Ancestors Live Here: Amanuensis Monday ~ Richard Kelsey Will

Monday, February 24, 2014

Amanuensis Monday ~ Richard Kelsey Will

Richard Kelsey is the probable brother to my 5th great-grandfather William Kelsey. I really need more documentation to know for sure. The following will is what caught my attention to the possible connection.

This is the last Will and Testament of me of Richard Kelsey of North Court in the parish of Swingfield in the county of Kent yeoman in manner following that is to say I give and bequeath unto my natural and reputed son Thomas Kelsey of the parish of Adisham in the said County yeoman my Nephew William Kelsey of North Court aforesaid yeoman and my friend Mr. George Downe of the parish of Elham in the said County Gentleman Sum of Two hundred pounds three per Centum Consolidated Bank Annuities now standing in my Name upon Trust nevertheless that they the said Thomas Kelsey William Kelsey and George Downe and the survivors and survivor of them and that Executors and Administrators of the survivor shall and do well and duly pay or cause to be paid by and out of the dividends arising upon the said two hundred pounds Stock the clear Sum of ffive pounds a year unto my niece Susanna the wife of John Hills to and for her own proper use and benefit for and during the term of her natural life by half yearly payments the first payment to begin and be made when the next half years dividends on the said Two hundred pounds shall accrue due and I do direct that the receipt and receipts of my said Niece Susanna ___ shall from time to time be a good and sufficient discharge and discharges to my said Trustees for upon said dividends not withstanding her present or any future coverture and the residue of such dividends I do direct to be paid and applied to the said Thomas Kelsey his executors administrators and assigns to and for his and their own proper use and benefit for and during the term of his natural life of my said Niece Susanna and ____ and immediately after her decease then upon Trust and I do give and bequeath the said _____ ___ Two hundred pounds Stock unto the said Thomas Kelsey and to his Executors Administrators and assigns to and for his and their own proper use and benefit also I give and bequeath unto my Niece Elizabeth the wife of Thomas Richards the sum of fifty pounds of lawful money of Great Britain and I give and bequeath unto my Nephew John Kelsey and Edward Kelsey and to Margaret the daughter of the said Thomas Richards by my said niece Elizabeth his wife the

sum of Ten pounds a piece of like lawful Money which said last named four Legacies I do direct to be paid and payable within three Months next after my decease and also I give devise and bequeath unto the said Thomas Kelsey all and every my Messages Lands Tenements and hereditaments and the rest residue and remainder of all and every my Monies and Securities for Money and all other my real and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever that I shall be possessed of Interested in or intitled unto at the time of my decease To hold all the same unto him the said Thomas Kelsey and to his heirs and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint the said Thomas Kelsey solo Executor of this my will hereby revoking all former and other wills by me at any time or times heretofore made and declared this to be my last will and Testament In witness whereof I the said Richard Kelsey the Testator have to this my last will and Testament set my hand and Seal the sixth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight Richard Kelsey Signed sealed published and declared by the said Richard Kelsey the Testator as ad for his last will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other do hereunto subscribe our Names as witnesses Ann Moon, Will: Moon, Wm Knocker

There are a few words I just could not make out, hence the blanks. This will may have supplied a few answers, but of course it has also left me with a few questions. The nephews and nieces that Richard names, William, Susanna, John, Edward and Elizabeth, were all baptized in Swingfield, Kent, England the children of William and Susannah (my 5th great-grandparents). Well, Susanna, John and Edward's mother is listed as Sarah for some reason. So I am calling my 5th great-grandmother "Sarah Susannah". Susanna was the oldest born 1751 and Edward was the youngest born 1766.

The thing that puzzles me the most is that he did not mention their brother Richard Kelsey (1756-820) my 4th great-grandfather, at all. It's most likely that the father William named him Richard after his brother. Did they have a falling out? Curious minds want to know! This seems to be the only Kelsey family in Swingfield at the time.

The witness William Moon was also a bondsman for the marriage of William Kelsey to Ann Gammon Nov 1793 in Swingfield. So I have a feeling that Mr. Moon is connected to them somehow. Coincidentally my Richard's mother-in-law was Elizabeth Moon.

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