. Goodwin noty. pub.

Proved 10th March 1760 power reserved to Mary Batten

 

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