Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Benjamin Harris

Yeoman of Brunswick Street

 

Benjamin Harris was born in 1786 in Yetminster, Dorset, and baptised there on 10 December 1786. He was the son of Edward Harris (b1752) and Mary née Cooper (1754-1796) and the brother of George Harris (1791-1872) who, it is believed, was the builder of the cottages in Brunswick Street described in Benjamin's will below.

On 19 January 1809, at Yetminster, Benjamin married Edith Squibb (b1786). They were to have six children born in various villages (chiefly in Dorset) as Benjamin moved his family around with his job as a dairyman. The children were - Ann (b1813, Sherborne), John (b1815, Sherborne), George (b1817, Dorset), Sarah (1818, Halstock - 1901), Henry (1822, Dorset) and Christopher (b1823, Closworth).

In the 1841 census, Benjamin gave his occupation as a dairyman. He was living in Melbury Osmond, Dorset, with his wife Edith and children John, George, Sarah, Henry and Christopher and his grandson Christopher Ryall, the son of his daughter Ann. His son John gave his occupation as a thatcher while George, Henry and Christopher were all carpenters.

The 1851 census recorded Benjamin as a 64-year-old widower living in Brunswick Street with his widowed daughter Ann Ryall and grandson Edwin Ryall. He gave his occupation as a retired dairyman (despite describing himself as a Yeoman in his will three years later).

By the time he wrote his will in 1854 (also the year he died), Benjamin owned at least six cottages in Brunswick Street, living in one himself. The cottages were those that preceded  Brunswick Place and Brunswick Terrace.

 

For the Harris family tree - click here

 

 

A section of the 1842 Tithe Map showing the cottages built by Benjamin's brother George between Chant's Path (at the top) and Brunswick Street running across the centre and Dodham Brook running across the bottom.. Hendford is seen at the left. From the description in his will, it is likely that Benjamin owned the parcels 357, 358 and 359.

 

 

This is the last Will and Testament of me Benjamin Harris of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Yeoman I give and devise my two Cottages situate in Brunswick Street in Yeovil aforesaid (adjoining each other and fronting the east (now in the respective occupations of George Burt and Henry Hann with the Garden and appurtenances in front of the same and usually occupied therewith and to the use of my son John Harris his heirs and assigns for ever I give and devise my two cottages situate in Brunswick Street in Yeovil aforesaid also fronting the east and bounded by Brunswick Street aforesaid on the north and on the south by the Cottages herein before devised to my said son John (now in the respective occupations of my son George and of James Maidment with the garden and appurtenances in front of the same and usually occupied therewith unto and to the use of my said son George Harris his heirs and assigns for ever I give and devise my two cottages situate in Brunswick Street in Yeovil aforesaid fronting the west bounded on the north by the said Street and on the south by the two cottages next hereinafter devised to my son Christopher (now in the respective occupations of Edward Lucas and Henry Sutton with the garden and appurtenances in front of the same and usually occupied therewith unto and to the use of my son Henry Harris his heirs and assigns for ever I give and devise my two cottages situate in Brunswick Street in Yeovil aforesaid also fronting the west bounded by the Cottages lastly hereinbefore devised to my son Henry (now in the respective occupations of [Marl?] Palmer and Sarah Osmond with the garden and appurtenances in front of the same and usually occupied therewith unto and to the use of my son Christopher Harris his heirs and assigns for ever I give and devise my two cottages situate in Brunswick Street aforesaid fronting the east and west now in the respective occupations of myself and Charles Gard (and bounded on the north by the Cottages hereinbefore devised to my sons John and Christopher) with the garden and appurtenances in front of the same and usually occupied therewith unto and to the use of my daughter Ann Ryall her his heirs and assigns for ever charged in [expectation?] of my personal estate with the payment of a legacy of fifty pounds which I hereby bequeath to my daughter Sarah Rossiter and direct the same to be paid to her at the expiration of six months next after my decease I give to my daughter Mary Willmott Fifty pounds to be paid to her at the expiration of six months next after my decease I give devise and bequeath all the residue of my real and personal estate (subject nevertheless to the payment of the legacy before bequeathed to my daughter Mary Willmott and my just debts funeral and testamentary expences unto and equally between all my said sons and daughters their heirs executors administrators and assigns respectively as tenants in common I revoke all former Wills and appoint my said sons John Harris and George Harris Joint Executors of this my Will In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty fourth day of February One thousand eight hundred and fifty four

The mark X of Benjamin Harris

Signed by the said Benjamin Harris in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto

Charles Vining     EJ Upsall    Clerks to Messrs Slade and Vining Solicitors Yeovil

 

Proved at London the 9th day of December 1854 before the Judge by the oaths of John Harris and George Harris the Sons the Ex[exut]ors to whom adm[inistrati]on was granted having been first sworn by Com[missi]on duly to administer

 

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn