Scope and Content
:- To the poor the following sums:- Wheathampstead £5, Harpenden 40s., Welwyn 20s., Codicote 20s., St. Stephen where testator was born, and where he wishes to be buried by his mother Rose Woolley, 40s., Campton, Beds., 20s.; Rent charges of 10s. p.a. for the poor of each of the above except Harpenden to be charged on lands in the parish, and paid to the churchwardens and overseers for bread on 5 April (testator's birthday); To trustees, for boys named Kentish or relatives, as follows:- Trustees:- Godman Jenkyn esq., Robt. Jenkyn gent., Jn. Nichols of Elstree, Wm. Knowlton, Thos. Kentish jr.; Property:- Messuage, tenement and farm in Campton & Meppershall, Beds., lately purchased of Major Ventris; charged however with 10s. for poor as above; Trusts:- Trustees to have £10 for their care; Residue to be applied towards the maintenance, education and binding out apprentice of 4 boys whose names are Kentish, "until such time as they are bound out apprentice or otherwise advanced in the world", as the trustees shall think fit; If 4 boys named Kentish cannot be found, "as many others of my near relations" as shall make up the number; if a boy dies, or is bound apprentice, another is to be similarly selected in his place, "so as from time to time there may be always 4 boys so to be brought up;" Appointment of trustees:- The existing trustees shall, when one or more of them dies, appoint 6 or more new trustees. When the present trustees and 3 of the new trustees die, the survivors shall appoint new ones accordingly; and so on, as 3 or more trustees die, the survivors shall appoint 3 or more new ones;
To relations and others:-
To w. Anne during widowhood an annuity of £20 p.a. from the messuage and farm called the Crosse & 160 a. in Wheathampstead and Harpenden;
To Eliz. Knowlton, wid., dau. of bro-in-law Robt. Jenkyn, and to her sis. Rose Hull, annuities of £10 each;
To Neh. Knowlton, s. of Eliz., an annuity of £10 till age 16, also a sum for his apprenticeship; this and the foregoing to be charged on a messuage and farm in Codicote & Welwyn, & on a hop-ground, pasture & wood lately purchased of Jn. Poyner; lands as follows:- To Thos. Kentish (to whom also residue of goods), s. of late bro. Robt. dcd., and then entailed to his sons, freehold lands, and also copyhold lands already surrendered to use of will, as follows:- Messuage & farm called the Crosse, with land, pasture & wood; Messuage & farm called Aries End; Cutts closes & Wood Field; Messuage & farm in Codicote & Welwyn; Hop-ground & pasture lately purchased of Jn. Poyner; Messuage & tenement in St. Stephen's parish occ. Jas. Freeman; wood in own possession; Trustees for foregoing: Mich. Nicholls of Aldenham & Jos. Carter of St. Michael's; Remainder to Thos. and then Robt. Kentish, sons of Robt. Kentish of Waterdell, and their sons; To Wm. Kentish Nicholls (s. of Thos. dcd.) a copyhold messuage and lands in Bushby, Herts., lately purchased of Fra. Ligoe; then to his bros. Jn., Jas., Jos., Mich., Godman, Sam.; Remainder to Robt. Kentish, s. of Robt. Kentish of Waterdell; Monetary bequests to: Rose Hull, dau. of Rose Hull; Rose Knowlton, dau. of Eliz. Knowlton; and to the other grandchildren of Robt. & Rose Jenkyn; to the children of Thos. & Mary Nicholls; to Thos. Kentish, s. of Robt. of Waterdell; Money for mourning and for ring to: W. Anne, cous. Godman Jenkyn & w. Sar., Mary w. of Thos. Nicholls dcd., Robt. Jenkyn & w. Sar., Jn. Nicholls & w. Mary, Eliz. wid. of Neh. Knowlton, Daniel Hull & w. Rose, Thos. Child; Money for mourning only to: Thos. Knowlton & w., Wm. Knowlton, Thos. Kentish s. of bro. Robt.; Household goods etc.: To w. Anne goods & chattels had with her at marriage; Furniture in the chamber over the new kitchen in testator's new dwelling-house, and in the garret over the kitchen chamber; 6 pr. flaxen sheets; 6 flaxen pillow-beres; 2 flaxen table-cloths; 1½ doz. flaxen napkins; 3 "towen" table-cloths; 2 doz. "towen" napkins; all the diaper napkins; and the little nag she usually rides on; Rest of diaper linen & household goods unbequeathed to be shared between w. Anne and Sar., w. of Godman Jenkyn; Mary, wid. of Thos. Nicholls; Rose, w. of Dan. Hull; & Eliz., wid. of Neh. Knowlton; To each servt. £10 apiece; Funeral: £200 to be spent, and a very good stone put over bro.'s grave and another over own grave; also a tomb-stone on wall of church suitably inscribed; Exors.: Godman Jenkyn & Jn. Nicholls; Witn. Jn. Leigh sr. & jr., Gravely Hurst. 15 September 1711 Pr.22 September 1712.
Marginal pencilled notes: Thos. Kentish (main legatee) = "grandfather of the present Mr. John"; his e.s. Thos. d. 1790 without issue; next son Robt. d. 1787 without issue; and against the entries 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th sons are written respectively: "the late Mr. Jn.", "Mr. Matt.", "Mr. Wm.", "Mr. Joshua".