Seventh Generation completed

 One more item proving the line of John Siderfin Junior married to Mary Chapman was their Marriage Contract witnessed by John Siderfin Junior of Wootton Courtney, Robert Siderfin of Timberscombe and George Chapman of Wootton Courtney. With that there is sufficient proof that he was the son of John 6 Siderfin (Robert 5, William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1). One more small hiccup was the children of Robert Siderfin and Elizabeth (Question) Siderfin. James Sanders had a Joan Siderfin as one of their daughters but she is not mentioned in either will abstract. Not sure whom she actually is but she married John Passmore at Minehead which was a little unusual for this family which generally married in Selworthy or Wootton Courtney. That being resolved the addition of the new John Siderfin Junior married to Joan (unknown) and being a likely older son of John Siderfin Junior married to Mary Chapman worked out very well without a lot of reworking. The two children that they baptized at Wootton Courtney were neatly moved to this John and a slight renumbering but no difficulty. What seemed like a major task quickly disappeared with the removal of Joan from James Sanders' Pedigree Chart as a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Question) Siderfin. Moving forward onto the Eighth Generation but will not do much today as yesterday was a heavy day on the fiche reader. These eyes are not getting any younger. 

No news yet on my eye tests perhaps another month or so although my daughter did mention that there is a long waiting list for the cataract replacement which was why I decided to follow through from the Optometrist recommendation and go ahead getting that started last January. It was a funny sort of thing as he said that he would recommend me next January but then said he had  not recommended me two years earlier because Edward was going to go for cataract surgery although my eyes also needed that. I usually go every year but it just didn't happen and ended up being two years. Like my colonoscopy last year I had let the office know I would go ahead in November last year and got the call with a date in late April so six months sounds like the waiting period for that particular procedure. Since I have had eye strain before when I spend too much time on the fiche reader I am not alarmed just need to rest my eyes today and it is the big cleaning day so that works very well. My sister said that the eyes get stronger before they start weakening. I can tell that my sight is not quite as good as it was and given my not really great sight without glasses I do pay attention. I used to be able to distinguish song birds readily that were half way down the back garden which is about 30 metres but now it is likely only 15 to 20 metres with my glasses on of course. Without glasses I would not be able to distinguish that. However, unlike when I was a child and could not read anything without glasses I can read large letters but it was probably more that I was only three or four years old and did not have a history of knowledge of letters to fall back on!

On to the day, jumping jacks, tea and then solitaire games if my eyes want to do that. Then jumping jacks once again and breakfast and cleaning. Sounds like a busy day. Still receiving about 100 emails a day some of which get put into a must do folder. I do answer all of them eventually; sometimes interesting tidbits come my way but mostly it is requests for information with probably 70% of them being either spam or close to it or groups that I belong to or political from the Conservatives or the Liberals. Interesting to read but I have my opinion of the kind of leaders that we need and fiscal conservatism comes high on that list. 

Putting God wishes first

Our world would be Utopia if we but put God's wishes first. Our environment would be clean; the species of the world would be still abundant as well as the flora. But greed predominates and jealousy instead of brotherhood and caring. When will we learn? The Russians live in this barbaric world where they allow their greed and jealousy to predominate as they continue to carry on this war they started against Ukraine. Why do they do that? Greed and jealousy and ignorance. Glory to Ukraine.

I did enjoy the YouTube service for Church yesterday; it is nice to have the organ to sing along with as I really enjoy singing the hymns and the choices today were perfect. The new staff member did not give the sermon today but maybe next week or sometime in the future. He will be very interesting as he is an academic and adds that lovely research dimension to a sermon I expect. I do love a really deep thought out academic sermon. There are so many topics to pick in every Church season and I rather think this will be a fascinating time; my Sunday mornings will be quite interesting. However, yesterday's sermon was thought provoking.

Worked on the Fifth Generation but was forgetting that my information on Robert Siderfin at Timberscombe who left his will in 1688 is in the Sixth generation although I will allude to him in the fifth. Spent some time organizing some of James Sanders material. The big bonus with the 1653 document was being able to overlook Thomasin Siderfin's will of 1709 because I can not find where James Sanders located that abstract as it isn't mentioned in the Fonds at the North West Devon Office; nor is it in the Reverend Frederick Brown's Abstracts of Somersetshire Wills. I do have another CD and will have a look there. But Robert Siderfin (and Ursula) in their reply mention all of their children especially John and Robert mentions he lives at Old Knowle. These two aspects link together these two pieces of the family without having to have Thomasin Siderfin's will. James Sanders did not link Thomasin and he chose Robert as her husband but did not attach him back to any particular line although placed on a level with Robert and Walter (cousins not brothers). There is a gap though back to the joining line but now that document permits the linkage and it was one of the items I wanted to prove when I first found his book. 

There are now seven Appendices and I suspect there will be at least three more before I have put all of the interesting documents and stories that James Sanders had in his book into this revision and update. They do not really add much to the generational charts but do make for interesting reading. 

My Latin lessons on Duolingo are progressing nicely although Latin declines absolutely everything. But I have quite a few documents on the Pincombe family that are in Latin and that will be my work next year. So on with the Latin and I am managing to be in the Pearl Level having moved up from the lower levels. Good for the brain I expect doing Latin! Good for the listening as well since this is a language I have never heard spoken except in the Chants at Church and perhaps occasionally in a sermon. 

Cleaning day today and I am back to my switch around process. This week starting with the top floor and working down to the basement over the next two days and then the reverse. It works very well for me. No dragging a vacuum up two flights of stairs. 

Up early today and breakfast soon but first jumping jacks and tea.

Transcription, kayaking and walking

Yesterday was a busy day with transcription, kayaking and walking. It did look so very much like rain but a quick check on the weather and no rain before five so we were off for an hour of kayaking and walking at Petrie. Lovely time. Buying the parking pass was such a good idea as we never have to go and purchase a parking sticker anymore. The pass is reasonable especially as we have, in spite of the smoke days, been a good many times to Petrie both for kayaking and walking. I am surprised that everyone doesn't get a parking pass actually as it is a much easier method for attending the park whenever it strikes your fancy. Plus it helps to pay for the maintenance of the facility.

Through the day I continued to transcribe the answer document for the Siderfin family at Timberscombe.  Up to line 23 now and each line of the document is two lines of typing on a legal sized paper in landscape orientation so quite a large document as I am about 1/4 of the way through. As for the times, it is quite repetitive and I was correct in thinking that the answer would include the argument presented in the complaint. I was more interested in the information on the defendants than the argument itself but it may prove interesting in that Robert Siderfin the elder of Timberscombe/East Linch may have married an Ursula Francke either a daughter of the house or a widow of the house. That remains to be seen; there is still 3/4 ths of the document to transcribe. A daughters dower or a widows claim to a piece of land due to marriage settlement being contested is not unusual following the death of her husband/father when a sibling will attempt to take back a piece of land so granted. Families can be quite fascinating to study. The Siderfin family, as shown by James Sanders book, was an extremely interesting family although the lines that were the most controversial and prominent did tend to either daughter out or simply not continue. It does appear that the Siderfin family today is all descendant of Robert Siderfin and Elizabeth (Question) Siderfin with Robert likely being the son of John 5 (Robert 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) and his wife Thomasine. Although James Sanders does not entirely agree on the exact lineage during the fourth/fifth/sixth generations on that the passage of land and property but the naming of the next generation and their location does appear to support that idea. I will write it and using a Creative Commons License I leave it up to the next researcher to do the same as I have done and revise and update my book at some point in the future and I do welcome that as the correct version of history is always more interesting than any concocted version written to cover up misdeeds and what not!

I also continued to work on formatting the last pages of the book as well with just another thirty pages to work on. I am removing all mentions past 1920 and that is making the task much quicker than the chapters preceding this one. I should soon be finished that and will send off Thomas (younger brother to my Elizabeth (Betty) Siderfin) since I have a correspondent willing to check that out for me to see if what I have found for Thomas fits their records. I do not have any family lore for the Siderfin family passed down to me as the name was lost in family discussions although she was the mother of Elizabeth (Rew) Pincombe my 2x great grandmother who emigrated with her husband John and their five children (John, William Robert, Elizabeth Anne, Richard and Louisa) to Upper Canada via the Port of New York. They traveled to Genesee New York where Robert Pincomb (elder brother to John) lived with his family and then on to southwestern Ontario arriving in the spring of 1850. 

Another beautiful day in God's world; the wind is gently rustling in the trees as God moves about us watching and waiting for us to live the life that Jesus told us we must live. When will we ever get there? I do wonder if all Homo sapiens can learn to do the right thing and respect and love their fellow man/woman/child. All wars would cease and peace would come to our world so that we can work together and defeat climate change and protect ourselves, if necessary, from anything that might be out in the universe. We must always be ready to take care of ourselves as we do not know what awaits us in the universe but peace on earth would be a beautiful gift obtained by following the words of Jesus sent to us by God Himself. 

Breakfast awaits.

Psalm 133 - Bible Reading for today

The words from Psalm 133 are truly a wondrous treat to read first thing this morning.  "It is truly wonderful when the people of God live together in peace." 

Would that it was true. That the people of Ukraine could wake up this morning to peace; Russia back in its own borders as determined at the end of the Soviet Union. What a wondrous happening that would be. No more murdering of the Ukrainian people - the baby the other day; surely no one has the right to murder babies lying in their mother's arms. Surely we have come much farther along than that in our evolution to be better people. 

The document from the National Archives of the UK arrived yesterday in my inbox. What a treat. A first read and it would appear that Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) married an Ursula as well and that this document concerns Robert the elder (generally the reference given to Robert 5 living at Timberscombe/East Linch. I have only transcribed the first ten lines thus far (it is a very large vellum perhaps 60 lines in total). I have noted the name Wilmot referring to Robert and Ursula's daughter mentioned in her grandmother Christian Siderfin's will and John is mentioned there as well as their son. At this time these children would be in their early 20s likely. Can I completely exclude Robert 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1)? I will transcribe the entire document before I finally decide but the early appearance (the use of Robert Siderfin the elder) does rather point to this being Robert 5. Plus Robert 4 (if he was alive) would be 66 years of age and Robert 5 is likely in his early 40s. I am wondering how the name Francke came to be involved with the Siderfin family and perhaps this document will show the connection. I can not find a marriage between Robert Siderfin and Ursula (unknown). 

Cleaning completed yesterday and today we will work on the window washing. A not insignificant task for sure but it will be nice to remove the summer's dust. 

A walk on the beach yesterday late afternoon was most welcome although the weather was looking somewhat stormy it did not start to rain until we arrived home once again. My new sandals got their first workout and I do like them. I really liked my leather sandals but they do not do as well in the sand and they were eleven years old now so getting pretty battered. These sandals are synthetic and have a really good sole and made for beach walking for sure. 

Tea is cooling and I shall read my mail and work on my solitaire for a bit and then breakfast.

Research days again

Going to have a humid spell so for sure research days once again for a little while. There is so much work to do in the garden but I am too old to do all that and my daughter is busy with her research. Amazingly everything keeps on growing including the weeds but the tomatoes, onions, lettuces, beans, radishes have all been lovely. The cucumbers are in full flower now but I am allergic to them so they will all be consumed by my daughter or the racoon whichever gets to them first. I saw a skunk this morning out the front window about 6:00 a.m. Just slinking about through the front garden and then left the way that it came back around the house next door. Lovely white stripe; amazing how it is always so white even though he/she wanders about in the garden. I guess they are very tidy animals. No sign of the racoon family in the early morning hours since I clapped them out of the yard. The sun is trying to work its way through and the air quality was 61 earlier. I think perhaps this is really an indoors day. 

Off to the doctor yesterday for my as it turns out 1.5 yearly checkup/consultation. I needed to get a blood work requisition since I am having my cataract surgery sometime this fall and learn about my colonoscopy results. No further workup needed apparently but at 78 nearly I have to die of something and so I try to keep in touch with the doctor so as not to encumber the system with a whole lot of sudden illness on my part. 

God is in the Heavens as always but no wind in the trees today to signal His presence but always watching and waiting our God to see if we can actually follow the commandments as given. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and love your neighbour as yourself. There could be peace all over the world if people would just do that. We would still need to be prepared to do war as we have no idea what awaits us in the Heavens or here on earth. But peace is what we wanted after the Second World War and for the most part other than fractional disputes over the years we have had peace until Russia invaded Ukraine with their lust for land and property. Their pretense for doing so is laughable; they have been attacking Ukraine for nearly 100 years in one way or another. They are jealous that the Ukrainian peoples are more ancient than they are to the area and that is also part of all of this and so they maliciously kill their children along with the men and women of Ukraine as they have been doing for nearly 100 years and more. Glory to Ukraine as they take back the other 50% of their territory. I would pray for Death to the Russian Invaders but truly I would like to see the Russian people have a better life than the one given to them by the psychopathic Nazi Putin and his enablers. Go back to the borders established by the United Nations Russians and leave the Ukrainians to live their lives and help to feed the world with their abundant harvest - your war is spoiling life for so many far beyond the borders of Ukraine.

Today I write in to the revised book of James Sanders what I discovered in the documents which were sent to me by the Somerset Research Archives service. The five pages clearly point to the accuracy of my supposition that Robert Siderfin the Elder of East Linch (and he was the son of Robert Siderfin the Elder of Linch and Timberscombe) had two sons Robert and William with Robert being at East Linch and William being at Minehead.  Neither of these lines produced a male heir who continued the line and so were daughtered out in the 1700s. Now for the document from the National Archives concerning Robert Siderfin and Ursula, along with John Siderfin, which refers to Timberscombe. It will be an interesting one and is the other part of my supposition which may prove to be accurate. Time will tell and it is the 28th of July when they may respond to me in that regard. I may yet complete the 7th generation by the end of July and then on to the 8th and 9th in August. 

Yesterday we cooked in the air fryer - lovely chicken thighs, small potatoes, green onions, peppers, carrots and broccoli and with a side salad entirely from our garden except for the lemon dressing (just lemon juice absolutely delicious). But now I am hungry so must make my breakfast. On to the day.

Amazing email in inbox today

The Somerset Archives was able to work on the will and inventory of Robert Siderfin 1688 at East Linch, Timberscombe and provide me with five pages from those two items that were attached to the property documents. In that will Robert Siderfin of East Linch mentions his son William and an addendum to the Inventory mentions Robert Siderfin and William Siderfin and was dated 1692. The document from the National Archives will now assist me in understanding this will/probate/inventory with regard to Robert Siderfin and his wife Ursula and the John Siderfin mentioned with him and was an answer to a claim made by Alexander Franke. Together the two documents may provide solid proof on the line which I have postulated to be at East Linch and Timberscombe. Amazing I had not thought to have this information at hand before another little while so am most appreciative of their efforts. 

Yesterday I continued to work on the seventh generation placing text where it was most meaningful for each of the generations. I continue to go back between the sixth, seventh and eighth generations. When I wrote my rather lengthy theory concerning the Siderfin lines at Minehead, Selworthy, Timberscombe and East Linch it was a two page document. But now, with the information gleaned from the parish records - baptisms, marriages and burials I can now break down that proposal into likely scenarios and bring the relevant data to the individual concerned. 

Today is cleaning day so will probably not get a lot done but will continue through this week to complete the seventh generation so that next week I begin the eighth generation which leads the Siderfin family into the 1700s although the sixth generation does take me nearly to the half way point of that century already. Definitely by the ninth generation I am well into parish registers that are very complete and the census of the 1800s. I feel as if I have given myself lots of time with still another five months to go in the year when I have proposed to complete the revision and additions to James Sanders: History of the Siderfin Family of West Somerset. 

I hope to send off some material to my "cousins" descendant of individual Siderfin lines just to have them take a look and see if I have missed/mixed up anything in their line/lines. Possibly I will be able to do that by September. I am feeling hopeful in that regard. I have the page run out already for these generations but would like to have it in a more complete form before sending it off for their perusal. 

We had a lovely walk at the beach last evening. I read and sang the Church Service in the morning. The Bible Readings was something that rather heartened me in that it was the story that Jesus told about sowing wheat and evil sowing weeds and the disciples asked Jesus what should they do - should they weed the wheat field. He said no; let them all grow up together and when the wheat was ripe to separate the weeds from the wheat and burn them and store up the wheat for their use in the future. I have so many weeds in my gardens this year. The weather has been very hot and I have not tried to weed very thoroughly. Yet when I pulled green onions the other day they are filling out very nicely and fewer are needed to make a meal. Last night we had scallops in a tomato sauce with some of those lovely fresh onions. It was quite lovely with grated parmesan cheese on top. A very simple meal that took perhaps fifteen minutes to prepare and served with pumpernickel bread. Then off for our walk on the beach. It was busy but very pleasant and the sun was just coasting in for sunset when we completed our walk. 

We also spent the afternoon working on all the correspondence that Edward had with many of his "cousins" on different family lines. We checked to make sure that all of it was scanned and now we will shred it. The correspondence is very old for the most part and very dusty. That is a great advantage to computers now. There were no original documents just copies of copies so an electronic serves just as well as the paper copies which he scanned over the past ten years and the paper is decaying somewhat and yellowing. There was a bankers box worth of shredding from yesterday's efforts. We are trying to collect up all the Schultz material for Edward's cousins when they come and working through the research boxes that remain - more than 25 remain. 

On to the day, breakfast greatly desired as I always wake up hungry not being a very big eater at the evening meal. 

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.

Continuing saga of Siderfin family and just which Robert is which

 An amazing day yesterday working on the Siderfin Pedigree Chart. Everything seemed to fall into place and the tree has shifted slightly just from one John to another really; from the Robert line to the William line and everything clicked together because of will abstracts and transfer of land both in a logical fashion. Time may introduce more factors but I rather believe that my thoughts are concrete and will stand the test of time; but will actually leave that up to time as it is with all things.

The next individual to examine in detail is William Siderfin said to be a son of John Siderfin baptized in 1656 (on James Sanders' Pedigree Chart). Again there does not appear to be a baptism for a William Siderfin but his marriage is recorded in the Selworthy Parish registers. His will was probated in 1723. The will of his wife was probated in 1747. The goal today is to work on this William Siderfin.

I am going with James Sanders on the idea that Robert (baptized 15 Dec 1688 at Selworthy, buried 7 Mar 1731) at East Lynch and Walter (buried 14 Mar 1731, Selworthy) at Timberscombe are siblings although he does attach them to a John Siderfin born 1656 and Mary (unknown). That these two sons belong in the William Line given that William’s eldest son Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) was at East Lynch and Timberscombe. William’s wife Christian (Webber) Siderfin in her will does mention that Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1)’s children were: Robert, Wilmot and John which is eerily reminiscent of the three children of Robert 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1) with Wilmot baptized 1614, Robert 1616 and John 1619 at Minehead. However, Robert 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1) was baptized in 1587 and Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) was baptized in 1611. Interesting the name similarity of course.

James Sander includes the following information in his book:

[ In the Carhampton Hundred Benevolence granted, Charles II., 1662 :   

Robert Syderfin    Minehead    2s    6d
Robert Syderfin    Timberscombe    5s    0d
Wm. Syderfin    Luxborough    10s    0d
Thos. Syderfin    Luxborough    10s    0d

[ Eastern Division. - Thomas Syderfin, of Luxborough, Esq., Barrister of Law, do the present to his Magestie 20s in hand paid.]

To keep with the likely placement Robert 5 (Robert 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) at Minehead, Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) at Timberscombe, William 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) at Luxborough, and Thomas 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1) at Luxborough. This particular tax was said to be applied during the reign of Charles II although I only found a reference to a Benevolence Fund in 1622 but I do need to have a look at the records at the Family History Centre. It does account for the only living son of Robert 3 – Thomas 4 at Luxborough, William 4’s sons Robert 5 and William 5 at Timberscombe and Luxborough respectively and Robert 4’s son Robert 5 at Minehead. John 5 is excluded because he is not recorded as having any property in Selworthy or elsewhere thus far.

The will of Augustine Question does refer to his son in law Robert Siderfin and daughter Elizabeth (Question) Siderfin and his grandchildren which matches Thomasine’s son Robert and grandchildren mentioned in the will of Thomasine. This will be presented in full in the next generation. Robert’s and Elizabeth’s eldest son was Robert and their second son was John and the third son Augustine which is rather interesting (since John and Augustine could have been the parents of Robert and Elizabeth respectively (Augustine Question certainly was the father of Elizabeth)).

James Sanders does omit the grandchildren mentioned by Christian (Webber) Siderfin widow of William 4 in his chart and writeup. He used only an abstract of Christian’s will which is a mystery. But London was a long way away and the abstract was handy in Brown, Rev. Frederick. Abstracts of Somerset Wills Series 106, 3rd Series. A cautionary tale for sure to always go to the original document. 

Today I shall alter my Legacy File to reflect these changes of the last couple of days and move on to William Siderfin who married Mary Terrell and does appear to be one of the first to use the crest attributed to the Siderfin Family. Does he belong to the William Line as William was the eldest son of Robert 3 (William 2, John 1). When the crest was actually created is a mystery to me at this time and I may pursue information on that particular item or leave it to the future to be discovered. 

I also want to continue working on my Ancestry file to bring my second test there up to date with all of the other results that I have there for myself and my three siblings. I do find Ancestry interesting. Their database is huge and the number of matches that we have that are significant is small as expected since three of my grandparents were born in England along with my father. I have few collateral lines that came to the American and Canadian colonies so readily tracked at the second cousin level. But we do have matches with American lines in particular probably because of endogamy in my Routledge and Knight family lines. I also have a few more distant (fourth cousin) Buller lines there with whom I correspond which is most interesting. Quite a few matches in Australia and New Zealand as well although primarily on my father's side but some on my mother's side - the proportion though is heavily slanted towards my paternal lines. The largest portion of my matches continue to be in the British Isles and primarily England. Ancestry does show that picture very well because they have such a large database. But of course I can not actually see the matches unless individuals take their results into another database which some do do. So I probably look more carefully at the aspects that I can see there. 

Smoke is gone for the moment and hopefully the rains that we are due to receive (normal June weather) along with the cooler air (also normal to June) will control the wildfire. Wildfire does serve its purpose of regeneration of forests but too much can be quite a hazard especially for our First Nations who do tend to live in the more heavily treed and less populated parts of Canada. The garden has certainly sucked up all that  moisture and is hungrily waiting for more. It always amazes me to see the plants double in size in such a short period of time but Mother Nature's refreshing rain is better than any watering that I can do. The trees are still this morning waiting hopefully for more rain I am sure. God's world is all around us and we must take good care of it. Thank you God. Thank you also for King Charles III who will do a fantastic job as he has for all of his life supporting the preservation of the Earth  - its flora and fauna, its huge oceans and giant land masses. His support of the youth has always been a tribute to him I think. He never thinks of himself walking right up to the protesters with their signs - he is a bold one like all of the great Kings and Queens that are his forebearers. 

Siderfin and location

Yesterday I spent quite a bit of time thinking about the Pedigree Chart that James Sanders included in his book. The beginning four generations can be put together from the available records and ending generations coming down from Robert Siderfin and Elizabeth (Question) Siderfin also flow quite well with a few limitations but that central fifth generation has always struck me as somewhat peculiar. I think yesterday I really concentrated on the property attached to their names for the first time now that I have looked so completely at the first four generations.

 Clearly, John Siderfin (Robert 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) found on the Protestation Returns at Selworthy in 1641 but not paying a Somerset Lay Subsidy in 1642 at Selworthy is likely still in Selworthy.  He doesn’t appear anywhere else. I have not been able to identify a marriage for John and Thomasine and Thomasine is a common forename in this Somerset area in this time frame. John 5 (Robert 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) was the younger son of Robert baptized in 1619 at Minehead and probably did not inherit anything from his father Robert other than a good education perhaps – this line does become schoolmasters in the generations to follow. Checking the Discovery Catalogue at the Archives of the United Kingdom does not reveal any material for a John Siderfin in this time frame (no property interactions). At this point in time the family drops into the background as they are not landowners and known to be schoolmasters at Selworthy. 

Looking then at the Pedigree Chart:

 This is one of the images that I took when we visited the Allen County Public Library in Illinois, USA in 2009. The opportunity to do so was something we did not wish to miss and I was still doing the Siderfin one name study and knew that there was a copy of James Sanders book at this library. I was not disappointed. Edward had a lot of Kipp material that he wanted to look at there and was hopeful that I would help with that I can remember and I did. My list was quite short since most of my families were recently in England so not really much material on my lines but there were a couple of books that I wanted to photograph. We spent four days in that library and really did glean a lot of interesting material for Edward and for myself. We went back again several years later and again acquired some interesting material. Definitely a library that should not be missed if the opportunity comes by. 

The Chart can be a little more clearly seen in this image than most of the other images that I have acquired. One is left to surmise that copies of this chart were hand formed and then bound in with the book. The top line of the chart on the left are the children of the Worth-Siderfin marriage in the William-Line (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1). That is pretty much all that you see of this line and I had not really concentrated on the property that was mentioned in the next large line directly below the Worth-Siderfin children. One notes that Robert married to Joanna Kittener is of East Lynch (Joanna is of Wotton Courtney) passing by John and Maria Winter and looking at Walter said to be of Timberscombe married to Alice Quirke of Minehead. Thinking back to Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) and that Robert was on the Protestation Return at Timberscombe along with his son Robert. The Somerset Subsidy of 1642 also listed these two Roberts at Timberscombe. However, on this chart the Robert married to Joanna Kittener is listed as the son of a John Siderfin baptized 1656 at Wootton Courtney and his wife Mary. Finally lights are going on and I am thinking to myself what if James Sanders is mistaken and this is the second son of Robert at Timberscombe identified in his grandmother's will as John? For Robert married to Joanna Kittener to be at East Lynch he really needs to be descendant of the William-Line according to the usual practice of primogeniture and the passing of property from one generation to the next. Now John is the younger son but what if Robert 5 decided to split his property between his two sons - unusual but certainly did occur. Timberscombe was the larger property so East Lynch going to John sounds reasonable much more reasonable than it suddenly being owned by a descendant of the Robert - Line (namely Robert 4  (Robert 3, William 2, John 1) Robert 4 was generally found at Minehead and Wootton Courtney and his sons Robert 5 at Minehead/Wootton Courtney on any records and John 5 at Selworthy). 

 

One could wish for clearer images but not having an original copy of the book to take better closeup photos this has to suffice. Looking at this crop/enlargement of the left hand side of the chart above one notes the beginning of this line with John of Wootton Courty b about 1614 which doesn't work for the line that it actually goes back to namely Robert 4 (Robert 3, William 2, John 1). That John was baptized at Minehead in 1619. I actually conclude in my mind at this point that this John does not exist. There isn't a John baptized in 1614 at Wootton Courtney and to the best of my knowledge in 1614 this line is at Luxborough and Minehead principally. Looking up in Ancestry at the original Wootton Courtney registers which commence in 1558. The first mention of Siderfin in Wootton Courtney is Thomas Siderfin JP in the course of his duties as Justice of the Peace (Thomas 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1). I did note the lack of baptisms and burials with most records in the earliest pages being banns and marriages. I do have the fiche for Wootton Courtney and Stoate's transcriptions. Whilst looking at these records on Ancestry I did note that individuals from Timberscombe did come to Wootton Courtney for marriages and as I looked through the fiche I discovered that the first Siderfin entry was John Siderfin son of John baptized 15 Jul 1656 (no entries prior to that date for Siderfin in baptisms and these registers started in 1558). Mary Syderfin is next 26 Jun 1714 daughter of John Siderfin junior and Joan. Baptisms for the children of this children continue over the next years. Most baptisms were at Luxborough in those early years with the change coming after the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell when all births were required to be registered at the secular office of a particular parish. However, a number of individuals continued to baptize their children at Church but did tend to be the more obscure parishes. Eventually, before publishing I will look at the original parish registers on fiche just to verify but want to have all my records in a file so that I do not miss any.  I continue with my suspicion that this John baptized at Wootton Courtney in 1656 was actually the son of John 6 (Robert 5, William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1). The dates for this grouping John 6 to John 1 would look like circa 1630s, 1611, 1585, 1540s, 1510s, 1400s. A reasonable range of dates for these generations. 

Looking at the arrangement that James Sanders has created would be John baptized at Wootton Courtney in 1656 and the son of John 5, Robert 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1). The dates for this grouping would be 1619 (James Sanders has 1614), 1587, 1540s, 1510, 1400s. Not impossible John would have only been 42 (James Sanders 1614) or 37 (actual baptism for this John). Both scenarios work time wise. The only reason for the change is the presence of a Robert Siderfin married to Joanna Kittener at East Lynch which traditionally in this Siderfin family belonged to the William-Line (William 4). William 4's son Robert senior and his grandson Robert junior are found at Timberscombe both on the Protestation Return of 1641 and the Somerset Lay Subsidy of 1642. These two Roberts are found in the records at the Archives of the UK at Timberscombe and East Lynch as these two properties were apparently in the occupation of this Siderfin line in this time frame. This younger son of Robert 5 is mentioned in his grandmother Christian (Webber) Siderfin's will written in 1644 and probated in 1648. How the younger son acquired East Lynch I will now go back into the Records held by the Archives of the United Kingdom and see if there are any clues. I do know they exist for Robert Siderfin at Timberscombe and East Lynch just from memory but was John mentioned and I will obtain that answer. John 6 (Robert 5, William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) has named his son Robert and this baptism exists 15 Dec 1688 at Selworthy when his father would have been 30 years of age with his mother being an unknown Mary. That will be my next followup after checking out the Archives material. John Siderfin as a stand alone search name does not produce any results other than those already known from the 1500s. East Lynch does have a number of interesting records over a long time period but the Siderfin name does not form part of the search function. I will look at British History Online next. No information on East Lynch as a stand alone area in Somerset in British History Online. Genuki was my next choice and East Lynch does not have its own page but Timberscombe does. Checking out this website and then went to a search for East Lynch Farm and it is recorded as being at Selworthy with a history from post medieval to modern - 1540 AD to the present. East Lynch farm appears to be closer to Selworthy than Timberscombe but that doesn't affect who occupied it in the late 1600s into the 1700s. It does account for baptisms being celebrated at Selworthy though or Wootton Courtney which lies between Selworthy and Timberscombe. Having done this interesting survey I will, for the moment, go with the idea that the Robert at East Lynch, baptized at Selworthy, son of John and Mary (unknown) Siderfin is descendant of the William 4 line.

There are problems with this argument perhaps as Robert Siderfin at East Lynch could simply have picked up the lease as the actual ownership can not be determined from afar one would need to go through the land records. But given the status of John 5 (Robert 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) at Selworthy as a schoolmaster it is unlikely that he would have had the financial ability to pick up the lease as it does appear to be a substantial property. Plus Thomasine names Robert Siderfin at East Lynch as a cousin rather than a sibling-in-law in her will abstract. So attaching Robert at East Lynch to the William-Line makes a lot of sense (and he would be the son of a cousin in that case). 

I think the next direction to go in is this marriage of a John Siderfin and Mary (unknown) parents of Robert at East Lynch in the latter part of the 1600s. Information available on James Sanders Pedigree Chart for John b 1656 and for Mary b 1648 and died 1717. Checking out the text of James Sanders for any references to these two individuals that he has added to the book.  

1717. In Wootton Courtney church, on a stone in the floor of the nave: - Here lyeth the body of Mary, the wife of John Siderfin, of this Parish, who departed this life Oct. 3rd, 1717, aged 69 years.

I also found an item which likely directed James Sanders towards the idea that this John was descendant of the Robert 4 line. It is entitled by James Sanders as Freeholders in Selworthy: Now, besides the rector in right of his glebe, the only freeholders left in the parish other than the owner of the three manors, are the Clarke and Stoate families. The Clarkes, as already stated, have for a long period lived on their property at West Lynch (while a branch of their family have also occupied East Lynch) and have for many generations taken a leading and honourable part in the affairs of the valley. The Stoates, too, have been connected with the parish for a great number of years. The last of the Selworthy branch of the family, old "Counsellor Stoate," as he was always called, lived at Allerford and must have been somewhat of a character. He was also a man of considerable substance. Another old family connected with the parish is that of Siderfin. This family is probably an offshoot of the family of Siderfin of Croydon, in the parish of Timberscombe, a family of some importance in our district in the seventeenth century.

The reference to Siderfin of Croydon is the Thomas 4 line and no ideas on why this might direct James Sanders towards the Robert 4 line for John Siderfin baptized 1656 at Wootton Courtney. Somewhat confusing perhaps to refer to the Siderfin family at Croydon at this point in time but is perhaps just linking all the Siderfin families together. The Clarke family married into the Siderfin family in 1787 with the marriage of John Siderfin and Sarah Clarke at Selworthy. John was the son of Robert Siderfin and Grace (Kent) Siderfin (my 4x great grandparents). At this point in time with Robert Siderfin at East Lynch dying without heirs in 1715 the land may have reverted back in the family although one would have expected it to go to the Worth-Siderfin descendants it became the property of the Clarke family (they could have purchased it for sure or leased it). Only by doing an extensive land search at Taunton could one determine that. But at this point in time (late 1700s) it does appear that the land now belongs to the Clarke family as James Sanders mentions in his "Freeholders in Selworthy" section. He is writing this in the early 1900s and this paragraph refers to that moment in time more than 100 years after the marriage of John Siderfin and Sarah Clarke 4 Jun 1787 at Selworthy. There will be more information on this John Siderfin and East Lynch as we reach his generation. 

Back to the marriage of John Siderfin and Mary (unknown) now that I have gleaned any information from James Sander's text on this couple. Along with this look at the registers, I will alter my one name study Legacy File to reflect these changes. I do begin to feel as if I am more in tune now with this descent in the Siderfin lines. That I may need to read all of these parish registers will be an interesting adventure but for the moment I will use the transcriptions as they are certainly very well done; I do not think I have ever really found any errors in the transcriptions. 

A John Siderfin Junior of Wootton Courtney Farmer married Mary Chapman of Wootton Courtney at West Monkton  27 Mar 1683 (Banns read). This is signed by John Siderfin, Robert Siderfin and George Chapman. This record found on Ancestry. Time wise it could fit into this chart because John was baptized in 1656 and his wife is listed as born in 1648 so they would be 27 and 35 respectively. Only one child is shown for this couple (if correct) on James Sanders Pedigree Chart. Who is the Robert Siderfin signing? There is a possibility that it could be Robert Siderfin baptized 1658 at Selworthy or it could be the uncle of this John if he is the son of John 6 (Robert 5, William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) as he had a brother Robert 6 - both named in the will of their grandmother Christian (Webber) Siderfin in 1644/probated 1648. And he would be be John Junior as his father was John 6 (Robert 5, William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1). Why they marry at West Monkton is perhaps a mystery as it is 53 kilometres from Selworthy. But I did find a marriage so somewhat interesting actually. Their son Robert (if this couple is correct and the surname Siderfin is fairly uncommon) was baptized 15 Dec 1688 at Selworthy. Figuring out the Robert Siderfin males in the 1600s and 1700s is a challenge but I am beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel. Robert Siderfin married Joanna Kittener 25 Apr 1713 in Wootton Courtney. James Sanders has two other children for this couple namely John of Wootton Courtney who married Maria Winters and she apparently left a will probated in 1733 - married in 1718 and no date of birth for John. The other child was Walter of Timberscombe b 1892 and died 1732 and he married Mary Quirke of Minehead perhaps married 1717 at Luxborough and her will probated 1768. 

Looking first at John Siderfin of Wootton Courtney and given that Robert is said to be elder brother was baptized 1689 I will check the parish registers for a John in the time frame from 1683 (John Siderfin junior married Mary Chapman) to the death of Mary in 1717 and perhaps a little longer. No baptism for this John although there is a marriage for a Johannes Syderfin and Maria Winter 11 Dec 1718 at Exton, Somerset and John Syderfin is of Wootton Courtney. James Sanders has so indicated this on the Pedigree Chart. 

Looking second at Walter Siderfin said to be of Timberscombe born 1692 and died 21 Mar 1731 and he was buried in All Saints Selworthy, Somerset, England and he was married to Mary Quirke of Minehead at Luxborough in 1717. This couple baptized a son Robert at Minehead 2 Feb 1718 and he appears to have died in 1746. The marriage on Find My Past 25 Jan 1717 at Luxborough with the groom of Timberscombe and the bride Alice Quircke of Minehead. Alice has left a will which may prove interesting as one of her sisters married into the Question family but it is not particularly helpful with the Siderfin family other than reinforcing that it was she who married Walter Siderfin: 

Recorded: 29th November 2005/23 Mar 2023
Source: National Archives, UK, PROB 11/942/259
Place: Periton, Minehead, Somerset, England
Type of Record: Will
Dated: 21st November 1768, probated, probated 30 Sep 1768

Alice Siderfin

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

I did locate the death of Walter Siderfin 21 Mar 1731 and buried at All Saints Selworthy. He is on the same brass as another Siderfin. The Brass reads: Here lyeth the body of Robert Siderfin son of Robert Siderfin Gent and Elizabeth his Wife Who departed this life the 20th day of Jan 1714 Aged 25 years. Here lyeth the body of Walter Siderfin who departed This Life the 21st day of Mar 1731 Aged 40 years. Why are they on the same brass? is the question that comes to my mind. Are Walter and Robert brothers? The answer does appear to be yes but the brass has Robert as the son of Robert and Elizabeth Siderfin. This could take me back to square one which was my thought earlier that these two men were the grandsons of Robert Siderfin baptized 1616 at Minehead older brother to John Siderfin baptized 1619 at Minehead. I did rather like the other concept so now I must determine what I can about this brass memorial. I am bothered by the Robert Siderfin who died in 1714 and was living at East Lynch and his brother Walter (according to James Sanders) who lived at Timberscombe. They are occupying land known to be in the possession of the Willian Line principally Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) as late as 1662. This line still existed into the early 1700s so it does seem strange that the land would have switched into a different Siderfin line.

At this point it would be timely to look at the will of Maria (Winter) Siderfin (wife of John Siderfin). Robert and Walter are said to be brothers to this John Siderfin.

1733. Mary Siderfin, of Exton, wife of John Siderfin, of the same parish, tanner. Whereas before my intermarriage with my said husband by my Deed indented and bearing date the 8th Dec., 1718, I did assign and settover certain leasehold tenements or estates, ietc., unto Edmund Cording, of Exton, and George Langdon, of Winsford, in trust for the several uses, ends, intents, etc., therein mentioned. I give etc., unto my husband's granddaughter, Joane Siderfin, ten pounds. To my cozen, Anne Hobbs, the younger, of Winsford, 40s. To Edward Barnes, the younger of Exton, 10s. All the rest residue and remainder of my said leasehold tenements or estates and all other goods, etc., etc., unto Edmund Cording, the younger (son of aforesaid Ed Cording) to and for his own proper use for ever. And I do make him, the said Ed Cording the ye sole Executor.
Will dated 7th January, 1729.

An interesting will as it implies that her husband John had a son with a daughter and that she was a second wife. I would say this brother to Robert and Walter on James Sanders chart does not exist and is rather the John Siderfin who married Mary Chapman and one can see that his occupation is tanner since he was a younger son that would be expected. This John Siderfin is perhaps still living in 1729 as the will was dated 7 Jan 1729. This John would be the John baptized in 1656 son of John Siderfin. I feel quite confident removing him from this particular spot. I am also not uncomfortable with having Robert and Walter sons of Robert Siderfin rather than this brother John Siderfin who was a tanner and continuing with the thought that this is the William Line. It works even better actually as I rather thought this Robert Siderfin had married Elizabeth Blackford. Crisis averted and I will soon produce a new Chart of the William Line and the Robert Line. Everything is falling nicely into place with just a little extra proof for my initial thought. That leaves John 6 younger brother to Robert 6 son of Robert 5 (William 4, Robert 3, William 2, John 1) as the husband of Maria Winter and a tanner and the property at Timberscombe and East Lynch with his older brother Robert as shown on the various subsidies/returns. The mention of a granddaughter to Maria (Winter) Siderfin's husband John is interesting as it does put another hindrance against this John being in the Robert Line since that John would most likely be the husband of Thomasine and father of Robert Siderfin born at Selworthy in 1658 although Robert and Elizabeth had a daughter Joana I find it difficult to believe she would only remember the one child when they had nine children (and Joanna was buried in 1698 at the age of eight years). Next step is to have a look at the original register for Selworthy just to see what I might be able to find as that would be handy although already interpreted by others as the record for the Baptism of Robert Siderfin married to Elizabeth Question and son of Thomazine as mentioned in her will.

Time for a 40 minute run; the day has turned out quite well. We had rain and no smoke but it may return tomorrow.