The Wills of Captain Cook's Crew - Richard Corbett

In the Name of God Amen - I Richard Corbett, late of his Majesty’s Ship of War the Mohawk, but now of the Kings Yard at Deptford in the County of Kent, Carpenter, being of sound and disposing Mind and Memory do hereby make this my last Will and Testament. First and principally I commend 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 entitled 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 Loving Wife Susannah Corbett 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 that I may hereafter sail or be in and also all other my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever as I was, am or hereafter shall be possessed of or entitled unto at the time of my Death.

And I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my Dear and Loving Wife Susannah Corbett the sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, and I do Give and Bequeath unto my said Executrix all the Rest and Residue of my Estate whatsoever, both Real and Personal, hereby revoking and making void all other and former Wills by me heretofore made and do declare this to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this tenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, and in the twenty fourth 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 etc. Richd. Corbett

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Richard Corbett the Testator 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
J Gaunt    Susna. Gaunt    Heny. Gillibrand

This Will was proved at London the tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five before the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne Knight, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Susannah Corbett, Widow the Relict of the Deceased and the sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom Administration of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased was granted having been first sworn by Commission duly to Administer.

Transcribed by Cliff Thornton, January 2005.