445. William CROSS of Wivenhoe, Mariner, 1753. PROB 11/803/77

In the Name of God Amen
I William Cross of Wivenhoe in the County of Essex
Mariner being in Health and sound Mind and Memory at the
Sealing hereof (thanks be to Almighty God) do hereby make and
ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following
(Renouncing all Wills by me formerly made) First I commit my Soul
into the Hands of Almighty God who gave it me hoping through
the alone Merits of my Blessed Savior and Redeemer Jesus
Christ to inherit Eternal Life and my Body I commend to the Earth
(or Sea) to be decently Buried by my Executors herein after named
And as touching such Temporal Estate as God in Mercy hath
bestowed upon me I dispose thereof as follows I do hereby devise
and bequeath all my (part of the) Copyhold Messuage Lands and
Appurtenances being in great Wigborough in the County of Essex
unto my Son William Cross and his Heirs for ever I also give unto my
said Son William Cross all my half part of the William and Sarah
Sloop, or Vessel whereof my self now (under God) am present Master
together with all my half-part of all the Masts, Yards, Sails, Anchors,
Cables, Ropes, Boats, Arms, Ammunition and Appurtenances
whatsoever to the said Sloop or Vessel belongeth To hold to my said
Son william Cross his Executors Administrators or Assigns for ever
provided nevertheless and my Will further is that my said son
William Cross shall pay thereout unto my two Daughters Ann the

Wife of Robert Munson of Wivenhoe above written the sum of Ninety
pounds of lawful British Money within twelvemonths after my
decease and the like sum of Ninety pounds to my daughter Elizabeth
Cross at the same time of like lawful money and I do hereby bequeath
unto my said two daughters Ann Munson and Elizabeth Cross to each
of them the sum of Eighty pounds to be paid to each of them out of my
Goods, Chattels, ready Money and Debts that shall be due or owing to me
at the time of my decease not before bequeathed But if it shall so
happen that the said Sloop or Vessel be Lost, Destroyed or taken by the
Enemy before my decease or before my said son William Cross may or can
be actually possessed of the said Sloop of Vessel that then my Mind and
Will is that each of my said Daughters that is to say Ann Munson and
Elizabeth Cross shall have but Fifty pounds apiece paid them in lieu of
the Legacies above mentioned of lawful British Money twelve months
next after my Decease by my Executors out of my Goods, Chattels, ready
Money, Plate and Debts shall be due or owing to me at the time of
my decease I do give unto my two Executors herein after named to each
of them Five pounds apiece for their Care and Trouble in the
Executing of this my Will after all my Debts Funeral Charges and
Probate of this my Will are paid what remain thereof I give to be
equally parted between my son William Cross and Daughters Ann
Munson and Elizabeth Cross share and share alike and I do
nominate and appoint my Friends Samuel Fillto of Wivenhoe Surgeon
and my Kinsmen Thomas Atkinson of Colchester to be Executors of this
my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said William
Cross the Testator have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the nineteenth
day of March in the One and twentieth year of the Reign our [marginal note, Origl. so]
Sovereign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain
France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and in the year of our
Lord One thousand seven hundred forty seven – Wm. Cross.
Signed, Sealed Published and Declared by the testator to be his
last Will and Testament in our Presence and we Attested the same
in his presence – Ann Mason, Sarah Wright, John Potter

This will was proved at London the seventh day of
July in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and fifty
three before the Right Honorable Sir George Lee Knight Doctor
of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court
of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Thomas Atkinson
the surviving Executor named in the said Will to whom administration
was granted of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the
deceased being first sworn by Commission duly to administer. ./.