Extract of the Will of Thomas Were, merchant of Wellington 1776

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

Will extract of Thomas Were, merchant of Wellington 1776, written 12 February 1773, codicil 14 June 1773, codicil 12 February 1776. Proved in London 6 September 1776, Prerogative Court of Canterbury. Administration granted to Robert, Thomas, Nicholas and William Were, the sons and named executors.^[1]

Disclaimer: This is an extract only as the Will itself is nineteen pages long. I've endeavoured to extract information in a coherent manner but there may be errors.

• Elizabeth Were (wife)
• Robert Were (son)
• Thomas Were (son)
• Nicholas Were (son)
• William Were (son)
• Joseph Were (son)
• Elizabeth Matravers, widow (daughter)
• Anna Fox (daughter)
• Mary Fox (daughter)
• Edward Fox of Egles Hall, Cornwall, shopkeeper (son in law, husband of Anna)
• George Fox of Falmouth, Cornwall, merchant (son in law, husband of Mary)
• Priscilla Berry (sister in law)
• Robert Were (brother, deceased)
• Thomas and Robert, sons of testator's son Robert (grandsons)
• Elizabeth wife of son Robert (daughter in law)
• Mary wife of son Thomas (daughter in law)
• Mary wife of son Nicholas (daughter in law)
• Elizabeth wife of son Joseph (daughter in law)
• Stephen Matravers and Thomas Fox (grandsons)
• Joseph Ball of Bridgewater, shopkeeper and Arthur Gundry of Wellington, shopkeeper (friends, trustees)
• Robert Davis of Minehead (mediator)
• Witnesses: W.P. Thomas, Proctor Thomas, Ab[raha]m Shorland

Others

• John Selwood
• Nurse Chorley, Nurse Alloway, Peter Berry and William Browne
• Charles Fox and Joseph Collier both of Plymouth, gents (creditors)
• Anthony Marys and Robert Birt (mortgagees)
• John Riggs

(previous property owners)

• Thomas Southey
• [blank] Woolcott
• Robert Baker
• John Parsons
• [blank] Prowse Esq
• John Marsh
• Edmund Antrobus Esq
• Thomas Harrison Esq

(tenants)

• Robert Brown, George Goard, Jane Spiller, widow, Ann Stradling, widow George Rutter, Thomas Stradling and John Pyne

---

Elizabeth Were (wife) Freehold estates in Sowden in the parish of Burlescombe, Devon; house and fulling mills in the parish of Runnington, Somerset; shops, warehouses buildings and house in South Street, Wellington used by sons as co-partners in the Mercantile business. Silver plate, china, watches and a four wheel post chaise. The sum of forty shillings paid to her weekly. An annuity of £13 paid quarterly, a second annuity of £11 paid quarterly.

To his four sons Robert, Thomas, Nicholas and William the land purchased from Thomas Southey with the buildings, the fulling mills and other property associated with their trade, and residue after legacies, also to be joint executors.

Robert (son), after Elizabeth's death, subject to a term of 99 years, to receive a moiety of a Farm called Gyles in Wellington, in the possession of Thomas Handford, and houses and appurtenances called Greenslades in the possession of Robert Brown near the Quakers Meeting House in Wellington, the messauge called Sowden in Burlescombe, and the messuage and lands called Eevolcotts purchased from Thomas Southey, together with a right of passage; Any sums of money due on bonds or mortgage from Anthony Marys and Robert Birt.

Thomas (son), several cottages in Market Street purchased from [blank] Woolcott and testator's sister in law Priscilla Berry, parcels of land near Market Street bought from Robert Baker and John Parsons, 13 acres called Bullford Lands except the pathway for access given to Robert (son), premises called Farthings Pitts bought from [blank] Prowse Esq, parcel called Newton's Close with barn subject to a term of 99 years (he is not sure if that parcel is already settled on son Robert, if so, he gets the half of Gyle's Farm instead).

Nicholas (son) subject to a term of 99 years property called Harris's Sadlers in Westleigh, Burlescombe, Devon in the possession of George Goard, and severak houses and barn called Modlands or Wills's at Roweneen? Wellington in the occupations of Jane Spiller, widow and Ann Stradling, widow, George Rutter, Thomas Stradling and John Pyne, messuage etc called Penslowe in Ufculme bought from John Marsh, messuage etc called Osmonds in Ufculme - the lands of testator's late brother Robert, messuage etc held in fee simple called Wescotts in Burlescombe with a lease determinable on the death of John Riggs.

William (son) after Elizabeth's death subject to 99 year term, messuages etc in Sampford Peverell, that belonged to testator's late brother Robert; Messuage Barton and Farm called Hancocks in Wellington, Tenement and lands called Carsewells in Wellington except for the part already bequeathed for the pupose of trade to the testator's 4 sons; 3 closes with appurtenances part of Hilly Lands in Wellington purchased from Edmund Antrobus Esq; two houses in Fore St, Wellington bought from Thomas Harrison esq

Joseph (son) to receive £100, plus £200 a year after Elizabeth's death.

All 4 sons and Joseph bound to pay £1600 plus interest to Charles Fox and Joseph Collier both of Plymouth, gents, of which William is required to pay £1300.

Thomas and Robert, sons of his son Robert, £100.

Joseph Ball of Bridgewater, shopkeeper and Arthur Gundry of Wellington, shopkeeper (friends) to hold in trust property in the event of neglect of Nicholas to pay Joseph.

Stephen Matravers and Thomas Fox (grandsons) to be allowed to enter into the partnership, likewise any of the sons of Robert, Thomas, Nicholas and William. Both to receive £150 each.

Elizabeth Matravers, Anna Fox and Mary Fox (daughters) each to receive £100.

Elizabeth Matravers, widow, an annuity of £12, after her death her survivng children to receive £300 divided between them.
Anna Fox the wife of Edward Fox of Egles Hall, Cornwall, shopkeeper, an annuity of £12 for her own use, after her death her survivng children to receive £300 divided between them.
Mary Fox the wife of George Fox of Falmouth, Cornwall, merchant, an annuity of £12 for her own use, after her death her survivng children to receive £300 divided between them.

Elizabeth wife of son Robert, Mary wife of son Thomas, Mary wife of son Nicholas, Elizabeth wife of son Joseph, to each of them £20

to the poor Quakers of the Wellington Meeting house £5, the same to the poor Quakers of Spiceland in Culmstock.

To John Selwood 1 Guinea.

To Nurse Chorley, Nurse Alloway, Peter Berry and William Browne half a Guinea each.
Any disputes or disagreements by his four sons to be settled by Robert Davis of Minehead, merchant, Joseph Ball an Arthur Gundry.

Codicil:
Thomas (son) to receive £150 extra and right of passage over land bequeathed to Robert (son)

Codicil:
The goods bequeathed to Elizabeth (wife) to go to William (son) after her death.
Witnesses: W.P. Thomas, Proctor Thomas, Abm Shorland.

Sources

1. ↑ PROB 11/1023/161 Description: Will of Thomas Were, Merchant of Wellington , Somerset Date: 06 September 1776 Held by: The National Archives, Kew