John Daft of Portsmouth 1777 Will
The National Archives PROB 11/1029/177
In the Name of God Amen I John Dafft Serjeant in the 20th Company of Portsmouth … Marines being in body 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
To Mrs Lucy Burns Shopkeeper All my Wages Sum and Sums of Money Lands Tenements Goods Chattels and Estate whatsoever as shall be anyways due owing or belonging unto me at the time of my decease I do give devise and bequeath the same unto the said Lucy Burns
And I do hereby nominate and appoint the said Lucy Burns my Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament 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 twenty eighth day of August in the Year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Seventy five and in the fifteenth Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the third over Great Britain &c
Jno Dafft
Signed sealed published and declared in the presence of us
Thomas Frost
John Collett
This Will was proved at London the Eighteenth day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy seven before the Right Worshipful Sir George Hay Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Lucy Burns Wife of John Burns the Sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the Deceased having been first sworn by Commission duly to Administer
