In the Name of God Amen

I Thomas Laidman In the parish of Statford in the County of York Mariner being very sick and weak of body but of perfect strength of mind thanks be unto God therefore duly considering this mortalle life and it is appointed for all men once to dye Do make this to contain my last Will and Testament And first I bequeath my Soul into the hands of God that gave it And my body to be interred according to the custome kept[?] I bequeath unto William Armstrong Mariner of the said Ship Jimson[?] in the parish of Stapleton in the County of Cumberland my sole heir and Executor for the use of my dear Mother Mary Laidman in the parish of Statford in the County of Yorke If deceased to my Brothers son Ralph Laidman of the same parish and County all my wages Sume or Sumes of money Lands or Tenements whatsoever [illegible word] or belonging unto me or shall at any time hereafter become due Item I leave unto William Armstrong of the parish [of] Stapleton in the County of Cumberland my true beloved friend the Sum of five pounds duly to be paid unto him at the Receipt of my Wages disanulling[?] revoking and [?—tabling] all othere Wills and Testaments by me made Witness my hand Seal in the Ship Sampson in Bengall River the 10 day of August One thousand six hundred ninety seven where no stamped paper is to be had./. Tho: Laidman/ Sealed and delivred in the presence ./. Tho: Parr The marke of Will: Guill Rob: Collens. Oweing to my Landlord the Sum of three pounds./.

[Proved 17 September 1698, the testator’s mother Mary still surviving executed the Will]

Note: Statford is undoubtedly Startforth, just outside Barnard Castle, Durham (erstwhile Yorkshire). Stapleton in Cumberland is 20 kilometres north east of Carlisle (there are also two Stapletons in Yorkshire, one just outside Darlington, the other a couple of miles east of Pontefract, but there is no reason to think that any other than the Cumberland village is intended here).