Transcript of Settlement Examination of John Boon 1767

Date: 7 Jan 1767 [unknown]
Location: Hatch Beauchamp, Somerset, England
Surname/tag: Boon-2541

Transcript of Settlement Examination Document for John Boon held at the Somerset Records Office

The Examination of John Boon, husbandman now residing in the parish of Hatch Beauchamp in the said County take an oath this seventh day of January 1767.

Who on his oath saith that he is now about forty three years of age and was born in the parish of Curry Mallet in the said county of Somerset and at the age of seventeen years hired himself as servant to Mr John Uttermane of the parish of Beercrocombe in the aforesaid county at fify shilings a year meat, drink, washing, lodging, three pounds the second year and four pounds the third year under which several agreements he served the said John Uttermane three years and a half received his wages accordingly soon after which he married his present wife Ann ..,,,he has now six children (vizt) Mary aged ??? years, John aged ?teen, Anna aged thirteen years Richard aged nine years, Sarah aged five years and Jane aged thirteen years, soon after which his said marriage he settled in Beercrocombe aforesd and rented three pieces of ground of John Pyne Esq of Curry Mallet at Fi????? pounds a year of Mr William Tu?? of Blandford in the County of Dorset a tenement and eleven acres of ground at seven pounds ten shillings a year which premises he rented as above for the ???? of seventeen years and paid his rent duly for the same after which ?? purchased a cottage of Mr James Uttermane for three lives in Hatch Beauchamp aforesaid for which he paid no church, Poor or other parish rates but only a Reserved rent of two? shillings a year to the said James Uttermane (John crossed through) Nor has this examination done? any thing otherwise than above whereby he could gain any settlement. Sworn before us two of his Majestys Justices of the Peace for the said County this 7th January 1767 R Combe This mark John Boon

Note The cottage in Hatch Beauchamp was leased for a period of three lives. These were not three successive lives or generations but existing lives chosen with a view to maximising the length of the lease and ensuring the security of the tenant's immediate family in the holding. The tenant normally nominated himself and one or more of his children, where he judged them young enough and fit enough for the purpose. While the heir to a holding was frequently named as one of the lives in the lease, there was no requirement to do so. The lives named in the lease had no special claims on the holding itself and could only succeed to it by the normal means of heirship, will, intestacy, settlement or sale.