In the Name of God Amen, I Noble Arrowsmith, belonging to his Majesty's Ship Resourse, Patrick Fothringham Esqr. Commander, 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 unto my Mother, Elizabeth Arrowsmith, living in Leadenhall Market, London, 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
And do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my said Mother, Elizabeth Aroowsmith Executor of this my last Will and Testament. And I do give and bequeath unto my said Executor 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 second day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight, and in the (left blank) 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 &c. Noble Arrowsmith.
Signed, Sealed, Published and declared by the said Noble Arrowsmith 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 Pat. Fothringham,
M Robinson.
This Will was proved at London on the third day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one before the Worshipful Francis Simpson, Doctor of Laws, 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 Elizabeth Arrowsmith, Widow, the Mother of the deceased and sole Executrix named in the said Will 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.
Cliff Thornton, June 2003