The Siderfin Family of West Somerset © 2023 by Elizabeth (Blake) Kipp is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Appendix 1 (The bolded text is the author, plain text is directly from James Sander's book - The History of the Siderfin Family of West Somerset))
Origin of the Siderfin Name
The Siderfin family appear to have been either Dutch or Italian merchants, who early settled at Croydon, in the parish of Timberscombe.[1]
Whilst investigating the Siderfin surname I was able to look at a couple of Jewish surname books and did find the Siderfin name included and it was said to be initially Italian. Unfortunately that was early in my days of surname research and I did not record the name of the book or any other details. It was a sort of chance happening at one of the annual meetings of the Ontario Genealogical Society.
Appendix 2
James Sanders book is an excellent compilation of information at various times in the life of the Siderfin Family of West Somerset. Appendix 2 will include the details collected by him to prove that the Siderfin family were in the Luxborough area in the 1500s. Text in bold in the appendices in my writing.
Proof of occupancy by the Siderfin Family in Luxborough area (Appendix 2 is taken directly from the original text of James Sanders book “The Siderfin Family of West Somerset” published in 1912 and including pages 13 – 16. I have on occasion changed the flow of the test to suit my reason for creating each appendix; I trust that my readers will bear with me in this regard. The original copy of James Sanders book (photographed by me) will be available to anyone requesting it (kippeeb@rogers.com). Thank you for your patience (and the bolded text is mine)[2]. The text is also available on Internet Archive:
https://archive.org/details/historyofsiderfi00sand .
Calendar of Patent Rolls, 2 Jan 1546, 37 Henry VIII
[extracted test begins] 1546. On the 2nd of January, 37 Henry VIII, 1546, John Wyndham, Esqr., by bargain and sale conveyed to Wm. Sytffin[3] messuages and Landes at Donyford in St. Deacons[4], and by bargain and sale dated the 6th of the same month in the same year John Wyndham conveyed to Wm. Sittffyn messuages and Lands at Donyford in St. Deacons.
This section appears to be a little muddled in the original text as it runs into the next section (see Figure 6) but it does show the presence of the Siderfin family in this time period. The intent of this section and the one following is to prove that the Siderfin family was on this one particular piece of land in 1546.
Figure 16: Page 13 of original text (James
Sanders' book) [5]
[The paragraph above should end with (?Decuman), as the next part Cutcouche an Capella is a new section.]
The page following refers to the two transactions mentioned above between John Wyndham, Esqr. And Wm. Sittffyn (sp) on the 2nd and 6th of January 1546 (old style) as reproduced in Somerset and Devon Notes and Queries.
Figure 17: Page 39 from Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries, Vol. XI
Somerset Chantries, A.D. 1548, Som. Record Society, Vol. II., pages 46-7.[7]
52. Cutcombe (cum) Capella de Lowseborowghe
annex.
Cattall gyuen to the mayntenace of Lyghts w[i]t[h] in the sayde Chapell.
Three Kyne remaynyng in the custody of Will[ia]m Sydernym and Roger Grenslade [Grynslade in the original] praysed at xl s and xvj shepe remaynyng w[i]t[h] the same William and Roger praysed at xxxij s …….. lxxij s
Figure 18: Somerset Chantries, A.D. 1548, Som. Record Society, Vol. II., pages 46-7 [8].
These corrections provide more details on the information proving the presence of the Siderfin family in the Luxborough area in the 1500s.[9]
Thus shewing they lived at Luxborough prior to this date. This William Setherfin was proceeded against in Court of Requests. (See Hancock’s Minehead[10], page 115.)
After the dissolution of the abbey of Bruton[11], and the forfeiture of its possessions, the advowson of Minehead seems to have led a shuttle-cock kind of existence. From the dissolution of the Abbey, up till 1551, the rectory was held by the king, but in this latter year, according to the papers quoted below, Edward ( VI[12] ) granted it to John Belmayne, Esquire. This good gentleman, however, found when he proceeded to take possession that the king’s right to a portion of the temporalties was disputed; and that William Setherfen of Cutcombe and Christian Setherfen, widow, and certain of their children held various lands and tenements belonging to the parsonage of Minehead in Cutcombe and Luxborough, and the tithes thereof under a lease to John Syderfen from the last abbot of Bruton. Belmayne sought redress as follows:
Court of Requests, Hunt’s Series, Bundle 19, No. 10.
To the Kinges most Royal Majestie
A search on the National Archives of the United Kingdom led to the discovery that the Court of Requests boxes (400 were mentioned) have not yet been listed in the Discovery Catalogue. James Sanders has done a good job of proving that the Siderfin family were associated with Luxborough, Cutcombe and Minehead before 1548 and this document would have added greatly to that knowledge. I do not see myself going to National Archives of the United Kingdom (Kew) to look at this document but hopefully in the future another Siderfin descendant may do so.[13]
In most Humble wyse shewyth and complayneth unto your Highness John Belmayne, Esq., that whereas your Majesty was seised in your demesne as of fee of the parsonage of Mynehedd and Cutcombe with the rights and appurts in co. Somerset late parcel of the possessions of the late monastery of Brewton in co. Somerset: and so seised by Letter Patent dated 31 March in the 5th year of your reign[14] (1551) your Highness granted and to farm let to plt[15] . The said parsonage with all the houses, buildings, barns, tithes, rents, reversions, etc. in Mynehedd and Cutcombe to the said parsonage belonging great trees and woods growing upon any part of the said premises only excepted to hold to plt.[16] for 21 years paying yearly to your Majesty for the same £27 12s 4d.
Now so it is that divers charters and evidences, and also certain counterfeit writings and indentures of no force in the law supposed to have been made by the late Abott of Brewton as well to William Setherfen of Cutcombe and Christian Setherfen widow as to certain of the children of the said William and Christian have come into the hands of the said William and Christian who by colour thereof not only claim certain lands and tenements parcel of the said parsonage in certain hamlets called Cutcombe and Luxborough and to all the tithes there being parcel of the said parsonage of Minehead, but have also unjustly entered into the said lands and tenements taken the tithes and deforced plt.[17] from the same to his great loss, so that he will be unable to pay the said rent to your Majesty unless remedy be made. As the reversion of the said parsonage belongs to your Highness great prejudice and disinheritance may ensue for want of the said evidence, and by the act examining and lack of the trial of the truth of such pretended writings and indentures of Leases and other conveyances as the said William and Christian or their children claim by, to be had now whilst it is known that they are untrue.
And whereas many of the witnesses who know the truth are very old and impotent persons not able to travel and not likely to live long, by whose death it might happen that the truth concerning the premises could not be tried: It may therefore please your Majesty to grant plt.[18] your Letters of Commission under the Privy Seal to be directed to certain men of worship inhabiting the parts there near adjoining, giving them authority to call witnesses and examine them, and then to certify to the Court of Requests what has been done in the matter.
The Answer of William Sitherfyn to the Bill of Complaint of John Belmayne
Deft.[19]. Says that long before the King had anything in the said rectory and parsonage of Cutcombe, William Bishop of Maior and late Abbot of Bruton, in co. Somerset, was therefore seised in his demesne as of fee as in the right of the late Monastery of Bruton: and so seised, with the assent of the Convent of the said Monastery, by good conveyance in the law, granted and to farm let to deft.[20], certain lands and tenements in Luxborough in the tenure of John Sytherphyn, father of deft.[21], being parcel of the parsonage of Cutcombe, together with all the fruits and tithes of the corn of Lukkesbrough: to hold to deft.[22] for his life, by force, whereof deft.[23] is seized of the same in his demesne as of freehold and has taken the tithes thereof. Deft.[24] also keeps all the charters, evidences, etc., concerning his estate and title in and to the premises.
Plt.[25] in his replication, says that the “pretensed” lease supposed to have been made by the said John Abbot of Bruton is insufficient in the law. The above bill is endorsed: “At Grenewiche, 14 May, 7 Edw. VI (1553). A writ to be directed to the said William Setherfyn and Christian Setherfyn personally to appear at Westminster in the Octaves of Holy Trinity next to make answer.
This man must have had a pretty good experience in Law, but no residence mentioned.
Further evidence of the presence of the Siderfin family in the Luxborough area of Somerset in the 1500s.
The following item shows the presence of both William Sethervine and his son Robert Suddervin in the Luxborough Tything in 1569. The various spellings used for this family are most interesting.
In Somerset Muster Roll, 1569, we find in the Tything of Luxborough: -
Thomas Webber, "archer";
James Foster, billman;
Thomas Greenslade, pikeman;
Robert Suddervin, archer; Armour, one tything corslet furnished.
Wm. Sethervine,
James Foster, and others; viij pair Almain rivets furnished.[26]
Figure 19: Somerset Muster Roll, Page 56[27]
By 1580 both of Robert Siderfin’s parents are deceased and this particular document lists Robert Syderfine.
Green's Somerset and Armada, 1580 ][28] :
Carhampton (certificat of the souldiours in Somerset) 240 able men; 20 corslets prov. with pikes, etc.; 14 barquebusses; 31 bows and arrows; 80 bills and almayne; 1 demilance; 10 light horse.
Figure 20: General Certificate of the Soldiers in Somerset 1580 [29]
Among list of pike and shotmen, Hundred of Carhampton, Robt. Syderfin, pikeman.[30]
Figure 21: Muster Roll of the Hundred of Carhampton[31]
Among 240 men fit for service (1580) (Armada) we find Robt. Syderfune as a Pykeman (see page 20 inserted above from Green’s book Somerset and Armada) :
In 1580 our own hundred of Carhampton is returned as having ready two hundred and forty men fit for service. These consisted of two hundred and ten footmen, of whom twenty reckoned as "Corselets" are furnished with pikes, swords and daggers, fourteen as "harquebusses" with norrions sword and dagger, thirty one with bows and sheafs of arrows, sword and dagger; eighty with billes with almayne rivets, sword and dagger. There were also one demi-lance fully equipped and ten light horse.[32] Mr. Luttrell and his fellow workers must have been very busy to have got such a force ready! The men from Carhampton and eight other hundreds were under the command of Sir John Stawell of Cothelstone, a portin of whose beautiful old manor house is still to be seen. Mr. Emanuel Green gives us the names of the pikemen and the "shot," i.e., those who had been instructed presumably in the use of the arquebus, etc., and who were under the command of George Sydenham of Coombe Sydenham ][33].
We print the list as some of the names are Minehead names:
Pikemen:
Willm. Poole;
Willm Welche;
Covenaante Harris;
Robt. Syderfyne.
Shot:
Walter Frauncke Corporall;
Thos. Elsowrthie Decenier;
John Uppington;
John Hill.
Certainly, James Sanders provided a goodly number of examples proving the presence of the Siderfin family in the Luxborough, Somerset area[35].
[1] James Sanders, History of the Siderfin Family of West Somerset, 1912, page 19
[2] The bolded text is by the author, Elizabeth Kipp
[3] Sittffyn must be a contraction for Sitterfin or Sederfin , James Sanders, History of the Siderfin Family of West Somerset, 1912, Page 13
[4] St. Decumans; Donyford is a hamlet in the parish of St. Decuman, 1 mile east of Watchet. https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/SOM/SaintDecumans/Gaz1868 accessed 20 Jan 2023
[5] James Sanders, History of the Siderfin Family of West Somerset, 1912, Image of the section of page 13 in the original publication. I have altered the revision of the text to show what he probably meant to have the text look like. The section above beginning “1546. On the …” should have ended with “….St. Deacons (? Decumans).” The section following (original page image above) can be seen below the Figure 7 that follows.
[6] Calendar of Patent Rolls, 2 Jan 1546, 37 Henry VIII, Jno. Wyndham, Esqr., to Wm. Syttffyn; Roll 3, # 45. Source: Notes and Queries for Somerset and Dorset Edited by Frederic William Weaver, M.A., F.S.A., and Charles Herbert Mayo, M.A., R.D.; Vol. XI. Sherborne: Printed by J.C. and A. T. Sawtell. 1909.
[7] Somerset Chantries, A.D. 1548, Somersetshire Record Society, Vol II: Accessed on Internet Archives, 22 Feb 2022
[8] Somerset Chantries, A.D. 1548, Som. Record Society, Vol. II., pages 46-7, Accessed on Internet Archives, 22 Feb 2022
[9] Republished in 1888 by the Somerset Record Society as Volume II – original title: The Survey and Rental of the Chantries, Colleges and Free Chapels Guilds, Fraternities, Lamps, Lights and Obits in the County of Somerset as returned in the 2nd year of King Edward VI A.D. 1548; By Emanuel Green, F.S.A
[10] Ibid, Hancock, Frederick, Rev.; Minehead in the County of Somerset, page 115
[11] Houses of Augustinian canons: The priories of Bruton and Burtle Moor’, A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 2 (1911), pages 134-139, accessed https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol2/pp134-139 23 Feb 2022
[12] Edward VI (son of Henry VIII) was King of England (28 Jan 1547 – 6 Jul 1553)
[13] The author, Elizabeth (Blake) Kipp
[14] King Edward VI
[15] plaintiff
[16] ibid
[17] Plaintiff
[18] ibid
[19] Defendant
[20] Ibid
[21] Ibid
[22] Ibid
[23] Ibid
[24] Ibid
[25] Ibid
[26] James Sanders, History of the Siderfin Family of West Somerset, 1912, pages 16 - 17
[27] Somerset Muster Roll, Page 56, accessed on Find My Past, 28 Mar 2022
[28] Green, Emanuel. The preparations in Somerset against the Spanish Armada, A.D. 1558-1588; Publication date: 1888, Harrison and Sons, London, pages 20 and 86
[29] Green, Emanuel, Ibid, p. 20
[30] James Sanders, History of the Siderfin Family of West Somerset, page 17
[31] Green, Emanuel, Ibid, p. 56
[32] Green, Emanuel, Ibid, p. 21
[33] Ibid, p. 86
[34] James Sanders, History of the Siderfin Family of West Somerset, 1912, page 17
[35] Conclusion of the author, Elizabeth (Blake) Kipp, 21 Dec 2023
No comments:
Post a Comment