Yeovil's Virtual Museum

William dampier

Clothier of Yeovil

 

William Dampier (not to be confused with the buccaneer of the same name from East Coker) was born in the seventeenth century and became a clothier of Yeovil, that is, a person who makes, sells or deals in clothes or cloth. He was married to Orchard Old, the daughter of rich Yeovil mercer John Old the Elder.

William and Orchard had four children; John, Samuel (who became a clothier like his father), William and Mary. The children received individual fortunes left to them by their Grandfather Old; £400 to John, £700 to Samuel, £300 to William and £700 to Mary - a total of £2,100 which is about £5.3 million at today's value.

It would appear that William was just as wealthy and, from the bequests made in his will dated 4 April 1718, his eldest son John was clearly not the favourite.

He had extensive property and land holdings in Marston Magna and Weston that he left to his wife, to be passed on to their son John at her death, as well as leaving her £1,000 (£2.5 million at today's value) providing she didn't remarry, in which case it devolved to the children. He also left his wife their home in Yeovil.

To his eldest son John he gave just £5. As noted above, John had to wait for his mother to die before he inherited the lands at Marston Magna.

To his son Samuel he left lands in Marston Magna not included in those he left his wife. Samuel also received "all my Messuages Houses Gardens Lands and Hereditaments Scituate in Yeovill" except the family home that had been left to his mother. Finally, Samuel received the remainder of his father's fortune after the other bequests had been settled.

To his son William he gave £1,000 (the subject of a marriage agreement) plus another £500.

To his daughter he left £800. Sadly, she died before his will was signed.

Altogether William's cash bequests amounted to £3,300 - around £8.5 million at today's value. He died in Yeovil in 1718.

 

See Family Tree

 

 

 

 

In the Name of God I William Dampier of Yeovill in the County of Somersett Clothier being of sound Mind and understanding and knowing the certainty of Death and the uncertainty of the time of Death do make and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say First and principally I recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God trusting to have Forgiveness of all my Sins in and thro the Meritts and Mediation of Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour my Body I desire may have decent and Christian buriall And as for all my Messuages Lands Tenements and Heriditaments and all my Goods and Chattells which it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me I give and Dispose thereof as follows that is to say I give and confirm unto my beloved Wife the Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments at Marston Magna and Weston in the County of Somset which were Settled or intended to be conveyed and Settled to or to the use of my said Wife for her Life for Jointure and after the Decease of my said Wife I give the same Lands and Premises Settled on my Wife for Jointure onto my Son John Dampier his Heirs Executors and Administrators Also I give and bequeath unto my said Wife the Sume of one Thousand Pounds in Lawful money and I desire that on her Death or sooner If she shall fortune to Marry Shee will give and Dispose of the said one Thousand Pounds unto either or amongst my four Children Also I give unto my Eldest Son John Dampier Five pounds in lawful money to be paid unto him within one Month next after my Decease And Whereas I have Covenanted and agreed by Marriage Articles to give and pay unto my Son William for such use and uses as are Declared by such Articles the Sume of One Thousand pounds and every part thereof shall be punctually and honestly paid according to the Agreement Also I give unto my son William Five Hundred Pounds in Lawfull money to be paid unto him or his Assigns within one yeare after my Decease. Also I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Dampier the Sume of Eight Hundred Pounds in Lawful money to be paid unto her or her Assigns within four years after my Decease Also I give devise and bequeath unto my Son Samuel Dampier and to his Heirs and Assigns for ever all those my several Closes and Lands which I lately purchased of John Codrington Esq and John Prowse Gent lying and being within the Parish of Marston Magna aforesaid. Also I give and devise unto my said Son Samuel Dampier and to his Heirs and Assigns all those my several Closes and Lands Scituate in Marston Magna aforesaid which I lately purchased of Mr Long and all other my Lands in Marston Magna aforesaid (which are not Settled in use for my Wife for her Life) I give and devise unto my said Son Samuel and his Heires To have and to hold the said Closes Lands and Premises and every part thereof unto my said Son Samuel his Heirs and Assigns for ever. Also I give unto my said Son Samuel and to his Heirs and Assigns for ever all my Messuages Houses Gardens Lands and Hereditaments Scituate in Yeovill in the said County of Somersett (except the Messuage and Appurtenances thereto belonging wherein I now Live) To hold unto my said Son Samuel his Heirs and Assigns for ever. Also I give unto my Loving Wife all that my now Dwelling House with the Outhouses Garden and Appurtenances thereto belonging dureing all such time and term as shall runn out and expire in the Lifetime of my said Wife. Also I give unto my said Wife the use of all my houshold goods during her Life to be used in my now Dwelling House and not elsewhere. Also I give to my Pastor Mr Lobb Tenn pounds in lawfull money. Also I give unto Elizabeth the Wife of John King of Yeovill aforesaid Bodice maker the Sume of Five pounds in Lawfull money to be paid unto the said Elizabeth for her Sole and Separate use and her receipt shall be a sufficient Discharge. Also I give unto my Weaver John Gear Jun Five pounds in lawfull money All other my Goods Chattells and money not herein before given I give the same and every part thereof unto my said Son Samuel Dampier whom I do make and appoint Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament and I desire my Brothers in Law Mr John old and Mr Benjamin Derbie and my Brother Henry Dampier to be Trustees and Overseers of this my Will to see the same duly performed and to take care to place out such Childs or Childrens Fortune which shall be under age at the time of my Decease in Witness whereof I have here unto Set my Hand and Seal this Eighteenth Day of April in the Fourth year of King George Annoq Dom 1718. William Dampier. Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the above named William Dampier to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who Set our Names as Witnesses in the presence of the said William Dampier. Theophilus Lobb John Sanders Henry Pittard.

Before this Will was signed or Witness to it my Daughter Deceas'd; so it is my Will that my Wife shall have all that Legacy or money which her Grandfather Old gave her in his Will.

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn