The Will of Robert Sanford

 

I Robert Sanford of the parish of Sellindge in the County of Kent Grocer being sick in body but………………………………? (this is missing) the hand of Almighty God my maker hoping through the meritorious death of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to receive salvation and pardon for all my sins. And my body to the earth from which it came to receive a decent and Christian burial at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named. And so to………? that worldly estate which God of his mercy hath lent me I give and dispose as followeth. Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest sonne Thomas Sanford five shillings to be paid at his age of twenty one. Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter Mary Sanford the summe of two hundred pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid unto her by executrix at her age one and twenty years or day of marriage which shall first happen which said sum of two hundred pounds is the same bequeathed unto her by her late grandfather and grandmother Burton. Item I give and bequeath unto Richard Sanford, Henry Sanford and Robert Sanford my other three sonnes the summe of ……? Pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid unto them at their severall ages of one and twenty years. Item I give and bequeath unto my other daughters Ellenor, Elizabeth and Margaret Sanford and the child my wife now ……..? with the summe of …….? ……..? pounds of lawfull money of England…? To be paid to them severally and respectively at the age of one and twenty years. Item I give to my said sonne Thomas Sanford one little silver ….? with a foote marked with E.B. Item I give and bequeath unto my said daughter Elizabeth Sanford two silver spoones marked with E.S. Item I give and bequeath unto every ……? Of my children severally and respectively and to the child my wifes (not born) with two silver spoones to be delivered unto them by my executrix at their severall and respective ages of one and twenty years provided …….? And my will and mind is that if any of my said daughters shall marry before the ages of one and twenty without the consent of my overlord? or one of them that then the portion? Of them of her for marrying shall remain and be for my executors to distribute among my other children. And provided also any of my said children should happen to dye before they attain unto their respective ages of one and twenty years that the portion of him her or them shall likewise remain in my executors hands to be distributed as they shall think fit among my surviving children at their respective ages of one and twenty years. Item I make and ordain my wife Elizabeth and William Poole of Sellindge aforesaid Maulster the executors of this my Will and Testament. And I give and bequeath unto the said William Poole the summe of Three pounds and Ten Shillings of lawfull money of England with white …… ……. …….. him to buy a ………..and horse………..?
And the rest of all and singular goods chattels household stuff plate and …….? estate whatsoever after my debts,.? funeral expenses and for probate of this my will are discharged I give and bequeath unto my said wife. But and provided it is my will and mind that if my said wife after my decease shall marry again that she shall no longer be………..? administrator of this my will nor shall have any benefit thereby but what former is hereby written and bequeathed unto her shall be at the disposal of my other executor among my aforesaid children according to the discretion at their several ages of one and twenty years of age, and if my said wife shall after my decease marry again or dye and the said William Poole shall dye before my said children attain their severall ages of one and twenty years I nominate and Appoint my very good friend Henry Taylor of Queenstreet….?….?….? executor of this my will to …? I give the same power in every respect as I have before given the said William Poole. I desire him to act accordingly I give and bequeath unto him the summe of forty shillings to be delivered unto him within one year after he hath taken upon him to be executor of this my will. Item I give and bequeath unto my brother John Sanford if he liveth to return from Sea my great seal ringe with my coat of arms ingraven upon it. And lastly my will and mind is that the revenues and profits of all my estate shall be and goe to the maintaining and bringing up of my said wife and children until my said wife shall marry again and afterwards the said revenues and profits shall be and goe to the maintaining and bringing up of my said children and upon further……..?I give the said William Poole the summe of thirty shillings to make his ………? In witness whereof to my last Will and Testament contained in two sheets of paper to the first whereof I have set only my name but to this the last my name and seal with coat of arms the sixteenth day of October in the year of the rayne of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second by the grace of God King of England of the ………….? 1677. Robert Sanford signed sealed and published and declared to be the Last Will and Testament of the above named Robert Sanford ( Can’t make out the next bit which is something to do with Henry Sanford and respective ages of one and twenty years).

Witnesses William Royce Margaret ….? and  Jn. Wade

 

Probate granted to Elizabeth Sanford the relict of the deceased May ? 1688