529. Joseph NEAL of Wivenhoe, Mariner, 1803. D/ACW/37/5/30 

In the Name of God Amen I Joseph Neal of Wivenhoe
in the County of Essex Mariner being sick and weak in Body but
of sound and disposing Mind and memory (thanks be to God for the same
Do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner following to
wit I resign my soul to God who gave hoping for pardon and forgive-
ness thro’ Jesus Christ my Saviour and my Body to be decently buried
at the discretion of my Executors herein after appointed and my
Worldly Estate I dispose of as follows, that is to say, I direct my Executor
herein after named and appointed with all convenient speed after my
decease to sell and dispose of All my Right and Interest of and in the
Fishing Smack or Vossel called the Mary of Colchester of the burthen of
forty eight Tons or thereabouts used of and in all the Tacke Rigging
and Materials whatsoever of which vessel my Son in Law William
Heath now goes Master and is intitled to one fourth part and share
therein and the other three fourths are my own property and my desire
is that the most money may be made of the said three fourth parts
that can be had or gotten for the same and I give one third part of
the money arising by my said share unto my said son in Law William
Heath and the other two fourth parts of the said Money arising from
such Sale unto my Son in Law William Moulton of Wivenhoe
aforesaid carpenter and further direct my said Executors to make
Sale and dispose of my half part of the Vessel called the May
Flower and of and in all the Rigging Tackle Material and other
appurtenances thereto belonging for the most Money that can be made
of the same And out of the Money arising from such last
mentioned Sale I give the Sum of twenty pounds to my Grandaughter
Mary Neal to be paid to her at her age of twenty one years and the
remainder of the same money I give to be equally divided between
my said two sons in Law William Heath and William Moulton
share and share a like And my will is that the purchase or
purchasers of the said parts or shares of and in my said Vessels or either of them
or any part thereof shall not be answerable or accountable for
the Mis application or Non application of the purchase money or
of any part thereof But that the Receipt or Receipts of my said
Executors or the Survivor of them shall be a good and sufficient
Discharge or Discharges for such purchase money or so much
thereof for which the same Receipt or Receipts shall be given
and as to all and every my goods chattels furniture plate
Linen apparel and other effects together with all my ready money
Debts due and owing to me security and securities for money
and all other my personal Estate and effects whatsoever & wheresoever
(from and after payment of all my just Debts Funeral charges
the expences of growing and executing this my wil the aforesaid
Legacy of twenty pounds to my said Grandaughter and other incidental
expences) I give and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto
My said two sons in Law William Heath and William Moulton equally
to be divided between them share and where a like And I do hereby
Nominate and appoint the said William Heath and William Moulton
Executors of this my Will. And I direct that neither of them shall
be answerable for any more monies or effects than what shall actually
come into their respective hands by virtue of this my will nor for any loss
that may happen of the same without their wilful default Nor shall
either of them be answerable for the acts or Deeds of the other but each
of them for his own acts and Deeds only And hereby revoking all other
Wills by me made I declare this only to be and contain my Last Will and
Testament In Witness whereof I the said Joseph Neal have hereunto
set my Hand and Seal this twenty third day of March in the Year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and three.
The mark of
Joseph Neal
Signed Sealed published and declared by
the said Testator Joseph Neal as and for his
Last Will and Testament in the presence
of us who have hereunto subscribed our
Names as Witnesses thereto in his presence
at his request and in the presence of each other
Joseph Cole
William Parish
C.J. Diss.
Twenty third Day of July 1803
Appeared personally William Haath and
William Moulton the two Executors within
named were sworn to the truth of this will
& to the due Performance thereof
before me
John Smythies Surrogate
And that the value of the Effects are
under 600 £
John Smythies Surrogate
Joseph Neal died in the Parish of
Wivenhoe on or about the 17 of May 1803
Proved on the 23th day of July in the year of our Lord 1803
before the Rev. John Smythies Clk. Surrogate & by the Oaths of
Willm. Heath & Willm Moulton the Extors to whom Actcon
or was granted they being first Sworn duly to Adminster-