PATTERSON

Both certificates landscape 8vo, 1 p. Each on paper, backed with contemporary cloth. The two texts are in the same secretarial hand, variously signed by Bourmaster and Bastard (both lieutenants at the time). Clear and complete. Fair, on aged paper. Both documents with Paterson's name given as 'Patterson'. The first certifcate concerns Paterson's service on the St Antonio (Captain George Anthony Tonyn) as Able Seaman, from 28 November to 2 December 1767, and from 3 December to 31 October 1768. It is signed 'Jo Bastard s Lt'.

One one side of a piece of vellum, dimensions 28.5 x 32.5 cm. Neatly folded to make eight rectangles. Red wax seal beneath paper square in top left-hand corner, embossed with the Admiralty anchor. Two blue 2s 6d stamps in left-hand margin. Small paper stamp on reverse. Text entirely legible on discoloured vellum. Four small burn holes in vellum, affecting two words of text. The body of the document is printed over fifteen lines, with the specific information added in manuscript. Headed 'By the Commissioners for Executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain and Ireland &c.

All six letters in quarto; good, on aged paper; and with text neatly-written, clear and entire. Letter One: 3 May 1759. 2 pp. 40 lines of text. Giving advice regarding a will to be drawn up by a Mrs Robertson. 'As to the place where Mrs. Robertson makes the Disposition it is absolutely immaterial, [...] and then her will wrote in her own hand writing without witnesses will be as good as with twenty witnesses [...]'. Valediction from 'your affectionate friend & Cousin'. Letter Two: 30 June 1759. 1 pp. 24 lines.