Robert Pettman

  General Notes:

On Gravestone:

"Here lyeth buried the body of Mr Robert Petman late of this parish. He died September the 23 1738 aged 63 years.
Here also lyeth the body of Elizabeth Petman wife of the said Robert Petman. She died May 30 1742 Aged 69.
On their left hands lay the Bodys of Eight Children of the above Robert anbd Elizabeth."

The will of Robert Pettman:

In the Name of God Amen. I Robert Pettman the Elder of the parish of Holy Cross Westgate near and without the Walls of the City of Canterbury in the County of Kent Tanner being in an ill state of health but of sound perfect and disposing mind memory and understanding God be praise therefore do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in writing and fforme following (that is to say) ffirst and principally I recommend my soul to God and my body to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named and as for all such wordly estate as it hath pleased God to bestow on me I dispose thereof as followeth Imprimis

I give and devise unto Elizabeth my well beloved Wife all and singular my Messuages Tenements Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever with the appurtenances situate lying and being in the aforesaid Parish of Holy Cross Westgate near and without the walls of the City of Canterbury in the said County of Kent and also all those my five pieces or parcels of land arable pasture and wood with the appurtenances containing together in the whole by Estimation three and thirty acres more or less lying and being in the parish of Saint Cosmas and Damien in the Bleane in the aforesaid County of Kent and now in the several Tenures or occupations of the said Robert Pettman and of Henry Cullen or of us and our Assigns and also all that annuity or yearly Rent charge of four pounds by the year which will from and after the decease of the said Thomas Lane become due and payable to me and my heirs forever out of a certain estate in the parish of Bonnington in the said County of Kent to have and to hold all and singular the said Messuages Tenements Lands annuity or Rent charge Hereditaments and premises with their and every of their appurtenances unto the said Elizabeth my Wife and her Assigns for and during the Term of her natural Life

and from and immediately after the Decease of the said Elizabeth my Wife I give and devise all and singular my aforsd Messuages Tenements and Premises with their and every Hereditaments and premises unto my nephew Robert Petman and his assigns for and during the term of his natural Life and from and after the Determination of that life and from and after the Determination of that estate I give and devise the same unto Edward Andrew of Hinkshill in the said County of Kent Gentleman and his heirs for and during the life of my said hephew Robert Pettman in Trust to preserve the contingent Remainders and Estates hereafter therof limited and appointed from being dep(l)eated or destroyed and for that purpose to make entrys and bring actions as occasion shall require but nevertheless to permit and suffer my said nephew Robert Pettman to take and receive the Rents Issues and profits therof to his own use during his natural Life

and from and immediately after the decease of my said nephew Robert Pettman I give and devise all and singular the aforesaid Messuages Tenements Lands annuity or Rent Charge hereditaments and premises with their appurtenances unto all and every child and children of my said nephew Robert Pettman equally to be divided between them If more than one child as Tenants on common and not as joint tenants and to the heirs of the Body and Bodys of all and every such child and children lawfully to be begotten and if any such children shall happen to dye without issue then I give and devise the part and share and parts and shares of such child and children dying without issue unto the survivors and survivor of such children equally to be divided as aforesaid and to the heirs of the Body and Bodies of such survivors or survivor and in default of such issue Then I give and devise the part and share and parts and shares of such child and children so dying without issue unto the survivors and survivor of such children

and in default of which then I give and devise all and singular the aforesaid Messuages Tenements Lands annuity or rent charge hereditaments and premises with their and every of their Appurtenances to my nephew Edward Pettman his heirs and assigns forever provided always and my mind and Will is that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Elizabeth my wife and my said nephew Robert Pettman and each of them when and as they or either of them shall come to and be in the actual possession of the said several Messuages tenements Lands and Hereditaments hereinbefore given and devises or any part thereof by virtue of any of the Devises and Limitations herein before given from time to time during their respective natural lives by any deed or deeds writing or writings under their respecrtive hands and seals to make any all or part of the aforesaid Messuages Tenements Lands and Hereditaments for any Term or numb er of years not exceeding one and twenty years so as every such lease or leases be made to take effect in possession and not in Reversion or by way of future interest and so as every such lease there be reserved during the continuance therof so much yearly rent or more as the same Messuages Tenements Tenements Lands and Hereditaments so to be demised have usually been letten for and so as such Leases be not made distinguishable of Wast anything here before contained to the contrary hereof in anywise notwithstanding

Item I do give and devise unto Elizabeth my wife her heirs and Assigns forever all and singular my messuages Tenements Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever lying and being in the severall parishes of St Mildred and All Saints in the City of Canterbury or also within the liberties of the said City in Trust nevertheless and to the end intent and purpose that the said Elizabeth my wife or her heirs shall shall and do as conveniently may be after my decease sell and dispose of all and singular the said messuages Tenements Lands hereditaments and premises last mentioned for the greatest and best that she or they can get for the same and out of the money arising by such sale shall and do pay and discharge all and every my just debts whatsoever whether the same be on Mortgage Bond simple interest or otherwise howsoever and if the money arising by such sale shall be more than sufficient to pay all my debts then and in such case I do give devise and bequeath all such money arising by such sale over and above what is sufficient to pay all my debts unto the said Elizabeth my wife or her Assigns forever but in case if the money arising by such sale shall fall short and not be sufficient to pay all my just debts in manner as aforesaid then and in such case my Mind and will is and I do hereby order devise and ordain that such deficiency shall be made up out of all my personal estate Whatsoever (After payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses and probate of this my last will) unto the said Elizabeth my Wife her Executors Administrators Assigns forever

and I do hereby make nominate ordain and appoint the said Elizabeth my wife sole Executrix of this my last will and testament and I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other wills and Testaments by me at any other time heretofore made and I do hereby publish and declare this and no other to be my last will and testament in five sheets of XXXXXIn witness I the said Robert Pettman the Elder the Testator to this my last Will and Testament in five sheets of paper contained have set my hand and seal the Sixth day of September in the Twelth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain ffrance and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred and thirty eight Robert Pettman Senr. Signed sealed published and declared by the said Robert Pettman the elder the Testator to be hi last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names hereunto as Witnesses in the presence at the request of the said Testator John Baker Ben Brook Geo: Hamond.

The above registered Will of Robert Pettman deceased was proved the third day of November 1738 before the rev: Thomas Burtenshaw clerk lawfull Surrogate to the worshipfull George Lee Doctor of Laws Official General to the Archdeacon of Canterbury lawfully registered by the oath of Elizabeth Pettman the Relict of the said deceased and Executrix herein named to whom Administration of the goods Chattels and credits of the said deceased was committed she being sworne well and truly to perform the same.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Marriage: to Elizabeth Andrews, 30 July 1700, Hinxhill, Kent.