The best of intentions

 Although I started this day with the best of intentions i.e. I was going to work on Chromosome 17, I ended up proofreading the will of Robert Siderfin (1628) which I had transcribed back in 2006 when I was first into Paleography. Needless to say it did need tweaking here and there plus I was not doing Latin Probates in those days so I did that as well. I had inserted the old one into the Siderfin Book I am working on with the idea in mind that I would proofread it and transcribe the probate. Remembering that after clearing away the breakfast dishes and unloading the dishwasher, it took first claim on my time. I am enjoying transcribing to be honest. I got away from it for a couple of years when Edward was ill although still do a little. But now I am back into research full time once again. I, for some odd reason, find reading the old English records a fascinating and not overly difficult thing to do. Granted there are some words that I can not get very readily and I do search online for possibilities. Eventually I mostly end up with what I really think it is or what someone else has thought it was. But those instances are not actually very often. I am finding that paleography is perhaps my niche in life at this time. 

Robert Siderfin whose will was dated 19 Aug 1627 and probated 31 Jan 1627 (Old Style so 1627/28) is possibly the Robert Siderfin mentioned in the Chancery papers during the latter part of Queen Elizabeth's reign. I can not yet be positive about that but I am slowly collecting up the information that is available and not captured earlier by James Sanders, JP in his book the Siderfin Family of West Somerset. Now that I am into this, I intend to basically republish the book (on my blog) with all the additions and I will clearly mark the additions and perhaps make note of areas where I am not agreeing with James Sanders. After 110 years it is appropriate to readdress this book about the Siderfin Family and ensure that any new information is worked into it. I am sure a hundred years from now even more will be available and some of my thoughts will be questioned as they should be. I spent enough years in Science studying and working that I would not be happy to think that people would accept all that I write as perfect. We are meant to question what is written so that we understand it better and make corrections where errors have been made in the past. 

The testator, Robert Siderfyn,  is living in the parish of Luxborowe (in the diocese of Bath and Wells, Somerset) and he asked to be buried in the Chancel of the Church at Luxborowe. He mentions a couple of people in the beginning of his will a Robert Siderfin, son of William Siderfin, Robert Westeron, son of William Westeron and Robert Siderfin son of Robert Siderfin of Minehead. He mentions that his sons and daughters have children. He then mentions his son William Siderfin, daughter (unmarried) Marie/Mary Siderfin, and his son Thomas Siderfin. Thomas and Mary are to have the remainder of his lease in South Wheddon tenement, Cutcombe. They also inherit his lease to keep 100 sheep at Brundon plus his property there. As well seven acres of wood in Luxborrowe (Priory Wood) for Thomas and Mary. He has a daughter Jane (likely married as he mentions her portion is not fully paid). Elner Westeron (the testator's sister's grandson) and Johanne Croutch (his granddaughter). His wife's name is Christian. He signs his will with his own hand (full signature Robert Siderfin) providing the transcription of the court recorder has been faithful. 

Already I have having problems with the genealogical chart produced by James Sanders at the back of the book. There are a number of records available now on the Somerset website that mention the children of the various Siderfin families so will extract all of that material as well. I may order some of the records (electronic copy). 

Recorded: 3^rd February 2006, re-transcribed 16 Nov 2021

Source: National Archives, Kew

Place: Luxburough, Somerset, England

Type of Record: Will

Dated: 19 August 1627; probated 31 January 1627 (old Style)

[in margin] Roberti Siderfyn (handwritten)

1	In the name of God Amen The
2	nineteenth daie of August in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand sixe hundred
3	twentie and seaven I Robert Siderfin of the parish of Luxborowe within the
4	dioces of Bath and Wells being somewhat sicke in body but of perfect minde
5	and memory praise bee to allmightie god therefore. I doe make this my last will and
6	Testament in manner and forme following. First I bequeath my soule to allmightie
7	god and my body to bee buried in the Chauncell of Luxborowe Item I give to the Cathedrall
8	church of Wells vij d. Ite[m] I give to Robert Siderfin the sonne of William Siderfin and
9	to Robert Westeron the sonne of Willia[m] Westeron and to Robert Siderfin the sonne of
10	Robert Siderfine of Mynehead to any of them one heafer yeardling Item I give to all the
11	rest of my sonne and daughter s children to every of them five Ewe sheepe apeece It[em] I give to
12	the poore of Cutcombe 6 s and to the poore of Luxborowe 6 s. Item I give to William
13	Siderfin my sonne my best meane and ploughstuffe for eight Oxin to bee deliv[ere]d him after the decease
14	of Christian my wife and the cubbard in the hall and table board in the same to bee delivered as abovesaid
15	Item I give unto Marie Siderfin my daughter unmarried two hundred pounds. Item I give and
16	bequeath unto Thomas Siderfin my sonne and Mary Siderfin my Daughter all that tearme of
17	yeares and estate which I have in a tenement called South Wheddon lying within the p[ar]ish of
18	Cutcombe Item I give unto the said Thomas Siderfin and Marie Siderfin my leasee for yeares
19	for to keepe one hundred sheepe upon Brundon and my whole interest and estate therein as
20	alsoe I give unto the said Thomas Siderfin and Mary Siderfin my lease for tearme of years
21	W[hi]ch I have in seaven acres of wood lying w[i]thin the p[ar]ish of Luxborrowe be my part of Priory
22	Wood and all such trees as are by the same lease granted mee w[i]th forsaid p[re]misses are lying
23	within the Countie of Som[er]set Item I give unto every of my Godchildren twelve pence apeece
24	And fourtie pounds of my said daughter Marys portion or el[s]e my daughter Janes portion
25	which is yet unpaid in a great parte is to bee paid by my sonne William unto one of them
26	W[hi]ch he upon good consideration hath undertaken to paie Ite[m] I give unto Elner Westeron [sister's grandson] and
27	Johanne Coutch [his granddaughter] three pounds apeece to bee paid w[i]thin two years after my decease the residue
28	of my goods not given nor disposed I give and bequeath unto Christian my wife and Thomas
29	Siderfin my sonne whom I make my sole Executors of this my last will In witness whereof
30	I have hereunto sett my hand Robert Siderfin Witnessed here unto The marke of
31	Christopher Webber The marke of Robert Copp[e]r The marke of John Burges
32	Probatum fuit Testamentum suprascriptum apud
33	London coram venerabili viro domino Henrico Marten Milite legum doctore
34	curie Prerogative Cantuariensis Magistro custode sive Commissario l[egi]time constituto
35	ultimo die mensis Januarij Anno domino iuxta  cursum et computationem Eccl[es]ie
36	Anglicane millesimo sexcentesimo vicesimo septimo Juramento Christiane Relicte
37	dicti defuncti et Thome Siderfyn filij dicti defuncti et Executorum in hu[ius]modi Testamento
38	Nominat quibus commissa fuit Administratio omnium et singulorum bonorum iurium
39	Et creditorum dicti defuncti de bene et fideliter Administrando eadem ad sancta dei
40	Evangelia Coram Petro Poole Cl[er]ico dioces de Chard Vigore Commissionis in
41	ea p[ar]te al[ia]s emanat Jurat. Ex[aminat]

I did not come across any mention of this will in the book that I have noticed but will watch for it. The will of Robert Siderfin in 1689 is mentioned and he was at East Lynch, Timberscombe.