In the name of God Amen, I Wm. Watman, Mariner on board his Majesty's Ship Resolution, James Cook 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 wordly estate and effects which I shall be possessed of or intitled 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 Brother Thomas Watman of Strutton in the County of Surrey, 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 Vessel or Ship, and I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my said Brother Thomas Watman sole 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 said 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 twentieth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy six, and in the sixteenth 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 Wm. Watman X his Mark.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said William Watman 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 Testatr. Jams. Cook, Wm. Bligh.
This Will was proved at London, the fourteenth day of October in the (year) of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty, 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 Thomas Watman, the Brother of the deceased and sole Executor named in the said Will, to whom Administration of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said deceased was granted he having been first sworn duly to Administer.
Cliff Thornton
Originally published in Cook's Log, page 1938, volume 25, number 2 (2002).
Roy, the muster roll for Cook's third voyage (1776-1780) records William Watman's age as 44 when he enrolled on 3 March 1776, so that would give him a birth year of 1732. The records also indicate that he originally came from Reigate. Good luck with your research.
Can you please advise if you have the age William Watman was at the time of his death? I am trying to place William and his brother, however I am having trouble locating them in Surry say birth circa 1726, any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
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