In the Name of God Amen, I Daniel Preston, Marine of the Plymouth Division belonging to His Majesty's Bark Endeavour, Lieutenant James Cook 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 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 beloved Brother William Preston of Wooburn in Bedfordshire. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my Brother William Preston aforesaid, whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills, Testaments and Deeds of Gift 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 eighth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy one and in the eleventh year of the Reign of His Majesty King George the third over Great Britain etc. Danl. Preston
Signed, Sealed, Published and declared in the presence of Jams. Cook
J Hickes Rd. Orton.
This Will was proved at London before the Right Worshipful George Hay, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted on the first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy one by the Oath of William Preston the Brother of the deceased and sole Executor named in the said Will, to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn by Commission duly to Administer.
Cliff Thornton, August 2003