In the Name of God Amen, I Robert Beard, Serjeant of Marines on board his Majesty's Ship Thunderer, The Honorable Robert Boyle Walsingham Commr..
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 such Wages, Sum and Sums of Money, Lands, Tenements, Goods, Chattels and Estate whatsoever as shall in 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 Wife, Elizabeth Beard of Rosemary Lane, Portsmouth Common.
And I do hereby nominate and appoint the above said Elizabeth Beard, Executrix 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 thirty first day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, And in the nineteenth Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the third over Great Britain &c. Robert Beard.
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared in the presence of R.B.Walsingham, Jno. Monds.
This Will was proved at London the seventeenth day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty one before 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 Beard, Widow, the Relict 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 by Commission duly to Administer.
Cliff Thornton, June 2003