In the Name of God Amen, I Aneas Aitken, Boatswain of His Majesty's Ship Africa, Thomas Newnhan Esqr. Commander, being in Bodily health and of sound and disposing mind and memory, and considering the perils and dangers of the Seas and other uncertainties of this Transitory life, do for avoiding Controversies after my decease, make, publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following, that is to say –
First, I recommend my Soul to God that gave it and my Body I commit to the Earth or Sea as it shall please God to order, and as for and concerning all my worldly Estate I give, bequeath and dispose thereof as followeth, that is to say –
I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife, Mary Aitken of Deptford in the County of Kent, and in case of her death unto my daughter Mary Ann Aitken of the same place, all such Tickets, prize money, short allowance money, smart money, pensions together with all Sallary, Wages, Sum and Sums of Money, Lands, Tenements, Goods, Chattels and Estate whatsoever, as shall be any ways due, owing or belonging unto me at the time of my decease. I do give, devise and bequeath the same unto my said beloved Wife Mary Aitken of Deptford in the County of Kent, and in case of her death to my daughter Mary Ann Aitken of the same place.
And I do hereby Nominate and Appoint the aforesaid Mary Aitken my Wife, and Mary Ann Aitken my daughter, sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former and other Wills, Testaments and Deeds of Gifts by me at any time heretofore made, and I do ordain and ratify these presents to stand and be for and as my only last Will and Testament. On Witness whereof to this my said Will I have set my hand and Seal the Sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord, One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty one, and in the Twenty second year of the Reign of His Majesty King George the third over Great Britain &c. Aneas Aitken.
Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of Thos. Newnham, Captain
Jno. Chadwick, Master.
This Will was proved at London the Thirtieth day of December in the Year of our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred and Six, before the Worshipful Samuel Pearce Parson, Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne, Knight also Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Mary Aitken, Widow and Relict of the deceased and the surviving Executrix named in the said Will, to whom administration was granted of all and Singular, the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said deceased, she having been first sworn duly to Administer.
Cliff Thornton, June 2003