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Kent
WILL OF JAMES HULKES
PROB 11/952
Will made 16 June 1768
Will proved 8 November 1769
Extract
page 2 line 7 – page 3 line 45
“..Whereas I have now standing in my name in the books of the South Sea Company the sum of two
thousand pounds Old South Sea Annuities Now I do hereby declare that the sum of five hundred and
fifty pounds part of the said sum of two thousand pounds Old south Sea Annuities is the property of
my sister Elizabeth Prescott of Strood aforesaid widow and that I am only a Trustee to her of the same
and I do hereby will order and direct that my Executors hereinafter named shall and do within Month
next after my decease transfer the said sum of five hundred and fifty pounds Old South Sea Annuities
unto my said Sister Elizabeth Prescott if she shall require the same or in case of her death at the time
of my decease to her executors administrators or assigns Also I give and bequeath to my said sister
Elizabeth Prescott the Legacy or sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain and the
Furniture of the chamber wherein she now lies and I do hereby forgive acquit and discharge my said
Sister Elizabeth Prescott for all board and all other debts accounts and reckonings whatsoever which
she my said sister shall or may owe my at the time of my decease Also I give and bequeath unto
Penelope Hall niece of my late wife Sarah Hulkes and daughter of her late brother Elkinton Hall
deceased all my said late wife’s wearing apparel of all sorts and kinds and all her child bed linnen of
every kind and also the sum of ten pounds of lawful money of Great Britain to be paid her by my
executors immediately after my decease for mourning and I do hereby forgive acquit and discharge the
said Penelope Hall for all board cloathing and education to the day of my death Also I give unto
Roberta Toller widow of my late cousin Thos Toller late of Chatham in the said County of Kent
shipwright deceased the legacy or sum of fifty pounds of like lawful money also I give to Mary Toller
sister of the said Thomas Toller the legacy or sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money also I
give to Susanna Harrold the wife of ------- Harrold a Gunner in the Royal Navy and daughter of the
said Thomas Toller the legacy or sum of fifty pounds of like lawful money also I give and bequeath
unto my kinsman Thomas Hearnden of Maidstone son of my late cousin Amos Hearnden late of
Boughton Monchelsea in the said county of Kent Taylor and Ursula his wife the legacy or sum of one
hundred pounds of like lawful money also I give and bequeath unto Ann Wise widow and unto Amy
Jernan the wife of John Jernan sisters of the abovenamed Thomas Hearneden the legacy or sum of
fifty pounds apiece of like lawful money Also I give and bequeath unto my kinswoman Mary Hulkes
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late of Strood aforesaid but now of Linton in the said county spinster daughter of Richard Hulkes late
of Boughton Monchelsea aforesaid blacksmith deceased the legacy or sum of fifty pounds of like
lawful money Also I give and bequeath unto my kinswoman Ann the wife of William Hurt and
daughter of the said Richard Hulkes deceased the legacy or sum of fifty pounds of like lawful money
Also I give and bequeath unto Richard Hurt son of the said Ann Hurt the legacy or sum of fifty pounds
of like awful money to be paid to him at his age of twenty one years Also I give and bequeath unto my
cousin Gabriel Barham of Chatham aforesaid bricklayer son of my late cousin Ursula Barham
deceased the legacy or sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money Also I give and bequeath
unto James Hearnden son of my kinsman Richard Hearnden late of Strood aforesaid baker deceased
the legacy or sum of fifty pounds of like lawful money Also I give and bequeath unto my friends and
acquaintance Philip Boghurst and Charles Arnold late of Frinsbury in the said county of Kent
gentleman the legacys or sums of ten guineas apiece of like lawful money Also I give to the poor
parishioners of the parish of Strood the sum of fifty pounds of like lawful money which I direct shall
be paid within one month next after my decease into the hands of the Minister or Curate and
Churchwardens of the parish of Strood aforesaid at the time of my decease to be distributed and given
away by them to and amongst such poor parishioners of the parish of Strood aforesaid who do not
receive alms of the said parish in such manner parts and proportions as they the Minister or Curate and
Churchwardens shall think fit Also I give devise and bequeath all that my Water Mill Mill House and
the Stable Granary Outhouses Marsh Land and Mill ponds thereunto belonging with their
appurtenances situate lying and being in Strood aforesaid which I hold by lease from the Dean and
Chapter of Rochester and all my time and term of years therein and all right and benefit of renewal of
the said lease unto my said friends and acquaintance Philip Boghurst and Charles Arnold …………..
upon the several trusts nevertheless ..”
page 5 line 1 – 23
“..Also I give to my friend and acquaintance Richard Perdrige of the City of Rochester one of the
Aldermen of the same city the legacy or sum of ten guineas Also I give to my late servant John Barnes
the legacy or sum of twelve pounds of like lawful money Also I give to Mary Buggs my servant the
legacy or sum of twenty guineas Also I give to Mary wife of William Hill who was servant to me
many years the legacy or sum of five guineas Also I give to John Huggins of Hoo in the said county
of Kent farmer the legacy or sum of fifty pounds but I declare that this bequest shall not extinguish
any rent or arrears of rent which he shall owe to me at the time of my death Also I give to John
Huggins Ann Huggins Sarah Huggins Thomas Huggins James Huggins Mary Huggins and William
Huggins the seven children of the said John Huggins by Elizabeth his late wife deceased the several
legacies or sums of forty pounds each amounting in the whole to the sum of two hundred and eighty
pounds which said several legacies of forty pounds apiece which I direct my executors to pay to them
at the times of their severally attaining their respective ages of twenty one years …”
page 5 line 30 – page 6 line 10
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“.. Also I give devise and bequeath all that my portion of tythes issuing or payable out of the farm
called the Temple Farm in Strood aforesaid or out of any other lands near thereunto adjoining which
was given in and by the last will and testament of John Lampard late of Strood aforesaid gentleman
deceased and which he held by lease from the said Dean and Chapter of Rochester and all my time and
term of years therein and all right and benefit of renewal of the said lease unto my said kinsman James
Hulkes his executors administrators and assigns absolutely Also I give devise and bequeath all that my
messuage and tenements and farm with the barn stables outhouses edifices and buildings and several
pieces or parcels of land to the said farm belonging situate and being in Moke Street in the parish of
Frinsbury aforesaid and in the parishes of Higham and Cliffe near Gravesend in the said county of
Kent and which I lately purchased of the said John Lampard deceased with all and every the rights
members hereditaments and appurtenances thereof (save and except one piece or parcel of arable land
of about five acres part of the said farm and lands lying in Frinsbury near a certain pond there called
Maysele pond between the said pond and a certain hill there called Gadshill and on the north east side
of the Great Road there leading from Rochester to Gravesend which piece or parcel of land I have
agreed to give in marriage with the said Penelope Hall to and with Mr David Day all which said
messuage or tenement farm lands and premises late were in the tenure or occupation of William Heard
his assigns or undertenants but now are in the tenure possession or occupation of the said John
Huggins the father his assigns or undertenants unto my said kinsman James Hulkes..”
page 6 line 44 - page 7 line 46
“ ..And whereas on the marriage of my said kinsman James Hulkes with Ann Curling of Strood
aforesaid spinster I settled by indenture quadripartite bearing date on or about the tenth day of January
one thousand seven hundred and fifty six all those my several messuages or tenements marshes marsh
grounds and appurtenances whatsoever called Newark Estate situate lying and being in Strood
aforesaid and the profits of the fair there as it hath ever immemorially and usually …… every year
kept all which said premises and the profits of the fair aforesaid held by virtue of a lease from the said
Dean and Chapter of Rochester upon the several trusts intents and purposes therein mentioned
amongst others to permit and suffer me the said James Hulkes and Sarah my late wife for and during
the term of our natural lives and the natural life of the longest liver of us to hold and enjoy the said
leasehold premises with the appurtenances and to lett and sett the same and to receive and take to our
own use and uses all and every the rents issues and profits thereof we from time to time paying the
rent in the said indenture of lease reserved and all taxes and other payments and charges issuing and
going out of the same premises and performing the several covenants in the said lease contained on the
tenants part to be done and performed Now I do hereby ratify and confirm the said settlement in all
points and respects also I give unto my said kinsman James Hulkes the legacy or sum of one hundred
pounds of lawful money of Great Britain Also I give and devise all that my fee simple or freehold
messuage or tenement with the yard backside hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging
situate lying and being in Cage Land in the parish of Strood aforesaid which I purchased of John
Pilcher unto my said kinsman Thomas Hulkes his heirs and assigns for ever Also I give devise and
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bequeath all that my messuage or tenement in Strood aforesaid wherein I lately dwelt and the
Bakehouse yard and appurtenances thereunto belonging and also all that my granary adjoining to the
said dwelling house and the ground thereunto belonging all which premises last mentioned now are in
the tenure possession or occupation of my said kinsman James Hulkes and all which said dwelling
house bakehouse grainary ground and all and singular their and every of their appurtenances I hold by
virtue of two several leases from the Dean and Chapter of Rochester and also all my time and term of
years therein severally to come and all right and benefit of renewal of the said several and respective
leases unto my said kinsman Thomas Hulkes his executors administrators and assigns absolutely
nevertheless it is my will that the said James Hulkes shall continue tenant and in possession thereof at
and under the yearly rent of twelve pounds during so long time as he himself shall remain in the said
house and premises and occupy the same himself ..”
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