yeovil people

Samuel Goodford the elder

Glover of Yeovil

 

Samuel Goodford was born in the middle of the seventeenth century. Little is known of his life other than he described himself as a 'Glover' which, at this time must be construed as a Glove Manufacturer since Samuel acquired substantial wealth and properties.

He married Martha Pitman, daughter of William Pitman, of Sandford Orcas, and Gertrude née Lavor. Gertrude was the daughter of John Lavor and the sister of Henry Lavor who was persecuted for his Quaker beliefs.

Samuel and Martha had at least five children; Samuel (d1735), William (d1727) and three daughters (none of the daughters' names are known), one [her initial was 'A'] married Yeovil mercer Ambrose Seaward and had three children; Ambrose, Elizabeth and Mary. A second daughter married a man called Waddon and had two children; Samuel and Elizabeth. The third daughter married James Everton and had four daughters; Elizabeth, Gertrude, Ann and Mary.

 That Samuel had wealth is demonstrated by an entry in his will, dated 1716, in which he leaves £50 each to his two granddaughters, both named Elizabeth - worth over £130,000 each at today's value.

He left his wife £30 and a house (presumably his home) called Chapshouse provided "she keeping the same in good and sufficient repaire".

He also owned several other properties and pieces of land - the most surprising perhaps being that he owned the Quaker's Burial Ground in Preston Road, bequeathing the rent to his younger son William. He owned two properties in Back Street (today's South Street) which he left to his son-in-law Ambrose Seaward. He left £50 to Ambrose's daughter Elizabeth, but nothing to her sister Mary (unless Elizabeth died before she was 21).

He left two further properties in Rotten Row (today's Market Street) to his other son-in-law James Everton. Similarly he left £50 to James' daughter Elizabeth but nothing to her sisters Anne and Gertrude (again, unless Elizabeth died before she was 21).

Everything else - and one must presume this legacy was 'substantial' - was left to his eldest son Samuel Goodford the Younger.

Samuel Goodford the Elder's will was written in 1716 and was proved in 1717, after his death.

 

See Old / Goodford Family Tree

 

The will ofSamuel Goodford the Elder

 

 

In the Name of God Amen I Samuel Goodford of Yeovill in the County of Somerset Glover being of sound Mind and memory doe this Eighteenth day of May In the second year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the faith etc Anno Domini One Thousand seven hundred and sixteen make constitute and appoint this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following (that is to say) Imprimis I give devise and bequeath unto my son William Goodford and the Heirs of his body all the Rent issueable or payable out of a piece or plott of Ground commonly called or called by the name of the Quakers burying place lying in Yeovil aforesaid Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Wife the sume of Thirty pounds of lawful money to be paid by my Executors in six months after my decease Item I give and bequeath the sum of five pounds to be distributed among my poor Work people according to the discretion of my Wife Item and I give and devise and bequeath unto my son in law Ambrose Seaward and his heirs those Two Messuages Cottages or Tenements with their appurtenances lying in a Street called Backstreet in the parish of Yeovill aforesaid now in the possession of Thomas Farley and William Masters Item and I give and bequeath unto my Granddaughter Elizabeth Seaward the sum of Fifty Pounds of lawfull money to be Paid her when she shall attain her age of one and twenty years and if she dyes before that age then her sister Mary Seaward and she happens to dye before her age of twenty one years then to my son in law Ambrose Seaward payable to him when the youngest of the said Children had such Child lived would have attained the age of One and twenty years Item I give devise and bequeath unto my son in law James Everton and his heirs all those two Messuages Houses or Tenements with their Apputenances lying in Rotten Row in the parish of Yeovill aforesaid now in the possession or occupation of Mary Toop Widow and Joseph Starr Item and I give and bequeath unto my Granddaughter Elizabeth Everton when she shall attaine her age of Twenty and one years the sum of Fifty pounds of lawful money And if she happens to dye before then to her Sisters Anne and Gertrude equally to be divided between them when they shall respectively attain their ages of One and twenty years And if either of them happen to dye before then the whole of the said Fifty pounds to the survivor of them And in case both of them should happen to dye before either of them should attaine the age of one and twenty years then the Whole Fifty pounds to my son in law James Everton Item and I Give and bequeath unto my Wife Chapshouse with the outhouses yards Gardens and Orchard thereunto adjoining she keeping the same in good and sufficient repaire for and during the Terme of her natural life Item and as to all the rest residue and Remainder of my Messuages Lands Tenements and hereditaments with all and singular their appurtenances of what nature and Tenure soever Together with all my Right Tytle Interest property clayme and demand whatsoever so they within the Kingdome of Great Britain or elsewhere Real and Personall I give devise and bequeath unto my son Samuel Goodford his Heiors Executors Administrators and Assigns And to his and their own proper use and behoofe for ever paying my just debts and Funerall Expenses And I doe appoint and make my son Samuel Goodford whole and sole Executor and Residuary Legatee of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal hereby Revoking all former Wills by me made Samll Goodford./. Signed sealed and published by Samuel Goodford the Testator the day and year first above written in the presence of - John Caswell John Shery Henry Jenkens.

Note: The probate entry was written in Latin.

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn