Generation seven continuing

One item I realized I overlooked in my thinking about John 7 Siderfin (John 6, Robert 5, William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) as being an older son for John 6 Siderfin and his wife Mary (Chapman) Siderfin was the baptisms of the two daughters names the father as John junior. Working that into Generation seven and nearly complete so will finish Generation seven today hopefully although it is cleaning day. Just a short amount left now, the children of Robert Siderfin and Elizabeth (Question) Siderfin. Then a short write up on the Darch children mostly from James Sanders original book. Moving on to Generation eight is a luxury given that it is only the 18th of September although I do need to allot time for the Blake Newsletter. But it does look like with a bit of luck I will make it through Generation Eight and perhaps even Nine and Ten. That means Eleven and Twelve left for early October and then back to the beginning and a good proofreading, adding the figures not yet in and captioning them and making decisions on what to put in with regard to the autosomal DNA testing. I do not have a Y result for the Siderfin family. Never really thought about it after my cousin took over the study back in 2010. DNA was still very new then. 

Not too many pictures for this book although have now put in the picture of my 2x great grandmother Elizabeth (Rew) Pincombe whose mother was Elizabeth (Siderfin) Rew. Close as I can get to the family in my line. I wonder if there are pictures of the Siderfin family. It would be an interesting hunt for sure to find that out but I will leave it to someone much closer to the British Isles then I am!

Church on You-Tube was lovely yesterday. The organ music was  greatly missed by me all summer. "Let us go to the House of the Lord" ran through my brain this morning as I awoke to Ian White's Psalms. A perfect Monday morning for sure. My mind rolled back to our early days where we still live. One of the first things that we did was to take a walk around the large block which in those days did not have sidewalks all the way nor was the road through across the creek. We used to do that walk every day after we moved here (26th of April 1978) long before we knew anyone other than a young couple (the two men worked at NRC together) with a young child about our daughter's age who had invited us to a party at their house (same style as the one we bought later but a couple of blocks away) a couple of months earlier when we first saw where we now live. It was just one length of new carriage homes on the north side of the road that were newly up for sale although a couple of them were already sold. Less than a month later we had bought one ourselves. It would be another four years before our youngest was born as I looked for jobs that I could do at home and found one marking papers for a professor as I was getting organized to go back to school and do my masters once my daughter was settled in school. However, that didn't happen as my youngest made her appearance and I couldn't do everything; just didn't have the physical stamina. So back to the earlier routine of walking around the block in one of the breaks that I took from proofreading/copyediting. It was like a rite of passage for my youngest to be able to do the entire walk without the carriage (2 km) around the huge block. It was one of our exercise periods whilst I was marking papers first, realized that I would not at that time go back and do my masters and then later proofreading and copyediting. It was a busy life as I used to proofread and copyedit eight or more hours per day breaking that up so that a small child still had fun times through the day and before the children woke up and after the children were in bed I could do another couple of hours each time to make up for the breaks in the day. Then there was brownies where I was Brown Owl for my older daughter, I volunteered amazingly and it was a fascinating time working with all those children whilst my own was there (I am not really a volunteering type of person) and then the volunteer secretary at Edward's Church which fortunately ended when it did as life was just too busy.  Edward was busy with his activities plus French class two nights a week. But I digress, the service yesterday had lovely music which I must say I really enjoyed; I could listen to the organ play all day long for sure. 

Today the basement to clean and work on the seventh generation. First jumping jacks and my tea then on to breakfast. I realize it is a while since I have actually been anywhere; grocery shopping one of these days but I still have two days of chicken stew and a couple of other days worth of meals. I make a menu for the month and then a shopping list and mostly I never run out as I have powdered milk, cans of fish and other items to keep me going until I want to go shopping. Shopping comes low on my list of things to do for sure.

An interesting will that I had not yet transcribed

Looking about in the Archival records at Somerset and the National Archives of the UK I discovered that I had forgotten to transcribe the will of Robert Siderfin (of Croydon) probated in 1721. I decided to work at that and noted in that quick look that one of the witnesses was Augustin Siderfin and these two men would be 1st cousins twice removed. Why did he choose Augustin Siderfin who was then 29 years of age?  Perhaps because he was a school teacher and his father (still living) may have asked him to sign as a witness instead of Robert himself who by then would have been 61 years of age and perhaps not able to make the trip to his cousin's home at Croydon (Robert (father of Augustin) lived at Selworthy). Walter Siderfin was still alive at Timberscombe at this time and a first cousin three times removed. It is an interesting happening actually. Since both Robert, the testator, and his brother Thomas were heavily in debt when they died there could be reasons for Walter to not become involved; no ideas on that. But it is rather interesting that Robert, the testator, did call upon Augustin Siderfin (third son of Robert and Elizabeth (Question) Siderfin) to witness his will. 

A search of the archival records brought something forward that was also rather interesting. I found a record for a Robert Syderfin and Ursula his wife. I probably did not do the search with the y in the first i position or I just did not see the significance of the record earlier. This is from 1653 and includes John Syderfin (no wife mentioned). The property was in Timberscombe. In 1653 Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) was/would soon be married to an Elizabeth (unknown). In 1653 Robert 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1) would be 66 years of age (he married Ursula Webber when he was 24 years of age). His son John would be 34 years of age and in that Thomasine was buried in 1709 I do suspect that John likely married late with their (John and Thomasine) son Robert being baptized in 1658. I am curious now if the burial in 1636 was the older son of Robert at Minehead rather than Robert married to Ursula and the John with them in the query would be their then only son John. It does raise a few questions although I will continue to stick with the idea that it was Robert the son of William who was father to Robert at East Linch and Walter at Timberscombe (as this line tended to use the designation of Robert the Elder and Robert the Younger). This family was generally at Minehead (Robert, Ursula and their three children). Why they are involved in property in Timberscombe is a mystery and I will attempt to learn more about this particular property. It is known that Robert of East Linch and Robert of  Timberscombe were the children of Robert and Elizabeth (likely Blackford) Siderfin who buried their two sons at Selworthy (Robert and Walter) in 1714 and 1731 respectively. Robert and Ursula were being required to make an answer to some complaint by Alexander Francke in the Court of Chancery and it may overall have nothing to do particularly with the property at Timberscombe occupied later by Walter. It is tempting to purchase the item though so may pursue that. Family details in an answer might be very interesting. In that same year Alexander Francke was plaintiff in a case that involved Thomas Siderfin and others - property in East Lincke in Timberscombe, again an answer. There are also two Francke wills that could be interesting - one in 1584 and one in 1637. I had not really expected to find so much interesting material and should not have overlooked Syderfin. Most of the material does not assist me with individual items that I am looking at. The only really interesting one was with Robert and Ursula. If Robert (born 1616 at Minehead) is the Robert deceased in 1636 and buried at Luxborough then this document does become very interesting and there would just be the son John still living from this Robert-Line (in the 1640s) which is in fact what James Sanders indicated. The other interesting item is that the Siderfin family from which I descend (namely from Selworthy and the Robert Siderfin and Elizabeth (Question) Siderfin line did have property at Minehead (near Bratton) where they lived (some of the adult children of Robert Siderfin and Grace (Kent) Siderfin lived there including Elizabeth (Siderfin) Rew (my 3x great grandmother) and her family. 

So very interesting and I may order that document from the National Archives. I am settled with my thoughts on these generations and will just finish up with moving the various items that belong to the particular generations that James Sanders had in his book. If there are any surprises the changes would be relatively easy. I did complete the transcription of the will of Robert Siderfin of Croyden. No surprises in that will as he, like his older brother Thomas, were known to have died deeply in debt and his widow refused to administer the estate. He does not mention a daughter Elizabeth which is telling one might think.

Recorded: 2 Jul 2023
Source: National Archives, UK, PROB 11/580/280
Place: Croyden, Somerset
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 14 Jun 1715, Probated 22 Jun 1721
Tm: Roberti Siderfin

1    In the Name of God Amen
2    I Robert Siderfin of Croyden in the County of Somerset Esq[uir]e do whilst I have an
3    opportunity and am (praised be God) of sound and disposing mind and memory
4    hereby revoak all former Will and Wills whatsoever by me already made and
5    do declare the same to be null and void to all intents constructions and
6    purposes whatsoever and do make publish and declare this my last Will
7    and Testament in manner and form following that is to say in the first
8    place I commend my Soul into the hands of God who gave it hopeing
9    thro the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer
10    to obtain Eternall Salvation and my body I desire may receive a decent
11    interment at the discretion of my Executrix herein after named and as
12    touching such worldly Estate and Goods as God in his mercy hath blessed
13    me with and are now in my own disposall I Give devise and Bequeath
14    the same in manner and form following Viz [a vi]t Imprimis I do Will and
15    appoint that all my just debts shall be discharged and satisfied and do
16    hereby Charge all my Estate both reall and personall with the payment
17    of the same Item whereas on my marriage with Ann my third Wife
18    the daughter of Sir John Wittewrong of Rowthemstead in the County
19    of Hertford Barr[iste]r I obliged myself to pay the Sum of one thousand
20    pounds unto such Child Children or Grandchildren of the said Sir John
21    Wittewrong as I and the said Ann my late Wife of the survivor of us
22    should appoint now I do hereby give and Bequeath unto Ellen the
23    daughter of Samuel Gibbs of Horsley Park in the County of Essex Esq[uir]e
24    and now or late Wife of John Cook of Swifts near Cranbrook  in the same
25    County Esq[uir]e the Sum of four hundred pounds part of the said one thousand
26    pounds Item I Give and Bequeath unto the said Samuel Gibbs and
27    John Cooke the Sum of three hundred pounds other part of the said
28    one thousand pounds In Trust that they and the Survivor of them his
29    Executors and Assigns shall putt and place out the same at Interest
30    on the best securitys they can procur for the same and shall pay and
31    dispose of the Interest thereof from time to time to and for the sole
32    and separate use of Mary Crompton Grandaughter of the said Sir
33    John Wittewrong and now Wife of John Crompton late of Cheapsyde
34    London for the Term of her naturall life so as that her said husband John
35    Crompton shall not intermeddle or have any thing to bother with
36    after her death It is my Will that the said three hundred pounds shall be paid
37    and equally divided unto and amongst the three children of her the said
38    Mary Crompton that now live with her share and share alike Item I
39    Give unto the three children of the eldest daughter of James Wittewrong
40    Of Lincolnes Inn in the County of Middlesex Esq[uir]e by Thomas Bennett
41    late husband the Sum of Fifty pounds apiece of her parcel of the said one
42    thousand pounds Item I give unto all the Children that are now living
43    of Ellen the Wife of Henry Foxcroft of Calcott in the County of South[amp]ton
44    England the daughter of the said James Wittewrong the Sum of one
45    hundred and fifty pounds residue of the said one thousand pounds to be
46    equally divided between them share and share alike all which and several
47    Legacies making up the said one thousand pounds shall be paid unto the
48    respective persons to whom the same are hereinbefore given at such
49    time as is directed and appointed in and by the marriage Settlement before
50    made on my marriage with the said Anne my late Wife as aforesaid
51    Item I give unto the poor of the parish of Carhampton the Sum of five
52    pounds to be distributed amongst them by my Executrix hereinafter
53    named Within one Month next after my decease Item I give unto my
54    two Nephews James Darch and Philip Darch the Sum of one hundred
55    pounds apeice to be paid unto them within one year after my decease
56    or as soon after as the same can be raised by Sale of my Lands apointed
57    for payment of my debts with Interest for the same to be accounted
58    from the end of one year after my death in case the said Legacyes shall
59    not be raised and paid before that time Item I Give devise and bequeath
60    unto Elizabeth my now Wife her heirs and Assigns for ever all and every
61    my Mannors Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments w[hat]soever
62    scituate and being within the Countys of Somerset and Devon or either
63    of them or elsewhere within the Kingdom of great Britain subject
64    Nevertheless unto and chargeable with the payment of my just debts and
65    Legacyes hereby given that my personall Estate will not be sufficient to
66    answer and pay Item I Give unto each and every Servant that shall be
67    living with me in house at the time of my decease the sum of forty shillings
68    apiece to be paid unto them respectively within one Year after my death
69    Item all the rest and residue of my Lands tenements Goods Chattells reall
70    personal and Testamentary Estate whatsoever not herein before given
71    or bequeathed I Give Devise and Bequeath unto the said Elizabeth my dear
72    Wife whom I make constitute and appoint whole and sole Executrix of
73    this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have to this my
74    Will contained in two Sheets of paper to each Sheet subscribed and sett
75    my hand and Seal the fourteenth day of June in the first year of the raigne
76    of our Soveraign Lord George by the grace of God King of great Britain
77    France and Ireland defender of the Faith etc anno domini 1715 Rob Siderfin
78    Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Robert Siderfin to be his
79    Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names as
80    Witnesses thereto in the presence of him the said Testator Jo: Wyatt Sam.
81    _land Ben: Bowden Augustin Siderfin
82    Vicesimo secondo die Mensis Junij Anno domino
83    millesimo septingentesimo vicesimo primo Emanavit Comisso Roberto
84    Darch Creditor principal Roberti Siderfin nuper de Croyden in Comitati
85    Somersetia armigen defuncti habentis etc ad administrandium bona
84    iura  et credita dicti defuncti juxta tenorum et effectum Testamenti
85    ipsius defuncti pro quod  Elizabetha Siderfin Relicta dicta defuncti Executrix
86    inura et Legatario residuarius in dicto Testamento nominat onus
87    executionis ejusdem expresse renunciante de bene et fideliter Administrando
88    eadem ad Sancta dei Evangelia vigore Commissionis Jurat

I will likely add this will transcription to the book as it is rather interesting. I do get a hint of irony reading the will. Robert and his wife Ann did not have any children although the marriage was a fairly long one and one is left with the impression that it was a happy marriage. Perhaps his desire to pay the one thousand pounds was most genuine and I have no idea if sufficient funds were found by his Darch nephews to do so. It was a shame that he did not record information on the Siderfin Family in the will - perhaps saying something about Augustin Siderfin who traveled to witness the will for his first cousin twice removed. Robert Darch administered the will and there will be more about his handling of the estate as all of that information was collected and published by James Sanders. 

Invoice for the will of Robert Siderfin the Elder to be extracted from the land records and scanned paid. It may be a while as they have a large queue but I have a lot of work to do and it will be a queue for the land record that includes Robert and Ursula Siderfin and John which I will likely order today. If they do support my hypothesis I may just make a notation unless the will is very interesting in which case I would seek permission to publish the transcription. The Somerset Archives search engine is excellent and very straight forward to use - the records are very well organized.

Read the Church Service and sang the hymns and it reminds me of doing so all through COVID before the You-Tube services began. I did think about going online and finding a different service but I rather enjoyed the trip down memory lane of doing the service by myself - what is between God and you is a treasured moment in time for each and every person. Our commitment is life-long to God as all that is asked of us is to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind and all our strength and to love our neighbour as ourself. In return for God's gifts to us through the ages it is very little to ask of us. 

May peace come to the world once again. Glory to Ukraine.

President Biden in Canada

With our enormous border between us, the United States and Canada have been friends for all the time that Canada has existed as an independent country. Although we continue as part of the Monarchy of the United Kingdom we are an independent country that simply has the King (King Charles III) as our Head of State represented in Canada by our Governor General Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon who greeted President Biden at the airport. It is an honour to have the President of the United States visiting our country and he will speak to Parliament today. 

Yesterday was highly productive. I transcribed a second will this time for the Anne that married Thomas Siderfin (Thomas 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1). Thomas was born circa 1637 at Luxborough  (baptism not located) and married first to Elizabeth Lightmaker before 1665 in London, England (Elizabeth died in 1665). He was a Barrister of the Middle Temple and married Ann (possibly Hinde as her mother is mentioned in her will) next and they had a daughter Anne (Christiana) baptized 12 Sep 1675 at St Dunstan in the West, London, England. This daughter married Johannes Darch and they had four sons - Thomas Darch, Robert Darch, James Darch, and Philip Darch. Still learning more about this particular family since they are mentioned in the will of Robert Siderfin (Thomas 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) who was a younger brother to this Thomas of the Middle Temple. 

Anne Siderfin does leave an interesting will. She is the widow of Thomas Siderfin (Thomas 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) as she mentions that her husband’s clerk at the Temple was a Mr Edward Haberfeild. According to James Sander’s chart they had a daughter named Anne but she does not mention her in this will although her husband has provided for her in his will.

Only an abstract remains of the will of Thomas Siderfin – her husband:

Thomas Siderfin of the Middle temple, London, Esq.: Will dated March 17 1678. Proved 15 June 1681 by Ann Siderfin the Relict (98 North). To my wife Ann, George Evelyn and Henry Pollexfen Esqre and my brother Robert Siderfin, my messuages of Crodon, Manors of Exton and South Quarme (in Exton). Lands in Carhampton, Somerset and in Lambeth, Withypoole, Hawkridge, Cutcombe, Luccombe, Timberscombe and Lands elsewhere, in trust to pay my wife £1000 and £100 a year during widowhood and my daughter Anne £2000 at 21 years of age and £50 per annum and if they die the premises in Somerset to my brother Robert Siderfin his heirs male of his body - Wife Executrix in presence of Robert Darch, Wilmote Westrene, William Jordan, wife's mother Ann Hinde.


Transcriber: Elizabeth Kipp
Recorded: 24 Mar 2023
Source: National Archives, UK, PROB 11/493/121
Place: Lambeth, Surrey, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 22 Mar 1686/7, probated 05 March 1707

Tm: Anne Siderfin

1    I Anne Siderfin of the parish of Lambeth in the County of
2    Surrey Widow being in perfect health of body and of sound and
3    right Judgement in mind doe make this my last Will and
4    Testament in manner and forme following First I commend
5    my Soul into the hands of God in full hopes and expectation
6    of a blessed Resurrection and the forgiveness of all my Sinns
7    through the merits and by the precious blood of Jesus Christ
8    my only Saviour and Redeemer Next I give my body to the
9    earth from whence it came to be therein interred in the
10    Parish Church of Lambeth in the County of Surrey as near as
11    possible to my dear husband and Mother after such manner
12    as is decent and suitable to my Quality and Condition Item I
13    give to the poor of the parish of Lambeth five pounds to be given
14    them on the day of my burial Item I give Twenty pounds a
15    year to the poor of Lambeth Tenn pounds of which to be
16    distributed to them on the Second day of June yearly five pounds
17    of it in bread and five in money The other Tenn pounds to be
18    laid out in frize Coats or Gowns for six old Men and six old
19    women. What is left of Tenn pounds after the Twelve Coats
20    or Gowns are bought to be given equally among them in money
21    to be given on Christmas Eve yearly Item I give to my Cousin
22    Jane Knight if living at the time of my death the summe of
23    fifty pounds to my Cousin       Gould likewise if then
24    living the summe of 40 pounds to Bridget Mott my own Maid
25    the Summe of Fifty pounds if then living with me and five pounds
26    to buy her Mourning and all my wearing Cloaths Which
27    five pounds and my wearing Cloaths I give to whoever else
28    shall be my own Maid at the time of my death To Mary
29    Greene Widow who was a long time my Mother’s Servant
30    the Summe of Fifty pounds if living at my death to Mr Edward
31    Haberfeild of the Temple who was my Husband’s Clerke the
32    summe of Fifty pounds to buy himself and Wife Mourning
33    and something to keep in remembrance of me Item I give to
34    all my Servants that shall be with me at the time of my death
35    a Year’s Wages to buy them Mourning Item I doe give the Summe of
36    fifty pounds to Sir Peter Rich if living them for a Legacy Item to
37    my Aunt Gee I doe give all my personal Estate which is in plate
38    Linnen Rings and householdstuffe and my broad gold Item I doe
39    give to her two eldest sons Orlando and John Gee to each of them
40    the Summe of Tenn pounds and To the youngest my Godsonn
41    Lackery Gee the Summe of Fifty pounds Item I doe give to
42    Thomas Scrivener the Summe of Tenn pounds if then living
43    Item I doe give to my Cousin Gil: East of London                 the
44    summe of Tenn pound to buy him a Ring for remembrance of
45    me Lastly I doe make his Sonn my cousin William East of the
46    Middle Temple Esquire Sole heir to all my Estate of Land and
47    houses freehold and copyhold to which I am or may be any
48    ways intituled which I hereby give to him and the heirs of his
49    body but in case he dyes without such heirs Then I doe make
50    my Godsonn Lackery Gee heir to my Estate in Land and
51    houses as before mentioned And if he should happen to dye
52    without heirs Then to his Brother John Gee and his
53    heirs And for want of such Issue to his Brother Orlando
54    Gee but if they should all dye without Children to my Aunt
55    Elizabeth Gee if she survive them Item I doe appoint all
56    the Legacies which I have hereby given to be paid within halfe
57    a year after my decease Item I doe make my Cousin William
58    East before mentioned Sole Executor of this my last Will and
59    Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my
60    Hand and Seale this 22 day of March in the year of our Lord
61    1686/7 and in the Third year of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lord
62    King James the Second Anne Siderfin Signed Sealed and
63    Published in the presence of three witnesses John Smith
64    Rebecca Cleeve Jane Smith
65    Probatum fuit humoi Testamentum apud London
66    coram venti viro Willimo Clements Legum doctore Surro
67    ventis et egregij viri domini Richard Raines Militis Legum
68    etiam doctoris Curia Prerogative Cantuariensis Magri Custode
69    sive Commissary etime constitute Quinto die mensis Martij
70    Anno domini Millesimo Septingenimo Sexto Juramento William
71    East Executoris in dicto Testamento nominat cui commissa fuit
72    administrato omnium et singulorum bonorum jurium et
73    creditorium dicti defuncti de bene et fideliter admistrando
74    eadem ad Sancta Dei Evangelia Jurat Ex

An interesting will which says nothing about Siderfin and seems to be contrary to her husband's will but it didn't actually matter as Thomas and his brother Robert both died heavily in debt.

More thoughts on the world and how we as Canada fit in. I actually do support the idea of having a border wall (perhaps a satellite system that constantly keeps the entire border area in its sights) between the United States and Canada to control gun and drug trafficking. We are a huge country (the second largest in the world) with just under 40 million people mostly along the border so policing that border is not an easy thing. It has been the longest undefended border in the world but we have entered into a new age where nefarious people deal in drugs and guns that are harmful to people for the simple reason that whoever is behind it is out to create as much havoc in North America as they possibly can. Who is behind it? That maybe a mystery to me but I am sure that CSIS and the FBI know more about that. Greed for land and desire to dominate is the new creed for some countries. I do not believe that we in North America are interested in dominating the world; we simply want to live in it without war and so we were part of creating the United Nations which was to help with that; too bad not everyone is on board with that idea.  

We actually need to have people stop wars when that ability is under their control (the loss of Ukrainian life and property is horrific and unacceptable - they have done nothing wrong; also dreadful the death of all those young Russians). It isn't a world of us against anyone; it is time to think of Mother Earth and preserving her for the future generations (North Korea constantly testing bombs in our oceans is a hazard to fish life/fish ecosystems (and I suspect is part of this ongoing unsettling of the earth's crust giving us so many earthquakes)). This should be a no-brainer as well (that it should be stopped), those who can stop it should for the good of the world (the world will certainly honour your effort at the United Nations)).

On to breakfast. Back to the 2424 hits for Siderfin at Find My Past.