Yeovil People
William Forde
of the Angel Inn
William Forde
was the owner of
the
Angel Inn in
Hendford,
but very little
is known of his
life. His wife
was named
Christian and
they had at
least three sons
- Lyonell,
Robert and
Thomas - and at
least five
daughters -
Johane [Joan],
Thomazine [Tamsin],
Alice, Elizabeth
and Christian.
He was a
prominent and
wealthy
Yeovilian,
owning
properties and
farmlands in
Yeovil, Kingston
and Pitney.
Although he was
also the owner
of the Angel
Inn, the
painting below
(see Gallery)
was a later
building than
that of
William's time,
since the Angel
Inn was
completely
destroyed by
fire, probably
in the Great
Fire of Yeovil
in 1637, after
which it was
rebuilt.
William was a
Churchwarden
in 1572 and
1573 and the
Woborn Muniments
record that in
1589 he was
elected Custos
of the
Woborn Almshouse
- as was his
son, Thomas, in
the year 1600.
In 1575, the
Churchwardens'
Accounts
recorded that he
played the
important part
of
Robin Hood
-
"of Wm Forde
being Rob: Hood
this year" - in
the annual
Yeovil pageant
of the period.
The pageant was
usually held on
Ascension Day, a
traditional
church feast day
celebrated on a
Thursday, the
fortieth day
from Easter Day.
The chief
purpose of the
pageant was to
raise money for
church funds and
the income
derived from the
pageants was a
considerable sum
each year; for
example £17 2s
0d raised in
1575, when
William played
the part of
Robin Hood,
would be worth
around £6,000 at
today's value.
The monies were
collected from
the townspeople
by the
Churchwardens in
much the same
way that
Somerset street
carnival
collectors do
today.
William wrote
his will (see
below) on 23 May
1591, died
probably
immediately
after writing
it, and was
buried in
St John's
churchyard
on 30 May 1591.
GALLERY
This photograph shows much of the centre of the original painting of 1810 and shows the Borough and, beyond the Market House, the length of High Street. The Angel Inn is clearly seen in the distance with its archway and triple window over.
An enlargement of the previous 1810 image showing the Angel Inn at centre.
The 30 May 1591 record of William Forde's burial from St John's parish register.
1591 will of william forde
In the name of
God amen
The three and Twentyth Daye of
May Anno Domini
millesimo
quingentesimo
nouageesimo
primo [1591] and
in the Three and
Thirtith yeare
of the Raigne of
our Soveraigne
Lady Elizabeth
by the grace of
God of England
Fraunce and
Ireland Queene
Defender of the
Faith &etc I
William Ford of
Kyngston iuxta
yevell within
the parishe of
yevell in the
County of Som[er]sett
beinge sicke in
body and
neverthelesse (lawded
be God) of
perfect mynd and
remembraunce
callinge to my
mynde the
frayltie of man
and howe
necessarie a
thinge it is for
every xpian
[that is,
Christian] to be
in a contynuall
readynes for
Death whensoever
the goodwill and
pleasure of God
is to call do
make and Declare
this my present
last will and
Testament in
manner and forme
followinge viz
First I bequeath
and comment my
sowle into the
handes of my
most gracious
and mercyfull
Lord God the
Father the Sonne
and the holy
Ghost three
persons and one
Almightie
eternall and
incomprehensible
God beinge most
certaynly
perwwaded that
my sinnes which
be greavous and
heavie are
forgiven and
myne elelxtion
sealed upp in
the blood and
merritts of my
Lord and Saviour
Jesus Christ And
my body I
commytt to the
earth from
whence it came.
Item I give to
the Cathedrall
Church of Wells
fowre pence.
Item I give and
bequeath unto
the poore people
of the parishe
of Yevell the
somme of Twenty
Shillings Item I
give and
bequeath will
and devise unto
my daughters
Johane Tamsyn
and Alice Ford
all that my
Capitall
messuage Inn and
Tenement called
the signe of the
Aungell scituate
in Henford
within the
parishe of
Yevell aforesaid
and all the
howses buildings
stables barnes
curtilages
bartons gardens
landes meadowes
and pastures
with
thappurtenances
to the same
Capitall
messuage Inn or
tenement
belonging or in
anie wise
appertayninge
And also one
Cottage with
thappurtenances
in Henford
aforesaid now in
the teanure of
one Thomas
Farley and all
lands meadowes
and pastures to
the same Cottage
belonginge And
all rentes
reserved uppon
any Demyses or
grauntes
heretofore made
of the premisses
or of any parte
thereof To have
and to holde the
said Capitall
messuage Inn or
tenement and all
other the
premisses with
their
appurtenances
unto the said
Johane Thomazine
and Alice Ford
and theire
assignes from
the Daye of my
Death untill the
ende of the
terme and for
and during the
full & whole
terme of myne
yeares from
thence
followinge fully
to be compleate
and ended
yeldinge
therefore
yearely to my
heires the
yearely rent of
fowre pence at
the feast of
Easter yf yt be
lawfully
demaunded. Item
I give and
bequeath unto my
said three
Daughters Johane
Thomazine and
Alice three
feather beddes
with all
thappurten[a]nces
except
bedsteedes viz
to every one of
them one. Item I
farther give
unto my Daughter
Johane my best
crocke my best
panne and three
platters two
porringers one
brasse
Candlesticke and
two sawcers And
to my Daughter
Thomazine my
second best
crocke my second
best pann one
candlesticke
three platters
two porringers
and two sawcers.
And to my
Daughter Alice
my third best
crocke my Third
best panne one
candlesticke
three platters
two podingers
and two sawcers.
Item I give and
bequeath unto my
said Daughter
Johane the somme
of Twenty pounds
of lawfull
Englishe money
to be payed at
the Day of her
marriage Also I
give and
bequeath unto my
said Daughter
Thomazine the
somme of Twenty
poundes of
lawfull Englishe
money to be
payed at the Day
of her marriage.
Also I give and
bequeath unto my
said Daughter
Alice the somme
of twenty pounds
of lawfull money
of England to be
payed her at the
Day of her
marriage. And my
will and intent
is that yf it
happen anie one
or more of my
said Daughters
to Die before
the Daye of her
marriage that
then her Legacie
of Twenty
poundes shall
remayne and be
to all the
residue of my
Daughters
survivnge and
unmarried to be
equall Devided
betweene them.
Item I give will
and Devise unto
my Daughters
Elizabeth and
Christian Ford
all that my
Capitall
messuage Inn and
tenemente called
the signe of the
Aungell and all
howses buildings
barnes stables
Curtilages
landes meadowes
and pastures
with
thappurtenances
to the same
Capitall
messuage Inn or
ten[emen]te
belonging or in
anie wise
appertayninge
with all and
singular theire
appurten[a]nces
And also the
said Cottage in
Henford
aforesaid with
thappurten[a]nces
and all landes
meadowes and
pastures to the
said Cottage
belonginge And
all manner of
rentes reserved
uppon the
Demyses and
grauntes
heretofore made
of the premisses
or any parte
thereof. To have
and to holde the
said Capitall
messuage Inn and
tenemente and
all other the
premisses with
thappurten[a]nces
unto the said
Elizabeth and
Xpian [ie
Christian] my
Daughters and
theire assignes
from and
ymmeadiatly
after the
expiracon of the
said terme of
nine yeares
before Devised
to my other
three Daughters
for and Duringe
the full and
whole terme of
six yeares from
thence next
followinge fully
to be compleate
and ended
Yeldinge and
payinge
therefore yearly
Duringe the said
terme unto my
heires the
yearly rent of
fowre pence at
the feast of
Easter yf yt be
lawfully
Demaunded. Item
I give and
bequeath unto my
said Daughter
Elizabeth a
feather bedd
furnished (the
bedsteed
excepted) one
crocke one panne
thre platters
two porringers
one Candlestick
and two sawcers.
Item I give and
bequeath unto my
said Daughter
Christian a
feather bedd
furnished (the
bedsteed
excepted) one
crocke one panne
thre platters
two porringers
one Candlestick
and two sawcers.
Item I give and
bequeath unto my
sonne Lyonell
Ford my said
Capitall
messuage Inne
and tenemente
called the signe
of the Aungell
and all howses
buildings barnes
stables barton
courtes gardens
landes meadowes
and pastures to
the same
Capitall
messuage Inn or
tenemente called
the signe of the
Aungell
belonginge or in
any wise
appertayninge
And allso the
said Cottage and
all lands
meadowes and
pastures to the
same Cottage
belonginge with
thappurten[a]nces
and all manner
of rentes
reserved uppon
anie Demises or
grauntes
heretofore made
of the premisses
or of any parte
or parcell
thereof To have
and to houlde
the said
Capitall
messuage Inne or
tenemente and
all other the
premisses with
thappurten[a]nces
unto the said
Lyonell Ford his
executors and
assignes from
and ymediatly
after the ende
expiracon and
Determinacon of
the said
severall termes
of yeares before
Devised unto my
said Daughters
untill thende
and terme and
for and duringe
the full and
whole terme of
Threescore
yeares from
thence next
followinge fully
to be compleate
and ended
yeldinge and
payinge
therefore
yearely Duringe
the said terme
unto my heires
and assignes the
yearely rente of
Forty shillings
of lawfull
Englishe money
pyable at two
usuall feasts or
termes of the
yeare That is to
saye at the
feast of Saint
Michaell
tharchangell and
Thannunciat[i]on
of the blessed
virgin Marie by
even portions.
And also
yeldinge and
payinge
therefore
yearely unto my
sonne Roberte
and his assignes
for and duringe
the terme of the
natuarall lyfe
of Xpian [ie
Christian] my
wife the yearly
rente of fowre
poundes of
lawfull money of
England payable
at fowre usuall
feasts or termes
of the yeare
that is to saye
at the Nativitie
of Sainte John
the Baptiste
Saint Michaell
the Archaungell
the birth of our
Lord God and
Thannunciat[i]on
of the blessed
virgin Mary or
within Twenty
Dayes next
ensuinge any or
everie of the
said feasts at
my nowe
Dwellinge howse
in Kingston
iuxta Yevell
aforesaid by
even portions
the firste
paymente whereof
to begin and to
be made at such
feast of the
feasts aforesaid
as shall first
happen next
after the
commencemente of
the said terme
and not before.
Item I give unto
my said sonne
Robert Forde one
heyfer yearlinge
one acre of
wheate and fowre
of my best
sheepe And to my
sonne Lyonell
one heyfer
yearlinge Item I
give and
bequeath unto my
said sonne
Thomas Ford my
gray nagge. Also
I give and
bequeath unto my
said sonne
Thomas Ford my
plough stuffe
and my brewinge
kettell and two
standing
bedsteedes to be
Delyvered uppon
the Decease of
my wife and not
before and she
to have the use
of yt Duringe
her lyfe. Item I
give unto my man
John Holwaye one
sheepe. Item I
give unto John
brooke the sonne
of Anthony
Brooke Twelve
pence. Item I
give will and
Devise unto my
said sonne
Thomas Ford all
my lands
tenementes and
hereditamentes
in Kingston
iuxta Yevill
aforesaid Yevill
and Pitney in
the said County
of Somersett
which I late
purchased to me
and my heires of
John Sidenham
Esquire
Deceased. To
have and to
holde the said
lands tenementes
and
hereditamentes
to the sayd
Thomas Forde and
to the heires
males of his
body lawfully
begotten or to
be begotten And
for Default of
such yssue the
said lands
tenementes and
hereditamentes
wholy to remayne
to my sonne
Robert Ford and
to the heires
males of his
body lawfully
begotten or to
be begotten And
for Default of
such yssue the
said lands
tenementes and
hereditamentes
wholy to remayne
to Lyonell Ford
my sonne and to
the heires
malles of his
body lawfully
begotten or to
be begotten And
for Default of
such yssue the
said lands
tenementes and
hereditamentes
to remayne to
the Right heires
of me the said
William Ford for
evermore. All
the residue of
my goodes and
Chattells not
before given and
bequeathed I
give and
bequeath unto
Christian my
wife whome I
make sole
Executrixe of
this my present
last will and
Testament And I
appoint my
broth[er] Hugh
Ford William
Jennings of
Kingston Roger
Withell and John
Dyer to see that
this my present
last will and
testamente be
executed with
effect. In
witnesse whereof
I have to this
my present last
will and
testamente sett
my hand and
seale the Daye
and yeare first
above written
William Ford
Witnesses John Dyer
Hugh Ford
William
Jennings
Roger
Withell
Thomas
Jacobbe
Proved
at London, 24
November 1591
