John Southey (abt. 1743 - abt. 1806)

Born about 31 Aug 1743 in Lydeard St Lawrence, Somerset, England

Ancestors

Died about 25 Jun 1806 at about age 62 in Taunton, Somerset, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

John's baptism was recorded in the 1743 parish records of Lydeard St Lawrence, Somerset, England: -

"John son of Mr Tho' Southey Baptised Aug 31"^[1]

From his nephew Robert Southey's letters we learn a little of John's life: -

"He was looked upon as the probable heir of the family, even after the birth of young Somerville" and as a result lived more with the then head of the family Cannon Southey "than with his parents, in his boyhood & youth".^[2]

As a boy he had what "was thought a good education" and " being designed for the law, learnt a little Latin".^[3]

When he "was about to begin business as an Attorney in Taunton, Cannon Southey ,as the head of the family, lent him 100£ to start with". Although John appeared not grateful for the kind loan since, "that 100£, he used to say, with a sort of surly pride, I repaid him, with interest, in six months" and "that is about <the only favour> for which I was ever obliged to my relations."^[4]

Robert Southey had a poor relationship with John but visited, "that Uncle whom for 26 years I had not seen", in 1802.

During the visit Robert Southey felt that he had, " opened an intercourse which I know not how to keep up. his talents were by nature of no common stamp – they have been exclusively directed to the law, which he has now for years abandoned".

He described John's house as, "a good house that strikes ones spirits with an ague. no comfort. for it is the house of an old man with no wife & no friends – & every where some thing about it to show opulence – & the rest all mean & miserly".

Making clear his dislike of his uncle he states, "Nature too had given him his share of feelings but they also have been blasted. one only passion has actuated him thro life. that of accumulating money – he learnt to dislike his relations because he was afraid their poverty would make claims upon his riches – & now at the age of something more than sixty he is without one friend in the world. his manners have grown boorish in solitude he pronounces speaks like a man who has never heard conversation above that of his hinds".

Robert finishes his account with "his occupation now is farming he has no longer strength for it & means to give it up – what will become of him in utter illness – without any resource, without any companion – for already he has quarrelled with all his old companions from a trick of thinking over words by himself till he extracts from them some uncivil sense as food for resentment".^[5]

He died in 1806 and was buried on 25 June in the parish of St James, Taunton, Somerset.^[6]

Probate was granted on John's will on 22 July 1806 and his brother Thomas Southey was the main beneficiary.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Review of a scan of the original 1743 parish records of Lydeard St Lawrence on www.ancestry.com by James Southey on 11 May 2022. https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60856/images/englb7803_d-p-l-st-l-2-1-3_m_00055? and https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28499346?h=d77986
2. ↑ Robert Southey Letter to John May, 16 to 18 November 1820 on www.romantic-circles.org
3. ↑ Robert Southey Letter to John May, 26 July 1820 on www.romantic-circles.org
4. ↑ Robert Southey Letter to John May, 26 July 1820 on www.romantic-circles.org
5. ↑ Robert Southey Letter to John May, 26 October 1820 on www.romantic-circles.org
6. ↑ Review of a scan of the original 1806 parish records of the parish of St John, Taunton, Somerset on www.ancestry.com by James Southey on 17 May 2022. Please see https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/60856/images/engl78030_d-p-tau-ja-2-1-9_m_00109?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=d9d13dc365bc3b8f9570357c7a016bc5&usePUB=true&_phsrc=ZKT725&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.40040546.1753472088.1652703316-918575476.1648679093&pId=1447125 and for image https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/28584784?h=304330
7. ↑ Review of a scan of the will of John Southey (probate 22 july 1806) on www.ancestry.com by James Southey on 179May 2022. Please see https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/368991:5111?tid=&pid=&queryId=f12d08fed587010ea8e1f87951a659a5&_phsrc=ZKT730&_phstart=successSource and for image https://www.ancestry.co.uk/sharing/28616656?h=97b6ad