In the Name of God Amen, I John Charlton, Midshipman belonging to his Majesty's Ship Argo, John Butchart 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 and for and concerning all my worldly Estate, I give and 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 dear Brother Lieutenant Edward Charlton of the Northumberland Regiment of Militia lying at Southampton.
And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said dear Brother, sole Executor 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 third Day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, and in the twenty third year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the third over Great Britain &c.
Jno. Charleton.
Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of John Butchart, Abraham Clarke.
This Will was proved at London the sixteenth Day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, before the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper and Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Edward Charleton, the Brother of the deceased and sole Executor named in the said Will, to whom Administration of all and Singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said deceased was granted, he having been first sworn by Commission duly to Administer.
Cliff Thornton, August 2003