In the name of God Amen I Thomas Briggs, Farmer, residing at Luton in the Parish of Chatham in the County of Kent being of sound Mind and Memory, and knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament , cancelling any former Will or Wills. That is to say Principally and first of all I recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my Body to be Buried in decent Christian Burial at the direction of my Executors. And as touching such Worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with it is my Will that all the Property (excepting that hereafter named) I now have or may have at the time of my Decease consisting of Goods, Plate, Money and Chattels Lease or agreement for Lease of the Farm I now have and live in be Sold on or before Six Months after my Decease by Executors hereafter named and that after all my just Debts and Funeral Expences are paid, the residue arising from the Sale of the before mentioned Property (with the exception of the Bequests hereafter named) is to be equally divided between my Dear Children that is to say, Sarah Gilbert, James, Robert, Joseph, John and Charles Briggs. But in the event of either of the beforementoned Dying before me, the Survivor to have the share of the Deceased except he, or she , may have Children then they are to take the Parents part And I do hereby make constitute and appoint Mr Henry Crossman of Chatham in the County of Kent Hayman and Gardiner Moore Cutmore Gentleman of Chatham in the said County my joint Executors to this my last Will and Testament And I furthermore Will and bequeath out of the above named Property to each of my beforementioned Executors the Sum of Ten Pounds in consideration of the trouble they may have in the arrangement of my Affairs I do also Will and bequeath to my Housekeeper Charlotte Clarke in consideration of her Kind Services and attention to me at all times the various Articles as enumerated in the annexed List In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Twenty second day of April in the Year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty seven

Thos Briggs

(Attestation Clause)

Francis Daniel Guy
Henry Crossman Jun
Stephen Hart

Proved 25 February 1830 to Henry Crossman of High Street Chatham Kent heyman power reserved to other Executor

(Below Four hundred and fifty pounds)
The following Articles to Mrs Charlotte Clarke in consideration of her kind attention to me during my illness

Witness Stephen Hart
 

Centre for Kentish Studies

This Will was kindly  transcribed and sent in by Ros.

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