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Image of St. James Church, Egerton, Kent Copyright 2001 Dave Skinner. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic Licence (CC BY-SA 2.0)
St. James Church
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Will of JAMES RUSSELL, of Egerton, Kent, Yeoman, 1737

The following Will has been contributed by Helen Phillips.  Please contact her if you have any comments or questions concerning the Will and/or the family of Russell of Egerton.
Source:  Canterbury Cathedral Archives, Canterbury, Kent, England, Canterbury Cathedral Archives, Consistory Court of Canterbury, Registered Wills, PRC32/61/1049, 21 September 1738. [Also available via U.S.A., Salt Lake City: Family History Library, 35 North West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150, USA, microfilms #0188879, vol. 32, fol. 1049].

In the Name of God Amen, I, JAMES RUSSELL of Egerton, yeoman, being weak in body but of sound mind, memory and understanding, praised be God for the same, do make and ordain this day my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say),

First I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping through the merits and intercession of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer to obtain full pardon and remission of all my sins and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executor hereinafter named and as to this worldly estate it has pleased God to bless me with I dispose thereof as followeth

Imprimis, I give and devise unto my son JOHN RUSSELL all that my messuage or tenement with the shop edifices and buildings, yard, garden and backside with all and singular the appurtenances situate lying and being in Egerton aforesaid and now in the several tenures or occupations of Gibbon Millen and Thomas Roberts, their assignee or assigns, to hold the same unto my said son JOHN RUSSELL, his heirs and assigns forever.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my three eldest daughters SUSAN the wife of John BRENCHLEY of Bethersden, in the said county, cordwainer, ELIZABETH the wife of John GILES of Lenham, in the county aforesaid, carpenter, and MARY the wife of George MUNDAY, the younger, of Pluckley, in the county aforesaid, husbandman, All my ready money together also with all and singular mortgages, bills and notes and other securities for money and all money both principal and interest thereon or to become due on the aforesaid securities from any person or persons whatsoever equally to be divided between my said three daughters share and share alike.

Item, I give and bequeath all the rest, residue and remainder of all and singular my goods, chattels, cattle, household stuff, Husbandry Tackle and investments of husbandry, and all other my goods chattels and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what nature and kinds (not hereinbefore given and bequeathed) after my debts, legacys [sic] and funeral expences [sic] are satisfied and paid unto my son-in-law STEPHEN USMAR, his Executors, Administrators and assigns and I so nominate constitute and appoint my said son STEPHEN USMAR sole executor of this my last Will and Testament,

And lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this to be my only last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof, I, the said JAMES RUSSELL, the Testator, have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of January in the 11th year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the II by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty seven [1737].


the mark of James Russell the testator

Signed, sealed and declared by the said
JAMES RUSSELL, the Testator, as and
for his last Will and Testament in the
presence of us who have subscribed our
names as witnesses in his presence.


John Lake John Mothersole William Smart



The above registered Will of JAMES RUSSELL late of Egerton, deceased, was proved the 7th day of October 1738 before the Rev. James Lensbridge, Clerk, lawful surrogate to the most Reverend Father in God, John, by divine providence Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, primate of all England and Metropolitan, and administration of the said deceased so far as concern the said deceased and his Will was committed to STEPHEN USMAR sole executor named in the said Will he being first sworn duly to administer the same.


Notes:  James Russell was buried in Egerton 21st September 1738 ; his wife Susanna was buried there 1st September 1733. The MI register in the church gives James' date of death as 17th September. The tombstone near the south door of the church is not completely legible - "Memory Here lyeth the body of James Russell of this parish and Susanna his wife. ....[?he] died the .....1738 aged 73 years She ...[?died] the ...[?28 ...] 1733 aged ..4 [?64] years They leave here one son four daughters John Susanna Elizabeth Mary and Anne"