Aged 84
1838
WILL of THOMAS FILMER, of Willesborough, farmer
Copy Will of THOMAS FILMER. JAMES WHITE, Bridge Street, Canterbury.
Dated 13.2.1815 Proved 1838
'In the name of God Almighty I THOS. FILMER of the parish of Willesborough Kent farmer being in Perfect Health of body and of Perfect Mind & many thanks be given to God calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men and to Die Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say Principally and first of all I give and Recommend my soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executors. Nothing Doubting But at the General Resurrection I shall have the same again by the mighty Power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form I give and bequeath to ELIZ[ABE]TH my dearly beloved wife all my Estate & Effects (that is to say all my Goods and Chattle sums and summs of money to be freely enjoyed by her the said ELIZ[ABE]TH FILMER and after her Decease to be equally divided among my loving children), But if the aforesaid ELIZ[ABE]TH FILMER should marry again Then all the Power is to be taken from her and the above mentioned estate and effects to be immediately Divided amongst the children And I do Ratify and confirm this No other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness Where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the Thirteenth Day of Feby in the year of our Lord Eighteen hund and Fifteen. Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said THOS. - THOS. FILMER - and in the presence of us and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names. EDWD WHITING, WM. MUMMERY JOHN CLOVER (?) his mark..
I do hereby appoint Mr. WILLIAM FILMER and my son JOHN FILMER to be my Executors. Likewise THOS. FILMER, STEPHEN FILMER.An addition is as follows: My will 1815. My wish and Desire is to have a Head Stone an for us both to be bricked over. THOS. FILMER.
Furthemore My Will and Desire is that WILLIAM BELL FILMER and ANN POLITHORP GALES son and daughter of my Daughter, ANN GALES deceased do equally receive their mother's part or share and share alike - moreover the share that falls to my son GEORGE FILMER to be placed in the Saving Bank there to lay with interest until he has been discharged one calendar month. THOMAS FILMER, Witness. JOHN CLOVER this 21st Dec. 1835.
Note. THOMAS FILMER was born in 1754 and died 23/10/1838. He was buried at Willesborough. His son STEPHEN went to Australia in the 'Lloyds' 1838
Her death was probably registered in West Ashford Mar 1839
He was resident at Wickham at the time of his marriage (1873)
(Aged 63)
Her birth may have been registered in Bridge, as Elizabeth, in the March quarter of 1843.
Her marriage was registered in Bridge in June quarter of 1873.
BIRTH: Baptisms; 1558-1952; Parish Register,Church of England, Parish of Barham; p129; FHL #1836198; #1032
!CENSUS: British Census, Kent;l851; Barham Parish, HO 107/1623; p262; FHL#193524; Household #12, Residence Out Elmsted, age 8. British Census, Kent;1861; Barham Parish RG9/813; p14; FHL#542653; Household #49,Residence Shelwyn Lane, age18, servant. British Census, Kent; 1871; Barham Parish, RG 10/965; p 71; FHL #827250; Household #3, Residence Shelwyn Lane, age 28, laborer.
Aged 85
He may have been baptised on 5/7/1801. The Parish Registers for Hernhill and Lower Hardres should be checked.
Two daughters of a William Fillmer and Sarah Fillmer were baptised in Lower Hardres: Emma Fillmer on 25/2/1827 and Mary Ann Fillmer on 1/1/1829. These may also have been children of William and Sarah Filmer, but there is no proof of this. The birth of a Thomas Filmer was also registered in Bridge in the December quarter of 1840. It is possible that this may have been another child on William and Sarah Filmer.
William Filmer and his wife Sarah are shown in the 1851 and 1881 censuses for Barham.
The death of a William Filmer, aged 85, was registered in Bridge, Kent in the June quarter of 1886. This is before the date of death given in Alex Lewis' letter of 4/4/97. One of these dates is wrong.
He may have been baptised on 5/7/1801 at Hernhill
They had 10 children baptised in Lower Hardres, Bridge, and Barham.
The deaths of an Alfred Filmer, aged 2, and a Harry Filmer, aged 3, were recorded in the Canterbury district in the March quarter of 1868. Their births were probably registered at Bridge in the December quarter of 1865 and the December quarter of 1864, respectively. They could also have been children of William and Sarah.
!BIRTH: Baptisms; 1569-1813; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Hernhill Parish;;FHL#1736835. Baptisms, Marriages, Burials; 1557-1914; Parish Register, Church of England, Hernhill Parish;;FHL#1836276.
!MARRIAGE: Marriages; 1813-1866; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Nackington Parish;;FHL#1835506; Marriage by banns, neither signed name, witnesses John and Elizabeth Beak.
!CENSUS: British Census, Kent;1851; Barham Parish, HO 107/1623; p262; FHL#193524; Household #12, Residence Out Elmsted, Ag Lab, birthplace Lower Hardres, 50 yrs. of age. British Census, Kent;1861; Barham Parish, RG 9/813, PRO 831; p14; FHL#542653; Household #49, Residence Shelwyn Lane, Carrier, birthplace Edenhill, 60 years of age, vistor Mary Beak age 77, b Littlebourne. British Census, Kent; 1871; Barham Parish, RG 10/965; p 71; FHL#827250; Household #3, Residence Shelwyn Lane, Laborer, birthplace Hernhill. British Census, Kent;1881; Barham Parish, Rg11/955; p14; FHL#1341227; Shelwyn Lane, ag lab, age 79, birthplace Hernhill.
!DEATH: Burials;1813-1894; Parish Register, Church of England, Barham Parish; p170; FHL#1836199; # 1355, age 85. ( GRO Ref 2nd quarter 1886, Bridge, 2 a 441.)
Aged 85
BIRTH: Baptisms; 1603-1812; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Preston by Wingham Parish;; FHL#1736931. See also Parish Register.
!MARRIAGE: Marriages; 1813-1866; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Nackington Parish;; FHL#1835506; Marriage by banns, neither signed name, witnesses John and Elizabeth Beak.
!CENSUS: British Census, Kent; l851; Barham Parish, HO 107/1623; p262; FHL#193524; Household #12, Residence Out Elmsted, age 47, birthplace Preston. British Census, Kent;1861; Barham Parish, RG 9/813; p14; FHL#542653; Household #49,Residence Shelwyn Lane, age 56, birthplace Preston. British Census, Kent; 1871; Barham Parish, RG 10/965; p 71; FHL #827250; Household #3, Residence Shelwyn Lane, laborer's wife, age 66. British Census, Kent;1881; Barham Parish, RR11/955; p14; FHL#1341227; Shelwyn Lane, age 77.
!DEATH: Death Index; 1837-; Government Record Office, England;; FHL; Ref 4th quarter, 1889, Bridge, 2 a 445, age 85.
BIRTH: Baptisms; 1813-1894; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Bridge Parish; p 43; FHL#1786077; # 347.
!DEATH-BURIAL: Burials; 1813-1959; Parish Register, Church of England, Barham Parish; p 88; FHL#1836199; #697, age 17.
(4 months)
BIRTH: Baptisms; 1813-1952; Parish Register, Church of England, Barham Parish; p 98; FHL#1836198; #780.
!DEATH-BURIAL: Burials; 1813-1959; Parish Register, Church of England, Barham Parish; p 53; FHL#1836199; #418, age 4 months.
(17 months)
BIRTH: Baptisms; 1813-1952; Parish Register, Church of England, Barham Parish; p108; FHL#1836198.
!DEATH-BURIAL: Burials; 1813-1959; Parish Register, Church of England, Barham Parish; p 61; FHL#1836199; #486, age 17 months.
(Age 2)
BIRTH: Baptisms; 1813-1952; Parish Register, Church of England, Barham Parish; p119; FHL#1836198; #946.
!DEATH-BURIAL: Burials; 1813-1959; Parish Register, Church of England, Barham Parish; p 71; FHL#1836199; # 561, age 2.
(Age 2)
BIRTH: Baptisms; 1813-1952; Parish Register, Church of England, Barham Parish; p 141; FHL#18936198; #1121.
!DEATH-BURIAL: Burials; 1813-1959; Parish Register, Church of England, Barham Parish; p 81; FHL#1836199; #647, age 2.
Aged 76
A Thomas, son of Robert and Sarah, was baptised at Sheldwich on 18/11/1761. This ties in with his age at death, but the link is not proven.
!BAPTISM: Baptisms; 1603-1813; Bishops's Transcripts, Church of England, Sheldwich Parish;; FHL#1737007. See also The Parish Registers of St. James, Sheldwich, Kent transcribed, indexed and edited by Alan Neame, Kent Family History Society, 1985, FHL #6341304.
!MARRIAGE: Marriages;1569-1813; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Hernhill Parish;; FHL#1736835; see also Banns and Marriages;1755-1822; Parish Register, Church of England, Hernhill Parish; p16 & 21; FHL#1836276; in Item 8-Banns p16 (5th,19th,26th Oct 1783), Marriages-p 21; Marriage both made a mark, witnesses John Groombridge & John Dean.
!BURIAL: Burials;1813-1870; Parish Register, Church of England, Hernhill Parish; p 34; FHL#1836276; #271, age 76 years, resident of Hernhill.
Her forename is shown as Sarah in the IGI and as Mary in my copy of the Parish Register. Sarah is probably correct.
She may have had another daughter, Elizabeth, born about 1786 and who married a William Smith on 12/10/1807 at Hernhill, but this is not proven
BAPTISM: Baptisms;1558-1812; Parish Register, Church of England, Boughton under Blean;; FHL#1836199.
!MARRIAGE: Marriages; 1569-1813; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Hernhill Parish;;FHL#1736835; see also Banns and Marriages;1755-1822; Parish Register, Church of England, Hernhill Parish; p16 & 21; FHL#1836276; in Item 8-Banns p16 (5th,19th,26th Oct 1783), Marriages-p 21; Marriage both made a mark, witnesses John Groombridge & John Dean.
!DEATH- BURIAL; Burials;1813-1891; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Lower Hardres Parish; p47; FHL#1796545; #132, age 83. Note that assumption is made that Sarah in death record is the widow of Thomas Filmer of Hernhill because other family members in Lower Hardres area.
!BAPTISM-BURIAL: Marriages, Baptisms, Burials;1569-1813; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Hernhill Parish;; FHL#1736835. Baptisms, Marriages, Burials;1557-1914; Parish Register, Church or England, Hernill Parish;; FHL#1836276.
BAPTISM-BURIAL: Baptisms, Burials; 1569-1813; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Hernhill Parish;; FHL#1736835. Baptisms, Burials;1557-1914; Parish Register, Church or England, Hernill Parish;; FHL#1836276.
BAPTISM-BURIAL: Baptisms-Burials; 1569-1813; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Hernhill Parish;; FHL#1736835. Baptisms, Marriages, Burials;1557-1914; Parish Register, Church or England, Hernhill Parish;; FHL#1836276.
BIRTH: Baptisms; 1569-1813; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Hernhill Parish;;FHL#1736835. Baptisms;1557-1914; Parish Records, Church of England, Hernill Parish;;FHL#1836276.
!DEATH: BURIALS;1813-1891; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Lower Hardres Parish; p32; FHL#1796545; age 18 of Lower Hardres.
BAPTISM: Baptisms; 1603-1813; Bishops's Transcripts, Church of England, Sheldwich Parish;; FHL#1737007. See also The Parish Registers of St. James, Sheldwich, Kent transcribed, indexed and edited by Alan Neame, Kent Family History Society, 1985, FHL #6341304.
!RESIDENCE: Certificate book, 1753; Parish Chest Records, Boughton under Blean, Kent;; FHL# The book is an account of all that were then found in the chest in the parish of 22 May 1753. ( The list was presumably settlement certificates, and it must have been added to after being started in 1753,.). " Robert Filmer --1769." No place of origin given.
A Robert Filmer, son of Robert and Sarah, was baptised at Boughton under Blean on 22/4/1785 and an Edward Filmer, son of Robert and Sarah, was baptised at Boughton under Blean on 8/2/1789. Whether or not they were late children of this Robert and Sarah is not proven.
BURIAL: Burials; 1688-1783; Parish Register, Church of England, Boughton under Blean Parish;; FHL#1836199; Sarah, wife of Robert Filmer.
Muriel Sonne records his baptism and burial as being in 1759. Bruce Filmer's records show the year as 1760.
BAPTISM: Baptisms; 1603-1813; Bishops's Transcripts, Church of England, Sheldwich Parish;; FHL#1737007. See also The Parish Registers of St. James, Sheldwich, Kent transcribed, indexed and edited by Alan Neame, Kent Family History Society, 1985, FHL #6341304.
!BURIAL: Burials; 1603-1813; Parish Register, Church of England, Sheldwich Parish;; FHL#1737007.
BAPTISM: Baptisms; 1603-1813; Bishops's Transcripts, Church of England, Sheldwich Parish;; FHL#1737007. See also The Parish Registers of St. James, Sheldwich, Kent transcribed, indexed and edited by Alan Neame, Kent Family History Society, 1985, FHL #6341304.
BAPTISM: Baptisms; 1603-1813; Parish Register, Church of England, Boughton under Blean Parish;; FHL#1836199.
He could have married Elizabeth Gibbons in Faversham in 1800, but it is more likely that it was the James, b. 1774 in Newnham who married Elizabeth Gibbons.
BAPTISM: Baptisms; 1603-1813; Parish Register, Church of England, Boughton under Blean Parish;; FHL#1836199.
BIRTH-BAPTISM: Baptisms;; Boughton next Blean Parish Register, Church of England;; FHL#1836199; son of Edward Stonetsreet & Ann Drury of Roade Common.
!MARRIAGE: Marriage Records; 1569-1790; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Boughton Blean Parish;; FHL#1736527.
!DEATH: Burials; 1569-; Biship's Transcripts, Church of England, Boughton Under Blean Parish;; FHL#1736527; John Stonestreet of Hernhill.
MARRIAGE: Marriage Records; 1569-1790; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Boughton Blean Parish;; FHL#1736527.
!BURIAL: Burials;1813-1870; Parish Register, Church of England, Hernhill Parish;; FHL#1836276; age 73.
BAPTISM-DEATH: Baptism, Burial Records; 1569-1790; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Boughton Blean Parish;; FHL#1736527.
BAPTISM: Baptism Records; 1569-1790; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Boughton Blean Parish;; FHL#1736527.
Aged 72
He may also have been baptised on 22/4/1785 at Boughton under Blean.
LOWER HARDRES CENSUS 1811
Canterbury Cathedral Archives P171/18/2
Population of Lower Hardres May 22, 1811
This document is a single sheet folded, with lists on two of the quarters.No. Inhabited Houses Name M No F No Total 202
1 Rectory House 2 3
2 North Court Cottage Filmer 3 2
North Court Cottage Evans 2 1
4 Pitt Bottom West Cottage shoemaker 1 1
5 Pitt Bottom Wilson Cottage 6 1
6 Bartholomew Farm 3 2
7 Pitts Cottage Gardner 1 1
8 Copper's Cottage 1 1
9 Cullins Farm Filmer 2 1
10 Daniels Farm 5 3
Austen Farm 4 3
Knight Farm 4 1
Cotts (1) Cottage Tuppen 5 3
Cotts (2) Cottage Fagg 2 1
Greeneaway Tourmine's 1) Cottage Best 2 2
Greeneaway Tourmine's 2) Cottage 0 2
Greeneaway Terry's 1) Cottaage Kemp 3 4
Greeneaway Terry's 2) Cottage White 3 1
Harmonds Farm [?Harmansole] Terry 9 5
Harmonds Farm Cottage 1) 2 3
Harmonds Farm Cottage 2) 1 2
Mr. Farsetts Cottages 1 Taylor 5 2
[ ?Fausett] Cottage 2 Sarwell 3 4
Cottage 3 Wilson 1 2
Cottage 4 Couchman 1 1[subtotal] 71 52
second side of sheet of paper
Street Thomas White, carpenter 2 4
Davies 1 1
Isaac Dodd, blacksmith 2 2
Bright 1 2
Honess 1 1
Hawell 2 2
Widow Dodd 2 2
Hobday 1 1
Church Lane, Butts Farm 3 3
shop- shopkeeper 1 3
Terrys Cottages 1) Smith 3 2
Terry's Cottages 2) Hogben 3 1
Three Horseshoes vintner 5 3
Mr Fanpitt Cottage 1) Couchman 1 4
Cottage 2 Bromley 1 4
Late Wilson's Cottage Holmes 3 4
Holmes Cottage 1) 3 2
Cottage 2) Noble 1 236 43
Brought over 71 52
Totals 107 95[] indicates my addition.
The archivist helped me read some of the names. Most of the place names appear on the Tithe Award
Almost all of the same property names appear on the Tithe Award list (about 1840). I did not have enough time to take detailed notes and study that. On the list of owners and tenants Robert Filmer is listed as a tenant of Rev. H. G. Fausett for 4 properties, and William Noble and George Evans are listed as occupiers on two properties of Rev Richard Tillard at Hermansole farm. Robert Filmer would be son of Thomas and Sarah (nee Stonestreet) of Hernhill, married to Anna Ewell with no children. He did leave a will and had property in Lower Hardres. Since he was married in 1810, he is undoubtedly one of the Filmers in the census. The other could be his brother Thomas or another Filmer family unidentified at this point. Evans is probably the family of the George Evans who married Sarah Filmer (dau Thos and Sarah) in 1820 in Wickhambreux, and he would be the George Evans in 1840. The Noble in the census must be Robert Noble and wife Sarah, whose son Robert married Mary Filmer, sister of Robert and Sarah, in 1817. The William Noble in 1840, I assume is the one I have not connected to family who married Mary Knight in
1804 and died in 1865.Muriel Sonne. 14 June 1999
There is a settlement certificate for a Robert Filmer and his wife Mary and their four children, Thomas aged about 16 years, Mary aged about 13 years, Charlotte aged about 10 years and George aged about 8 years, lately intruded into the parish of Harbledon and have become chargeable to the said parish. Upon examination the place of legal settlement is Hernhill and require them to be returned to Hernhill. 17 November, 1821. This could relate to Robert, son of Thomas and Sarah Stonestreet, however this is unlikely in view of Robert's will (see below).
He left bequests in his will to his nephews George Noble, Robert Filmer, great nephew George Evans, nieces Sarah Evans and Charlotte Smith1855
WILL of ROBERT FILMER, of Lower Hardres, Yeoman
Dated 15/4/1853 Proved 21/4/1855
Will of ROBERT FILMER; 1855; Canterbury Probate Records, Archdeaconry Court, Register of Wills, Vol 113; p 130; FHL#189014.
'This is the last Will and Testament of me ROBERT FILMER of Lower Hardres in the County of Kent Yeoman
First I bequeath all the Furniture Plate Linen China and other household effects of which I shall die possessed unto my dear wife HANNAH FILMER absolutely
And I bequeath to JAMES NEWPORT of Elmsted Court in the Parish of Elmsted in the said County of Kent Yeoman, and GEORGE BARTLETT of Lower Hardres aforesaid Victualler the sum of Five Pounds each as an acknowledgement for their trouble in executing my will and I bequeath the residue of my personal estate to the said JAMES NEWPORT and GEORGE BARTLETT their Executors, Administrators and Assigns upon trust to convert and get in my residuary personal estate and to invest the monies to arise from such residuary personal estate in the names of my said trustees in or upon the public Stocks Funds or Securities of the United Kingdom in any real securities in England and to vary the investment from time to time for any other of like nature and upon further trust to permit my said wife to receive the annual income of the said monies or the Stocks Funds and Securities wherein the same shall be invested during her life and after her death as to the same Monies Stocks Funds and Securities and the annual income thenceforth to become due for the same In Trust as to the eighth part or share thereof for my Nephew ROBERT FILMER, as to one other eighth part or share thereof for my Niece CHARLOTTE SMITH, as to one other eighth part or share thereof for my Niece SARAH EVANS, as to one other eighth part or share thereof for my Great Nephew GEORGE EVANS the younger, as to one other eighth part or share thereof for my Nephew GEORGE NOBLE, as to one other eighth part or share thereof for my wife's Nephew WILLIAM ATTWELL EWELL, as to one other eighth part or share thereof for my wife's Nephew GEORGE WHITE, and as to the other and remaining one eighth part or share thereof for my wife's Great Nephew OLIVER VYE,
I devise to the said JAMES NEWPORT and GEORGE BARTLETT all the real Estates (if any) which shall at my decease be vested in me as a Trustee or Mortgagee subject to the equities affecting the same respectively,
I empower the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my will to give receipts for all Monies and Effects to be paid or delivered to them by virtue of my Will and declare that such receipts shall exonerate the persons taking the same from all liability to see to the application or disposition of the Money or Effects therein mentioned
I declare that if my said Trustees or either of them or any person or persons to be appointed under this clause shall die or disclaim or be unwilling or incompetent to execute the trusts of my will it shall be lawful for my wife during her life and after her death for the competent Trustees or Trustee for the time being (if any) whether retiring from the Office of Trustee or not or if none for the Executors or Administrators of the last surviving Trustee to substitute by any writing under her his or their hand or hands any fit person or persons in whom alone or as the case may be jointly with the surviving or continuing Trustees or Trustee my Trust Estate shall be vested And I exempt every Trustee of my Will from liability for losses occurring without his own wilful default and authorise him to retain and allow to his Co-Trustee or Co-Trustees all expenses incidental to the Trusteeship
I appoint the said JAMES NEWPORT and GEORGE BARTLETT to be the Executors of my Will And lastly I hereby revoke all my former Wills In witness whereof I have hereunder set my hand this fifteenth day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Three. - ROBERT FILMER - Signed by the said testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses J WILKINSON, W.G. BARKER.
The before registered will of ROBERT FILMER deceased was proved the twenty first day of April, 1855 before the Reverend JOSHUA STRATTON, Clerk Surrogate of the Worshipful TRAVERS (?) TWISS Doctor of Laws Official General to the Reverend the Archdeacon of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of JAMES KIDDER NEWPORT in the will called JAMES NEWPORT and GEORGE BARTLETT the executors named in the said will they being first sworn duly to perform the same.
Ref. ACC A 113 132
Note. EMMA FILMER, daughter of WILLIAM FILMER, Labourer, married GEORGE NOBLE at St. Peter the Apostle, Canterbury on 21.3.1857 (Ref. Letter from COLIN NOBLE 17/7/1984)
BIRTH: Baptisms;1569-1813; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Hernhill Parish;;FHL#1736835. Baptisms;1557-1914; Parish Register, Church or England, Hernhill Parish;;FHL#1836276.
MARRIAGE: Marriages;1603-1813; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Nackington Parish;; FHL#1736927.
CENSUS: British Census, Kent;1851; Lower Hardres Parish, HO 107/1623; p.97; FHL#193524; Proprieter of ?, b Hernhill.
DEATH: BURIALS;1813-1891; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Lower Hardres Parish; p 32; FHL#1796545, #254, age 73.
CEMETERY: Monumental Inscriptions St Mary's Lower Hardres;; Kent Family History Society; p23; FHL Salt Lake City; "In memory of Robert Filmer late of this parish/who died Feb 27 1855/aged 72 years./Weep not for me my partner dear/I am not lost but sleeping here/ And here I lie free from all pain/Till Christ shall raise me up again/ also of Hannah Filmer/ wife of the above/ who died Sept. 18th 1860/aged 73 years."
PROBATE
Will of Robert Filmer; 1855; Canterbury Probate Records, Archdeaconry Court, Register of Wills, Vol 113; p 130; FHL#189014;
WILL of ROBERT FILMER, of Lower Hardres, Yeoman
Dated 15/4/1853 Proved 21/4/1855
Will of ROBERT FILMER; 1855; Canterbury Probate Records, Archdeaconry Court, Register of Wills, Vol 113; p 130; FHL#189014.
'This is the last Will and Testament of me ROBERT FILMER of Lower Hardres in the County of Kent Yeoman
First I bequeath all the Furniture Plate Linen China and other household effects of which I shall die possessed unto my dear wife HANNAH FILMER absolutely
And I bequeath to JAMES NEWPORT of Elmsted Court in the Parish of Elmsted in the said County of Kent Yeoman, and GEORGE BARTLETT of Lower Hardres aforesaid Victualler the sum of Five Pounds each as an acknowledgement for their trouble in executing my will and I bequeath the residue of my personal estate to the said JAMES NEWPORT and GEORGE BARTLETT their Executors, Administrators and Assigns upon trust to convert and get in my residuary personal estate and to invest the monies to arise from such residuary personal estate in the names of my said trustees in or upon the public Stocks Funds or Securities of the United Kingdom in any real securities in England and to vary the investment from time to time for any other of like nature and upon further trust to permit my said wife to receive the annual income of the said monies or the Stocks Funds and Securities wherein the same shall be invested during her life and after her death as to the same Monies Stocks Funds and Securities and the annual income thenceforth to become due for the same In Trust as to the eighth part or share thereof for my Nephew ROBERT FILMER, as to one other eighth part or share thereof for my Niece CHARLOTTE SMITH, as to one other eighth part or share thereof for my Niece SARAH EVANS, as to one other eighth part or share thereof for my Great Nephew GEORGE EVANS the younger, as to one other eighth part or share thereof for my Nephew GEORGE NOBLE, as to one other eighth part or share thereof for my wife's Nephew WILLIAM ATTWELL EWELL, as to one other eighth part or share thereof for my wife's Nephew GEORGE WHITE, and as to the other and remaining one eighth part or share thereof for my wife's Great Nephew OLIVER VYE,
I devise to the said JAMES NEWPORT and GEORGE BARTLETT all the real Estates (if any) which shall at my decease be vested in me as a Trustee or Mortgagee subject to the equities affecting the same respectively,
I empower the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my will to give receipts for all Monies and Effects to be paid or delivered to them by virtue of my Will and declare that such receipts shall exonerate the persons taking the same from all liability to see to the application or disposition of the Money or Effects therein mentioned
I declare that if my said Trustees or either of them or any person or persons to be appointed under this clause shall die or disclaim or be unwilling or incompetent to execute the trusts of my will it shall be lawful for my wife during her life and after her death for the competent Trustees or Trustee for the time being (if any) whether retiring from the Office of Trustee or not or if none for the Executors or Administrators of the last surviving Trustee to substitute by any writing under her his or their hand or hands any fit person or persons in whom alone or as the case may be jointly with the surviving or continuing Trustees or Trustee my Trust Estate shall be vested And I exempt every Trustee of my Will from liability for losses occurring without his own wilful default and authorise him to retain and allow to his Co-Trustee or Co-Trustees all expenses incidental to the Trusteeship
I appoint the said JAMES NEWPORT and GEORGE BARTLETT to be the Executors of my Will And lastly I hereby revoke all my former Wills In witness whereof I have hereunder set my hand this fifteenth day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Three. - ROBERT FILMER - Signed by the said testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses J WILKINSON, W.G. BARKER.
The before registered will of ROBERT FILMER deceased was proved the twenty first day of April, 1855 before the Reverend JOSHUA STRATTON, Clerk Surrogate of the Worshipful TRAVERS (?) TWISS Doctor of Laws Official General to the Reverend the Archdeacon of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oaths of JAMES KIDDER NEWPORT in the will called JAMES NEWPORT and GEORGE BARTLETT the executors named in the said will they being first sworn duly to perform the same.
Ref. ACC A 113 132
Note. EMMA FILMER, daughter of WILLIAM FILMER, Labourer, married GEORGE NOBLE at St. Peter the Apostle, Canterbury on 21.3.1857 (Ref. Letter from COLIN NOBLE 17/7/1984)
MARRIAGE: Marriages;1603-1813; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Nackington Parish;; FHL#1736927.
!CENSUS: British Census, Kent;1851; Lower Hardres Parish, HO 107/1623; p.97; FHL#193524; born St. Mildred's Canterbury, age 61.
!DEATH: BURIALS;1813-1891; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Lower Hardres Parish; p36; FHL#1796545; age 72, residence Canterbury.
!CEMETERY: Monumental Inscriptions St Mary's Lower Hardres;; Kent Family History Society; p23; FHL Salt Lake City: NOTE:" also of Hannah Filmer/ wife of the above/ who died Sept. 18th 1860/aged 73 years."
BIRTH: Baptisms; 1569-1813; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Hernhill Parish;; FHL#1736835. Baptisms;1557-1914; Parish Records, Church or England, Hernill Parish;;FHL#1836276.
!DEATH: BURIALS;1813-1891; Bishop's Transcripts, Church of England, Lower Hardres Parish; p32; FHL#1796545; Thomas Filmer of St. Mildred's Canterbury, age 33. Not really sure this is same Thomas.
Aged 50
A William Filmer, aged 16, is shown in the 1851 census for Canterbury. He was born in Barham and could possibly have been an elder brother of Eliza, but this has not been proved, nor have the Barham parish registers been checked. At the time of the census he was a servant at 85 Broad St, St. Paul.
At the time of the 1881 census he is shown as a milkman in the Canterbury, St Augustine census, aged 45, with children Emma 19, unmarried, acting as his housekeeper; Annie J. 12, scholar; Charles, 11, Scholar; Thomas, 7, scholar, Frank, 4; and Bertha, 2.
William is still a bit of a puzzle as the 1851 census and the family bible indicate he was born between April and October, 1834, whereas the 1881 census and the register of deaths (which gives the death of a William, aged 50, in the December quarter of 1886, in the district of Blean) indicate he was born between November 1835 and March 1836. One really needs the death certificate to prove which is correct. Blean is the district east of Faversham
He raised a family in Canterbury and some of his children went to America.
Aged 41