This is the last Will and testament of me William Chapman of the town of Folkestone in the County of Kent mariner. First I desire all my just debts to be paid and satisfied and after payment thereof I give and devise unto Elizabeth my wife living the term of her natural life all that my Messuage or Tenement with the appurtenances situate in the same town which lately purchased of Thomas Stevenson and also the use of all my household furniture plate linen and household staff and the interest of my monies and other my real and personal estate she maintaining and bringing up my children and immediately from and after her decease I give and devise all my said real and personal estate unto and amongst all and every my children which I may have both male and female in equal part shares and proportions and to their respective heirs executors administrators and assigns for and as tenants in common and in case either of my children shall happen to die under the age of 21 years without leaving any lonefully issue of his her or their body or bodies lonefully forgotten then I give and devise the part and share of him her or their so dying unto the survivors or survivor of them and to their several and respective heirs executors administrators and assigns for and as tenants in common provided always and it is my will and desire that in case the rents and interest of my said real and personal estate shall not be sufficient to maintain my said wife and children during their minorities then I do hereby empower and direct my executor hereinafter named from time to time to advance to my said wife and children so much of my said personal estate as he shall think [?] for their maintenance and bringing up and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint Thomas Hanley of Folkestone aforesaid shipwright executor of this my will hereby revoking all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare this only to be my last will and testament on witness whereof the said William Chapman the testator have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of November in the year of our said Lord one thousand eighth hundred and one. William Chapman Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Chapman the testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereinto have subscribed our names as witnesses. H W Reynolds Charles Tagg.

On the 29th April 1826 admin with the will and of the goods chattels credits of William Chapman late of the town of Folkestone in the County of Kent mariner [?] was granted to Elizabeth Chapman widow the relict residuary legacy for the life named in the said will having been first sworn by common duly to admin Thomas Hanley the sole executor named.

On the 26th August 1848 admin with the will acquired of the goods chattels credits of William Chapman late of the town of Folkestone in the County of Kent mariner declared left in administration by Elizabeth Chapman widow of the relic and the residuary legacy thereafter for life named for the said wife surviving deceased granted to Isaac Chapman one of the natural and lawful children of the said deceased and any such one of the residuary legacies sub divided by the said will having been first sworn by common duly to administration Thomas Hanley the sole Executor named in the said will having heretofore amounted the probate and execution thereof as by acts of courts appears.

The original certificate is at the Library and Museum of the United Grand Lodge of England, Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ Tel: 0207 831 9811.

William Chapman's lodge was the Temple Lodge No. 150 meeting at the Marquess of Granby Tavern, the High Street, Folkestone. The Lodge was formed in 1802, ceased working circa 1830 and was formally erased from the Roll of Lodges in 1838. The certificate reads:

GRAND LODGE
Of Free and Accepted Masons of England
- according to the Old Constitutions -

(Left column)
To all whom it may concern.
These are to Certify that our Brother
William Chapman
who hath signed his name in the
Margin hereof is a regular
MASTER MASON of Lodge Number
150 on the registery of ENGLAND
as appears to us by the Certificate of
the said Lodge and registered on the
books of the Grand Lodge in London,
the 15 day of March in the
year of MASONRY 5003
In testimony whereof we have
Hereinto subscribed our names
and affixed the seat of the Grand
Lodge, this 17 day of March
in the year of OUR LORD 1803

(Right column)
Omnes quortum interit
Ha Litera certiores faciunt
fratrem nostrum
Guilielmum Chapman
qui nomen suam in margine
scripsit else regularem PRINCIPEM
ACHITECTUM catus numerate 150
in ardaio ANGLLE uli nobis consat
ex literis certificatory as dicti Getiio
et in Archiva COETUS MAJORIS
relatum LONDINI 15 die Mardy
anno ARTIS ARCHITECTONICAE
5003 In aijus ra testimonium
nomina nostra singule subscrip-
simus et sigillum COETUS MAJORIS
apposuimius 17 die Mardy
ANNO DOMINI 1803

Rob Leslie G. Sec.
Edw. Harper D.G. Sec.

(Left margin)
William Chapman (signature) ne varietur

(Right margin)
N 150 Temple Lodge Folkestone