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Medieval & Tudor Kent Wills at Lambeth - Book 21  Page 1

Robert Kent,   Will - 24th April 1486

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ROBERT KENT, Dated at Hedecron [Headcorn] 20 June 1483. To be buried in the porch of my parish church of Hedecron [Headcorn]. I wish that the chaplain of my chantry shall have my largest basin with ewer and that they with the books and other things given by me to the said Chantry may be handed on to the successive chaplains of the said chantry. 
I leave to Alice daughter of Peter Homersham 10 mrc. at 20 years of age and if she die between Godleve and Margery her sisters and if all die then half to their parents and half to the chantry. I leave to John Borden "a payre of blankets and a payre of shetys, a materas a bolster and a couerlett a bras pot three platers three dishes three sawcers of pewter a basyn and a laver a jacke and a salett" (in English). I will he have these when he shall have possession and occupation of my messuage. 
I will my feoffees in messuages lands and tenements immediately after my decease permit the chaplain of my Chantry to occupy all messuages and lands assigned for term of 20 years and more and afterwards on request of the said chaplain make him a suficient and legal state of and in the said lands in dotation to the said chantry to him and his successors for ever according to the ordinances and statutes of the chantry. To Peter Homersham and Alianore his wife a maser, 6 silver spoons and the rest of my goods etc. And I will that all statutes and ordinances of my chantry here repeated may be and are part of this my testament and last will. 
Executors: Master Simon Hoigges, Sir Richard Mannyng chaplain, Thos. Homersham, Peter Homersham, Richard Borden, Stephen Baker, and supervisors Richard Gyldeford, Richard Colpepyr Esquires, William Bettenham and Stephen Hoigges. Letters testimonial on approbation of the preceding Testament. We the official of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Greeting The 29 July 1483 appeared personally before us in the parish church of Frethynden the discreet man Master Robert Kent and exhibited a certain Testament and statutes and ordinances of his Chantry and of his own will put forward, to which petition we immediately gave our approval and a decree of validity. Given at Frythynden the day of and year aforesaid. This is the last Will of Master Robert Kent. I September 1484. 
I Robert Kent of the parish of Hedecron by way of codicil add this codicil to the statutes and ordinances of my chantry. Firstly I will and ordain that in the day of burial of my body Sir Richard Mannyng chaplain of my chantry, Peter Homerysham and Richard Borden my executors dispose and distribute between chaplains, clerks, boys, sacristan and poor people 20s., so that each poor person of the said parish has 4d at the least. In the month after my death to 20 poor people of the parish of Frethenden [  ] 6s. 8d. of Stapleherst [Staplehurst] 6s. 8d., of Sutton 6s. 8d., of Vlcombe[ Ulcombe] 6s. 8d., of Boughton Malherbe 6s. 8d., and 20 poor of Smerden [Smarden] 6s. 8d. I will that each week for a month after my death Office for the Dead (exequie) shall be celebrated viz Placebo and Dirige with Mass Requiem Eternam, in the church of Hedecron [Headcorn] and that my executors distribute to chaplain, clerks, boys, sacrist and poor 10s. to pray for my soul. I will that the chaplain and my feoffees after the term to Peter Homersham conceded and immediately after my death permit John Burden son of Thomas Burden deceased to occupy and inhabit my messuage of Burden with all the lands etc for term of his life, paying the rent and keeping reparations and paying annually to the chaplain 4d. and a Rose at the feast of Saints Peter and Paul if it be asked I will that the said John in his life time shall nominate if he will a son or daughter of his or some other to occupy and inhabit the said Messuage with the lands for term of the life of the person nominated, and so each inhabiting shall nominate another and so on for ever. 
I will that whosoever inhabits shall not detach nor locate any part of the lands to anyone to plough or sow but for pasture. The said messuage is not to be divided but to remain whole for ever. The chaplain and my feoffees shall permit Roger Baker to occupy my tenement or messuage of Tong for his life after my death he paying to the said chaplain nine marcs and afterwards seven marcs without any other burden. 
I will the chaplain and my feoffees after two years after my death permit Thomas att Feyld son of my sister to occupy and inhabit my messuage called Spyers and two pieces of land called Heyfelds with a meadow adjacent, two pieces of land called Peryfyldis, one piece of land adjacent with a meadow containing 7 acres. Itm 16 acres of land sometime Brokdayles, a piece of land called Cleyham with meadow adjacent, one piece of land called Pryghamonys and another piece of land called Brodefeld and so in all 63 acres, paying theyearly rent and repairs and if the said Thomas in his life time should wish to nominate a son or daughter to occupy and inhabit the said messuage for the term of their life and so each in turn nominate in form aforesaid (with same clause against plowing or seeding and divisions as before). And I wish that my feoffees permit the chaplain of the chantry to occupy all the messuages, tenements etc thereto belonging and the annual rent of 20s. going out of the manor of Blachynden and annual rent of 24s. 5d. going out of the Denne of Thornherst for 20 years after my death and further if the said chaplain wishes it and after the 20 years when required make a state to the said chaplain to fulfil the ordinances of the Chantry and my Will. If no one be nominated to hold the said land the chaplain shall nominate another of the said parish to occupy the same. As feoffees die other are to be feofied in the messuages and lands. 
I leave to Alice Godleve and Margery daughters of Peter Homersham 9 marcs at 20 years of age. 
I leave to Robert Borden son of Thomas Borden whim I lifted up (levavi) at the holy font £20 within 6 years after my death. I revoke and annul all disposition of my messuages, lands and tenements by me before arranged to Thomas at Feyld, Roger Baker and Robert Borden and I wish that they be content with the disposition to them in this codicil. 
I will that my feoffees free to Stephen Baker my kinsman (consanguineo) all messuages, houses and lands which I have in the town of Lyn Episcopi and places adjacent in Co. Norfolk and City of London which descended to me after the death of Mr. Thomas Kent my brother deceased. 
I will and decree that one of the churchwardens or guardians of the parish church aforesaid (Hedcrone [Headcorn]) whom the chaplain of the chantry shall desire to name shall have the rule and governance of all the possessions of the chantry and with the consent of the chaplain shall let to farm in the name of the said chaplain and shall receive and remit to the chaplain all belonging to the chantry and see my will fulfilled and he shall have for his labour yearly 6s. 8d. and his expenses. 
I will that the said chaplain shall have freedom to fish in all ponds, wells and waters of the aforesaid messuages, (in wells and waters of the messuage of Borden alone excepted) and that the said Chaplain shall reckon himself content with the house, garden and croft adjacent and ten marcs in money and his expenses. I will that every year particularly in Lent the Chaplain and Warden aforesaid shall dispose a certain sum at their choosing between the poor parishioners of the said church reserving always a certain sum for repairing of houses etc., which I wish done particularly before all things. And before all I desire that the Chaplain of the said Chantry whomsoever he be every week on Friday or other day, dispose 7d. between 7 poor parishioners yearly for ever. 
I ordain Master Simon Hogges, Sir Richd. Mannyng, chaplain, Peter Homersham, Richard Borden and Stephen Baker executors, and Sir Thomas Bowgcher Knight, Master William Pykkenam, Doctor of laws, and John Guyldeford supervisors. And also I wish that the Chaplain Peter Homersham and Richd. Borden while they live shall alone administer and fulfill my Will. And the residue of my goods I give to the said Peter and Alianore his wife and Richard Borden to have for his labour 6s. 8d. with his expenses and the chaplain and Peter Homersham be contented as above disposed and I will that the Statutes and Ordinances of the Chantry with these presents remain in some secure place within the parish church aforesaid and all deeds and evidences of my lands shall be preserved within the dwelling house of the Chantry. 
Given in the parish church of Hedecron [Headcorn]. Administration was granted 24 April 1486 to Master Simon Hoggis, Sir Richard Mannyng, chaplain, Richard Borden and Stephen Baker, executors. Produce (proventus) of the Chantry of Hedecron [Headcorn] aforesaid. Messuage of Tong £5. Messuage of Denys £3. Messuage of Dunstabill 46s. 8d. Messuage of Frythynden £3.16. 8. Land called Webbys 46s. 8d. Land Called Halyswood 26s. 8d. Land at Tevylden 20s. Land at Ryngsello 13s. 4d. Land called Parke 10s. Land at Stallfeld 13s. 4d. Land atHokynbery 13s. 4d. Land at Jone Kertsland 10s. Land celled Bowsefeld 5s. Land at Whitspes hawke 10s. Rent of Thornhest 21s. 4d. Rents of Blachynden 20s. Meadow at Sevynbrege 2.6.d. Sum total £24.10s. 6d. Charges (Onera) of the same Chantry Stipend of the Chaplain 10 marks. Rents of all the lands £4.10s. Gifts (elemosina) to the poor 30s. 4d. Reparations of messuages per ann: £3. Sum total £15. 13s. 8d. (109b Warham).

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