London July 10th 1768
I Sidney Parkinson, Painter, of the Parish of St. Ann’s Soho, being to set out on a long and hazardous Voyage, from which God alone knows whether I shall ever return, I thought it proper to settle my Affairs so as what may be due unto me or what Things I may have may go to those of my Friends who most needs it. For which reason I desire that my Sister Britannia Parkinson may have what may be due unto me by Joseph Banks Esquire of New Burlington Street, London, from whom I have eighty pounds yearly and who has paid me up to Aug. 10th 1768 and ten Guineas more, the Money that I may happen to receive from him when abroad must also be deducted.
2ndly Out of the kind Regard I bear to my Friend William Galbreath, Peruke Maker, I desire that he may have one Guinea out of every Quarter’s Salary that may be due unto me of the aforesaid.
3rdly I desire that my paintings on Vellum may be given to those for whom they are marked on the Back, and whatever utensils that are useful in Painting or Drawing to Mr Lee’s daughter, my Scholar.
All my other loose Things I leave unto my Brother Stanfield, and I hope this will be executed as faithfully as if it had been wrote in all the forms of the Law, being signed by me in the presence of
William Galbreath, Witness - Sidney Parkinson, William Galbreath Witness.
30th October 1771
I the underwritten Elizabeth Hayhurst of the Parish of Saint Ann, Westminster in the County of Middlesex, Spinster, do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I am one of the Dissenters from the Church of England commonly called Quakers, that I well know and was acquainted with Sidney Parkinson, late belonging to his Majesty’s Bark Endeavour, a Batchelor, deceased, for several years before and to the time of his Death, and during such time several times saw him write and subscribe his Name and thereby became well acquainted with his manner and Character of Hand Writing and Subscription, and having now seen and carefully perused the paper writing hereunto annexed, bearing date the tenth day of July 1768, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of the said Deceased, do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affirm that I verily and in my Conscience believe the whole Body and Contents of the said Will and the Name Sidney Parkinson thereto subscribed, to be all of the said deceased’s Hand Writing - Eliza Hayhurst.
The said Elizabeth Hayhurst duly made the above affirmation or Declaration according to Act of Parliament before me (?) Simpson Surrogate - present Rt. Slade Noty. Publ.
On the thirtieth Day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy one, Administration (with the Will annexed) of the Goods, Chattels and Credits of Sidney Parkinson, late belonging to his Majesty’s Bark the Endeavour, a Batchelor deceased, was granted to Stanfield Parkinson, the natural and lawful Brother of the said deceased, he having first made a solemn and sincere Declaration or Affirmation according to Act of Parliament, duly to Administer, no executor or residing Legatee being named in the said Will, and Elizabeth Parkinson, the natural and lawful Mother and next of Kin of the said deceased having first renounced.
Transcribed from a copy of the Will held by The National Archives, Kew, U.K.
Reference PROB. 11 / 972
Commentary
Cliff Thornton
Originally published in Cook's Log, page 32, volume 35, number 4 (2012)
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