Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Edward Boucher (3)

Edward Boucher the Younger (later, the Elder), Gentleman

 

Edward Boucher (3) was known as Edward Boucher the Younger while his father Edward Boucher (2) was still alive. After the death of his father and when his son Edward Boucher (4) was born, he became known as Edward Boucher the Elder.

Edward (3) and his wife Betty were to have three children, all born in Yeovil; Ann (1716-1740), Betty (1716-1742) and Edward Boucher (4) the Younger (1724-1796).

Edward Boucher (3) the Elder, styled himself as a gentleman and was a brick and tile manufacturer in partnership with Henry Penny and Hugh Tinsley. The following advertisement appeared in the Sherborne Mercury, or Weekly Advertiser, Issue 21, dated Tuesday 12 July, 1737:

To be sold At YEOVIL in the County of Somerset, By Messieurs Henry Penny, Edward Boucher, and Hugh Tinsley, MAKERS. All Sorts of BRICKS and TILES, via. Pan, Plain, Hip, Gutter, and Ridge Tiles: Bricks for Building or Paving made of fine durable Clay, and done in the most Workman-like Manner, at the following Prices, viz. Bricks at 16 Shillings a Thousand; Hollow Pantiles, at £2 10s. a Thousand, with which the Proprietor will undertake to cover any House as cheap as with Thatch; and Plain Tiles at £1 5s. Hips, Gutters, and Ridge Tiles at 1s.6d. a Dozen: Bricks for Paving well polish’d and jointed at £1 10s. a Thousand.

The Churchwardens' Accounts of St John's church record in 1744, and again in 1754, that Edward was the owner of a quarry. It is not clear where the quarry was, but there were several small quarries in Yeovil at this time.

It is known that Edward owned Court Ash House (inherited from his uncle John Boucher), however the monthly Poor Rate Return of 1760 recorded that he paid four shillings for a house in the Manor of Kingston. Whether or not this was Court Ash House is uncertain, but the amount indicates that the house he was charged on was quite substantial.

 

 

 

 

John Boucher (towards top right) inherited Court Ash House from his uncle, Edward Boucher (1) and left it in his will to his own nephew Edward Boucher (3), who in turn left it to his own son Edward Boucher (4) and he, in turn, left it to his son Francis Boucher.

 

 

A contemporary sketch of Court Ash House by an unknown artist.

 

The memorial in St John's church listing those members of the Boucher family who were interred in the family vault within the church - Ann, Betty and Edward (4) - the children of Edward (3) and Betty. Elizabeth, wife of Edward (4) and Francis, the son of Edward (4) and Elizabeth.

 

 

This is the Last Will and Testament of me Edward Boucher the elder of Yeovill in the County of Somerset Gentleman I give and devise all and singular my Freehold Messuages Tenement Lands and Hereditaments unto my dear son and only child Edward Boucher the Younger his Heirs and Assigns for ever I desire my much respected Friend John Old Goodford Esquire to accept of ten Guineas for a Mourning Ring and as for and concerning all the rest and residue of my Goods Chattels ready Money Debts and Securities for Money Household Goods Stocks in any of the Publick Funds and Companys and all other my personal Estate whatsoever and of what nature kind or quality soever I give and bequeath the same unto my said Son who I make sole Executor of this my Will In Witness whereof I the said Edward Boucher the elder have  to this my last will and testament subscribed my Name and set my Seal this twenty sixth day of January in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy in the tenth 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

Edw[ar]d Boucher

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 attested the same in the presence of the said testator and of each other

Ann Batten       Nath[anie]l Butler Batten       Will[ia]m Webb

 

This will was proved at London on the thirteenth day of July in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty six before the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert Doctor of Law Quarter Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Edward Boucher the Son of the deceased and sole Executor named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first sworn [abbreviation illegible] Duly to administer

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn