WILL OF CHRISTOPHER STREDWICK 6th September 1755
In the Name of God Amen I Christopher Stredwick of the Town of Folkestone in the County of Kent Victualler being of infirm body but of sound and perfect mind memory and understanding ( God be praised for the same) do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say)
First and principally I commend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God my Heavenly Father hoping to receive full and free pardon of all my sins and offences and to Inherit Everlasting Life and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred with Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors herein after named
And as concerning such worldly estate wheresoever it hath pleased God to bless me I give devise bequeath and dispose thereof as followeth ( that is to say)
Inprimus I give and devise to my son Christopher STREDWICK his heirs and assigns all my messuage or tenement situate lying or being in Folkestone aforesaid and now in the occupation of the Widow YAWKINGS together with all and every appurtenance thereunto belonging to hold the same to my said son Christopher STREDWICK his Heirs and Assigns forever and also I give and bequeath to my said son Christopher all my wearing apparel both woollen and linen and two pairs of sheets and eight pounds of money which is in the hands of Thomas CHAPMAN on his note
Item I give devise and bequeath to my son Thomas STREDWICK his Heirs and Assigns all that my messuages or tenement situate lying and being in Folkestone aforesaid and now in the occupation of James EPPS together and with all and every appurtenance thereunto belonging to hold the same to my said son Thomas STREDWICK his Heirs and Assigns forever
Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth my loving wife all and every the goods and chattels that were hers before she was my wife
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary CASTLE widow one large silver spoon
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane the wife of John FULLER one large silver spoon
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth BRICE one large silver spoon marked T T
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Susanna STREDWICK Spinster the bed whereon she lies with the furniture thereunto belonging and the table and chairs in the same room and the chest of draws in my room and my ? ring and one silver spoon marked S S and one other large silver spoon
Item I give and bequeath to my grandson John son of Thomas STREDWICK my large silver cup
Item I give and bequeath to my grandson Christopher CASTLE the sum of five pounds part of twenty pounds in the hands of James PENNOLD(?) on bond to be ? in the hand of my son in law James BRICE ? in trust for and towards placing out my said grandson to trade
Item all the rest residue and remainder of my real and personal estate goods and chattels of what kind and nature soever not herein before been given I give and bequeath the same and every part and parcel thereof to my four daughters viz Mary CASTLE widow Jane the wife of John FULLER Elizabeth the wife of John BRICE and Susanna STREDWICK Spinster equally between them share and share alike they my said four daughters paying out of thereof all my just debts funeral expenses and the probate of this my last Will and Testament
Item I do hereby make ordain nominate and appoint my son Thomas STREDWICK and my son in law James BRICE join executors of this my last Will and Testament
And I do hereby revoke all former and other wills by me heretofore made and do declare this to be and contain my last Will and Testament
In Witness whereof I the said Christopher STREDWICK the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in these two sheets of paper together annexed to the first sheet thereof my hand and seal the fourth day of May in the twenty seventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by 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 fifty four Christopher STREDWICK
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Christopher STREDWICK the Testator to be and contain his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in the said Testator’s presence and at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses Robert JOHN COCK James FRANCKLYN and Ruth TOES
Proved 6th September 1755
