In the Name of God Amen, I Robert Barber, Master of his Majesty's Ship the Mercury, now lying at Deptford in Kent, 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 Wordly Estate, I give, bequeath and dispose thereof as followeth, that is to say –
All my Prize Money, 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 two Sisters Mary Barber and Ann Barber, equally to be divided between them, share and share alike.
And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said Sisters Mary Barber and Ann Barber Joint Executrixes 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 of to this my said Will I have set my hand and Seal this twenty ninth day of December, in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy nine, and in the twentieth year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the third, King over Great Britain &c Robt. Barber
Signed, Sealed, published and declared in the presence ////// Darkin, Rd. Hall
Thos. Chapman.
This Will was proved at London the twentieth day of July in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty three, before the Worshipful John Fisher, Doctor of Laws and 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 Ann Barber Spinster, the Sister and one of the Joint Executrixes named in the Will of the deceased, 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. Power reserved of making the like grant to Mary Barber Spinster, the Sister also of the said deceased and the other Executrix named in the said Will when she shall apply for the same.
Cliff Thornton, September 2003