In the Name of God Amen, I Evan Evans, Mariner belonging to his Majesty's Ship Resolution but now at Sick Quarters Rochester, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do hereby make, this my last Will and Testament –
First and Principally I recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God hoping for Remission of all my Sins through the merits of Jesus Christ my blessed Saviour and redeemer, and my Body to the Earth or Sea as it shall please God, and as for such Worldly Estate and Effects which I shall be possessed of or intitled unto at the time of my decease I give and bequeath the same as followeth, that is to say –
I give and bequeath unto my friend Edward Irish of Rochester aforesaid in the County of Kent (space) man all such Wages, Sum and Sums of Money, as now is or hereafter shall be due to me for my Service or otherwise on Board the said Ship, or any other Ship or Vessel, also all Prize Money that may be due unto me at the time of my decease.
I bequeath the same to my said friend Edward Irish and I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my friend, the said Edward Irish, to be my Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament, and I do give and bequeath unto my said Executor all the rest and residue of my Estate whatever, both real and personal, hereby revoking and making void all other and former Wills by me heretofore made, and I do declare this to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the twenty 7th Day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty, and in the twenty first Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith Evan Evans X his mark.
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by the said Evan Evans as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses in the presence of the said Testator Alexr. Pratt Thos. Pimpling
This Will was proved at London the fourth day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty, before the Worshipful Andrew Coltee Ducarel, Doctor of Laws, Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Edward Irish the sole Executor named in the said Will to whom Admon. was granted of all and Singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the Deceased having been first Sworn duly to Administer.
Cliff Thornton, July 2003