In the Name of God Amen, I Samuel Kempe, Midshipman on Board his Majesty’s Sloop the Adventure, Captn. Tobias Furneaux 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 -
All such 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 Uncle the Reverend Mr William Bedford of St Ive, near Mevagissey in the County of Cornwall.
And I do hereby nominate and Appoint my Friends Messrs Thomas Mande and William Mande of Downing Street, Westminster, Jointly or severally, 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. In Witness whereof to this my said Will I have set my hand and seal the fourteenth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy two, and in the twelfth year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the Third over Great Britain &c. Samuel Kempe.
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared in the presence of us Tob. Furneaux
Arth. Kempe.
This Will was proved at London, the twenty fifth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four, before the Worshipful Andrew Colter Ducarel, Doctor of Laws, Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Sir George Hay Knight, Doctor of Laws, Master keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully Constituted by the Oath of Thomas Mande one of the Executors named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the deceased having been first Sworn duly to Administer. Power reserved of making the like grant to William Mande the other Executor named in the said Will when he shall apply for the same.
Cliff Thornton, June 2003