Will of Sir Alexander Culpeper of
Bedgebury and Hardreshull

Transcribed by Charles Andrew Grigsby

The will of Alexander Colpepper, In the Name of God Amen.

The 20th day of the month of May in the year of our lord God One Thousand Four Hundred the Fourtre Second in the year of the ... ... of our Sovereign the Lord  ..... the  ... by the Grace of God .... Of..... and firmament defender of the faith Lord of Heaven and in Earth immediately under Christ suprieme head of the church of  ..... the ... ... . I Alexander Culpepper of  .....bury in the county of Kent findeth being whole of body and in good and perfect in Remembrance thanks be to God and blessed lady St Mary the saviour do so my and make this my  ..... testament and will in manner and form following, that is to say... I bequeath wise soul unto Almighty God until his blessed mother the .... our Lady St Mary and to all .... Shall .... of .... and my body to be buried in the chapel .... on the south side of the ... of .... Hearst aforesaid ... if .... prepared my tomb for one body therein to be buried in my form other place aforesaid. if the London than were one month from what. the blessed.. where that it shall please Almighty God that I shall depart from my host from this transitory life My for my body therein to be buried or in some other place ... for blessed .... . where that at .... place Almighty God that shall depart from him this transitory world. I do note that my body be buried in earth and to beat ... for at the day of my burial and at the day of my ... ... and.. Shalbe ... for a ... of my death. I find ... that ... and ... of people ... ... and .... of the day of my burial at the place ... I am to be buried ... by a thenst ... and magnitude of people. dying and .... Persons ... thereby find also.... other ... and thereby .... for the above.. thereof.. for ... and other. I give and ... by this my .... And ... of ... to.. and ... ... ... ... ... that.. my will to be ... there ... the day of my burial and I ... to be ... there the ... ... offer ... and over of ... and neither ... of.. QB ... there ... day after my burial for there ... I give up and bequeath three pounds to be ... at .... aforesaid this manner and form following that the saviour of the .... and .... ye that be there and to the ...for the form being .... and so ..... To the .... and may my .... and .... that .... in the to .... the ... in and making the grave ...sum of money.. shall be ..... .. by the .... of ....  ... and the ... of the ... three pounds to be bequest and ... therefore.. and ....  .... to pour people of the same parish ....  ... to pray for my soul my friends ... and all ....  ... . I will my .... to be .... in Cranbroke of my burial and .... to be .... the same day ..... that is to say of the of our Lady and of payments to be... the first of day after my burial for all the .... I give and bequeath forty shillings to be given and .... there the same-day and from this manner and form that is to give to the  ..... of the same parish if he be there ... ...  .....  ....  .... to the .... for the Bell and .....  ..... £000 of money as shall be. A ..... by there dysfunction of ..... find the ..... of the said sum of fourty shillings to be ..... and .... there the same day and ... ... for poor people of the same parish ..... and therefore I will my burial be ... ...  .... the same day .... and ....  ... to be ... the same day after my burial. that is to say the masses of the .... and the masses of  .... to be .... There ..... of day after my burial for the .....

I give and bequeath forty shillings to be given and ..... the same-day and .....  ....  .... for me following that is to say to the parish .....  .... and two.....  .... at that time ... ... and .....  ....  ... and two the ... ... for the bell and ... ...  .... may my ..... to ... that .... .. the .... and to the .... for the Bell ..... shall be ..... by the of my land .... the .... of the .... of ...  ... to be ... and  .... there there same day and .....  ... to poor people of the ....  ...., also shall my ..... to be .... Lamberhearst the same day and time and ..... to be .... the .... after my burial and ..... .. that is to say the of our Lady to be .... The .... after my burial and ..... of .... the same day to be .... for the .....

I will and bequeath fourty shillings and ....  .... to be .... and ....  .... that is to say to the ... ... of the  ...parish of  .... be there at that time. or two the ....  ...  ... before God and ..... to the  ... ....  .... .. for.. my .....  .... That ....  .... the the .... and to the ... ... for the bell and ..... as shall ..... by there ..... .. of my land ...pay ... ... to be ..... and ..... there the same day and ..... to be ... .... of the same parish ....  .... Also.

I will my ..... to be ..... and to be ..... and ..... to be ..... and that is to say the ..... of ... .... and the other of .... at Horsmonden, Marden, and Staplehurst and five pounds of money to be .... and .... day and form my manors and ..... at ... ...  ....  ....

I will and bequeath .... and ..... to be paid ..... for the  .... parish of Lamberhurst.

I also will  ... and .... to be paid ..... by the .... pound of money to the .... and .....  .... this for ....  ..... at the day of my demise .... My .... and .... As ..... before willed written and affirmed the day of my burial and the monies following ... ...

I will and bequeath that money ... ...  .... to pay .....  .... of them ....  ..... a hood and ..... of .... My .... and there to .....  .... This .....  ....  .... of .... A ..... all there .....  ..... for my soul ... ... .. and all .....  ..... at the day of my burial and on the manor all the ....  ... of .... The. and over objects to be .... there and in by .... at the day of my ....,,,, that postamine ... ...  ....  .... By ....  .... and ....  .... My ..... the place afornamed and the land .....  ... ... to .....  ... for payment by this ..... .. of mine .....  .....

I will that ....  ..... my land ....  .... Shall .... .. to .....  ... and settled be fully .....  .... and payed. that there .....  .... By ..... ..  .... the

I will all my debts be fully ... ... and paide  ..... that .... be made of all .... and .... far by me day of ....  ....  .... be dealt prompt before my ... ..... and of this. My ....  .... and last will.

I will that .....  ... ...  .... Shall ..... and find out .....  ....  ....  .... and pray for my soul and all my ....  ....  ....  ... for this .... chapel by the .... and .... of the after my death. and there .....  ....  ....  ... not be ..... to pay .... the said chapel, find also to pay ... ....  ..... the ... ...  .....  ... that it shall happen in there ... ... Alexander to ..... if the land to be of ... .... and ... to my .....  ..... to the ... ...  ..... for his ... ... and ... .... Thirty shillings and fourtye pence. the .....  ....  ...  .... For .... To ..... and ....  ...  .... also I bequeath unto the ....  .... .. of ....  .... For ...  ... and ...  .... have been ..... forgotten .... The ....  ....

I decrease to every .... of twenty pounds to be paid by mine executrix and ... .....  ... immediately after my death .... Margaret .... and ....two hundred pounds that is to be paid to either of my fond daughters aforesaid there marriages be so much not married. My.. one hundred pounds also I will that ....  .... .. my executrix shall ..... and ..... this for said Margaret of immediate ... and ....  ..... aforesaid in this manner and form following that is to say to the .... of the same ..... for his payment and Labour's ..... to be there put ..... and to the parish profit from being .... and to ....  ....  .... to the ... ...

Thanks ....  ...  ... ... may my .... and to ....  .... That .... .. the and two the ....  ... .. for the bell toll and .... The ... ...  .... some money an shall be thought ..... by the  .... Of ... ... ..... and the .... of the ..... three pounds to be ..... and ... .... there the same day and time.

... ..... to poor people of the same parish .... my soul to pray for my ... .... For ..... and all ... ... souls.

Followeth, I will my ... ... to be .....  .... in Cranbrooke th and the day of my burial and  ..... to be ... ...  .... the same-day and three masses that is to say of the .... of our Lady and of Requiem to be sung the next day after my burial for the .....

I give and bequeath sum five shillings to be ..... and ... there the same-day and .... in that manner and form, that is to say to the .... of the same parish if He be there ...  .... To .... .. to the parish .... by or ....  ....  .... and to ... ... them  .... that  .... my the .... To there ..... for the bells and ..... take some of money as shall the .....  .... by her discretion of mine executorix  ....  .... The of .... The .... sum of fourty shillings to be dealt and ..... there the same-day and form ..... poor people of the same parish were. My ..... soul .... And followeth, I will my burial be a long ..... the same day and .... to be sung there the same-day and two masses that is to say the Mass of the TRYMFIC and the mass of at the Requiem to be sung there the most of the day after my burial for the .... I .... give and bequeath fourty shillings to be given and dealt there the same-day and same manner and form following that is to say to the parson of the same parish if he be there present and that time.. And to .... priest x pounds and to there ... ....  ....  ... and to ..... may ... find to ..... that .... The .... and to the .... for the pale and .... as shall be thought .... by the .... of my ....  .... and the ... ..... of the  .....  ..... of fourty shillings to be dealt and  .... there the same-day and: time for always to poor people of the same parish my ... soul.

And also, I will my .... to be Lamberhurst in the same-day and time and ... ... to be .... there for me at the day it of my burial and .... masses that is to say the mass of the Lady to be said the ..... after my burial and mass of the Requiem the same-day to be .... for the ... ...

I give and bequeath thirty shillings and .....  .... to be .... and dealt then the same-day in manner and form following that is to say to the poor of the same parish if he be there ... .... at that .... ... to the .... In ..... and so every person ... .... to this .....  ....  ....  ... ...  ....  ....  ....  .... that in the ..... . and to the ..... for the Bell and peel as shall thought .... by the .... of my .....  ..... and that the ..... of the fund pay .... to be dealt and.... there the same day and time in alms to the poor people of the same parish in ... ....  ....

Also I will my .... to be .....  .... to be said and two masses to be said and sung that is to say the one of ..... and the other of Requiem at Horsmondon, Marden and Staplehurst and sums of money to be .... and dealt in the same-day and in manner and form ..... willed.

 ... ..... and bequeathed .... And ..... to be... in the .... in the parish of Lamberhurst.

Also I were will ... ....  ..... and ..... to be paid and by the sum of money to be ..... and in ... ..... as in all this forsaid parishes and places as assigned not before willed, written and affirmed the day of my burial and the ..... following.

Followeth I also will that my executrix .... to pay .... of them a ....  .... good and ....  ... of .... My ... and .... To ...  ... this .... Hold ...  ... of them a ....  .... all the ...  ... for my soul. Friends ..... and all ....  .... of the day of my burial and on the morning all the time of the masses and all other objects to be .... there and in .... At the day of my death my ... ...  .... Paid ... ... .. attendenth and ....  .... Prayer ....  .... my heart at the place aforenamed and others said .... Further .... To ... for payment by the .... of mine. Executrix .... to pay ..... of them a ... ...  .... Good and..... of .... My ... and .... to ... ... this ..... hold .... of them a .....  .... all the for my soul.. my friends ..... and all .....  .... of the day of my burial and on the morning all the time of the masses and other objects to be ..... there and in ..... at the day of my ... ...  ..... paid ....

Post my two ....  ... that .... attendenth and .....  ... prayer  ... ....  ....  .... my heart at the affornamed and the said ... ... further .... to for the payment by the .... of mine executrix ...... also I will that ..... confirm my said executrix shall give to as many persons and ....  .... and .... the shall ....  ... by her ....

Followeth, I will that all my debts be fully ....  ... and paid ... find that ...  ... be made of all ... and .... .giveth for ... ....

Also, I will that .....  ..... confirmiath  .... of mine executrix shall ... ..... and .....  ....  ...  ... and pray for my soul and all ....  ...  ... this for...... chapel by the ...  ... and ... ... of the ... ...  ..... after my death., and the same ....  ...  ... in the  ... ... to say Mass in the said chapel and also to say ....  ....  ...  ... in this.... in the same-day that it shall happen ....  ... the aforesaid ...  ... to ... ... if this said priest be off further habitation and ... .... The ....  ...  ... .. being to the fund ...  ... for his .... and to ..... pounds thirty shilling and four pence. The same ....  ...  ... ... bread to,,,, ,,, at and masses.

Followeth, I bequeath unto the ....  ... of .... aforesaid four pounds of ... and .... Of .... been by my forefathers, and ye shall ....  .... also I bequeath to the church of Lamberhurst Twenty Pounds to be paid by mine executrix sum of ..... my of and immediately following my death ... ...This  .... of the same church and .... There ... ... ...

I bequeath to ..... of my daughter's Margaret Katharine Two hundred pounds that is to say to either of my fond daughters forsaid they are married be either not married in my life One hundred pounds, also I will that ....  ..... my executrix shall ...  .... and this aforesaid Margaret and ... ... and .... appointeth unto ..... time and either of them shall be ..... Margaret and Katharine that if it shall fortune the same ... ...  .... my executrix .... order after a time of ... ...  .... after my death. my favoured daughter Margaret and katherine or either of them being married then I will that either of the same my daughter and daughters so being an non married to have ... ... for there ..... for as many of the time forever .... as shall to happen to be and remain ..... after the death of the .... confirmed mine executrix if the ....  .....  .... So .... endure on yearly of .... pounds thirty four shillings and four pence yearly to be .....  ..... and paid to another of my said daughter all daughters as shall be, then so married buys Thanks of the executrix or ....  ... of the .... and I will of the same.

I am .....  ..... executrix.

Also are will to Thomas Colpepper one other of my daughter on yearly purse of three pounds six shillings and eight pence ..... the same of twenty years my of after my death if the same Amen so to be ..... and  ..... to the Amen by Thanks of my executrix or by the hands of the executrix and administrators o .... always that if this said .... At ....  .... in the said twenty years be admitted, marriage or otherwise by my said executrix, that then the said ... ... of three pounds & eight shillings and eight pence. that to .... and to be ....  ....Also, I will that if the same .... or any of my ...  ....  .... happen to die before they and ..... of them ... .... Be ..... marriage. That then all further pounds of money before and to every of my fond daughters shall remarry and be to there forsaid ....  ....  ... my  .... My executrix, also I give and bequeath tenne pounds for so by ...  .... For ..... .. to ..... mass .....  .... the first there of to be .... The .... that shall ..... masses for my in the said chapel where I have prepared my tomb and the second to the church of ..... in the county Hoa ....by and the third to the church of ... .... in the said county of Norfolk and the fourth for the Church of ..... in the county of Essex and the fifth to the Church of St Mary .... in the county of Suffolk Feb and that all the .... to be .... to all the said churches four years after my death Also I give and bequeathed yearly ..... there span of twenty years aforesaid for ... ..... to be .... at upon the ... aforesaid... by .....  .... to be ... ... by my forsaid executrix to the poor people and inhabitants of the said parish of  ... ....hurst in ..... that is to be .....  .... to be distributed unto them during the feast of  ... ... after my death..Also, I give and bequeath to Thomas Willenhall twenty shillings. also I bequeath unto Simon Willenhall twenty shillings. also I bequeath unto John Charlott twenty shillings. also I bequeath for two Alexander Dodd ten shillings. also i bequeath to John Browne twenty shillings. are also bequeath to Robert Thorpe twenty shillings. also i bequeath to Jane Foster twenty shillings. also I bequeath to John ... .... also I bequeath to William Gaddon ... ..... also i bequeath to John Moatman. also i bequeath to Henry Croft ten shillings. also I bequeath to Thomas A ... ... ten shillings. also I bequeath to ..... Hardy King ..... also I bequeath to George .....  .... also I bequeath to John ... ..... also I bequeath to ... ... ... Mosse .... I also bequeath to John Emery....  .... also I bequeath to Leonard .....  .... also I bequeath Jonathan ... ... ....  ... also I bequeath to John Emery Cook ... I also bequeath to all other of my..... at shall be happy to be in my service at the time of my death to every one of them fourty shillings and four pence ....  .... that if any of my said .....  .... All ..... I shall bequeath this for said .... that my ... ... and ..... is by this day forth that if any of them all ..... on to of my ..... This Day of my death ..... of this .....  ... ...

Then I will and bequeath all fifty pounds for of money to them before I have bequeath .... to on them that ... ....  ....  .... of my .... before that put ..... into.

I am ....  .... My... executrix and the residue of all my goods ..... stuff of household and chattels and well moveable and immovable and all other .... and singular not bequeathed nor by this my .... testament and last will before aforesaid or ... .....

I will and bequeath unto this same-day confirm my said wife to her own property and order at her place in ..... any all payment there of to be made to any person or persons that .... her they be. The .....  ..... confirmed. I do ordain ..... . and make soul executrix of this my final testament and last will. and also I do ordain and form and ..... of the same my testament and last will my brother Edward Chamberlain Knight .... John Baker Esquire general afform to the ... ... .... and to then .... that they and no others of them after my death,,Confell and ..... my said .... I write my executrix in all things ... ... the and performance of the same my either of them. A ..... and fourty shillings of good and lawful money of England.

I .... Of.

If this said x Alexander to this my ..... testament and last will have ..... my death ..... this then is my only hand the day and year above notify

By  Alexander Colpepper Knight.

By my Thomas Halerfenden
By my William Sydenham
By my William .....
By my Henry Potford
By my Thomas Mollinholt
By my Simon Mollingholt
By my Thomas Darnell
By my Henry .......
By my John ....... Curate of Goudhurst.