The Will of George Leeds

In the name of God Amen I George Leeds of Cranbrook in the County of Kent Carpenter being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory praised be God therefore do hereby make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First and principally I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator and my body I commit to the earth to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my executor herein after named hoping thro’the merits and mediation of my dear redeemer Jesus Christ to be made partakers of eternal happiness and as to the estate with which it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give and dispose thereof in manner following. I give and devise all those several messuages Tenements Dwellings and several pieces and parcels of land Arable meadow and Pasture thereunto belonging situate lying and being in or near Cranbrook Town and now in my own occupation and in the occupation of Mrs Bowles, Hannah Gibbons, Mary Merrall and widow Ramskare or some or one of them unto my two sons Richard Leeds and James Leeds their heirs and assigns equally to be divided between them share and share alike to hold to them the said Richard Leeds and James Leeds their heirs and assigns as tenants in common and not as joint tenants to the use and behove (behoof) of them my said sons and their heirs and assigns for ever subject nevertheless to the payment of one annuity or yearly rent charges of Ten pounds of good and lawful money of Great Britain which I hereby bequeath to my loving wife Sarah Leeds provided and upon condition that she live and cohabit with my eldest son Richard without they shall both agree that she shall live seperately from him but if she shall leave my said son without his consent then I give her but four pounds a year which said annuity of ten pounds or of four pounds as the case shall be my mind it shall be paid to her during her life by quarterly payments free and clear of all taxes The first payment thereof to be made the first quarter day which shall next happen or come after my decease and also subject to the payment of one shilling a week which I do hereby give and bequeath to my mother Mary Leeds of Biddenden Widow for her life and if at any time she shall be in necessity I devise my executor herein aforenamed will allow her more at his discretion and in case of default shall be made in payment of the said annuity to my wife for the space of fourteen days next after every such quarter day whereon the same ought to be paid as aforesaid or in payment of the said weekly sum of one shilling to my mother for the space of four weeks together then and in such a case and so often as any such default shall be made I do hereby authorise and impower my said wife or mother respectively or her or their attorney agent or attorneys or agents to enter into upon the said messuages tenements or dwellings and several pieces or parcels of land or any or either of them or any part thereof to distrain, and the distress or distresses there found to take drive or carry away remove and sell for satisfaction of so much of the said annuities or either of them as shall be behind or unpaid and the charges attending such distress or sale or distresses and sales. I give and bequeath to my said wife, my best bed, and half a dozen chairs and such other of my household goods which she will choose to the value of five pounds for her use during her life and after her decease I give the same equally between my two sons share and share alike. I give and bequeath to my youngest son James Leeds all my chest of joiner’s tools complete with my largest book of Architectures, and as an equivalent for my eldest son Richard I give him my said son Richard all my other books and working tools and wearing apparel. I give and bequeath to my only daughter Sarah the wife of John Morgan the sum of twenty pounds of lawful money of great Britain to be paid within the space of twelve calendar months next after my decease. I also give to my tenant Hannah Gibbons a mourning handkerchief of five shillings value and a pair of gloves to my other tenants and relations and all the rest and residue of my household goods Stock in trade Wine Timber and all other my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever after payment of my debts by me owing my funeral expenses, legacies above mentioned and the charges of the probate of this my will I give and bequeath to my said two sons equally to be divided between them share and share alike and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my eldest son Richard Leeds sole executor of this my will and do hereby also revoke annul and make void all former and other wills or testaments by me at any time heretofore made Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have to the first sheet hereof subscribed my name and to this second sheet set my hand and seal the sixth day of October in the year of our Lord Christ One Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty Three

                                                                                                                                      George Leeds
 

Signed sealed published and declared by the said George Leeds as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereof at the desire and in the presence of the said testator
Hannah Gibbon William Woodgate Richd Willis	18th June 1754 before the Revd John Airson Clerk Surrogate present Geo: Plomer N.Pub.