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Will of Thomas Dadd, of Ickham, Kent, Yeoman, 1816

The following Will has been jointly contributed by Carol Valantine Dugger and Beverley Chapman.  Please contact these ladies if you have any comments or questions concerning the Will and/or the family of Dadds and Dadds.
Source: Will, Prerogative Court of Canterbury, Lambeth Palace, London, England, (England, Kew: The National Archives (formerly the Public Record Office), Catalogue Reference Prob 11/1634, image reference 131.

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me THOMAS DADD of the parish of Ickham in the county of Kent, yeoman, who am in health and of sound, *perfect and disposing* mind, memory and understanding praised be God for the same,

First and principally I resign my Soul into the hands of almighty God my creator and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently interred, at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named, in the church yard of *the parish of* Wickhambreaux, in the said county of Kent, as near the Grave of my late wife as conveniently may be,

And as to all my worldly Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature, kind or quality soever the same shall or may consist and be at the time of my decease, I dispose thereof as hereinafter mentioned (that is to say),

I give and devise all that my messuage or tenement lands, hereditaments and premises thereunto belonging with their and every of there appurtenances situate lying and being in or near the Town and Borough of Deal, in the said County of Kent, and now in the tenure or occupation of John Mercer his assigns and or undertenants unto and for the only proper use and behoof of my two cousins THOMAS DADD of the parish of Wickhambreux aforesaid, Servant, and JAMES DADD of the same place, cowkeeper, the two sons of James Dadd late of the parish of Ickham, aforesaid, their late Father, deceased, equally to be divided between them share and share alike to take as tenants in Common and not as joint Tenants and their several heirs and assigns forever.

Also I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain and Ireland unto ELIZABETH BING of the Town and Port of Sandwich, in the said county of Kent, widow of Thomas Bing, late of the same place, Blacksmith, her late husband, deceased, and to her Executors and Administrators to and for her and their own proper use and benefit absolutely.

Also I give and bequeath the Sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money unto JOSEPH BING of the Town and Borough of Deal, aforesaid, Blacksmith, and to his Executors and Administrators to and to for his and their own proper use and benefit absolutely.

Also I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money unto the said JOHN MERCER of the Town and Borough of Deal, aforesaid, Brickmaker, and SARAH his wife (late Sarah Bing, Singlewoman), and the survivor of them, in case either of them die in my life time, and to their, his or her Executors and Administrators, to and for their, his or her own proper use and benefit absolutely.

Also I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money unto BENJAMIN BING, of the Parish of Ash next Sandwich, aforesaid, Victualler, and to his Executors and Administrators to and for his and their own proper use and benefit absolutely.

Also I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money apiece unto OZIAS OUGHAM and NATHANIEL OUGHAM the younger, both of the parish of Whitstable, in the said County, dredgers, two of the children of Nathaniel Ougham the Elder, of the same place, dredger, and to their several Executors and Administrators to and for their own respective proper use and benefit absolutely.

Also I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds of like lawful money apiece unto THOMAS DADD, one of the porters at his Majesty’s Palace of Saint James's [sic], Westminster, and JOHN DADD, of the parish of Wingham, in the said County of Kent, Yeoman, sons of my late brother William Dadd, deceased, and to the their several Executors and Administrators to and for their own respective proper use and benefit absolutely.

And as to all my Household Goods, Furniture, plate, Linen, China Goods and Chattels and all the Rest, Residue and remainder of my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature, kind or quality soever the same shall or may consist and be at the time of my decease being all personal (after and subject to the payment of all my just debts, funeral Expences [sic], the charges of and proving and executing this my Will and all other incidental charges and expences [sic] whatsoever, together with the Legacies hereintofore given and bequeathed), I give and bequeath the same and every part *and parcel* thereof unto my said two cousins the said THOMAS DADD, of Wickhambreaux, aforesaid, *servant*, and JAMES DADD, of the same parish, Cowkeeper, the said two sons of the said James Dadd, their late Father, deceased, equally to be divided between them, share and share alike, and to their several Executors and Administrators as Tennants in Common and not as joint Tennants and to their own respective proper use and benefit absolutely.

And I do so hereby make, ordain, Nominate, Constitute and appoint the said THOMAS DADD and JAMES DADD, the said two Sons of the said James, deceased, Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other Wills and Testaments by me at any time heretofore made and I do declare these presents only to be and contain my last Will and Testament.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, the said THOMAS DADD, the Testator, have to this my last Will and Testament in writing in two sheets of paper contained set my hand at the bottom of the preceding sheet and my hand and Seal to this second and last sheet thereof this thirteeth [13th] day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and sixteen [1816].

"Thos. Dadd (L.S.)"1


Signed, Sealed, published and declared by
the said THOMAS DADD, the Testator, as and
for his last Will and Testament in the
presence of us who, at his request, in his
presence and in the presence of each other,
have hereunto subscribed our names as
witnesses.
John Buckton
John Miles
John Gifford


MEMORANDUM whereas I, THOMAS DADD, of the parish of Ickham, in the County of Kent, Yeoman, did in and by my last Will and Testament in writing by me duly executed bearing date the Thirteenth day of March of One thousand Eight hundred and Sixteen give and bequeath the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money unto BENJAMIN BING of the parish of Ash next Sandwich, Victualler, And to his Executors and Administrators to and for his and their own proper use and benefit absolutely, now, I do by this Codicil which I desire shall be deemed and Constitute a part of my said last Will and Testament revoke, annul and make void the said bequest so given to the said BENJAMIN BING, his Executors and Administrators, and I do order and direct that the same sum of one hundred pounds shall sink into the residue of my personal estate.

And I do hereby ratify and confirm my said last Will and Testament in all the other particulars thereof.

Witness my hand and Seal the Seventh (7th) day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Eighteen (1818).

"Thos. Dadd (L.S.)"1


Witnesses hereto as to its signing and
sealing *being* by the Testator declared
to be a Codicil to his Will.
John Buckton
John Miles


PROVED at London with a Codicil 29th September 1820 before the Judge by the Oaths of THOMAS DADD and JAMES DADD, the Executors, to whom Administration was granted they having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer. P. tt.2

*  Interlineation in Will at that point of the words marked at beginning and end of insertion by an asterisk.

1  Legal device used to indicate that the Will had been a " legal true copy" of the transcribed version of the original document and that the original document had been signed by the person whose signature appears, in this time period, as in a distinctly different format from the remainder of the writing in the document. The letters L.S. enclosed within a circle is an extension of the "true legal copy" system and denotes that the seal had been affixed to the original document.

2  Per testament, indicating examination and comparison of this transcript with the original document and found to be in conformance with that original document.