Hi Amanda, I would conjecture from the contents of his Will that Thomas VOISEY was a "Privateer" which was a legal profession at the time his Will was written. He is bequeathing "all my prize money" (not proze money) which is the payment a Privateer would be entitled to. It was his share of the profits of intercepting ships of foreign nations at war with England, and selling the goods and often the ship. If he was in my family, I'd consider him a very interesting man, with an occupation which is often equated with that of a Pirate, but Privateering was legal. He was probably at sea more often than at home, hence his description of a "transitory life". Had he lived long enough, he would have been involved in the American Revolution in 1776 capturing the US ships for which the English Privateers were amply rewarded by George II. But I assume he died in 1763. I wonder if he died a rich man and Elizabeth CLARK and her husband became wealthy? Finding the inventory that went with his Probate would be my first objective. Regards, Nancy Frey Newcastle, Ontario, CANADA OPC for Ansford & Castle Cary, Somerset Moderator of Yahoo! Catsash Hundred Group Moderator of Yahoo! Glaston Twelve Hides Hundred Group Moderator of Yahoo! NorthWiltshire Group Moderator of Yahoo! SouthWiltshire Group Moderator of Yahoo! WestWiltshire Group Moderator of Yahoo! FULFORD_North Devon Group Moderator of Yahoo! DAVIDGE Connections Group ----- Original Message ----- From: "Amanda Kerby" <amanda.kerby@inet.net.nz> To: <bristol_and_district@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 6:45 AM Subject: [B&D] VIESEY - Interesting will >A little while ago I transcribed this will which conjures up interesting > images of the time and the man! Cloaks, swords and pistols..he sounds like > a > highwayman not a mariner! > > > > 1763 Thomas VIESEY Junior > > In the name of God Amen I Thomas VOISEY junior of the city of Bristol > mariner.being in bodily health and of sound and fit mind and memory and > considering all the perils and dangers of y seas and other uncertainties > of > this transitory life (do for avoiding controversies after my decease) make > publish and declare this my last will and testament.all my worldly estate > to > my beloved sister Elizabeth CLARK..I give and bequeath all my "proze" > money > that is or shall be owed by me and to me, likewise all my cloaks, watch, > swords, pistols or whatsoever is belonging to me and also my __?__ that > was > left to me by my late brother in law Captain John CLARK. All wages sums > of > money, lands, tenements, goods and chattels and estate whatsoever as shall > be anyways due owing or belonging to me at the time of my decease I do > give > to the same Elizabeth CLARK sole executrix. Written 15 August 1758 in the > 30th year of the reign of his Maj King George 2nd. > > Presence of William JEFFRIES & Jos BRAGGS > > > > Amanda Kerby > > NZ >

Re Privateering - Wikipedia has a useful article on this at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letters_of_marque Adrian B