In the Name of God Amen, I James Cook, Commander of his Majesty's Sloop the Resolution, being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding (praise be to God) do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in the manner following (that is to say) -
First, my Will is that all my just debts and Funeral Expences be fully paid and satisfied,and after payment thereof I do hereby give and bequeath to my dear Father Mr James Cook of Redcar in the County of York, for and during his natural Life one Annuity or clear yearly Sum of Ten Pounds ten Shillings, to be paid and payable to him by my Executrix and Trustees hereinafter named, half yearly in even and equal portions at Michaelmas and Ladyday, the first payment to begin and be made on such of those Feasts which shall first and next happen after my death. And I do charge and make chargeable the whole of my Real and Personal Estate with the payment thereof accordingly.
Also, I give to my dear and loving Elizabeth Cook all my Leasehold Messuages, Tenements and Premises with the Appurtenances wherein I now dwell, situate and being in Mile End Old Town in the County of Middlesex for the term of her natural Life, and after her decease I give the same to all my Childen which are borne in my lifetime or in due time after my death, in equal shares and proportions.
Also, I give to each of my Sisters Christiana Cocker and Margaret Fleck, the Sum or Legacy of ten Pounds.
And I give to my good friends Thomas Dyall of Mile End Old Town aforesaid, Gentleman, and Richard Wise of Rumford in the County of Essex, Gentleman, ten Pounds a piece as a mark of the great Regard I have for them.
And as to all the Rest, Residue and Remainder of my real and personal Estates of what nature and kind soever the same shall happen to be at the time of my decease, I give, devise and bequeath one third part thereof unto my said Wife Elizabeth Cook for her own proper use and benefit for ever. And I give, devise and bequeath the remaining two third parts thereof unto my said Wife and unto the said Thomas Dyall and Richard Wise, to hold to them and the survivors and survivor of them his, her or their Executors, Administrators or Assigns, in Trust nevertheless for the use and benefit of all and every my Child and Children, whether born in my Life time or in due time after my decease, in equal shares and proportions, and my Will is that their portion and portions shall be placed out at Interest upon Government or such other Securities as my said Trustees or the survivors or survivor of them shall think fit until such time and times as the same shall become payable as hereinafter is mentioned, that is to say my Will is and I do direct that the portion and portions of such of them as shall be a Son or Sons shall be paid to him or them at [?] or their age or ages of twenty one years, and of such of them as shall be a Daughter or Daughters upon her or their attaining the age of twenty one years or upon the day or days of her or their marriage or marriages which shall first happen, provided nevertheless such marriage be had with the Consent of my said Wife and not otherwise provided.
Also, I do hereby give full power and authority unto my said Trustees and the survivors or survivor of them, his, her or their Executors and Administrators to apply such part of the portion or portions of my said Children till the same shall become payable in placing him, her or them out Apprentice or Apprentices or otherwise in their Advancement in the World as they in their discretion shall think fit and in the mean time I order and direct that the Interest, Dividends and Produce of their said portions be paid and applied in and towards their maintenance and Education respectively, and my Will is and I do hereby declare that if any or either of my said Children shall happen to die before his, her or their portion or portions shall become payable then the portion or portions of him, her or them so dying, or so much thereof as shall remain unapplied for the purpose aforesaid, shall go to the survivor and survivors of them and shall be paid and payable to him, her or them in such and the same manner as his, her and their original portion or portions is and are made payable as aforesaid.
Also, my Will is that my said Trustees shall not be answerable or accountable for any Loss that may happen in placing out my said Estates as aforesaid or otherwise howsoever, unless such Loss shall be occasioned by or through their wilful default or Neglect, and that they shall not be answerable the one for the other of them, but each of them for his, her and their own act and deed only.