The Will of Alice Siderfin, Periton, Minehead, Somerset, England - National Archives UK, PROB 11/942/259

 I first started to transcribe this will nearly twenty years ago but never did finish it. The will reminds me that the Siderfin, Question, Quirke and Short families were all part of the marrying relationships that formed in these families in the 1600s/1700s. In this case the testator is Alice (Quirke) Siderfin married to Walter Siderfin 25 Jan 1717 at Luxborough.

 There were three sisters (all daughters of (unknown) Quirke and Mary (Coffin) Quirke (although the age difference between these sisters is fairly large) namely Mary and she was married to John Question (brother to Elizabeth Question who married Robert Siderfin), Alice married to Walter Siderfin and Isott Quirke married to a John Quirke.

 Fortunately Mary (Coffin) Quirke left her will dated 3 Mar 1728 and proved 29 April 1730 where she names her family members:

Mary Quirke, Periton, Minehead, Somerset

Widow, Will dated 3 Mar 1728, Will proved 29 April 1730

Son in law Walter Siderfin

Grandson Thomas Quirke

Daughter Mary Question

Daughter Alice Siderfin

Son John Quirke

Son James Quirke

Son Robert Quirke

Son Thomas Quirke

 To bring the Short family into the discussion. John Short married Susannah Question (baptized 13 Feb 1706 at Carhampton daughter of Augustine Question and Cecilia Russell) 13 Apr 1732 at Carhampton. Augustine Question was a brother to Elizabeth Question and John Question both mentioned above.

Alice, the testator, does say that John Short is her nephew and I have not yet determined that relationship, he is related (at least his children are) as he married Susannah Question  whose mother was Mary Quirke, sister to Alice. It would be interesting to discover the actual relationship going further back as there was perhaps. Alice’s son Robert Siderfin died before his mother and so the properties given to her son and that she inherited in her own right she would want to stay in her family or close by which perhaps explains why it is John Short’s children that are to benefit. 

Another will of interest is once again only an abstract as the original was destroyed in the bombing of the Devon Record Office in 1942.

 Robert Quirck, Minehead, Somerset, Gentleman
Will dated, 19 July 1731, Will proved 9 July 1732
Uncle Mr. Robert Siderfin (Executor)
Son of kinsman Mr. Walter Siderfin, is Robert Siderfin, gives his estate in Old Cleeve

Robert is likely a son of Mary (Coffin) Quirck and so brother to Alice (Quirke) Siderfin who was married to Walter Siderfin. The son of Walter and Alice is mentioned namely Robert to inherit Old Cleeve (this property reverted to his mother and mentioned in the will below). The Robert Siderfin to whom he is referring is an interesting mention because there only appears to be Robert (married to Elizabeth Question) but his will was also written in 1731 and probated then but this couple did have a son Robert Siderfin (baptized 9 Mar 1685 at Selworthy) but not sure one would see him as an Uncle. So very interesting and will work on that one. But one can see the reason for confusion sometimes found in James Sanders' book. 

Trying to identify the Robert Siderfin who would have been Robert Quirck's uncle. His mother was Isott Quirke married to John Quirke. Isott Quirke had two sisters, Mary married to John Question (he would have been an uncle to Robert) and Alice married to Walte3r Siderfin. Walter did have a brother Robert but he was deceased in 1714 (married to Joanna Kittener 25 Apr 1713 at Wootton Courtney). But Robert would just have been a brother to his Uncle Walter Siderfin. So an interesting Abstract and probably preferring to Robert Siderfin married to Elizabeth Question but he was not an uncle. Rather Robert would be a cousin to Walter Siderfin and his brothers Robert and John since their fathers were brothers.

 Recorded: 29^th November 2005/23 Mar 2023

Source: National Archives, UK, PROB 11/942/259

Place: Periton, Minehead, Somerset, England

Type of Record: Will

Dated: 21^st November 1768, probated, probated 30 Sep 1768

 Alice Siderfin

1	In the Name of God Amen
2	I Alice Siderfin of Periton within the parish of Minehead
3	in the County of Somerset widow being sick of Body but
4	of sound and perfect mind and memory praised to God for
5	the same do make and ordain this my last will and
6	Testament in manner and form following that is to say
7	first and principally I commend my Soul into the handes
8	of almighty God my Creator hoping through the merits of
9	Jesus Christ to obtain pardon and remission of all my
10	Sins and to inherit Everlasting life and my body I commit
11	to the Eart to be decently buried at the discretion of my
12	Executor herein afternamed in the Chancel of the parish
13	Church of Minehead as near to the Body of my Mother
14	Mary Quirke deceased as conveniently may be and as to
15	such worldly goods and temporal Estate as God has been
16	pleased to bestow upon me. I give devise and dispose thereof
17	as follows First I will and order that all such just debts as I
18	shall incure at the time of my decease shall be paid and
19	satisfied and whereas by virtue of my marriage settlement made
20	on my intermarriage with my husband Walter Siderfin   I am
21	seized in Fee Simple of and in certain lands tenements and
22	hereditaments situate lying and being in the parish of Withycombe
23	in the County aforesaid now in the tenure or
24	occupation of Robert Slocombe. I give devise and bequeath the
25	same unto my nephew John Short of Minehead aforesaid
26	apothecary and to his heirs and assigns to the use of the said
27	John Short his Sons and assigns for ever upon the trusts and to
28	and for the said intents and purposes hereinafter mentioned expressed
29	and declared (that is to say) In Trust and to and for the use
30	and Benefit of my Cousin Robert Quirke Short (first Son of
31	my said Nephew John Short) and his Heirs for ever But in
32	case he shall happen to die before he shall attain his age
33	of twenty one years then I give devise and bequeath the
34	same unto my said Nephew John Short In Trust and to
35	and for the use and Benefit of my Cousin John Short Second
36	son of my said Nephew John Short and his heirs for ever
37	But in case he shall also happen to die before he shall attain
38	his age of twenty one years then I give devise and bequeath
39	the same unto my said Nephew John Short In trust and to
40	and for the use and Benefit of my Cousin Samuel Short Third
41	son of my said Nephew John Short and his Heirs for ever
42	but in case he shall also happen to die before he attains
43	his age of twenty one years then I give devise and bequeath
44	the same unto my said my Cousin Augustine Question Short and his heirs for ever but in case they shall all happen to dye before they again the age of twenty one years Then I give devise and bequeath the same to my nephew the said John Short in Trust and to and for the use and benefit of Nephew John Short In Trust and
45	to and for the use and Benefit of all such other Child or
46	Children of the Body of my Nephew the said John Short on
47	the Body of Elizabeth Short his now wife begotten or to
48	be begotten and to their heirs and assigns for ever to be
49	equally divided between them share and share alike
50	and Whereas I am also seized in Fee Simple of and in certain
51	Lands Tenements and hereditaments situate lying and being
52	in the parish of Old Cleve called or known by the name of
53	Endley now in the Tenure or occupation of Robert Slocombe
54	I also give devise and bequeath the same unto my said Nephew
55	John Short and his heirs for ever upon the Trusts and to
56	and for the new Intents and purposes hereinafter also
57	mentioned and expressed that is to say In trust and to and for the use
58	and Benefit of my Cousin the above named Robert Quirke
59	Short and his heirs of ever But in case he shall happen
60	to die before he shall attain his said age of twenty one
61	years then In trust and to and for the use and Benefit of
62	my said Cousin the above named John Short and his heirs
63	for ever But in case he should also happen to die before he
64	shall attain that age then In Trust and to and for the use
65	and Benefit of my Cousin the abovenamed Samuel Short
66	and his heirs for ever But in case he shall likewise
67	happen to die before he shall attain his said age of twenty
68	one years then I give devise and bequeath the same unto
69	my said Nephew the said John Short and his heirs for
70	ever In Trust and to and for the use and Benefit of my
71	said Cousin the above named Augustin Question Short and
72	his heirs and assigns forever But in case they shall all
73	happen to die before their said age of twenty one years
74	then I give devise and bequeath the same to my said nephew
75	the said John Short In trust and to and for the
76	use and Benefit of all such other Child or Children of
77	the Body of my Nephew the said John Short
78	begotten or to be begotten on the Body of the said Elizabeth
79	his now wife and to their heirs and assigns for ever to
80	be equally divided between them share and share alike
81	and Lastly all the Rest Residue and Remainder of
82	Lands Tenements and hereditaments Goods or
83	Chattels Real and personal Estate Moneys and Securities
84	Money whatsoever or wheresover they be and which
85	shall be my my now entitled unto at the time of my death
86	I do devise and bequeath the same unto my said
87	nephew the said John Short whom I do hereby ordain and constitute
88	desire and appoint whole and sole Executor and
89	to see my Legacies of this my last Will and Testament
90	hereby revoking all former wills Bequests and Legacies by
91	any way heretofore made bequeathed or given
92	and do make and declare this only to be my last Will
93	and testament In trust nevertheless and to and for the
94	use and benefit of all and every such Child or Children
95	of the body of the said John Short on the Body of the said Elizabeth
96	his now Wife begotten or to be begotten equally to
97	be divided between them share and share alike As they
98	may respectively attain their age of twenty one years
99	my will further is and I do hereby order and direct that
100	all the Rents and profits of the said Estates and all the
101	interest of the Moneys or so much thereof as shall be
102	requested and necessary for that purpose shall be paid
103	and applied for and towards the Maintenance and
104	education of such Child or Children until they shall respectively
105	attain their age of twenty one years and at the time that
106	either of them attain his or her said age of twenty
107	one years then my will is that his or her share or shares
108	shall be paid unto him or her so attaining that age But
109	in case or either of them shall happen to dye before he
110	or she shall attain such age then his her or their Share
111	so dying shall be paid to and be equally divided amongst
112	the Survivor or Survivors of them share and share alike
113	In Witness thereof I the said Alice Siderfin the Testator
114	have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand
115	and Seal this twenty first day of April in the year of our
116	Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty six Alice Siderfin
117	Signed Sealed published and declared by the above named
118	Alice Siderfin the Testatrix to be her last Will and
119	Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our
120	names as Witnesses thereunto in her presence and in the
121	presence of each other of us Thos Leigh, Mary Leigh
122	Alexander Briant
123	This Will was proved at London on the thirtieth day
124	of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
125	hundred and sixty eight before the Knight worshipful George
126	Hay doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the
127	Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by
128	the oath of John Short the sole Executor named in the said
129	will to whom Administration of al and singular the
130	Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased
131	was granted he having been first sworn by Commission
132	duly to administer Ex