Peckham
Will of Dorothy Peckham of Ash (1657)
In the name of God, Amen, I Dorothy Peckham of Ash near Farningham in the county of Kent, being weak in body, but of perfect memory and understanding, blessed be the Lord God of heaven therefore, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following.
First of all and as it is most fit, I do humbly bequeath and resign my soul into the hands of my most merciful creator, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, being verily assured that through the blessed intercession of my most gracious lord and only mediator, Jesus Christ., and through the infinite merits of that most precious satisfaction which he made for me in that one sacrifice of himself offered upon the alter of the cross, I shall receive full remission of all my sins and life eternal. Also I will and desire that my body after the departure of my spirit be decently buried in the parish church of Wrotham in the county of Kent aforesaid. according to the discretion of my executor hereafter named.
As for that proportion of outward things which it has pleased the Lord to give me, I do thus dispose of them viz. I do fully will, give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved brother Reginald Peckham esq: All that portion of money which was left unto me by my father Reginald Peckham esq, being the sum of £100, and all other moneys, goods and debts any way belonging or appurtaining unto me. Provided that my said beloved brother do give unto the poor people of Wrotham the next Sabbath day after my interment the full sum of 20 shillings in bread to be divided amongst them according to their necessity. And I do will and appoint my very dear brother Reginald Peckham esq to be the sole and only executor of this my last will and testament. And I do utterly revoke and recall? all other wills and testaments whatsoever.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 8th day of December in the year of Our Lord 1656.
(X) Dorothy Peckham
Witnesses: Thomas Morris, James Miller
Proved at London on 20 April 1657 by Reginald Peckham.
Will of Alice Peckham of Yaldham, widow (1693)
In the name of God, Amen. I Alice Peckham the widow and relict of Reginald Peckham of Yaldham in the county of Kent, esquire deceased, being of sound and perfect mind and memory, and in reasonable health, praised be Almighty God for the same, do make and ordain this my last will and testament.
Firstly, I commend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, steadfastly hoping for a joyful and blessed resurrection through the merits of Jesus Christ. And my body to be decently interred at Islington, next unto the body of Nicholas Fowler, my former husband, by my executor hereof, whom I direct to disburse £20 thereabouts.
Item: I give and devise unto my son Reginald Peckham and all such children he shall have alive at my death; and to my son in law Crane, and Anne his wife and all such children as she shall have at my death alive; and unto my grandson Edmund Fowler and all such children as she (sic) shall have alive at my death; and to every one of the children of my daughter Eliza Delaroy as shall be alive at my death - one shilling a piece.
Item: I give unto all such of the daughters of my daughter Elizabeth Hudson as shall be alive at my death - £5 amongst them in the whole.
All which legacies before mentioned are in full satisfaction of all the claims or pretences of the said legatees and every of them to all or any part of my estate at or after my death.
Lastly I give and devise unto my son Edmund Peckham, all the rest of my goods and chattels, debts and credits whatsoever. And I make the said Edmund my son sole executor of this my will. And I hereby revoke and declare void all my former wills. Witness my hand and seal the 4th day of October 1680.
(S) Alice Peckham
Witnesses: Elizabeth Allen, ?? Jones
Proved at London 31 January 1692 (=1693) by Edmund Peckham.
It seems Anne Crane tried to challenge the will on the basis of being named as executor in a later will. A note of the grant to her was subsequntly revoked by the court. Not sure why the later will was not accepted, although I note it "disannuled" the previous will which is a double negative. The will not accepted by the court is set out below:
In the name of God Amen, I Alice Peckham, widow of the parish of Bromley in the county of Kent, being of sound and perfect mind and memory, praise be therefore given to Almighty God, do make and ordain this my present last will and testament in manner and form following. That is to say, first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping through the merits, death and passion of my saviour Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my sin and to inherit everlasting life. And my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried in a private manner at the discretion of my executrix hereafter named. And touching the disposition of all such temporal estate as it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me, I give and dispose thereof as followeth. First I will that my debts and funeral charges shall be paid and discharged. Item: I give unto my son Original (sic - I think Reginald is meant) Peckham esq, the sum of 12 pence. Item: I give my son Edmund Peckham the sum of 12 pence. Item: I give my son in law Thomas Hudson the sum of 12 pence. Item: I give to my grandson Edmund Fowler esq the sum of 12 pence. Item: I give to both my granddaughters Mary and Margaret Delarroye the sum of 12 pence a piece. All the rest and residue of my personal estate, goods and chattels whatsoever I do give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Anne Gantum full and sole executrix of this my last will and testament. And I desire my body may be buried in the vaoult of the parish church of Islington in the county of Middlesex. And I do hereby revoke, disannul and make void all former wills and testaments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I the said Alice Peckham to this my last will and testament have set my hand and seal the 10th day of January 1683 (S) Alice Peckham. Sealed in the presence of Thomas Arnold, Judith Arnold, Mary Squier.
Proved at London on 10th September 1692 by Ann Crane, wife of John Crane. Note in margin says "this probate was revoked and prior will of said deceased proved in the month of January 1692 (1693).