421. Philip POTTER, Mariner, now belonging to HMS Bristol, 1745. D/ACW 29/5/23

In the name of God Amen I Philip Potter
Mariner of the Parish of Wivenhoe in the County
of Essex now belonging to his Majestyes Ship
the Bristol and being in Perfect Memory and mind
thanks be given to God: therefor Calling unto mind
the Mortality of my Body: and knowing th[a]t it is appointed
for all men once to die:  do make and ordain this my last
will and Testament:  that is to say, Principally and first
of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of
Almighty God th[a]t gave it, and my body I Recommend to
the Earth or Sea.as it shall please God to Appoint:
nothing Doubting but at the General Ressurrection I
Shall Receive the same again, by the mighty Power of God
And as touching such wordly Affects where with it hath
Pleased God to Bless me with in this Life, I give , Devise
And Dipose of the Same in the following Manner
Imprimis.  I give and bequeath to my well beloved Father
John Potter, of the parish & County aforesaid;  all my wages
That is, or may be Come Due to me in his Majesty’s Ship Bristol
or to any Ship or Ships whatsoever, whereunto I have belonged
and all Legacies, or money th[a]t is or may become due to me
I make & Ordain my Beloved Father John Potter my Sole
Executor of this my last Will & Testament:  And I do hereby utterly
Disallow, revoke and Disannul all & every other former
Testaments, Wills, Legacies, and Bequests, and Executors, by me in
Any ways before Name, Willed & Bequeathed: ratifying & confirming
This, and no other, to be my last Will & Testament.  In Witness
whereof I have here unto set my hand and seale this tenth
Day of July in the Year of our Lord, one Thousand Seven
Hundred and forty and in the fourteenth year of the Reign
Of our Sover[eig]n Lord George the 2[n]d Etc
Philip Potter
Signed Sealed & Delivered in
the Presence of us
William Coombs, John Brock.
Proved by John Potter, executor 20^th June 1745 before Philip Morant, surrogate