The Siderfin Family of West
Somerset © 2023 by Elizabeth
(Blake) Kipp is
licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
I have added this entire section from James
Sanders’ as it does make an interesting read and provides a lot of information
on the sons of Thomas 4 Siderfin who both filed for bankruptcy (Robert filing
for his brother Thomas) then Darch (his nephew-in-law) filed for Robert in
order to settle the estate. I have not footnoted these appendices they do not
really add that much material to the Siderfin family but are simply
interesting.
From MacDermot's Forest
of Exmor
James Boevey of London, Merchant. James Boeve
or Boevey, the first owner of Exmoor, was of Dutch extraction. His father, one
Andrew Boeve of Courtrai in Flanders, was brought to England in 1573 at the age
of seven by his parents who being Huguenots fled from the persecution of the
Duke of Alva.
However, his appetite for litigation had not
decreased with age, and the law officers of the Crown seem to have been ever
ready to assist him. A few days before the landing of William of Orange at Tor
Bay, we find the Attorney General lodging a bill in the Exchequer against
Robert Siderfin, who in 1681 had succeeded his brother Thomas as lord of the
Manor of Exton, Hawkridge and Withypool. It is to this bill that the extracts
from the Rolls of the Exmoor Forest Court refer. The cause of the trouble was evidently
that Siderfin had been impounding some of the forest sheep and cattle found on
Hawkridge and Withypool Commons. Boevey having discovered that the foresters in
Tudor times had laid claim to these commons as part of the forest, renewed his
pretensions, not ony as to Hawkridge and Withypool, but inferentially to all
other commons, and further developed his theory of the Royal Manor. The action
is ostensibly for the recovery of documents, which are alleged to be in
Siderfin's possession, but it includes a claim to the commons, and this was the
real object in view. That Siderfin had got hold of any of the forest records
seems highly improbable.
After James Bovey's death, January, 1696, his
widow, Mrs. Margaret Bovey, succeeded to his interest in Exmoor Forest under
provisions of his will. Mrs. Boevey kept the forest for eight years, and on the
26th April, 1704, sold the residue of her term - fifteen years - to her
husband's old adversary, Robert Siderfin of Croydon in Carhampton Parish, who
had already acquired the reversionary lease for thirty one years granted to
Lord Arundell, of Trerice, in December, 1678. How he obtained this lease is not
apparent; Lord Arundell had died in October, 1687, and his son John, the second
baron, in June, 1698.
Robert Siderfin, who thus became entitled to
Exmoor Forest for forty six years, to be exact, for a term ending on the 21st
July, 1750, was the representative of a family which had long been settled in
Luxborough, in November, 1645, and is described in the register as "ye
sonne of Thomas Sidderfin," the latter was a justice of the peace during
the time of the Commonwealth. Robert succeeded to the Croydon property and the
Manors of Exton, Hawkridge and Withpool as well as South Quarme in 1681, under
the will of his elder brother, Thomas Siderfin. He was a barrister by
profession and Sheriff of Somerset in 1694. Whether he still owned all the
property is a little doubtful in view of a private Act of Parliament which was
passed in 1700, entitled "An Act for vesting the Manor of Exton and other
lands in the County of Somerset, late the estate of Thomas Siderfin, Esquire,
deceased, in trustees to be sold for payment of debts." We do not know
what was done in pursuance of this Act. Robert Siderfin certainly held Croydon
till his death, and perhaps Hawkridge and Withypool too. If the lord of these
manors was once again after an interval of more than four centuries forester of
Exmoor, Richard de Plessy, who died in 1289, having been the last to hold them
with the forestership.
In 1706 we find the new forester following the
example of his predecessor by going to law with some of his neighbours. It
seems that the right on the forest claimed by the suitors at large, or
borderers, were not generally recognized even at this time; so with a view to
settling the question Siderfin filed his bill in the Exchequer in Michaelmas
term, 1706, against the following persons: John and Lewis Hatche of South
Molton, Nicholas, George and William Shapland, William and George Barrow, John
and Daniel Smith and William Kingdon all of North Molton; John Mogeridge of
Molland and David Bale of Linton.
In this he shows his title to "a large
tract of land heretofore the Forest and Chace of Exmore" under letters
patent of the 15th January, 12 Charles II. (1661), whereby the same was leased
to James, Marquis of Ormond, and his assigns for 31 years in reversion.
From these pleadings we see that at this period
Exmoor was regarded merely in its aspect of a great sheep pasture, and that the
forest and forestal rights were in danger of being forgotten by the forester
himself, who speaks of it as "a large tract of land heretofore the Forest
or Chace of Exmore." while the defendants do not believe it to be a forest
at all and doubt whether it ever was one. It is pretty evident that during the
last half century Mr. Boevey had only concerned himself with the revenue-producing
possibilities of his property, and had allowed the rights over the deer claimed
by his predecessors to lapse. From his statement that the prices for agistment
had been usually if not always the same, Siderfin was evidently ignorant of the
fact that they had been fixed by Boevey in 1655, and that he could alter them
if so minded. This ignorance seems to have been shared by all the succeeding
foresters. The defendants pervert the truth very conveniently in their answer
by omitting to mention that the right of pasture in the forest, confirmed to
the lord and tenants of North Molton by the decree they quote, was limited to
the time between sunrise and sunset, and that they had therefore no right to
leave their sheep in the forest at night, which fact, of course, made a
considerable difference to the value of their right of common. The defendants
who lived in Molland and Lynton did not put in any answers to the bill, so we
do not hear whether they claimed the same right as the North Molton men, and if
so, on what grounds. Siderfin does ot appear to have proceeded with the action.
After this time all the borderers with one or two exceptions seem to have been
treated alike, paying half the rates which strangers paid; at least this was
the case in 1736 and subsequently.
In 1719 Mr. Siderfin had some trouble with one
John Dennicombe, a recently evicted tenant of Simonsbath Farm, who brought an
action against him in Chancery. From the pleadings we learn that in 1702 Mr.
William Smith, "agent to Madam Bovey," had let the farm, then about
to become vacant, to Dennicombe at a yearly rent of £9. This seems by the way a
very low figure; probably it was difficult to get a tenant at all owing to the
loneliness of the place. Later on the rent was generally £35 a year. In May,
1704, Dennicombe had taken the farm from a new forester on a five years'
repairing agreement, and had given him a bond for £500 to observe its
conditions. "During the term the premises fell into very great decay and
became ruinous for want of repair."
Siderfin gave the tenant notice to repair, but
the latter said he was too poor to lay out the money and asked his landlord to
do the repairs, promising to repay him. So in 1706 the latter spent over £20
and "new covered and tiled a barn at a cost of over £10."
After the five years were up Dennicombe was
allowed to remain as a yearly tenant till 1717, when he was given notice to
quit. "About Lady-day, 1718, the Plaintiff's wife came to the defendant at
his dwelling at Croyden and asked him to let them remain in part of the
dwellinghouse till Midsomer, promising to deliver up possession of the other
part and also of all the land except the garden forthwith, and of the rest of
the house and the garden at Midsomer." To this Siderfin consented, but
when 'Midsomer' came Dennicombe refused to go, whereupon the former
"caused your Orator to be arrested on the Bond, and for want of special
bail carried to Ivelchester Goal where he still remaineth." This was the
usual method of treating debtors in those days. ' At the winter assizes in
Hillary Term last' (1719) Siderfin brought an action for ejectment, and
according to the plaintiff, "taking advantage of your Orator's povery and
imprisonment snapt a judgement." Accordingly the bailiffs of the Sheriff of
Somerset turned out the rest of the Dennicombe family out upon the moor on the
22nd April 1719, and duly gave possession of Simonsbath House to Mr. Siderfin.
Four days later the suit in Chancery was commenced, the plaintiff alleging that
he had spent large sums in the last year on improving and manuring the farm,
etc., etc., and that Siderfin had promised never to turn him out. The latter
made answer on the 14th July denying that he had ever made any improvements or
spent five shillings on the farm, which was in a very much worse state than
when he took it, and concludes by alleging that "the complainant or his
family have broken, burnt or otherwise destroyed the gates, floors, and timbers
of the said house to the value of £10 and more." No doubt firewood was
scarce on Exmoor.
Whether John Dennicombe got the relief he
sought or ended his days in Ilchester Gaol, we know not.
The Marquis of Ormond's lease of January 1661,
came to an end on the 21st July, 1719, but this made no practical difference,
as Siderfin held Lord Arundell's revisionary lease of December, 1678, which
then began to run. Strictly speaking, the term which he had bought from Mrs.
Boevey expired a month earlier, as the last month of the thirty-one years had
been reserved by the Marquis when he transferred the lease to James Boevey in
1661, but this fact had no doubt been forgotten.
Robert Siderfin died in July, 1720, and was
buried at Luxborough on the 14th of that month. He had been married four times;
Ann, daughter of Sir John Wittewrong of Rothamstead in Hertford, whose death on
May 5th, 1708, is recorded by an inscription on the floor of Luxborough Church,
being referred to in his will as his third wife, while he left a widow,
Elizabeth by name. One of the two earlier wives was "Katherine Siderfin
alias Graves," administration of whose estate was granted to him in November,
1686. By one of the earlier marriages he had two sons, Walter and Robert, but
neither is referred to in his will, by which he left all his lands in Somerset
and Devon, subject to a charge for the payment of his debts, to his wife
Elizabeth, and made her residuary legatee and sole executrix.
The will is dated 14th June, 1715. Like his
elder brother Thomas, Robert Siderfin died in debt, and the widow having
renounced probate of his will, administration was granted to Robert Darch as
principal creditor on the 22nd June, 1721.
This Robert Darch, a Presbyterian minister at
Bishop's Hull, near Taunton, was the second of four brothers, nephews of Robert
Siderfin. His eldest brother, Thomas, lived and owned land in Luxborough, where
he died in August, 1734. There is an inscription on the floor of Luxborough
Church recording his death and that of his widow, Sarah, who is described as
"a father to the poor and eminent for the practice of virtue and true
religion." Two other brothers, James and Philip, the latter of whom seems
to have been also a Presbyterian minister, are referred to as 'my nephews' in
Siderfin's will and given legacies of £100 each. The Darch family had long been
resident in Luxborough; in 1598 a James Darch of Luxborough, was joint
plaintiff in a lawsuit concerning Exmoor with Thomas Webber, the deputy
forester.
After Siderfin's death his interest in Exmoor
Forest, probably by some arrangement among the creditors, became divided
between two persons, the principal of whom was this Robert Darch. In the rental
of the crown lands compiled in 1734 the tenants of Exmoor Forest are named as
"Robert Darch and another" and from the fact that Darch purchased the
tithes from the Cressets in 1723 we may infer with tolerable certainty that he
was then in possession of an interest in the Forest iself. 'Another' was
presumably the John Hill who 'passed and allowed' before two witnesses, the
accounts of the deputy forester, which were furnished to Darch's widow and son
in 1737 and 1743 respectively. Very likely he was a grandson of Boevey's deputy
forester who lived at Newland in Withpool in 1678. A third John Hill appears as
owner of Newland and Higher Lanacre in 1819. From the terms of Darch's will,
combined with the absence from these accounts of any rent for Simonsbath Farm,
it seems that this belonged solely to Darch, and that Hill had a half share in
the forest only, exclusive of the farm. However this may have been, Darch had
the predominant interest as sole owner of the tithes besides his share of the
forest.
Darch died on the 31st January, 1737. Among the
pamphlets enumerated in Mr. E. Green's Bibliotheca Somersenensis appear the
following: "Grove, Henry .... A funeral sermon occasioned by the death of
the late reverend Mr. Robert Darch, of Hill Bishops, in the County of Somerset,
who departed this life Jan. 31st, 1737, aetat 65." From another entry in
the same work we gather that at the funeral of Robert Siderfin's third wife,
Darch himself had entertained the mourners with a discourse considered worthy
of printing: "Darch, Robert (Hill-bishops). A sermon preach'd at the
funeral of Mrs. Anne, the wife of Robert Siderfin, Esq., one of her Majesties
justices of the peace for the County of Somerset, at Timberscombe, May 13th,
1708."
Date: 29 Sep 2009
Document: Will
Source: The
National Archives PROB 11/505/393
Date of document:
19 Jun 1707; probated 30 Dec 1708
Author: Augustine
Question
Relationship: 7x
great grandfather
Location:
Carhampton Somerset England
[In margin] T[esta]m[ent] Augustine
Question
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1
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In the Name of God Amen
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2
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I Augustine
Question the Elder of Rodhuish in the Parish
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3
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of Carhampton in
the County of Somersett Gent being in
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4
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good and perfect
mind and memory praise be given to
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5
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Almighty God for
the same Revoking all former and
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6
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other Wills by
me heretofore made and Legacies by me
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7
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given do make
and ordain this my last Will and Testament
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8
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In writing in
manner and form following that is to say first
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9
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and principally
I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty
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10
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God assuredly
trusting through the meritts death and passion
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11
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of Jesus Christ
my Saviour to receive free pardon of all my
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12
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Sins and Life
Everlasting in the world to come And my
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13
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Body to be
committed to the Earth from whence it was taken
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14
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to be decently
interred in Christian burial at the discretion
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15
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of my Executor
hereafter named And as for my worldly
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16
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temporal and
personal Estate wherewith God hath blessed
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17
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me I dispose
thereof in manner and form following (that
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18
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is to say)
Imprimis I give and bequeath unto the poor of
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19
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the parish of
Carhampton Twenty shillings and to the
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20
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poor of Dunsterr
Twenty shillings and to the poor of
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21
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Withycombe
Twenty shillings to be distributed to them
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22
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on the day of my
burial. Item I do give and bequeath to my
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23
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Eldest Son John
Question my longest Silver Quoole Item I
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24
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give devise and
bequeath unto my Son Augustine Question
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25
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and to his heirs
Males All those Messuages Lands
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26
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Tenements
hereditaments and Premisses with the appurt[ance]s
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27
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Hereinafter
mentioned (that is to say) All those six Acres
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28
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of Land called
Prislands now in my own possession situate
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29
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lying and being
in the parish of Carhampton in the County
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30
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of Somersett And
all that one Tenement or Cottage Orchard
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31
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and Garden late
in the possession of one John Budd and
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32
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now in my own
Possession lying in the Parish of Carhampton
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33
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aforesaid And
all that one dwelling house and Garden
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34
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late in the
possession of one Rose Whythycombe and now in
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[Page 2]
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35
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the possession
of her Assignee or Assignes scituate in the
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36
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parish of
Carhampton aforesaid and all those two Meadows
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37
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called Wythymead
and Crosemead with the Close of Land
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38
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called Sinnersland
late in the possession of one Rose
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39
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Whythycombe and
now in my own possession lying in the
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40
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Parish of
Carhampton aforesaid And also one other
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41
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Messuage or
Tenement with a Garden and two Closes
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42
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of Land or
Pasture called the Crust and Ruappe late in
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43
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the possession
of one John Grime and now in my owne
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44
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Possession lying
in the parish of Carhampton aforesaid and
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45
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the Reversion
and Remainders thereof with all and singular
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46
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their
Appurtenances and all my deeds and writings touching
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47
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And concerning
the same To have and to hold the same unto
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48
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my said Son
Augustine Question and to his heirs males
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49
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of his Body And
for default of such Issue my Will and
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meaning is and I
do give and devise all the same Messuages
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51
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Lands and
Premisses with the Appurtenances unto my Son
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52
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John Question
and his heirs Males of his Body And for
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53
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default of such
Issue I do give and devise all the same
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54
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Messuages Lands
and Premisses with the Appurtenances
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55
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unto my own
right heirs for Ever Item I do give and
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56
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devise unto my
said Son Augustine Question for and during
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57
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the term of his
natural Life All my Messuages Lands
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58
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Tenements and
hereditaments with the Appurtenances
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59
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situate lying
and being in the parish of Dunsterr in the
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60
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County of
Somersett and after the death or decease of my
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61
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said son
Augustine Question my Will and meaning is and
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62
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I do give and
devise all the same Messuages Lands
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63
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Tenements and Hereditaments
with the Appurtenances
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64
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situate lying
and being in the said parish of Dunster
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65
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and County of
Somersett unto my Grandson Andrew
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66
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Question the son
of my said Son Augustine Question and
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67
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to the heirs
Males of his Body lawfully begotten And
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68
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for default of
such Issue I do give and devise all the same
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69
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Messuages Lands
Tenements and hereditaments with
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70
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the Appurtances
unto my said son Augustine Question
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71
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and to the heirs
males of his Body And for default of
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72
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such Issue I do
give and devise all the same Messuages
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73
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Lands Tenements
and hereditaments with the Appurtances
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74
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unto my son John
Question and to the heirs Males of his
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74
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Body And for
default of such Issue I do give and devise
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76
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all the same
Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments
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77
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with the
Appurtenances lying and being in the parish of
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78
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Dunsterr in the
County of Somersett aforesaid unto my own
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79
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right heirs for
Ever Item I do give and bequeath unto
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80
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my said Son
Augustine Question my Shortest Silver Poole
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81
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and to his wife
Cecilia Question and to their seven
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82
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Children namely
Augustine Andrew George John
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83
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Thomas Sarah and
Susannah Questions Two shillings a
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84
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Peece Item I do
give and bequeath to my daughter in
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85
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Law Mary
Question Wife of my said Son John Question
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86
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Two shillings
Item I give to my Grandson John Question
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[Page 3]
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87
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Son of my said
Son John Question my long Table Board
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88
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and forme now
standing in the Parlour in my now dwelling
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89
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house Also I
give unto Augustine Question Andrew
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90
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Question Mary
Johannah Susannah and Elizabeth Questions
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91
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Sons and
daughters of my said Son John Question Two shillings
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92
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each Item I give
to my Son in Law Robert Siderfin five
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93
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shillings Also I
give to my daughter Elizabeth Siderfine
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94
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his wife a peece
of Gold of Twenty Shillings I give likewise
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95
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to their seven
Children namely Robert John Augustine
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96
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Thomas Elizabeth
Jane and Susannah Siderfin ten shillings
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97
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a peece Item I
give to my daughter in Law Anne Question
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98
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and to her four
Children namely John, Jane, Anne and
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99
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Susannah
Questions Two shillings a peece which said Legacies
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100
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are to be paid
in two Months after my decease by my Executor
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101
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Item all the
Rest and Residue of my Goods and Chattles
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102
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Rights and
Creditts as well moveable as immovable (not
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103
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herein before
given or bequeathed) I do give and bequeath
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104
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unto my said son
Augustine Question whom I do hereby
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105
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make nominate
and ordain my full whole and sole Executor
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106
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of this my last
Will and Testament In Witness whereof I
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107
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the said
Augustine Question the Elder on two part of this
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108
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my said last
Will and Testament Indented the one part
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109
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thereof to
remain with my said Son Augustine Question and
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110
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his heirs Males
for Ever and the other part thereof to
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111
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remain in the
Office where the same shall be proved have
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112
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sett my hand and
Seal this Nineteenth day of June in the
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113
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year of the
Reign of our Sovereign Lady Anne now Queen
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114
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of Great Britain
and the Sixth Anno d[o]mi One Thousand
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115
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seven hundred
and seven 1707 Augustine Question Signed
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116
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Sealed published
and declared this to be my last Will and
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117
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Testament having
two parts or Originals duly Executed in
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118
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the presence of
us Thomas Prowse Mathew Escott Amos
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119
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Escott
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120
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Probatum fuit Piujusinodi Testomentis apud
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121
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London roman
venerabili et Egregio Vivo domino Richardo
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122
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Raines White
Legum doctore Curia Prerogative Coutu
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123
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Ragistro Custode
ewe Commiseario legitune constituto
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124
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Triceimo die
Rewsis decembrio Anno domi Willesimo
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125
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Septingentisimo
Ortavo Juramento Augustin Question
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126
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Executoris in
dicto Testamento Nominate Cuirominisea
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127
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Fuit
Administratio ominium et singulerum bonoruni juriu
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128
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Et creditorium
dicti defuncti de bene et fideliter administrander
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129
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Eadem ad Sta dei
Evangelia (Vigore Commissiouis) Jurait
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130
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Exam
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131
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Examr per B
Rushworth Nolium Pubcum
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The
status and location of the Siderfin Family of Luxborough, Somerset as mentioned
by James Sanders has been located to an Appendix as it is interesting but does
not fit into the generational aspect of the early part of the book. Perhaps it
is my being female, but I have little interest in family crests or arms. But
feel duty bound to record the crest used thus far by the Thomas 4 (Robert 3,
William 2, John 1) line (as far as I can determine although do make query
comments in the text) so one is left to assume that this line created it and
this line did appear to daughter out.
There
is no mention of any of this family bearing arms, yet Collinson, in History of
Somerset,
mentions “Arms, three cups,” – Siderfin
Figure 23: Crest of the
Siderfin Family (from James Sanders’ book)
There
is an inscription on one of the floor pieces “Here lyeth the body of Ann the
wife of Robert Siderfin, of Croydon, esq; and daughter of Sir John Wittewronge,
of Rothamsted in the county of Hertford, bart. Who died May 5, 1708. Arms:
three cups, Siderfin; impaling Bendy of fix, on a chief a bar indented,
Wittewronge.” .
It
seemed to be important to the story that James Sanders was writing perhaps to
emphasize that the Siderfin family did eventually rise to the status of
gentlemen and did bear arms so I have left it with the rest of the text with
which it was associated.
Link
to the original book of James Sanders held by Internet Archives. Although I
have included quite a bit of James Sanders book in this revision there are
interesting historical comments and information which he included which did not
actually involve the Siderfin Family so I have not always included every page
of his book in this revision:
https://archive.org/details/historyofsiderfi00sand
Appendix 9 contains unlinked Siderfin
records found during searches of Find My Past.
Name of Testator: Grace
Escott, Dunster, Somerset, widow
Held by: North Devon Record
Office
Reference: 3792 M/F2
Date 6 Aug 1784, proved
Taunton Archdeaconry Court 4 Sep 1784
Transcription: unknown, sent to me by Mark Siderfin
(I have not corrected the obvious mis-transcriptions and do not know who did
the transcription; from memory I think that Mark acquired the document from the
Devon Record Office and had it transcribed. I did check to see if he sent the
images of the original will but have not located it to date.)
The will itself is interesting as it does re-enforce
the ancestry of James Sanders back to the Robert 6 line (Robert Siderfin
married to Grace Kent).
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In the Name of God Amen I
Grace Escott of Dunster in the County of
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Somerset,
Widow, being of sound and perfect Mind memory and Intellects ………to
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Almighty
God for the same do make ordain and appoint this to be my last and legal
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Will
and Testement, as followeth (that is to say) first and principally I
recommend my
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Soul
into the Hands of the Almighty God who gave it me and my Body to decent and
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Christian
burial. And for such Worldly Goods as
it hath pleased Almighty God to
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give
me I give and Bequeath the same as
followeth (to wit) Whereas in and by
virtue
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of a
certain Deed of Settlement made on my intermarriage with my late husband
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Thomas
Escott of Withycombe in the County of Somerset ……. Deceased twas
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therein
and thereby authorized and impressed by any Deed or Deeds Writing or
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Writings
or by my last Will and Testement to direct limit give or devise all that
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messuages
and Garden with the Appurtenances called the Middle House and the
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pieces
and parcels of lands meadows and pasture ground hereafter particularly
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mentioned
and expressed (that is to say) Great Langland Meadows, one piece called
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Hurtstone,
two rights in the New Marsh, one acre in the Upper Langford and one
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piece
called the Drang all which said ……..
with the appurtunances were late parts ad
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parcels
or reputed so to be part of the Manor of Alcombe in the said County of
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Somerset. And also all that cottage or
dwellinghouse, garden and orchard with the
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appurtunances
containing by estimation one yard or thereabouts to the same more or
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less
situate lying in Alcombe aforesaid and late was part and parcel of the said
Manor
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and
heretofore were in the possession of Elizabeth Crookford her Assigns or
Assigner
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and
now are in the possession of William Edmund and William Clarke as Tenants
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thereof
together with all and singular, the house (part of which has been burnt
down),
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outhouses,
edifices, buildings, barns, stables, stalls, gardens, orchards, commons and
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common
of pasture, ways, paths, passages, water, water courses, eavements, profits,
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commodities,
hereditaments, advantages and appurtunances whatsoever to the said
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premises
or any part or parcel thereof belonging or appertaining on therewith used or
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enjoyed
or accepted reputed taken or known as part parcel or (member?) thereof.
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Now
the said Grace Escott do in ……. and full execution of the power arising
either
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from
the letter or construction of the said Deed of Settlement or by implication
of
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Law
and of all other Powers whatsoever either expressed or implied wherewith
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………
either in Law or Equity invested by this my last Will and Testement in
writing
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duly
executed and credibly attested direct limit give and devise the said messuage
and
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garden
with the appurtenances called The Middle House and the said pieces and
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parcels
of land, meadow and pasture ground herein before and herein after
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particularly
mentioned (that is to say) Great Langland Meadows, one piece called
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Hurtstone,
two rights in New Marsh, one acre in the Upper Langford and one piece
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called
the Drang and also the said cottage or dwellinghouse (…….) garden with the
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appurtenances
containing by estimation one yard or thereabouts (be the same more or
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less)
situated lying and being in Alcombe aforesaid and all other land and premises
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herein
before mentioned …… and every part and parcel thereof respectively with
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their
respective rights ……….
hereditaments ……….
appurtenances unto John
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Siderfin,
son of Robert Siderfin of the Parish of Selworthy in the said County of
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Somerset,
Yeoman and the Heirs of his body lawfully to be gotten subject to the
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provisos
and conditions hereinafter mentioned, that is to say, provided always and it
is
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my
true Intent and Meaning and I do hereby declare my Will to be that in case
the
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John
Siderfin shall happen to die without heirs of his body lawfully begotten then
and
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in
such case I do hereby direct limit give and devise the said messuages and
garden
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called
the Middle House and the lands and premises herein before part mentioned and
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also
the said cottage or dwellinghouse (on the soile thereof) garden and orchard
and
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all
other hands an premises herein before mentioned and (visited?) and every part
and
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parcel
thereof respectively with their respective rights members hereditaments and
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appurtunances
unto Mary Siderfin, Betty Siderfin, Grace Long and Joanna Siderfin
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(sisters
of the said John Siderfin) their heirs and assigns for ever to hold to them
the
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said
Mary Siderfin, Betty Siderfin, Grace Long and Joanna Siderfin their heirs and
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assigns
for ever as Tenants in Common and not as Joint Tenants. Also I give and
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bequeath
unto my cousin Jane Clarke the Dwellinghouse at Tivington wherein Francis
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Edwards
now lives with garden and orchard thereunto belonging during the form of
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her
natural life free and clear of all Rates Taxes and Repairs for or in respect
of the
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same
which said Rates and Taxes thereby direct my Executor hereinafter named to
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pay
and discharge and also to keep the said House and Orchard in good and
sufficient
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repair
during the said form out of the Residum of my Estate and Effects, it being my
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Will
that the said Jane Clark should hold and enjoy the same during her life free
and
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clear
of all outgoings whatsoever and from and after the decease of the said Jane
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Clark,
I give and devise the said House Garden and Orchard unto the herein before
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mentioned
John Siderfin his Executor Administration and Assigner for and during all
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the
then Residue and remainder of my Term Estate and Interest therein. Also I give
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unto
the said Jane Clarke a feather bed and bolster which I lent her and which she
has
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now
in her keeping and also four ponds yearly and every year of lawful Money of
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England
during her natural life by my Executor herein after named. Also I give and
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devise
all that my reversionary term Estate and Interest to commence on the Death of
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Joseph
Kent and in all that my leasehold messuages or tenement with its
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appurtenances
commonly called or known by the name of Kents situate lying and
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being
in Selworthy of ……. and being part of the Manor of Blackford and now in the
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possession
of Robert Sage, Yeoman and Thomas Giles of Selworthy aforesaid
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Yeoman
his Executors and Administration upon Trust and to and for the Ends intents
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and
Purposes hereinafter mentioned and declared concerning the same (that is to
say)
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upon
trust that he the said Thomas Giles his Executor or Administration do and
shall
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yearly
and every year from and after the commencement of the said term and during
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the
natural life of Ann Sage Wife of the said Robert Sage (my term and interest
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therein
so long continuing) may apply and dispose of all the clear ……… rents House
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and
Profits of the said messuages or tenement and premises unto such person or
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persons
and in such parts proportions manner and form as she the said Ann Sage shall
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from
time to time (notwithstanding her …….) by any memorandum in writing under
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her
hand alone direct and appoint or otherwise do and shall permit and suffer her
the
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said
Ann Sage to receive and take such Rents House and Profits of the said
premises
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to
her own sole and separate ……. Benefit and disposal whose receipt alone shall
be a
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sufficient
discharge for the same to his intent the same may not be in the power or
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disposal
or subject or liable to the House debts or engagements of the said Robert
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Sage
her husband or any future husband if she should happen to have any, but
entirely
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at
her own vote and separate ….. and disposal and from and after the death of
the said
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Ann
Sage then upon Trust to permit and suffer the said Robert Sage his Executors,
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Administration
and Assigner peaceably and quietly to have hold occupy possess and
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,
enjoy and to receive take and apply all the Rents House and Profits of the said
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messuage
or tenement called ……… for and during all the then residue and remainder
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of my
Term Estate and Interest therein he she or they keeping the said premises in
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good
and sufficient repair and discharging all Rates Tax and Imposition in respect
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hereof
and observing doing and performing all the covenants in the leave of said
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premises. Also I give and bequeath unto Mary the
daughter of the said Robert and
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Ann
Sage six silver team spoons marked with letters GE, my silver tea tongs, best
set
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of
china, my china milk jug, my stand tea table and one of my Hand Waiters made
of
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Oak. Also I give and bequeath unto Ann the wife
of Giles Bryant of Dunster
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aforesaid
Butcher the sum of fifty pounds of lawful Money of England also my silver
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butter
dish marked with TT and 1753 also one elbow mahogany chair and two single
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mahogany
chairs with Horsehair bottoms. Also I
give and bequeath unto my cousin
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Grace
Bishop (widow) of the Parish of (Stogurney?) ten pounds of lawful Money of
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England. Also I give unto my cousin Mary Harris wife
of John Harris of Lyddard
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Ten
Pounds of lawful Money of England.
Also I give unto my cousin John Trill
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Servant
to Alexander Fowles Luttrell, Clerk Ten Pounds of lawful Money of
England.
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Also
I give unto Ann the daughter of Robert Siderfin herein before mentioned or
unto
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Samuel
Lovelace of the Parish of Minehead in the said County of Somerset, Yeoman,
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in
Trust to and for the only proper use benefit and behalf of her the said Ann
Siderfin
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her
Executors, Administration and Assigns during her natural life all that
Meadows
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situate
called or known by the name of Witch Meadows situate lying and being in the
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Parish
of Selworthy aforesaid and the part or parcel of the said Manor of
Blackford.
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That
he the said Samuel Lovelace his Executor Administration and Assigns shall
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permit
and suffer the said Ann Siderfin her Executor Administration and Assigns to
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receive
and take all the rents and the profits of the said Meadows called Witch
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Meadows
during her and their natural lives if my Estate and Interest therein shall so
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long
continue and her and their receipts shall be proper and lawful discharged for
the
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same
she and they paying and discharging all Rates Taxes and Impositions which
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shall
or may be laid charged or imposed on the said Meadows or Premises during all
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the
said term of the lease belonging to the (tear in paper) or Premises. Also I give and
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bequeath
unto the said Ann Siderfin my blue bed with the curtains and valence and
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pillow
thereun belonging one quilt, a pair of sheets, a pair of blankets and damask
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tablecloth
marked with the letter T, six blue and white china plates, my large common
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prayer
book and one other book entitled the Christian Defence by Charles
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Drelincourt,
one little bible with a gilt ……., one small trunk covered with flowered
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silk,
and one green bed rug and two silver tablespoons, one marked with the letter
T
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and
the other with the letter TT and GT and 1724 and one silver hilt case knife
and
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fork. Also I give and bequeath unto Mary the
daughter of the aforesaid Robert
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Siderfin
all those my several leasehold messuages or tenements with their
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apportunances
commonly called or known by the names of Ham Mead, Pound
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Meadows
and Oxenlears situate and being in Selworthy aforesaid and part and parcel
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of
the Manor of Blackford aforesaid for and during her natural life her Executor
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Administration
and Assigns if my Estate and Interest shall therein so long continue
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she
and they paying and discharging all high rents rates taxes and impositions
which
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shall
be laid or charged on the said premises during the Term provided always and
my
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true
Intent and Meaning is and I do hereby declare my Will to be that in case the
said
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Mary
Siderfin shall happen to die having no child or children of her body lawfully
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begotten
living at her death that then and in such case immediately from and after the
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death
of the said Mary Siderfin I give and devise the said several messuages and
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tenements
with their appurtenances called Pound Meadows, Oxenlears and Ham
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Mead
unto Thomas Siderfin the youngest son of Robert Siderfin aforesaid (or unto
the
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said
Robert Siderfin in Trust to and for the only use benefit and ……… of his said
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son
Thomas his Executive Administration and Assigns during all the then residue
and
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remainder
of several Term Estates and Interests therein respectively). Also I give
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unto
the said Mary Siderfin my silver pint cup marked with TT and 1753 and all the
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rest
of my silver spoons not herein before given and all the rest of my books not
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herein
before given. Also I give Ann the wife
of Giles Bryant of Dunster aforesaid
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Butcher
my flowered silk damask pint coloured gown and one yellow with quilted
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petticoat. Also I give unto Mary the wife of John
Staddon of Dunster aforesaid
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Yeoman
my most fashionable green silk gown which has been tuned and one black
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with
quilted petticoat. Also I give unto
Ann the wife of Robert Sage of Selworthy
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aforesaid
Yeoman my grey second mourning silk gown and one blue with quilted
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petticoat
and also two pairs of stays. Also I
give unto the above Mary Siderfin my
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other
green silk gown and one shaded silk quilted petticoat. Also I give unto
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Elizabeth
the daughter of Giles Bryant aforesaid one silver brooch marked with TTG
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1684
and one spruce chest and my light coloured silk gown and two silver hilt case
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knives
and forks and my striped silk quilted petticoat and my silver buckles. Also I
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give
unto Izoll Wybourn and Joan Wybourn of the Parish of Selworthy, Spinsters,
the
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sum
of Twenty Shillings each. Also I give
unto the said Mary Siderfin fifty pounds of
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lawful
money of England and all the rest of my household goods and furniture and
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clothing
now in Dunster not herein before given (except one silver tankard marked
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with
the letters TTT and 1746 and one long tablecloth marked with the letters GT
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which
I hereby give and bequeath unto my said Brother John Siderfin). All the rest
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and
residue of my Goods Chattels Lands and temporal Estate and Effects ready
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168
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money
and securities for money Rights and Credits whatsoever and wheresoever my
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Debts
legacies and funeral expenses being first duly paid and discharged and
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wherewith
those charges and ……… the same accordingly.
I give and bequeath unto
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the
aforesaid John Siderfin his Executor Administration and Assigner and I do
hereby
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make
constitute and appoint the said John Siderfin to be the whole and sole and
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residuary
legatee and Executor of this my last and legal Will and Testement and I do
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revoke
all other and former Wills by me made and make and appoint this only to be
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my
last Will and Testement and I do hereby order and direct all the legacies
herein
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mentioned
to be paid on one year next after my decease.
In witness thereof I the said
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Grace
Escott to this my last Will and Testement contained in four sheets of paper
to
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the
first four sheets only subscribing my name and to the last sheet subscribing
my
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name
and affixing my seal on the sixth day of August in the Twenty Fourth year of
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the
reign of King George the Third and in the year of our Lord Christ One
Thousand
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Seven
Hundred and Eighty Four.
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Signed,
sealed, published and declared by the said Grace Escott the
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Testatrix
to be her last and legal Will and Testement in the presence of
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us
and by us subscribed as Witness as thereto in her presence and at
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her
request and in the presence of each other all the interlinings and erasures
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therein
being first made.
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Thos
Escott
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Hugh
Matthews
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Thos
Markham
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Unlinked Siderfin Records (BMB/BMD)
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1
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Eleanor Siderfin baptized 17
Oct 1610, Luxborough, Somerset, England
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2
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Elizabeth Siderfin married
James Nurcombe 30 Sep 1616, Luxborough, Somerset, England (I think this is
the daughter of Robert 3 but have left it out of the text)
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3
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Joan Siderfin was christened on
10 Dec 1700 in Selworthy, Somerset, England, and died in 1761, aged 61. Joan
married John Pasmore on 4 Apr 1738 in Minehead, Somerset, England.
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4
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Parents: John and Joan Siderfin
(son William Siderfin baptized 23 Sep 1719 and buried 13 Nov 1748 both at
Wootton Courtney; son Robert baptized 16 Jun 1726 at Minehead) This could be
John 8 Siderfin (John 7, John 6, Robert 5, William 4, Robert 3, William 2,
John 1) but his step-mother only mentioned a grand-daughter Joane in her will
(John 8 married Maria Winter) so I have omitted these two baptisms from the
text
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John Siderfin married Mary Ann
Parsons Jun quarter 1891, Barton R., Gloucestershire
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Mary June Siderfin married
James Lancaster 7 Mar 1796 at Bristol, Gloucestershire, England
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Robert Siderfin buried 7 Mar
1762 at Wootton Courtney, Somerset (possibly the Robert #4 above)
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8
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Thomas Siderfin married Mary
Seyers Deverall 18 Jul 1786 at St Thomas, Bristol, Gloucestershire (children
baptized: Ann Siderfin baptized 1 Apr 1787, Temple Bristol, Gloucestershire),
Sarah Siderfin born 11 Nov 1791 and baptized 25 Dec 1791, Temple Bristol,
Gloucestershire (married John Tutt 3 Oct 1810 St Pauls Bristol,
Gloucestershire, Robert baptized 17 May 1807 St Pauls Bristol,
Gloucestershire)
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