Yeovil's Virtual Museum

The Will of Thomas Cheesman

The 1730 Will of Thomas Cheesman, Linman and Benefactor

 

Thomas Cheesman was an affluent linman (a wholesale dealer in flax and hemp) of Yeovil during the latter half of the seventeenth century and the first quarter of the eighteenth. He was the son of Yeovil glover Clement Cheeseman and his wife, Mary. Thomas had brothers Richard and Clement, as well as sisters Mary and Frances as well as up to five sisters whose names are unknown (referred to only as the wives of their respective husbands).

Very little is known of his life, but snippets of information may be gleaned from various sources; he was a Churchwarden of St John's church in 1721-2, together with his brother-in-law, tanner William Avoke. From the monthly Poor Rate Return of 1729 it is known that he lived in Kingston and paid a monthly sum of five pence to the Poor Rate. On 24 September 1721 Thomas took on Thomas, the son of Robert Somerton (deceased) as an apprentice. In this record , Thomas Cheesman was described as a linen weaver.

From his will dated 1730 (see below) we know that he was a benefactor, giving £50 to the Yeovil Charity School and £50 to the Latin School. It is usually assumed that these were two names for the same school, however since separate bequests were made, it suggests that they were separate establishments, albeit possibly in the same building - today's Chantry in Church Path. Additionally, to support the theory of separate establishments, Thomas Cheesman also left a legacy to pay the salary of a teacher for the Latin School "if any man is possest of it that teacheth boys and is rightly grounded in the Latin Tongue the Sume of five pounds to be paid him yearly for the teaching or Instructing three boys." In 1803, the payment of this endowment  ceased when the conditions could not be met.

The Schools Enquiry Board of 1868 recorded that "Thomas Cheesman in 1730 left £50 to the Charity School, and a rentcharge of £5 per annum, which by decree of the Court of Chancery, 6 Dec. 1739, is payable to the master of the Latin School, if rightly grounded in the Latin tongue, whilst he should teach therein three poor boys born in Yeovil, or sons of inhabitants, to be nominated by the vicar."

According to the Woborn Muniments, Thomas Cheesman was Custos of Woborn's Almshouse in 1731. This is likely, however, be a different Thomas Cheesman.

Thomas Cheesman died in Yeovil in 1732 and was buried in St John's churchyard on 19 January 1732.

 

In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Cheesman of Yeovill in the County of Somerset Linman being of sound memory (Blessed be God) doe this twentieth day of March in the Yeare of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner Following (that is to say) Imprimis Item I give unto John [Fooks ?] Jun[ior] the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid one month after my decease Item I give unto my Kinswomen Betty Westhay Frances Cheesman Mary Cheesman Anne Cheesman and Martha Cheesman daughters of my Brother Clement late deceased the sum of two hundred pounds each to be paid in two years after my decease Item I give unto Mary Reeke Will[ia]m Reeke and Charles Reeke Children of John Reeke my Brother in Law) the sum of Fifty pounds each Item I give unto my six Brother in Laws John Newman John Reeke William Avoake Andrew Everton William Donn Samuel Kitson and their Wives also (if then living) the sum of ten pounds each to buy them Mourning Cloathes to be paid at my decease Item I give unto Mary Newman daughter of John Newman Apothecary the summe of one hundred pounds to be paid in two years after my decease Item I give unto Mary Avoake daughter of Will[ia]m Avoake Tanner the summe of Fifty pounds to be paid in one yeare after my decease and to be put out to Interest for her benefitt Item I give unto Eliz. Everton daughter of Andrew Everton Clothier the summe of Fifty pounds to be paid twelve months after my decease and to be put out to Interest for her benefitt Item I give unto Clement Cheesman Son of Thomas Cheesman one hundred pounds to be paid one yeare after my decease to be put out to Interest for his benefitt [This last item repeated thus - Item I give unto Clement Cheesman Son of Thomas Cheesman one hundred pounds to be paid one yeare after my decease to be put out to Interest for his benefitt] Item I give unto my Brother ten pounds and unto my Sister Cheesman ten pounds to buy mourning Item I give Thomas Cheesman all my wearing Apparell Item I give unto John Cheesman Son of the said Thomas Cheesman the summe of Fifty pounds to be paid one year after my decease to be put out to Interest for his benefitt Item I give unto the Charity School of Yeovill for to be paid twelve months after my decease the full and whole Sume of Fifty pounds Item I give unto the Latin School if any man is possest of it that teacheth boys and is rightly grounded in the Latin Tongue the Sume of five pounds to be paid him yearly for the teaching or Instructing three boys Item I unto the poor of the parish of Yeovill the Sume of Fifty shillings a yeare to be paid every Easter after my decease out of my Estate at Hom[m]er [that is, today's Hummer] to be paid by my Executrix Item I give unto my Wife Sarah Cheesman that Estate in Hommer in the Parish of Trent and also that Estate at Waindel in the Parish of [Hendford ?] to her and her Heirs for ever Item I give unto my said Wife Sarah my House I now live in for her life and after her decease I give the said Dwelling House unto my Kinsman Thomas Reeke Item I give William Reeke after my Wives decease Winford Close Item my Will is that my Wife Shall Enjoy all other my Lands for her life to pay my Respective Legacies Item I give Will[ia]m Newman Son of Jno Newman the sume of Fifty pounds to be paid twelve months after my decease and I do likewise Nominate and appoint my dearly beloved Wife Sarah Cheesman Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and I make my Loving Friends Andrew Everton Jno Newman and William Westly Overseers of this my Will to take care and see the Same performed According to my Intent and meaning and for their pains I give each of them twenty Guineas and also my Father in Law Rowe ten pounds to buy him mourning to be paid at my decease In Witness whereof I the said Thomas Cheesman have to this my last Will and Testament sett my hand Seale the day and year above Written Item alsoe before the Sealing hereof give Cousin Rob: Helyar ten pounds:
Tho: Cheesman
Signed Sealed and Delivered by the said Thos. Cheesman and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us at the signing and sealing thereof Lawrence Hayward Margaret Hayward Abner Cheesman

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn

 

 

The copy of Thomas Cheesman's will.

 

The record of Thomas Cheesman's burial of 19 January 1732, from St John's parish register.

 

One of four charity boards in the tower of St John's church. This board, dated 1837, outlines some of the benefactors of Yeovil's poor - including that of Thomas Cheesman.

 

Another of the four charity boards, this board, dating to 1804, lists the donations made to the Yeovil Charity School including, at the head of the list of benefactors, Frances Cheeseman and, below, her brother Thomas.

 

... and lower down the dame charity board, Thomas Cheesman is mentioned again for his bequest of £5 per annum for paying the schoolmaster to teach Latin to three boys.