John Northey (1724 - 1803)

Born 1724 in Broadwoodwidger Parish, Devon, England

Husband of Mary Marjery Mason — married 1756 in Broadwoodwidger Parish, Devon, England,

Descendants

Died 27 Mar 1803 at about age 79 in Broadwoodwidger Parish, Devon, England

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Kyle Northey [send private message]

Biography

John Northey Sr. was a Tennant farmer who could neither read or write. He and his wife Marjery raised three sons- John, Thomas and Nicholas. On December 10, 1776 he leased property which lay in the manor of Southweek, England. The manor was owned by the Luxmoore family, and was considered a small manor as it was approximately 700 acres in size. It was located in Devonshire, England just south of the village of Germansweek.

John Northey leased a farm called Hennard Gifford with a total acreage of 60.3, although he only paid taxes on 40.5 acres, as he was not assessed for fences and hedges. The farm was divided into 19 fields of varying sizes. His fine was 150 pounds, rent 14 shillings and 2 capons or 16 shillings, and heriot was 2 shillings.

Instead of a 99 year lease, John Northey signed a 3 - lives lease. His three sons were the three lives. After the death of all three lives, the property would revert to the Luxmoore family. The fine was for taking up the lease, rent was paid yearly, and heriot was paid upon the death of the tenant by the heir, and also upon the death of those lives noted in the lease.

John Northey died March 27, 1803 and his wife February 13, 1806. Both were buried in the nearby village of Germansweek in the cemetery beside St. Germanus Church. Only three sons and several grandchildren are mentioned in the 1803 will which divided the 19 fields between sons John and Thomas, and left sums of money to his grandchildren - including children of his son, Nicholas Northey already deceased. Upon the death of his last son, all property will be returned to the Luxmoore family. This occurred as Thomas Northey died October 16 1842 - the time the Northeys came to Canada.

The will suggests that John Northey Sr. was a successful farmer and business man, as money was left to be paid yearly for the length of the original Land Lease of 1776 to several grandchildren as follows:

Children of Nicholas Northey William - 10 shillings and 10 pence yearly Maria - 1 guinea at age 21 Sarah - 1 guinea at age 21

Children of John Northey First Marriage Thomas - 10 shillings and 10 pence yearly Mary - 1 guinea yearly Richard - 1 guinea yearly Elizabeth - 1 guinea yearly John - sole executor with residue of lands, tenements, money, bonds, securities etc. left to him

Children of John Northey Second Marriage William Pengelly - 1 guinea James - 1 guinea

Children of Thomas Northey Fanny - only child born at date of will (not mentioned in inheritance)

John Northey Sr. came to Hennard area in 1776 with the land lease lasting 66 years. During that time 43 Northey babies were Baptised at St. Germanus Church - 39 being direct descendants. This does not include neighboring parishes, nor any children born to Northey girls after marriages.

Source: James Northey - Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Sources

https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~milchron/genealogy/northey.htm#a_s1

• Baptism of child John Northy: "Devon, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812"
  Indexes created from Anglican Parish Registers held at South West Heritage Trust; Taunton, Somerset, England
  Ancestry ca Record 62250 #151687206
  John Northy's child John Northy baptism on 9 Jan 1757 in Broadwoodwidger, Devon, England.
• Marriage Banns: "Devon, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1920"
  Indexes created from Anglican Parish Registers held at South West Heritage Trust; Taunton, Somerset, England
  Ancestry ca Record 62287 #135886
  John Northy marriage to Mary Mason. Banns read on 8 Aug 1756 in Broadwoodwidger, Devon, England.
• Land Tax: "UK, Land Tax Redemption, 1798"
  The National Archives; Kew, Richmond; Surrey, Land Tax Redemption Office: Quotas and Assessments, IR23; Piece: 17; Volume: 2
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry ca Record 2319 #1175335
  Proprietor: Reverend Mr Braddon; Tenant: John Northy; Residence: Broadwood Widger, Devon, England; Year: 1798.