A SELECTION OF 17 DEEDS RELATING TO THE COUNTY OF KENT (1496 - 1903)

 


DOVER - 1496-1497

Bargain and Sale by Henry Balgey of Dover, in the county of Kent, to Sir Edward Ponyngs, Knight, William Maren and William Newton, of all his lands, meadows and pasture lying within the liberty of the port of Dover or elsewhere in Kent... TO HAVE AND TO HOLD to them and their heirs and assigns forever.

Dated the last day of May 12 Henry VII.

The witnesses are Edward Balgey, John Stephyn, John Pecok and others.

 

SANDWICH - 1532

Feofment by Robert Manfelde of Sandwich, in the county of Kent, saddler, to Thomas Alcom of Sandwich, gentleman, of 3 tenements and 2 gardens in the parish of St Mary in Sandwich, bounded by the lane called Sereslane to the west, the lane called Geldcontlane to the north, a tenement of John Gas(on?) and a garden of the said Thomas to the east, and a tenement of William Parye to the south... on condition that Thomas Alcock pays Robert £5 on 29th September next, and another £5 on 24th June following; if part or all of these payments remain unpaid eight days after the due date, Robert can re-enter and re-possess the property.

Dated at Sandwich 1st July 1532.

Attached to the seal tag is a seal, in red wax, bearing the impression of the letter (R?)

The witnesses to the livery of seisin are Thomas Wingfield, Esquire, John Igulden, John Strode, Oliver Stumyll, Michael Wyer, Roger Alcock and John Thomas of Sandwich.
The witnesses to the first payment are John Igulden, writer hereof, and Richard Lewes of Sandwich.
The witnesses to the second payment are Richard Aldersley and John Stroode of Sandwich.

 

SANDWICH - 1536

Grant by Richard Butlare of Sandwich, Jurat, son and heir of John Butlare, formerly Jurate of Sandwich, to Sir Edward Ryngelye of Sandwich of a vacant piece of ground, formerly a stable or granary, in the parish of the Virgin Mary, Sandwich, in the lane called Paynes Lane, bounded by this lane to the west, a tenement called le Castill Flynt and a stable formerly of John Langley and now of Sir Edward Ringleye to the north, and other lands acquired by Sir Edward Ringelye to the east and south.

Dated at Sandwich 10th June 1536. The seal in red wax is cracked, bearing a non-heraldic impression ‘per me Ricud Butlar’.

The witnesses are Thomas Thorne and Thomas Goodbarne, bochers of Sandwich, John Salmon, clerk, then constable of Sandwich.

 

HYTHE - 1706

Indenture of Mortgage dated 28th October 1706 BETWEEN Richard Kennett of the town and port of Hythe in the county of Kent, glazier, of the one part, and Thomas Tournay of Hythe, gentleman, of the other part... WITNESSETH that the said Richard Kennett in consideration of £40 HATH granted bargained and sold demised and to farm let unto the said Thomas Tournay ALL that his messuage or tenement with the outhouses, shop, backside, garden and yards... lying in the west ward of the said town, bound to the Queen’s street there toward the south, to the messuage and garden of Mr Daniel Forman, late Vicesimus Gibson, towards the east and north, and to the malthouse and graden now or late of Valentine Tournay towards the west and north... and now in the tenure or occupation of the said Richard Kennett or his assigns... TOHAVE ANED TO HOLD unto the said Thomas Tournay for the term of 500 years... yielding and paying therefore 1 pepper corn... PROVIDED always subject redemption upon payment of £41.4.0 on 29th April next....

Attached is a paper schedule of ‘writings remaining in my hands and left by Richard Kennett with his mortgage. A lease dated 1694 and a mortgage dated 1683 and indenture of assign ment of mortgage 1694.

Signed by Richard Kennett.

Attached to the seal tag is a seal with an indistinct devise and legend.

The witnesses are Robert Tournay and Thomas Clement.

Endorsed:
I ackonowledge to have received of Richard Kennett the full of all interest due on this mortgage, 28th October 1710. Received 28th February 1712 of Richard Kennett the amount the full of all interest due on this mortgage to this present day and also £20 in part of the principal money, so there remains due however the sum of £20 more.


WILL - 1713

Will of Richard Kennett dated 7th September 1713, senior, glazier of Hythe, in the county of Kent.... he orders that his wife Ellen take upon her the trouble of being his sole executrix, andf that she live in and enjoy the house as her own during the whole term of her life. He orders all his moveable goods to be apprized and Ellen his wife to pay all his debts, as far as she can, with the same and the remainder of what is in her custody to be hers during the whole term of her life. He orders his son George Kennett to have and enjoy all his shop tollers (?)...etc. He orders after his wife’s decease that the house to be prized to the biggest value and sold, and the money devided in three parts to each child of Richard Kennett in equal parts, viz to Richard Kennett one part, to George Kennett and his daughter Mary Kennett one part, and and to be equal and further if George Kennett shall settle himself in the town of Hythe to dwell after the decease of his mother, and to be in capacity he may pay unto his brother Richard in one year and one day after the decease of his mother unto Richard Kennett his elder brother his part in two years. If he is unable to pay then the house to be sold and the money equally divided between them. Dated 8th September 1713.

He wills his wife Ellen to enjoy all his moveables and sell any in order to pay his debts. After her death what remains to be divided between George Kennett and Mary Kennett. There is a £20 mortgage on the house and £10 belongs to Richard Kennett junior and £10 to Richard Kennett senior.

Signed by Richard Kennett.

The witnesses are John Carr, William Down, Stephen Lanefield.

Probate was granted 23rd October 1714.

 

KENT - 1728

Indenture of Lease for a Year dated 25th December 1728 BETWEEN John Wellen of the city of Canterbury, in the county of Kent, postman (one of the grandsons and devisees in and by the last will and testament of Margaret Wellen of Margate in the Isle of Thanet, widow, deceased) of the one part and Francis Dixon of Margate, barber and periwig maker, of the other part... of ALL that one small messuage or tenement and kitchen and all that undivided full equal moiety or half part... of and in one hayloft ... (lacking)...

Signed by John Welling and Mary Welling (sic)

Attached to the sealfold is a seal, in red wax, c ½ dia, bearing the impression of a profile facing the left.

The witnesses are Mark Cornthwaite and John Sayers.

 

BUCKLAND NEXT DOVER - 1738

Indenture being an Assignment of a Lease dated 23rd December 1738 BETWEEN Charles Wellard of Lincoln’s Inn, in the county of Middlesex, gentleman, of the one part, and Elizabeth Cheater of the town and port of Dover, in the county of Kent, widow,of the other part... WHEREAS the most Reverend father in God William, late Archibishiop of Canterbury, by his indenture of Lease dated 24th May 1735... did demise, grant etc unto the said Charles Wellard ALL THAT piece of wood known by the name of Priory Wood, lying and being in Barham, in the county of Kent, containing 12 acres, and then in the occupation of Charles Wellard, adjoining to a great wood of the said Archibishop called Covert Wood South, and to the woodlands then or then late of James Collins towards the west, and to woodlands of the heirs of Wittingham Wood towards the east, and north, and one piece of meadow or pasture ground, lying and being in Buckland next Dover aforesaid, adjoining to the river there south and west, and to the lands then or then late of one Mr Richards towards the east, and also one parcel of arable land, containing by estimation 6 acres, lying and being in Buckland, in a field then of Robert Hatton towards the eas,t west, north and south, and then or late in the occupation of the widow White of Dover, which said two pieces of land in Buckland are now in the tenure or occupation of Mr William Pilcher of Dover TO BE HAD HOLDEN etc unto the said Charles Wellard... for the term of 21 years... under the yearly rent of 4d for the woodlands, 2/- for the said meadow and plats and 8/- for the said arable land, by equal quarterly payments... AND WHEREAS the said Charles Wellard hath agreed for the sale of the said two piecesm of land in Buckland... and to keep the said 12 acres of wood to his own use... NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH that in consideration of £60... the said Charles Wellard HATH bargained, sold, assigned.... the said two pieces of land unto the said Elizabeth Cheater... IN TRUST nevertheless to the only use and behoof of Rebecca Lymbery of Dover, an infant of about 14 years... for all the residue of the term of 21 years... and it is covenanted... that the said lease shall be surrendered and renewed when the same shall be thought necessary... in the name of Charles Wellard.

Signed by Charles Wellard.

Attached to the seal fold is the major portion of a seal bearing the impression of a device that incorporated the initials C W.

The witnesses are Robert Wellard and Richard Andrews.


WILL - 1746

Will of William Hunt of Rodmersham in the county of Kent, yeoman,... Bequests to his kinswoman Sarah, the wife of George Stafford of Chatham, in the county of Kent, labourer £30. To his kinswoman Sarah, the wife of Thomas Leazleton of East Malling in Kent, collarmaker, £10. To his kinsman John Hunt (the grandson of his brother John Hunt, deceased) now an apprentice to a barber and perukemaker at Sheerness in Kent, £5. To be paid to him when he arrives at the age of 24 years. To his kinsman Batchelor Hunt of Bredgar in Kent, labourer, £5. To the poor of Rodmersham 40/- to be paid at the discretion of the minister and churchwardens of the parish. As to the residue of his real and personal estate, he bequests this to his son in law Thomas Argar of Faversham in Kent, house carpenter and to his kinsman Jeffery Dowle of Tunstal in Kent, butcher. Thomas Argar and said Geoffery Dowle appointed executors of the will. Dated 8th September 1746.

Signed by William Hunt.

The witnesses are John Seale, William Smith and Anne Hyder.

The probate was granted 13th January 1746.


LOWER DEAL - 1748

Indenture, being a Lease for a Year, dated 20th October 1748 BETWEEN John Paramor of Eastry in the county of Kent, esquire, and John Hawker of the town and port of Sandwich, in the county of Kent, of the one part, and Hester Boddys of the town and port of Deal, in the said county, widow, administratix of the goods and chattels of Henry Boddys, late of Deal, mariner, her late husband, deceased, of the other part... WITNESSETH that in consideration of 5/-.. she HATH bargained and sold... ALL those 4 perches and ¾ of a perch of Capstone Ground (being part and parcel of 11 perches of Capstone Ground, formerly demised to Nathaniel Yarnold), lying and being in Lower Deal in Deal, abutting to the sea there towards the east, to the beach street there towards the west, to a lane there towards the north and to other part of the said Capstone Ground of them the said John Paramor and John Hawker demised to Thomas Middleton and Robert Stone towards the south... which said 4 perches etc are now in the tenure or occupation of the said Hester Boddys.... TO HAVE AND TO HOLD.. for the term of one year.

Signed by John Paramor and John Hawker.

Attached to the seal fold are two seals, in red wax, bearing the worn impression of a momogram.

The witnesses are Thomas Ritz(?) and John Atwell.


BRASTED – 1748

Indenture dated 20th April 1748 BETWEEN John Godfrey of Lympsfield, in the county of Surrey, gentleman, of the first part, and John Hayward of Chelsham in the same county, gentleman, of the other part... WITNESSETH that the said John Godfrey in consideration of the yearly rent hereinafter reserved... HATH demised, leased and to farm let ALL those two pieces or parcels of land, containing by estimation 5 acres, situated at or near a certain place called Whistlers Green, in the parish of Brasted, in the county of Kent, now or late in the tenure or occupation of Richard Erridge.... bounding to the King’s highway leading from Westerham to Hever to the west, and in part south to the lands of Francis Woodgate, clerk, to the east and in part south, and to the lands late of Christopher Eldridge, and now of ----- to the North... TO HAVE AND TO HOLD for the term of 21 years... yielding and paying therefore £3 per annum.

Signed by John Hayward.

Attached to the seal fold is a seal, in red wax, bearing the impreesion of a vessel approaching harbour.

The witnesses are William Staple and Thomas Wilson.

 


MILTON NEXT SITTINGBOURNE - 1772

Indenture dated 1st July 1772 BETWEEN Robert Gartside of Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, merchant, of the one part, and John Smart of Gillingham, yeoman, of the other part....WITNESSETH that in consideration of the yearly rent hereinafter reserved and covenants agreed etc... HE HATH demised, let etc... ALL that messuage or tenement, outhouse, backside or garden and 6 pieces of pasture land, containing together 50 acres... AND ALSO ALL that piece of ozier ground, containing by estimation 2 acres to the said messuage belonging, situated in the parish of Milton next Sittingbourne at or near a certain place there called Owre, now in the tenure or occupation of the said John Smart (excepting timber rights)... TO HAVE AND TO HOLD from the feast of St Michael the Archangel next for 7 years, paying at or near the Guildhall of London £45 at the usual two feast days, over and above a further rent of £5 for every acre..

 

RECEIPT - 1835

Received 3rd July 1835 the sum of £40 in cash for our part or share of the land left by our father at our ohter’s death - which time our part or share shall be the property of Samson Darby our brother £40.

Signed by John Philpot and Mary Philpot (in the same hand).

The witnesses are Henry Smith and Thomas Hougham.

 

RECEIPT - 1835

Received 6th April 1835 the sum of £40 cash for our part or share of the land left by our father at our mother’s death which time our part or share shall be the property of Samson Darby, our brother.

Signed by Thomas Pettman and Ann Pettman.

Endorsed: The names that were agreeable to Ann Pettman to receive this: Henry Darby, Eliza and Sackett Darby, John Philpot and Mary Philpot.



DEAL - 1858

Indenture dated 19th March 1858 BETWEEN Thomas Burton of Deal, in the county of Kent, builder, of the 1st part, Robert George Hayman of Deal, builder, of the 2nd part, and Henry Wise Harvey, Edmund Thompson and Edward Francis Stratton Reader (trustees of a benefit building society called the Deal and Walmer and East Kent Benevolent Building and Investment Society established according to the provision of an Act of the 6th and 7th years of the eign of King William IV) of the 3rd part... WHEREAS the board of directors of the said society have agreed at the joint rerquest of the said Thomas Burton and Robert George Hayman to advance him the said Thomas Burton... £75 in respect of his shaws No 868 and 869 in the books of the said society upon having the repayment thereof secured in manner hereinafter contained... NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH that in consideration of £75... the said Thomas Burton... DOTH grant, bargain, sell etc ... ALL THAT MESSUAGE or tenement and the yard and ground thereunto belonging, situated in George Street (formerly known in Sun Court) in Lower Deal, abutting to an alley there to the west, to George Street aforesaid to the west, to premises formerly of George Clark and now or late of William Hart to the north, and to other premises of the said George Clark, and now or late of widow Rose to the south, formerly in the occupation of William Wilkes Kirkalder, since of William Morris, late of George Hill, and now of Richard Dodd... AND ALSO all that messuage or tenement with the buildings thereto adjoining and belonging, situated in Lower Deal, formerly in the tenure or occupation of John Mackney, since of Thomas Mackney, late of James Rose and now of ------ sic chamberlain, abutting to a messuage and premises of John Perch, and now of George Millgate to the east and south, to premises heretofore of George Clark, and now of Michael Bayly, and to an alley there to the west, and to another alley there to the north... TO HAVE AND TO HOLD.. unto the said Henry Wise Harvey et al.

Signed by Thomas Burton, Robert George Hayman, ----- Harvey, Edmund Thomson, and Edward F S Reader.

The witnesses are R J Emmerton, solicitor of Sandwich and Edmund Brown.


CANTERBURY - 1875

Indenture dated 9th October 1875 BETWEEN John Callaway and Walter Furley, both of the city of Canterbuy, solicitors, and co-partners of the one part, and William Goldsmith of the same city, sweep, of the other part... WHEREAS William Sneller, late of the city of Canterbury, grazier, deceased, being at the time of his decease seised of the hereditaments hereinafter described... for an estate of inheritance in fee simple in possession free from incumbrances duly made his last will and testament dated 15th December 1874, whereof he appointed the said John Callaway and Walter Furley joint executors, and he thereby devised all his real estate subject to any settlement he might have made in favour of his wife to the said John Callaway and Walter Furley, their executors, administrators and assigns... and upon trust to sell his real estate together or in parcels by public auction or private contract and to invest the monies to arise therefrom as therein mentioned... and the said testator empowered the trustees for the time being of that his will to give receipts of all the monies... paid... that such receipts should exonerate the persons taking the same from all liability etc... AND WHEREAS the said William Sneller died on 8th May last... AND WHEREAS the said John Callaway and Walter Furley put up the said messuage etc hereinafter described for public auction in St Margarets Street, Canterbury on 28th July, but the same were not sold, and the said John Callaway and Walter Furley had contracted with the said William Goldsmith for the sale to him of the said hereditaments... for the sum of £275 ... NOW THIS INDENTURE WITHNESSETH the sale to the said William Goldsmith of ALL that brick built messuage or tenement erected and built by Thomas Pettman, deceased, on part of a certain slip or other piece of ground, containing by estimation 5 perches, with the garden (containing 3 roods), yard, backsides etc, lying and being in the parish of the Blessed Mary of Northgate, in Canterbury, which said cottage is now or was late in the occupation of ----- (sic) Iddenden, and the said piece of ground is held by Alfred Lacey under a lease for 14 years from 11th October 1869... TO HAVE AND TO HOLD forever.
It is covenanted to produce an indenture made 2nd January 1800 between the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Cantebruy of the 1st part, the Right Honble William Lord Auckland, the Right Honble Sylverster Douglas of the 2nd part and Robert Nightingale of the 3rd part...

Signed by John Callaway, William Furley and William Goldsmith.

The witness is Walter J White, clerk to Messrs Callaway and Furley.

 

LETTER OF ATTORNEY - Undated

This is to certify that I Henry Darby, son of William Darby and Susanna Darby of St Lawrence in the county of Kent authorize my brother John Darby of Broadstairs to receive my 7th part of the land or the sum arising from the same for value received of him under the terms of my father’s will and to sign my conveyance or writings required of me concerning the same.

Siged by Henry Darby

The witness is Edward St---- (lacking)

On the dorse: witness your hand William Chitty and Mr Edward Stappel(?)

 

HIGHAM - 1903

Indenture dated 3rd June 1903 BETWEEN James John Stokes and Adrian Beatson Stokes, both of No 101 Borough High Street, Southwark, in the county of London, solicitors of the one part, and Charles Sydney Robert of Thorncliffe, Jersey Road, Strood, builder, of the other part... WHEREAS by indenture dated 2nd June 1902 between Austin Frederick Budden of Willington House, near Maidstone, in the county of Kent, esquire JP of the one part, and the said James John Stokes and Adrian Beatson Stokes of the other part, the premises hereinafter described were with other premises conveyed by the said Budden to the use of J J Stokes and A B Stokes in fee simple, subject to a proviso of redemption... on payment of £2750 wirth interest on 2nd December then next AND whereas the said J J Stokes and A B Stokes have agreed to sell the hereditaments described to the said C S Robert at a price of £400... NOW THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH that in consideration of £400....the said J J Stokes and A B Stokes as morgagees... hereby convey unto the said C S Robert... ALL that piece of land situated in the parish of Higham in the county of Kent... as the property is better described in a certain indenture of conveyance dated 20th July 1882 made between John Howell Ball of the first part and Thomas Tuff of the second part and A F Budden of the third part... TO HOLD unto the use of the said C S Robert in fee simple.

Signed by J J Stokes and A B Stokes.

The witnesses are Henry J Doxson, clerk to Messrs Hawks, Stokes and Son, solicitors.