The Will of Richard Pickersgill

“In the Name of God Amen, I Richd. Rickersgill belonging to his Majesty’s Ship Dolphin, Saml. Wallis Esq. Commander, being in Bodily health and of sound and disposing Mind and Memory, and considering the perils and dangers of the Sea 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, I give and bequeath unto my beloved Uncle John Lee of the parish of St Olave Hart Street, London, all such Wages, Sum and Sums of Money, Lands, Tenements, Goods, Chattels and Estate whatsoever as shall be any ways due, owing or belonging unto me at the time of my decease. I do give, devise and bequeath the same unto the said John Lee, my beloved Uncle of the parish of St Olive Hart Street, London.

And I do hereby nominate and appoint the said John Lee sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former and other Wills, Testaments 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 fifteenth day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty six, And in the sixth Year of the Reign of his Majesty King George the third over Great Britain &c.

Signed, Sealed, published and Declared in the presence of John Pinckney, Willm. Gill.

This Will was proved at London the twenty second day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, before the Worshipful Andrew Colture Ducarel, Doctor of Laws, Surrogate of the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert, Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper of the Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of John Lee the sole Executor 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 duly to administer.

Transcribed from a copy of the Will at the Family Records Centre, London.

Microfilm Reference Prob. 11 / 1957

Commentary

Whereas most sailors revised their wills before every new voyage, Pickersgill did exactly the opposite; he made out his will in 1766 and saw no reason to change it thereafter. There were few other sailors who lived for so long after making their last will and testament.
Pickersgill made out his will on 15 July 1766, whilst the Dolphin was still in the River Thames being rigged and taking on ballast. He sailed as a 17 years old midshipman.
Surprisingly, there is no reference in the will to Pickersgill’s parents, or any of his family or friends in and around Tanfield, North Yorkshire, where he was born. The key figure in this will is John Lee, his uncle, his sole beneficiary and his executor. John Lee was the servant of George Jackson, Second Secretary in the Admiralty, and it is thought that his uncle had secured his berth in the Dolphin through Jackson’s influence. His Uncle lived in the parish of St Olave of Hart Street, London the same parish in which the Navy Office was situated.
Pickergill died in July 1779, drowning after slipping on some steps and falling into the River Thames. He was 30 years old. His will was proved two months later.
For further information on Richard Pickersgill see Cook’s Log, page 1708, vol. 23, no. 1 (2000).

Cliff Thornton

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 36, volume 28, number 4 (2005).

The Wills of Captain Cook's Crew and Associates

The Will of Richard Pickersgill

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