Monday, May 9, 2011

Kent family at Selworthy and Porlock

My line begins with Grace Kent who married Robert Siderfin 5 Feb 1752 at Selworthy Somerset. Grace was baptized 25 Apr 1731 at Selworthy (daughter of John and Elizabeth Kent) and buried there 2 Mar 1799 at Selworthy. She left a will

"Grace Siderfin, of Knowle, Selworthy, widow. Will dated 13th December, 1773. Mentions son John, daughters Mary Potter, Betty Rewe, Grace Langdon, Joanna Siderfin. Son Robert and Joanna executors." from History of the Siderfin Family of West Somerset, James Sanders, 1912, private printing.

Betty Rewe or Elizabeth Rew as she was known in her later years was married to John Rew and their daughter Elizabeth married John Pincombe as related earlier in my blog. This will is yet another proof linking the generations.

Grace's husband Robert also left a will (Sander's book) but did not mention his daughters:

"Robert Siderfin, of Selworthy. Will dated 15th April, 1781. Mentions sons John, Robert, Thomas, to the two latter sons the testator gave all his right and interest in estate in Bratton in Minehead. Wife Grace, sole executrix."

Yet another piece of the puzzle perhaps is the will of Grace Escott née Trill (Sander's book). She was the widow of Thomas Escott of Sandhill Somerset.

"Will dated 6 August 1784. After reciting deed of settlement on marriage with her husband give all that messuages etc. called Middle House Great Langford, Hurtstone, two rights in New Marsh, one acre Upper Langford, one piece called the Drang part of the Manor of Alcombe, also dwelling house garden and orchard and appurtenances to John Siderfin son of Robert Siderfin of Selworthy and if no issue, then to Mary Siderfin, Betty Siderfin, Grace Long and Joanna Siderfin sisters of the said John Siderfin as joint tenants, my cousin Jane Clark the dwelling house at Tivington during her life free of rates and taxes and £4 yearly (after her death to John Siderfin) I give my reversionary term estate and interest to commence at death of Joseph Kent all my leasehold messuage etc. called Kents in Selworthy part Manor Blackford on trust to pay same to Ann Sage for her own use and after death to her husband Robert Sage to Mary daughter of Robert and Ann Sage six silver tea spoons marked G.E. my silver tea tongs best set of china, china milk jug stand tea-table and one of my hand waiters made of oak to Ann wife of Giles Bryant the sum of fifty pounds my silver butter dish marked T.T. 1753 one elbow mahogany chair and two single chairs to Mary wife of John Staddon the sum of fifty pounds, my half pint silver cup and one large brass pot, to my cousin Grace bishop ten pounds, to my cousin Mary wife of John Harris ten pounds, to my cousin John Trill servant to Alexander Fownes Luttrell (clerk) ten pounds to Ann daughter of Robert Siderfin during her natural life Witch Meadow part of the Manor of Blackford of my estate shall so long continue, also my blue bed, curtains valeons pillows, quilt pair of sheets pair blankets damask table cloth marked T six blue and white china plates my large common Prayer book another book Christian Defence one little Bible with a gilt vessell one trunk covered with flowered silk, one green bed rugg, two silver table spoons marked T & I, T. & G. T. 1724, silver hilt case knife and fork to Mary daughter Robert Siderfin all my leasehold messuages etc called Ham Mead, Pound Meadow and oxenlears part of the Manor Blackford (if she dies without issue then to Thomas youngest son of Robert Siderfin) also to Mary Siderfin my silver pint cupp marked T.T. 1753 and all the rest of my silver spoons and all the rest of my books to Ann wife of Gilles Bryant my flowered silk damask pink gown, one yellow silk quilted petticoat to Mary wife of John Staddon my most fashionable green silk gown and one black silk quilted petticoat to Ann wife of Robert Sage my grey second mourning silk gown and one blue silk quilted petticoat and two pairs of stays to Mary Siderfin my other green silk gown and one shaded silk quilted petticoat to Elizabeth daughter of Giles Bryant one silver brooch marked T.T.G. 1684, one spruce chest and my light coloured silk gown and two silver hilt case knives and forks my striped silk quilted petticoat and my silver buckles to Izott Wybourn and Joan Wybourn the sum of twenty shillings to Mary Siderfin fifty pounds and all rest of my household goods and furniture and clothing (except one silver tankard marked T.T.T. 1746  and one long table cloth marked G.T. which I give unto my said brother John Siderfin) all rest goods chattels lands estate, etc., I give to John Siderfin his executors and assignes to be whole and sole residuary legatee and executor.
Witness: Thos. Escott
Hugh Matthews
Thos. Morkham"

The mention of the Kent family is interesting " death of Joseph Kent" and looking at the family of John Kent and Elizabeth (surname unknown) their children were:

John baptized 15 Feb 1730 at Porlock
Grace (as above)
Elizabeth baptized 16 Jun 1733 at Selworthy
Thomas baptized 29 Dec 1736 at Porlock
Sarah baptized 28 May 1738 at Selworthy
Bettie baptized 14 Oct 1749 at Porlock

These are the baptisms for the Kent family which I collected from the Parish Registers. Whether or not all of these children belong to the same John and Elizabeth Kent is unknown.Unfortunately Grace does not mention her siblings in her will as far as I can tell. Her original will was destroyed in the WWII bombing at Exeter Devon when the Record Office was destroyed.

Records for the Kent family abstracted from Parish Registers thus far

http://www.kipp-blake-families.ca/elizabethmain.htm#SIDERFIN

The information that I have gleaned thus far from a few of the parishes can be found in a file labeled siderfin.xls which can be downloaded. I do have the Porlock parish registers but have not yet abstracted the CMBs from them.

John Kent was baptized 28 Jan 1708 at Porlock. No Joseph Kent discovered yet. The will was dated 1784 and so we could look at all the Joseph Kent baptisms between 1700 and 1750 possibly which yields from the IGI

1. JOSOPH KENT - Male Christening: 26 MAR 1704 Dunster, Somerset, England
2. JOSEPH KENT - Male Christening: 16 NOV 1718 Porlock, Somerset, England
3. Joseph Kent - Male Christening: 1728 Selworthy, Somerset, England
4. Joseph Kent - Male Christening: 1725 Timberscombe, Somerset, England
5. Joseph Kent - Male Birth: About 1706 At, Wootton Courtney, Somerset, England
   
A further search for Joseph Kent might be meaningful and I will carry on with that on the next search day.









































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































No comments: