yeovil people
john daniell the elder
Glover and Banker
The Daniell
family were very
wealthy mercers
and glovers who
came to Yeovil
in the
seventeenth
century from
East Coker.
John Daniell, also known as the elder, was born in Yeovil around 1725, the son of Yeovil mercer and linen draper Samuel Daniell the Younger and his wife Hannah. In February 1747 he married Elizabeth Goodford, the daughter of Samuel Goodford a prosperous glover and in the 1760 Poor Rate was rated at 1s 4d, which would have been fairly modest. He rented a property in Middle Street for five shillings per annum and one in South Street with a rent of Assize of two shillings.
His fortune steadily grew and in 1776 he built as his home Hendford House (today's Manor Hotel) with its extensive grounds. What is rarely appreciated today was the extent of the grounds of Hendford House, known as Hendford Park when John Daniell built it. To discover today the extent of the estate you would need to start walking down West Hendford, from by the Three Choughs then proceed all the way to today's Horsey Lane, carry on down Horsey Lane, past the police station and almost to the Railway Hotel, then back up Hendford back to the Three Choughs - you would then have walked the perimeter of Hendford Park! See the map below.
John and Elizabeth's eldest son, Samuel, became a banker owning Samuel Daniell & Co while his youngest son George became surgeon in Exeter. His third son John Daniell the younger took over Samuel's banking business and also inherited Hendford House. John and Elizabeth were Unitarians and worshipped at the Unitarian Chapel in Vicarage Street where their son John Jnr was baptised on 6 October 1757.
Initially a linen draper and mercer like his father, John became a country merchant banker and later went into partnership with a Mr Hoskins. When this partnership was dissolved he became a partner in the bank of Hutchins and Gollup. The bank was taken over in 1819 by Batten, Sparks & Co and, under Edmund Batten, became known as Yeovil Old Bank in premises next door to John Daniell's former home.
John Daniell the elder died in Yeovil in 1797.
The
arms of the
Daniell family
were argent, a
pale fusilly
sable (on a
silver ground a
black horizontal
stripe made of
lozenge shapes).
See Inter-relationships of Daniell, Old & Goodford families
map
E Watts' map of 1806 shows John Daniell's extensive grounds, known as Hendford Park, extending from his house, Hendford House (today's Manor Hotel) at top right and extending the length of today's West Hendford (marked here incorrectly as Salt-house Lane - it was actually called Horsey's Lane but Watts got the names confused on the map) all the way down to today's Horsey Lane at extreme left.
gallery
John Daniell the Elder (c1725-1797). Oil on canvas, 77 x 63.5cm.
Elizabeth Daniell née Goodford, the daughter of Samuel Goodford. Oil on canvas, 76 x 63cm.
This photograph
features in my
book "Yeovil
In 50 Buildings"
The Manor Hotel, the former Hendford House, built by John Daniell the Elder as his home in 1776. Photographed in 2017.
From my
collection
A cut-cancelled £1 banknote (worth around £95 at today's value) signed by John Hutchings of the Yeovil Old Bank, dated 27 February 1818. At this time the bank was owned by John Daniell, John Hutchings and George Tilley Gollop.
The Will of John Daniell the Elder, 1773
This is the last Will and Testament of me John Daniell of Yeovill in the County of Somerset Esquire I give and devise all my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments Situate lying and being in the parish of Hindford in the said County of Somerset unto my dear Wife Elizabeth Daniell during the term of her natural life I also give unto my said Wife During the Term of her natural life one annuity of clear yearly Sum of eighty pounds of good and lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid her by my Executor herein after named of Four equal payments to wit on the twenty fifth day of March [inserted = the twenty fourth day of June the twenty ninth day of September and] the twenty fifth day of December the first payment to be on such of the said days as shall first and next happen after my death with the payment of which said annuity I charge all my Lands and Hereditaments lying in the parish of Yeovil aforesaid and I further give unto my said Wife all my Plate Household Goods Household Linnen and Furniture to and for her own use and benefit I give and bequeath unto my son John Daniell the Sum of three thousand pounds of good and lawful Money of Great Britain in case he shall attain the age of twenty two years or be Married with the consent of his Guardians herein after named or the Survivors or Survivor of them or with his Mothers Consent only the same to be paid him by my Executor [three words illegible] within one Month next after he shall have attained his said age of twenty two years or be Married with such consent as aforesaid but in case my said Son shall die before he shall have attained his said Age of twenty two Years and unmarried [inserted = or married] without such consent as aforesaid then and in such case the said Sum of three thousand pounds herein before given to him as aforesaid shall go to and equally divided between his Mothers and Brothers share and share alike the share of my Son George Daniell to be paid him at his age of twenty two years I also give unto my said Son John Daniell the further Sum of two thousand pounds of like good and lawful Money to be paid him by my Executor hereinafter named within three Months next after his Mothers death if he shall then have attained his said age of twenty two Years or be married with such consent as aforesaid but in case he shall at his Mothers death be under the age of twenty two years and unmarried then the said Sum of two thousand pounds shall be paid him within one Month next after he shall have attained the said age of twenty two Year or be Married with such consent as aforesaid I give and bequeath unto my Son George Daniell the Sum of three thousand pounds of Good and and lawful Money of Great Britain in case he shall attain the age of twenty two years or be Married with the consent of his Guardians herein after named or the Survivors or Survivor of them or with his Mothers Consent only the same to be paid him by my Executor [three words illegible] within one Month next after he shall have attained his said age of twenty two years or be Married with such consent as aforesaid but in case my said Son George Daniell shall die before he shall have attained his said Age of twenty two Years and unmarried or married without such consent as aforesaid then and in such case the said Sum of three thousand pounds herein before given to him as aforesaid shall go to and equally divided between his Mothers and Brothers share and share alike the share of my Son George Daniell to be paid him at his age of twenty two years I also give unto my said Son John Daniell the further Sum of two thousand pounds of like good and lawful Money to be paid him by my Executor hereinafter named within three Months next after his Mothers death if he shall then have attained his said age of twenty two Years or be married with such consent as aforesaid but in case he shall at his Mothers death be under the age of twenty two years and unmarried then the said Sum of two thousand pounds shall be paid him within one Month next after he shall have attained the said age of twenty two Year or be Married with such consent as aforesaid and my Will is and I do hereby direct that my said Sons John Daniell and George Daniell shall receive and be paid interest for their respective Legacies of three thousand pounds at the rate of three Pounds and ten Shillings per Centum per annum from my death and that they shall receive and be paid interest at the Rate aforesaid for their respective Legacies of two thousand pounds each from the end of three Months next after their Mothers death and I do hereby charge and Subject all my real and personal Esta[te]with and to the payment of the said Legacies and Interest for the same at the rate aforesaid and I do hereby order and direct that the Interest of the Several and respective Legacys hereinbefore given to my said Sons John Daniell and George Daniell shall from time to time as the same shall become due and payable to be paid into the hands of their Guardians or the Survivors or Survivor of them whose Receipt or Receipts shall be a Sufficient Discharge for the same and my desire is that my said [inserted - sons] shall be Educated and Maintained in a Genteel manner I commit the Guardianship and Tuition of my said sons John Daniell and George Daniell unto my said Wife and John Old Goodford of Yeovil aforesaid Esquire and my Brother Samuel Daniell untill my said Sons shall attain their respective ages of twenty two years or be Married I give devise and bequeath all my Messuages Tenements Lands and Hereditaments in the several parishes of Yeovil aforesaid Bridgwater and East Coker in the said County of Somerset and the parish of Halstock in the County of Dorset and also all my Messuages Tenements Lands and Hereditaments in the said parish of Hindford from after the death of my said Wife unto my Son Samuel Daniell his Heirs Executors Administrators and [inserted = assigns] according to the Nature of the [word illegible] of such Lands Tenements and Heredit[ament]s Subject nevertheless to the payment of the said Legacys with Interest for the same at the Rate aforesaid and as for and concerning all the Rest and Residue of my Goods Chattells ready Money Debts and Securities for Money Stocks in any of the Publick Funds or Companys and all other my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what Nature kind or Quality Soever and not otherwise by this my Will given and disposed of Subject to the payment of the said Legacys to my said Sons John Daniell and George Daniell I give and bequeath I give and bequeath the same unto my Son Samuel Daniell whom I make [inserted word illegible] Executor of this my last Will and Testament and Lastly my will and meaning is [inserted word illegible] I do hereby declare that as the provision herein before by me made for my said Wife and Sons greatly exceeds any Sum or Sums of Money which they may claim or be entitle unto by virtue of or under and articles made previous and in order to my Marriage with my said Wife that the provision hereby for them respectively made shall be taken and accepted in Lieu Recompence and Satisfaction of what they any or either of them any claim or Demand by virtue of or under such Articles or otherwise howsoever and in case any or either of them shall claim any part of my personal Estate made such articles then and in such case the person or persons so clayming shall take no benefit by this my Will In Witness whereof I the said John Daniel the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament containing three Sheets of paper to each Sheet Subscribed my name and set my Seal this Seventh day of December in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy three and in the Fourteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith
John Daniel
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at the request of the said Testator have Subscribed our names as Witness thereof in the presence of the said Testator and of each other
Wm Brett
Nath[aniel]
Butler Batten
Edm[un]d Batten
Whereas
I John Daniell
of Yeovill in
the County of
Somerset Esquire
have made my
last Will and
Testament in
Writing bearing
date the Seventh
day of December
last past and
have thereby
given and
bequeathed unto
each of my two
Sons John
Daniell and
George Daniell
two Several
Legacies of
three thousand
pounds and two
thousand pounds
to be paid them
respectively at
such times and
upon such
conditions as in
my said Will are
particularly
mentioned Now I
do by this my
Writing (which I
declare to be a
codicil to my
said Will and
direct to every
part thereof
give and
bequeath to each
of my said Sons
the further or
additional Sum
of one thousand
and five hundred
pounds and do
direct that the
same shall be
paid them
respectively at
such times and
upon such
conditions as
their Legacies
of three
thousand pounds
are directed to
be paid them by
my said Will and
I do hereby
order and direct
that in case
either of my
said Sons shall
die under the
age of twenty
two years and
unmarried or
Married without
such consent as
in and by my
said Will is
mentioned and
required the
Legacy of such
Son so dying
shall go to and
be equally
divided between
his Mother my
dear Wife
Elizabeth
Daniell and the
Survivor of my
said Sons share
and share alike
and I do hereby
direct that my
said sons John
Daniel and
George Daniell
shall receive
and be paid
Interest for
their respective
Legacies of one
thousand and
five hundred
pounds at the
rate of three
pounds and ten
Shillings per
centum per annum
from my death
and I do hereby
charge and
Subject all my
real and
personal Estate
with and to the
payment of the
said Legacies
and Interest for
the same at the
Rate aforesaid I
give unto my
said Wife
Elizabeth
Daniell the sum
of one thousand
pounds over and
besides what I
have [inserted =
given her in and
by my said Will
and I do direct
that the same
shall be paid
her by Executor]
in three months
next after
decease In
Witness whereof
I the said John
Daniell the
Testator have
hereunto set my
hand and Seal
the twenty fifth
day of October
in the Year Lord
one thousand
seven hundred
and seventy four
and in the
fifteenth Year
of the Reign of
our Sovereign
Lord George the
third by the
Grace of God of
Grat Britain
France and
Ireland King
Defender of the
Faith
John Daniell
Signed Sealed published and delivered by the said John Daniell first above named as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who have Subscribed our names as witnesses in his presence
Mary Lawrence
Nath[anie]l
Butler Batten
George Congman
Whereas
I John Daniell
of Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset Esquire
have Since the
making and
executing my
last Will and
Testament bought
and purchased of
John Bicknell
and his daughter
a Messuage or
Dwelling House
and Garden and
orchard and
Several pieces
or parcels of
Land Meadow and
pasture to the
same belonging
situate lying
and being in
West Hindford
in the parish of
Hindford in the
said County of
Somerset Now I
do by this my
writing (which I
declare to be a
Second Codicil
to my said Will
and direct to be
taken as a part
thereof) give
and devise the
said Messuage or
Dwelling House,
Garden orchard
lands and
premises so by
me purchased as
aforesaid with
their
appurtenances
unto my said
Wife Elizabeth
Daniell during
the term of her
natural life I
also give and
devise my
Mansion
[inserted =
House] in Yeovil
aforesaid in
which I now live
with the
outhouses Courts
Yards and
gardens to the
same belonging
with their
appurtenances
unto my said
Wife during the
like term of her
natural life and
my Will is and I
do hereby order
and direct that
my sons Samuel
Daniell John
Daniell and
George Daniell
and every of
them do and
shall from time
to time and at
[inserted = all
times hereafter
on the request
and at the Costs
and charges of
my said Wife
seal] and
execute to my
said Wife all
such acts and
conveyances in
the Law as the
Council of my
said Wife shall
advise for
confirming her
Estate for life
in the Mansion
House and
premises in
Yeovil herein
before devised
to her as
aforesaid and I
do hereby
expressly
declare that if
any or either of
my said Sons
shall refuse to
execute such
conveyances then
and in such case
such Son or Sons
so refusing
shall take no
Benefit from any
devise or
bequest
contained in my
said Will but in
that case and
upon any or
either of my
said Sons
refusing I give
and devise
whatever is
given to or in
Trust for such
Son or Sons so
refusing unto my
said Wife her
Heirs Executors
and
Administrators
and whereas I
have by my last
Will and
Testament which
bears date the
Seventh Day of
December in the
Year one
thousand
[inserted =
seven hundred]
and Seventy
three given unto
my said Wife one
Annuity or clear
Yearly Sum of
eighty pounds
payable
quarterly and to
be issuing out
of my lands in
Yeovil Now I do
hereby revoke
and make void
the said Gift
and Annuity and
I do herein give
to my said Wife
one annuity or
clear Yearly sum
of Forty pounds
of good and
lawful Money of
Great Britain to
be paid her by
my Executor on
such days and by
such proportions
as the said
Annuity of
eighty pounds
was made payable
and I hereby
charge and
Subject all my
lands in Yeovill
aforesaid with
the payment
thereof I give
unto my Son
George Daniell
all my
Manuscripts
which were late
of his Uncle
Doctor Samuel
Daniell I also
give unto my
said Son George
Daniell all my
Physick Books
and all my Books
in the Greek
latin or any
other Foreign
Language In
Witness whereof
I have hereunto
set my hand and
Seal the ninth
day of September
in the Year of
our Lord one
thousand seven
hundred and
Seventy eight
and in the
eighteenth Year
of the Reign of
our Sovereign
Lord George the
third by the
Grace of God of
Great Britain
France and
Ireland King
Defender of the
Faith
John Daniell
This Writing was Signed and Sealed by the said John Daniel first above named and by him published and declared as and for a Second Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as Witnesses in his presence
Nath[anie]l Butler Batten Edm[un]d Batten Sam[ue]l Anstice
This
Will
was proved at
London with two
Codicils the
Sixth Day of
November in the
Year of our Lord
one thousand
Seven hundred
and eighty one
before the Right
Worshipful Peter
Calvert Doctor
of Law Master
Keeper Commisatu
of the
prorogative
Court of
Canterbury
lawfully
constituted by
the oath of
Samuel Daniell
the son and Sole
Executor named
in the said Will
to whom Adm[inistrati]on
was granted of
all and Singular
the Goods
Chattels and
Credits of the
said deceased
having been
first Sworn by
Commission duly
to administer
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
