Transcript of Will of Richard Ballard (1602) 5 April

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN The eight of June in the reign of Our Sovereign Lord James by Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith I Richard Ballard of the parish of Cranbrook in the county of Kent carpenter being sick in body but of perfect memory praised be God do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say first I commend my soul into the hands of God my maker hoping assuredly through the only merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made partaker of life everlasting and I commend my body to the earth whereof it was made.

Item I give to the poor of this parish of Cranbrook aforesaid twenty shillings.

Item I give and bequeath to Katherine my wife two of my best kine at her choice together with all my household stuff whatsoever.

Item I give to Katherine my wife the house wherein I do now dwell together with the barn, buildings and lands thereunto belonging during her natural life if she shall keep herself unmarried but if my said wife do happen to marry again then to content her self with the house, barn and half my said lands during her life and she to keep the said houses always well and sufficiently repaired and maintained and if she marry again? Let the one half of my household stuff the other half to be to my son Thomas amongst all my sons and daughters part and partly by him equally divided.

Item I give and bequeath after the death of Katherine my wife all my lands in Cranbrook unto Richard Ballard my son and his heirs forever upon condition that he pay Twenty pounds unto Henry Ballard my youngest son at his age of one and twenty years if Katherine my wife be then dead but if it fortune my said wife to live after my son Henry shall attain unton his age of one and twenty years then my meaning is the said twenty pounds shall not be paid until three months after my said wife’s death.

Item I give and bequeath my house workhouse barns and building whatsoever with all my lands in Goudhurst unto Thomas Ballard and John Ballard and there heirs for ever upon condition that they their executors or assigns or some one of them do pay unto Robert Ballard and Walter Ballard my sons as the said Robert and Walter or either of them shall accomplish their several ages of one and twenty years thirty pounds apiece but if it fortune either of my sons Thomas and John to die unmarried and without heirs before sale of either of their parts in the said house and lands in Goudhurst my meaning is? All my surviving sons shall be equally heirs in my deceased son and if Richard my to whom I bequeath my house in Cranbrook fortune to die unmarried and without heirs of his body then my meanings is all my servings sons shall be equally to my said house and lands in Cranbrook.

Item I give and bequeath unto Robert and Walter my sons and to either of them thirty pounds apiece to be paid unto either of them as they shall accomplish their ages of one and twenty years and for want of payment thereof they or either of them to enter into my lands at Goudhurst and to either of them to have equal parts in the said house and lands with the said Thomas and John to them and there heirs for ever if either of the sums of thirty pounds be? And unpaid as aforesaid and if any of my sons Thomas or John die before the said age of one and twenty years then his portion and part in the lands at Goudhurst to be equally divided between the rest of my sons then living

Item I give to my son Henry Ballard twenty pounds to be paid unto him by Richard Ballard my son when the said Henry shall accomplish his age of one and twenty years

If Katherine my wife then deceased or else the said Henry to tarry for the said twenty pounds three months after my said wife’s decease and if the said money be unpaid as aforesaid then my meaning is my said son Henry shall enter into my house and lands in Cranbrook and have the t one half thereof to him and to his heirs for ever

Item I give unto my three daughters twenty pounds apiece to be paid to them at the day of their marriage or their ages of one and twenty years which shall first happen and if one of them die before either of thee said times then my meaning is my wife shall have the bestowing of her part that shall happen to die but if my said wife fortune to depart this world before any of my said daughters and afterwards it happen any of my said daughters to die before their marriages or ages of one and twenty years then my will is my surviving daughters or daughter to equally heirs to their deceased sister or sisters

Item I give unto Thomas Ballard my son the lease, which I have from Mr. John Baker provided that it shall be lawful for my wife to make malt and to use the rooms that shall be necessary for that purpose there.

Item I will and bequeath the lease of lands that I have from Mr. Roberts unto Thomas John Richard and Katherine my wife.

Item I give unto Robert Ballard my brother ten shillings.

Item I give to my sister William Thomas his wife five shillings to my sister Thomas her two daughters two shillings and sixpence apiece and to Richard Thomas my godson five shillings

Item I give to all other my godsons and goddaughters not before remembered in this my will twelve pence apiece

Item I give to my two other sisters ten shillings apiece all which last recited legacies from my brother Ballard downward I will to be paid within one year next after my decease the residue of all my goods and chattels moveable and unmovable and not bequeathed I give and bequeath unto Thomas Ballard my son whom I make executors of this my last will and testament and now seeing God hath blessed me with children for whose good and godly education I ought to have care and forasmuch as my desire is that my wife should have the bringing up of my said children hoping that she will have special regard to given them in fear of God my will intent is that my wife shall have the benefit profit and increase of all my children’s stocks for and towards their bringing up until they shall severally attain to the times and ages before in this my present will mentioned wherein they are to be paid their several portions provided always and my will and intent is that if my wife happen to marry then she to put in good and sureties before her said marriage to be bound for her unto my overseers in three hundred pounds for the performance of this my last will or else she to lose the whole benefit thereof and that then my overseers herein after named shall at their discretion convert use and employ the benefit profit and increase of the aforesaid stocks for the good education of my said children and to place them as my said overseers shall think meet.

Item I shall make and ordain Thomas Roberts of Glassenburry esquire and William Sheafe overseers of this my last will and testament entreating them to use their good means to further the performance of this may last will and testament according to the true meaning thereof.

Richard Ballards mark read sealed and published for his last will testament in the presence of Jo...? Butcher, John Leighe and Nicholas Caponells mark