Yeovil's Virtual Museum

john daniell the elder

Glover and Banker

 

The Daniell family were very wealthy mercers and glovers who came to Yeovil in the seventeenth century from East Coker.

John Daniell, also known as the elder, was born in Yeovil around 1725, the son of Yeovil mercer and linen draper Samuel Daniell the Younger and his wife Hannah. In February 1747 he married Elizabeth Goodford, the daughter of Samuel Goodford a prosperous glover and in the 1760 Poor Rate was rated at 1s 4d, which would have been fairly modest. He rented a property in Middle Street for five shillings per annum and one in South Street with a rent of Assize of two shillings.

His fortune steadily grew and in 1776 he built as his home Hendford House (today's Manor Hotel) with its extensive grounds. What is rarely appreciated today was the extent of the grounds of Hendford House, known as Hendford Park when John Daniell built it. To discover today the extent of the estate you would need to start walking down West Hendford, from by the Three Choughs then proceed all the way to today's Horsey Lane, carry on down Horsey Lane, past the police station and almost to the Railway Hotel, then back up Hendford back to the Three Choughs - you would then have walked the perimeter of Hendford Park! See the map below.

John and Elizabeth's eldest son, Samuel, became a banker owning Samuel Daniell & Co while his youngest son George became surgeon in Exeter. His third son John Daniell the younger took over Samuel's banking business and also inherited Hendford House. John and Elizabeth were Unitarians and worshipped at the Unitarian Chapel in Vicarage Street where their son John Jnr was baptised on  6 October 1757.

Initially a linen draper and mercer like his father, John became a country merchant banker and later went into partnership with a Mr Hoskins. When this partnership was dissolved he became a partner in the bank of Hutchins and Gollup. The bank was taken over in 1819 by Batten, Sparks & Co and, under Edmund Batten, became known as Yeovil Old Bank in premises next door to John Daniell's former home.

John Daniell the elder died in Yeovil in 1797.

The arms of the Daniell family were argent, a pale fusilly sable (on a silver ground a black horizontal stripe made of lozenge shapes).

 

 

 

 

See Daniell Family Tree

See Inter-relationships of Daniell, Old & Goodford families

 

 

E Watts' map of 1806 shows John Daniell's extensive grounds, known as Hendford Park, extending from his house, Hendford House (today's Manor Hotel) at top right and extending the length of today's West Hendford (marked here incorrectly as Salt-house Lane - it was actually called Horsey's Lane but Watts got the names confused on the map) all the way down to today's Horsey Lane at extreme left.

 

 

John Daniell the Elder (c1725-1797). Oil on canvas, 77 x 63.5cm.

 

Elizabeth Daniell née Goodford, the daughter of Samuel Goodford. Oil on canvas, 76 x 63cm.

 

This photograph features in my book "Yeovil In 50 Buildings"

The Manor Hotel, the former Hendford House, built by John Daniell the Elder as his home in 1776. Photographed in 2017.

 

 

 

This is the last Will and Testament of me John Daniell of Yeovill in the County of Somerset Esquire I give and devise all my Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments Situate lying and being in the parish of Hindford in the said County of Somerset unto my dear Wife Elizabeth Daniell during the term of her natural life I also give unto my said Wife During the Term of her natural life one annuity of clear yearly Sum of eighty pounds of good and lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid her by my Executor herein after named of Four equal payments to wit on the twenty fifth day of March [inserted = the twenty fourth day of June the twenty ninth day of September and] the twenty fifth day of December the first payment to be on such of the said days as shall first and next happen after my death with the payment of which said annuity I charge all my Lands and Hereditaments lying in the parish of Yeovil aforesaid and I further give unto my said Wife all my Plate Household Goods Household Linnen and Furniture to and for her own use and benefit I give and bequeath unto my son John Daniell the Sum of three thousand pounds of good and lawful Money of Great Britain in case he shall attain the age of twenty two years or be Married with the consent of his Guardians herein after named or the Survivors or Survivor of them or with his Mothers Consent only the same to be paid him by my Executor [three words illegible] within one Month next after he shall have attained his said age of twenty two years or be Married with such consent as aforesaid but in case my said Son shall die before he shall have attained his said Age of twenty two Years and unmarried [inserted = or married] without such consent as aforesaid then and in such case the said Sum of three thousand pounds herein before given to him as aforesaid shall go to and equally divided between his Mothers and Brothers share and share alike the share of my Son George Daniell to be paid him at his age of twenty two years I also give unto my said Son John Daniell the further Sum of two thousand pounds of like good and lawful Money to be paid him by my Executor hereinafter named within three Months next after his Mothers death if he shall then have attained his said age of twenty two Years or be married with such consent as aforesaid but in case he shall at his Mothers death be under the age of twenty two years and unmarried then the said Sum of two thousand pounds shall be paid him within one Month next after he shall have attained the said age of twenty two Year or be Married with such consent as aforesaid I give and bequeath unto my Son George Daniell the Sum of three thousand pounds of Good and and lawful Money of Great Britain in case he shall attain the age of twenty two years or be Married with the consent of his Guardians herein after named or the Survivors or Survivor of them or with his Mothers Consent only the same to be paid him by my Executor [three words illegible] within one Month next after he shall have attained his said age of twenty two years or be Married with such consent as aforesaid but in case my said Son George Daniell shall die before he shall have attained his said Age of twenty two Years and unmarried or married without such consent as aforesaid then and in such case the said Sum of three thousand pounds herein before given to him as aforesaid shall go to and equally divided between his Mothers and Brothers share and share alike the share of my Son George Daniell to be paid him at his age of twenty two years I also give unto my said Son John Daniell the further Sum of two thousand pounds of like good and lawful Money to be paid him by my Executor hereinafter named within three Months next after his Mothers death if he shall then have attained his said age of twenty two Years or be married with such consent as aforesaid but in case he shall at his Mothers death be under the age of twenty two years and unmarried then the said Sum of two thousand pounds shall be paid him within one Month next after he shall have attained the said age of twenty two Year or be Married with such consent as aforesaid and my Will is and I do hereby direct that my said Sons John Daniell and George Daniell shall receive and be paid interest for their respective Legacies of three thousand pounds at the rate of three Pounds and ten Shillings per Centum per annum from my death and that they shall receive and be paid interest at the Rate aforesaid for their respective Legacies of two thousand pounds each from the end of three Months next after their Mothers death and I do hereby charge and Subject all my real and personal Esta[te]with and to the payment of the said Legacies and Interest for the same at the rate aforesaid and I do hereby order and direct that the Interest of the Several and respective Legacys hereinbefore given to my said Sons John Daniell and George Daniell shall from time to time as the same shall become due and payable to be paid into the hands of their Guardians or the Survivors or Survivor of them whose Receipt or Receipts shall be a Sufficient Discharge for the same and my desire is that my said [inserted - sons] shall be Educated and Maintained in a Genteel manner I commit the Guardianship and Tuition of my said sons John Daniell and George Daniell unto my said Wife and John Old Goodford of Yeovil aforesaid Esquire and my Brother Samuel Daniell untill my said Sons shall attain their respective ages of twenty two years or be Married I give devise and bequeath all my Messuages Tenements Lands and Hereditaments in the several parishes of Yeovil aforesaid Bridgwater and East Coker in the said County of Somerset and the parish of Halstock in the County of Dorset and also all my Messuages Tenements Lands and Hereditaments in the said parish of Hindford from after the death of my said Wife unto my Son Samuel Daniell his Heirs Executors Administrators and [inserted = assigns] according to the Nature of the [word illegible] of such Lands Tenements and Heredit[ament]s Subject nevertheless to the payment of the said Legacys with Interest for the same at the Rate aforesaid and as for and concerning all the Rest and Residue of my Goods Chattells ready Money Debts and Securities for Money Stocks in any of the Publick Funds or Companys and all other my personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what Nature kind or Quality Soever and not otherwise by this my Will given and disposed of Subject to the payment of the said Legacys to my said Sons John Daniell and George Daniell I give and bequeath I give and bequeath the same unto my Son Samuel Daniell whom I make [inserted word illegible] Executor of this my last Will and Testament and Lastly my will and meaning is [inserted word illegible] I do hereby declare that as the provision herein before by me made for my said Wife and Sons greatly exceeds any Sum or Sums of Money which they may claim or be entitle unto by virtue of or under and articles made previous and in order to my Marriage with my said Wife that the provision hereby for them respectively made shall be taken and accepted in Lieu Recompence and Satisfaction of what they any or either of them any claim or Demand by virtue of or under such Articles or otherwise howsoever and in case any or either of them shall claim any part of my personal Estate made such articles then and in such case the person or persons so clayming shall take no benefit by this my Will In Witness whereof I the said John Daniel the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament containing three Sheets of paper to each Sheet Subscribed my name and set my Seal this Seventh day of December in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy three and in the Fourteenth 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

John Daniel

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 have Subscribed our names as Witness thereof in the presence of the said Testator and of each other

Wm Brett      Nath[aniel] Butler Batten      Edm[un]d Batten

Whereas I John Daniell of Yeovill in the County of Somerset Esquire have made my last Will and Testament in Writing bearing date the Seventh day of December last past and have thereby given and bequeathed unto each of my two Sons John Daniell and George Daniell two Several Legacies of three thousand pounds and two thousand pounds to be paid them respectively at such times and upon such conditions as in my said Will are particularly mentioned Now I do by this my Writing (which I declare to be a codicil to my said Will and direct to every part thereof give and bequeath to each of my said Sons the further or additional Sum of one thousand and five hundred pounds and do direct that the same shall be paid them respectively at such times and upon such conditions as their Legacies of three thousand pounds are directed to be paid them by my said Will and I do hereby order and direct that in case either of my said Sons shall die under the age of twenty two years and unmarried or Married without such consent as in and by my said Will is mentioned and required the Legacy of such Son so dying shall go to and be equally divided between his Mother my dear Wife Elizabeth Daniell and the Survivor of my said Sons share and share alike and I do hereby direct that my said sons John Daniel and George Daniell shall receive and be paid Interest for their respective Legacies of one thousand and five hundred pounds at the rate of three pounds and ten Shillings per centum per annum from my death and I do hereby charge and Subject all my real and personal Estate with and to the payment of the said Legacies and Interest for the same at the Rate aforesaid I give unto my said Wife Elizabeth Daniell the sum of one thousand pounds over and besides what I have [inserted = given her in and by my said Will and I do direct that the same shall be paid her by Executor] in three months next after decease In Witness whereof I the said John Daniell the Testator have hereunto set my hand and Seal the twenty fifth day of October in the Year Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four and in the fifteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third by the Grace of God of Grat Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith

John Daniell

Signed Sealed published and delivered by the said John Daniell first above named as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who have Subscribed our names as witnesses in his presence

Mary Lawrence      Nath[anie]l Butler Batten      George Congman

Whereas I John Daniell of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Esquire have Since the making and executing my last Will and Testament bought and purchased of John Bicknell and his daughter a Messuage or Dwelling House and Garden and orchard and Several pieces or parcels of Land Meadow and pasture to the same belonging situate lying and being in West Hindford in the parish of Hindford in the said County of Somerset Now I do by this my writing (which I declare to be a Second Codicil to my said Will and direct to be taken as a part thereof) give and devise the said Messuage or Dwelling House, Garden orchard lands and premises so by me purchased as aforesaid with their appurtenances unto my said Wife Elizabeth Daniell during the term of her natural life I also give and devise my Mansion [inserted = House] in Yeovil aforesaid in which I now live with the outhouses Courts Yards and gardens to the same belonging with their appurtenances unto my said Wife during the like term of her natural life and my Will is and I do hereby order and direct that my sons Samuel Daniell John Daniell and George Daniell and every of them do and shall from time to time and at [inserted = all times hereafter on the request and at the Costs and charges of my said Wife seal] and execute to my said Wife all such acts and conveyances in the Law as the Council of my said Wife shall advise for confirming her Estate for life in the Mansion House and premises in Yeovil herein before devised to her as aforesaid and I do hereby expressly declare that if any or either of my said Sons shall refuse to execute such conveyances then and in such case such Son or Sons so refusing shall take no Benefit from any devise or bequest contained in my said Will but in that case and upon any or either of my said Sons refusing I give and devise whatever is given to or in Trust for such Son or Sons so refusing unto my said Wife her Heirs Executors and Administrators and whereas I have by my last Will and Testament which bears date the Seventh Day of December in the Year one thousand [inserted = seven hundred] and Seventy three given unto my said Wife one Annuity or clear Yearly Sum of eighty pounds payable quarterly and to be issuing out of my lands in Yeovil Now I do hereby revoke and make void the said Gift and Annuity and I do herein give to my said Wife one annuity or clear Yearly sum of Forty pounds of good and lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid her by my Executor on such days and by such proportions as the said Annuity of eighty pounds was made payable and I hereby charge and Subject all my lands in Yeovill aforesaid with the payment thereof I give unto my Son George Daniell all my Manuscripts which were late of his Uncle Doctor Samuel Daniell I also give unto my said Son George Daniell all my Physick Books and all my Books in the Greek latin or any other Foreign Language In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the ninth day of September in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Seventy eight and in the eighteenth 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

John Daniell

This Writing was Signed and Sealed by the said John Daniel first above named and by him published and declared as and for a Second Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as Witnesses in his presence

Nath[anie]l Butler Batten      Edm[un]d Batten      Sam[ue]l Anstice

This Will was proved at London with two Codicils the Sixth Day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and eighty one before the Right Worshipful Peter Calvert Doctor of Law Master Keeper Commisatu of the prorogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the oath of Samuel Daniell the son and Sole Executor named in the said Will to whom Adm[inistrati]on was granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first Sworn by Commission duly to administer

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn