yeovil people
John Boucher Hodges
Schoolmaster of Yeovil Charity School
John Boucher Hodges was born in London in 1732, the eldest of the ten children of Thomas Hodges (b1695) and Elizabeth née Boucher, known as Betty (b1698). John's siblings, all born in London, were; Phillis (b1734), Rachel (b1736), John (b1738), Charles (b1743), Giles (b1745), Sphur Boucher (b1747), Edward (b1750), Betty (b1754) and Mary (b1757).
Nothing is known of John's early life, but on 5 September 1754, at the age of 21, he became the schoolmaster of Yeovil Charity School, although the Reverend Mr Philips was paid by the Nowes Charity for teaching the Yeovil, Preston and Alvington boys from this time until his death. John Hodges' name only appears in the Nowes Charity Account Book from 1763 onwards.
Around 1758 John married Susanna Toogood (1734-c1775) of Chilton, Over Compton. They had a son John Toogood (1759-1836) and (possibly) another son, Thomas (b1775). It appears that Susanna died around 1775, aged 41, (again, possibly) in childbirth with Thomas.
The following year, on 12 December 1776, at St John's church, 44-year-old John married 42-year-old Anna Laughlin née Cooper (1734-1821) by licence. They had no issue, although Anna already had three children from her first marriage; Anne, Thomas and Robert Maclaughlin.
John
received annual
payments from
the
Nowes Charity
for several
years such as "paid Mr
John
Hodges
the
School
Master
at
Yeovil
for
Schooling
and
Clothing
the
Preston
and
Alvington
Boys
from
Lady-Day
1765 to
Lady-Day
1766
In 1820, the 'Report from the Commissioners into Charities in England & Wales' (Parliamentary Papers, Volume 5) in connection with the Yeovil Charity School noted "Mr John Boucher Hodges was appointed schoolmaster by the subscribers in 1754, and from 1781 to 1799, the accounts of the school were kept by him, and are in his hand-writing... Mr JB Hodges is represented to have been well qualified for his office, and to have discharged his duties punctually, whilst his health permitted, but for some time previous to his death, he had been subject to the gout. In April 1802, he was incapacitated for business, by a stroke of the palsy."
John lived in Back Street, in a tenement owned by Mrs Donn. Unfortunately, the Great Fire of Thursday, 23 September 1802, destroyed his house.
Four years later, John Boucher Hodges died in Yeovil in 1806, aged 73. His will is recorded below. Anna died in Yeovil in late 1820 or very early 1821, aged 87, and was buried in St John's churchyard on 9 January 1821. Her will is recorded below.
gallery
This oil painting dates to about 1750 and shows the Chantry, at left, in its original position by the church tower. In front of the Chantry are the Chantry schoolboys in procession behind their master, on their way to church. The schoolmaster at this time would have been either John King or the Reverend Mr Phillips. John Boucher Hodges became the schoolmaster four years later in 1754.Ten of the boys were from Preston Plucknett or Alvington, and their education and clothing was paid for by the Nowes Charity.
This painting was sold for £4,000 as part of the Newton Surmaville house sale in October 2007.
This solution to a surveying problem, by John Boucher Hodges, was published in the London Magazine or Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer (Volume 20, 1751).
The entry of the marriage of John and Anna on 12 December 1776 from St John's register.
1796 will of John Boucher Hodges
In the Name of God Amen
I John Boucher Hodges of Yeovil in the County of Somersett
School Master
being of sound
mind and memory
Bless God for
the same but
considering the
uncertainty of
this Life, do
make this my
Last Will and
Testament as
follows my Will
First is that
all my just
debts be repaid
by my Executor
herein after
named but as
[concerning?}
such Estate and
Effects as God
has been pleased
to bless me with
I give and
dispose of in
this [word
illegible]
manner
Item I
give and
bequeath unto my
dearly Beloved
Wife Anna Hodges
my house in
Hendford
where Joseph
Andrews now
Lives for and
during her
Natural life and
no longer I also
give her Ten
pounds of Good
and Lawful money
to be paide her
in one Month
after my Decease
by my Executor
herein after
Named I also
give her the
House in
Little Lane
[today's
Tabernacle Lane]
and all her
stock in her
Trade with all
her Household
Goods and
Furniture that
was hers before
I Married her I
also give her [a
suit?] of
mourning and my
Will is that she
may have the
house I now live
in Six months
after my Decease
with all the
Fruit in the
Garden and
Orchard (apples
excepted if any
there be at that
time) I also
give her the use
of the Wood and
the Cole during
the time she
bides in the
house [inserted
= and as much
Cyder as she
wants for her
own Use and I
also give her
half a Hogshead
of Cyder when
she leaves the
House] if there
is so much in
the house at
that time
Item I
give and
bequeath all my
Lands Goods and
Moneys not
before disposed
of unto my Son
John Toogood
Hodges for and
during his Life
and after his
decease I give
and bequeath the
house I now Live
in
Reckelford
[today's Market Street] and Tenement adjoining with the Orchard and Backsides
thereunto
belonging unto
my Grand Son
John Toogood
Hodges and his
heirs for ever
Item I
give and
bequeath my
house in
Hendford unto my
Grand Son
[inserted =
Thomas Hodges
and his Heirs
for ever my Will
is to be buried
close under my
School Window in
the Church Yard
a head stone to
be [word
illegible] as
close as
possible against
the Wall at the
Expence of five
pounds and
Lastly I
constitute my
Son] John
Toogood Hodges
to be my Hole
and Sole
Executor to this
my last Will and
testament
Revoking all
others
heretofore by me
made hoping he
Will fulfill it
in every respect
In Witness
whereof I have
set my hand and
Seal this First
day of January
in the year of
our Lord One
thousand seven
hundred and
ninety six
John B Hodges
Signed Sealed
Published and
Declared by the
testator John B
Hodges as and
for his last
Will and
Testament in the
presence of us
who at his
request and in
his presence and
in the presence
of each other
have set our
Names as
Witnesses
hereunto
John Stephens
Mary
Stephens
William
Hambridge
Item I give and bequeath unto my Son John Toogood Hodges all
the Places or
Sittings I have
in Yeovil Church
As Witness my
hand the First
Day of January
1796
John B Hodges
This Will was proved at London the
twenty third day
of September in
the year of Our
Lord One
thousand eight
hundred and six
before the Right
Honourable Sir
William Wynne
Knight Doctor of
Laws Master
Keeper or
Commissary of
the prerogative
Court of
Canterbury
lawfully
Constituted by
the Oath of John
Toogood Hodges
the Son and Sole
Executor named
in the said Will
to whom
Administration
was granted of
all and Singular
the Goods
Chattles and
Credits of the
said deceased
having been
First Sworn by
Commission duly
to Administer
1815 will of Anna Hodges
This is the last Will and Testament
of me Anna
Hodges of Yeovil
in the County of
Somerset Widow I
give and
bequeath to my
Son Thomas
Maclaughlin the
sum of one
hundred pounds
of lawful money
being the sum I
received from
the Insurance
office on having
received damage
by fire and I
direct that the
same be paid him
in six months
next after my
decease
I also
give and
bequeath to my
said Son two
silver Table
spoons and my
silver pepper
castor marked
respectively R &
HA together with
my mourning Ring
with a purple
stone set
therein
I give
and bequeath to
my three
Granddaughters
Elizabeth Kitson
Andrews Ann
Andrews and Anna
Emily Andrews
all my wearing
apparel of every
description to
be equally
divided between
them
therein
I give
and bequeath to
my Granddaughter
the said
Elizabeth Kitson
Andrews my
silver [Crown?]
and marked S.S.
I give
and bequeath to
my Granddaughter
the said Ann
Andrews one
silver Table
Spoon marked
R.M.A. six
Silver Tea
Spoons marked
A.C. and all my
China
I give
and bequeath to
my Granddaughter
Mary Wood my
silver Sugar
Tongs marked
A.C. I give and
bequeath to my
Granddaughter
the said Anna
Emily Andrews my
silver Table
Spoon marked
S.S. my two odd
silver Tea
Spoons and my
Silver Punch
Ladle marked
R.M.A.
I give
and bequeath to
my Son in Law
Joseph Andrews
the sum of five
pounds
I give
and bequeath to
my Grandson
Robert Andrews
the like sum of
five pounds I
give and
bequeath to my
Granddaughter
the said Mary
Wood the like
sum of five
pounds to be
paid them
respectively in
six months next
after my decease
all the
rest residue and
remainder of my
Goods Chattels
and Effects
whatsoever and
wheresoever I
give and
bequeath as
follows that is
to say one
moiety or half
part thereof I
give and
bequeath to my
said Son Thomas
Maclaughlin his
Executors
Administrators
and Assigns and
the other moiety
or half part
thereof I give
and bequeath to
my said
Granddaughters
Elizabeth Kitson
Andrews Ann
Andrews and Anna
Emily Andrews to
be equally
divided between
them share and
share alike and
their respective
Ex[ecut]ors
Administrators
and Assigns and
I do hereby
nominate
constitute and
appoint my said
Son Thomas
Maclaughlin and
my said
Granddaughters
Elizabeth Kitson
Andrews and Ann
Andrews joint
Executor and
Executrixes of
this my last
Will and
Testament and do
revoke all
others by me at
any time
heretofore made
In Witness
whereof I the
said Anna Hodges
have hereunto
subscribed and
set my hand and
Seal this
fifteenth day of
November in the
year of our Lord
one thousand
eight hundred
and fifteen
Anna Hodges
Signed Sealed
published and
declared by the
said Testatrix
Anna Hodges as
and for her last
Will and
Testament
in the
presence of us
who at her
request in her
presence and in
the presence of
each other have
hereunto
subscribed our
names as
Witnesses
Mary King
W L White
Proved at London 3rd Feb 1821 before the Judge by the oaths of
Thomas
Maclaughlin the
Son Elizabeth
Kitson Andrews
Spinster and Ann
Andrews Spi[nster]
the
Granddaughters &
the Ex[ecut]ors
to whom Adm[inistrai]on
was granted hav[in]g
been first sworn
by Com[missi]on
duly to Adm[iniste]r
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
