This is an exact (insofar as I can make it and with many thanks to cousin Claudia for her help) transcription of the last will and testament of William Boorman.\u00a0 It was written the 6th of February 1819 and the handwritten version was not always easy to read.\u00a0 In addition, given the time it was written. some of the spelling and writing includes such anachronisms as \u201cfs\u201d where there is a double-s in a word, or \u201cff\u201d for a capital F.\u00a0 Punctuation was also done differently than we would today.\u00a0 With these caveats, here is the will as it was recorded:<\/p>\n
Left margin: William Boorman. 9.<\/p>\n
This is the Last Will and Testament of me<\/p>\n
William Boorman of Staplehurst in the county of Kent Wheelwright made<\/p>\n
this sixth day of ffebruary in the year of our Lord 1819 ffirst I constitute and<\/p>\n
appoint my wife Ann Boorman John Love of Wick ffarm in the parish of<\/p>\n
Headcorn in the said County ffarmer and Jefore Chainey of Staplehurst aforesaid<\/p>\n
ffarmer joint Executors of this my Will and I direct my said Executors in the first<\/p>\n
place out of my personal Estate and Effects to pay all my just Debts which I<\/p>\n
shall owe at the time of my decease and also my ffuneral Testamentary and<\/p>\n
other expenses incident to the execution of this my will and I give to my said<\/p>\n
Wife the Sum of ffive pounds to be paid to her by my said Executors in three<\/p>\n
Calendar months next after my decease and I give and bequeath to my said<\/p>\n
Wife the use and enjoyment of all my household Goods and ffurniture plate<\/p>\n
Linen and China during her life also I give to my said Wife the Interest &<\/p>\n
Dividends and annual produce of all the Residue of my Monies and Securities<\/p>\n
for Money Goods Chattels Estates and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever for<\/p>\n
her own use and benefit during the term of her natural life and from and<\/p>\n
immediately after the decease of my said Wife I give and bequeath to my<\/p>\n
Sons William Boorman David Boorman and Thomas Boorman the Sum<\/p>\n
of ffive pounds each and no more they having already had a considerable<\/p>\n
share of my property also I give and bequeath to my Daughter Ann Denman<\/p>\n
Wife of William Denman now in North America the Sum of Thirty pounds<\/p>\n
to be paid by my said Executors in twelve Calendar months next after the<\/p>\n
decease of my said Wife and it is my particular wish and desire that my Son<\/p>\n
Edward Boorman who now has the half part of my businefs of a Wheelwright<\/p>\n
should take the whole of the same at the decease of my said Wife or sooner<\/p>\n
if she shall be disposed to relinquish the same I do hereby direct my said<\/p>\n
Executors to put off my half part of my said businefs to my said Son Edward<\/p>\n
but upon such terms as my said Executors would put off the same to any &<\/p>\n
indifferent person also I give to each of my Executors the Sum of ffive pounds<\/p>\n
for their trouble in the execution of this my Will over and above all reasonable<\/p>\n
charges and expenses which they shall incur in the execution thereof and<\/p>\n
as to the remainder of my Goods Chattels monies and securities for money debts due<\/p>\n
to me and personal Estate and Effects I direct my said Executors after the decease<\/p>\n
of my said Wife to divide the same into six equal parts or shares and pay<\/p>\n
and divide five equal sixth parts or shares thereof unto and amongst my<\/p>\n
five Children next hereinafter named in manner following that is to say<\/p>\n
one equal sixth part of such residue unto my Daughter the said Anne<\/p>\n
Denman one other sixth part thereof to my Daughter Susanna Tamkin<\/p>\n
the Widow of William Tamkin one other sixth part thereof to my Daughter<\/p>\n
Jane Terry the Wife of William Terry and ^one other sixth part thereof to my Son<\/p>\n
Edward Boorman and one other sixth part thereof to my Daughter Elizabeth<\/p>\n
Boorman and to pay and divide the remaining sixth part thereof equally<\/p>\n
between Sarah Boorman and John Boorman the two Children of my late<\/p>\n
Brother<\/span> ^Son John Boorman deceased to be paid to them as they ^shall respectively arrive<\/p>\n at the age of twenty one years and I do hereby direct that my said Executors<\/p>\n shall not be answerable or accountable for any lofs which may happen of<\/p>\n my said Estate and Effects or any part thereof by bad or insufficient Security<\/p>\n or otherwise provided such lofs be not occasioned by their or either of their<\/p>\n wilful neglect or mismanagement In Witnefs whereof I the said William<\/p>\n Boorman the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament contained in<\/p>\n two sheets of paper set my hand and seal that is to say my hand to the first<\/p>\n sheet and my hand and seal to this last sheet thereof the day and year first<\/p>\n above written. Wm<\/sup> Boorman [initials LS surround by a circle] Signed Sealed published and Declared by<\/p>\n the said William Boorman the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament<\/p>\n in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnefses. Jas Ottaway<\/p>\n Staplehurst # Jas Muddle Clerk to Mr. Ottaway:\/\/.<\/p>\n Proved at London 10th<\/sup> July 1824 before the Judge by the oaths of<\/p>\n Ann Boorman Widow the Relict John Love and Jefry Chainey the Executors<\/p>\n to whom admon was granted being first sworn (by Comon) duly to administer.\/\/.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This is an exact (insofar as I can make it and with many thanks to cousin Claudia for her help) transcription of the last will and testament of William Boorman.\u00a0 It was written the 6th of February 1819 and the …<\/p>\n