yeovil people

george mayo

Glove Manufacturer

 

George Mayo the younger was born at Nether Compton, Dorset, a mile or two to the east of Yeovil in 1788. He was the son of George Mayo the elder (1760-1825) and his wife Christian Ryall. George was baptised at Nether Compton on 29 October 1788. He had a younger sister Christian Mayo (1791-1799) and a brother John Ryall Mayo (1793-1870) who was to become the first mayor of Yeovil.

On 21 March 1815 at Wilton, Wiltshire, George married 22-year-old Jane Randall, the daughter of James Randall (1759-1833) and Francis née Worsfold (1769-1827). Jane's younger sister Anna would later marry Yeovil surgeon Thomas Shorland.

George and Jane were to have four children; Cristiana Jane (b1816), Anne Randall (b1817), Emma (b1819) and Mary Elizabeth (b1822). Emma would later marry James Tally Vining and Mary Elizabeth would marry surgeon William Hunt.

In 1817 and 1818 George was a Churchwarden at St John's church alongside Henry Penny. In the 1830s he was a member of the Vestry.

George was a glove manufacturer in partnership with John Ryall, and the company known as George Mayo & John Ryall, glove manufacturers of Kingston, was listed in Pigot's Directory of 1824. In fact their glove factory was in Higher Kingston and they had a leather dressing yard in Preston Road.

George had a house built in Kingston by mason and master builder Charles Vining around 1830. The house was later to be called Swallowcliffe House which was attacked by the mob during the 1831 Reform Riot. George and his family certainly lived in it during the 1830s and 1840s; he is listed living there in the poll books of 1832, 1834 and 1846, also the 1842 Tithe Map marks the property 'G. Mayo Esq'. He also owned freehold land at Marston Magna, occupied by Henry Stacey, which also gave him a vote in the Wincanton polling district in 1846. Pigot's Directory of 1830 listed him in the section 'Nobility, Gentry & Clergy'. In 1834 he was listed as a subscriber to William Hull’s “History of the Glove Trade”.

George Mayo was prominent in church and almshouse affairs and was one of the Improvement Commissioners appointed in 1830 to pave, clean and light the streets and lanes of Yeovil and also to organise a watch, or police force. He was one of the few Commissioners who regularly attended meetings, occasionally acting as chairman. He also played a large part in founding the first Yeovil Savings Bank and was its Chairman in 1839 when its new premises were opened in High Street.

In the 1841 census George, Jane and their daughter Mary were listed living in Kingston. George was listed as being of independent means. In the 1851 census George was listed as a 62-year-old landed proprietor living at the home in Kingston with Jane, their daughter Ann (now married and called Ann Kebbell), grandson John and two servants.

In 1847 George Wellington, a chemist, druggist and grocer who was also Assistant Overseer of the Poor for the parish, was found drowned in a flooded marl-pit in a field called Coomb Street, owned by George Mayo.

George Mayo died on 2 June 1852 in Yeovil, aged 63. Jane died in 1877 at the age of 85.

 

George Mayo's signature against the Vestry minutes of 3 March 1831. 

 

See Family Tree

 

Land Holdings

 

The Yeovil Tithe Apportionment of 1846 shows that George Mayo had extensive land holdings in Yeovil as tabulated below. His total acreage held in Yeovil was 26a 3r 37p.  

Owner Occupier No Name
Mayo, George Buck, William 1430 Great Hide
Mayo, George Buck, William 1436 Long Ground
Mayo, George Frost, Thomas 969 Lyde Lane
Mayo, George Mayo, George 287 House & Gardens (Swallowcliffe)
Mayo, George Mayo, George 288 Orchard
Mayo, George Mayo, George 579 Cocklands
Mayo, George Mayo, George 587 Orchard
Mayo, George Mayo, George 1055 Seager's Nursery
Mayo, George Mayo, George 1057 Roping Path
Mayo, George Swatridge, George 588 Houses & Gardens

 

The last Will & testament of George Mayo

 

 

The Last Will & Testament of George Mayo

 

This is the Last Will and Testament of me George Mayo of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Gentleman First I direct that all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses shall be fully paid and satisfied by my Executors hereinafter named by and out of my personal estate I give and bequeath to my dear wife Jane Mayo to and for her own use and benefit All the cash and Bank Notes which shall be in my dwellinghouse at the time of my death and also all my household goods linen plate and plates articles china books pictures and furniture of every sort And also all such horses cows carriages and hay as shall belong to me at the time of my death together with all the stock of provisions liquors casks and such which may be in and about my dwellinghouse at the time of my death I give and bequeath to my brother John Ryall Mayo and my friend Frederick Greenham my executors the sum of nineteen pounds and nineteen shillings sterling apiece I give and bequeath to my wife's sister Mary Collins Sealand and to my sons in law Robert Overbury, John Abbott, James Tally Vining and William Hunt the sum of ten pound sterling apiece I give and bequeath to my wife's brothers John Randall and James Randall my cousins Mary Lever, George Mayo Lever, William Lever, Ann Garland and Christian Sharman the sum of ten pounds apiece I give and bequeath to each of the children of my said brother John Ryall Mayo living at my decease the sum of five pounds sterling I give and bequeath to each of my Grandchildren living at my decease the sum of nineteen pounds nineteen shillings sterling and I direct that the said several legacies shall be paid within six calendar months after my decease and that the legacies to such of my said nephews and nieces and grandchildren as shall be under the age of twenty-one years at the time of my decease shall be paid to their respective parents for the use of such legacies In consideration of my daughter Anne Randall Abbott being excluded from any participation in the property included in the settlement made on my marriage with my said wife Jane I give and bequeath unto the said John Ryall Mayo and Frederick Greenham the sum of one thousand and four hundred pounds sterling thereof to stand possessed thereof upon

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(words illegible) of one thousand (words illegible) favor of my said daughter Anne (words illegible) subject nevertheless to such (words illegible) Anne Randall Abbott for her own absolute use and in (words illegible) provided always and I do hereby declare and direct that it shall be (words illegible) for any trustees or trustee for the time being to pay unto my said daughter Anne Randall Abbott either in one sum or in different sums at any time during her life out of the said sum of twelve hundred pounds hereinbefore mentioned any sum not exceeding four hundred pounds and I direct that the receipt or receipts alone of my said daughter shall be a sufficient discharge or discharges to my said trustees or trustee for (words illegible) I give devise and bequeath all my freehold copyhold and leasehold messuages (words illegible) And also all the rest and residue of my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever unto and to the use of my said brother John Ryall Mayo and my friend Frederick Greenham of Yeovil aforesaid gentleman their heirs executors administrators and assigns respectively according to the declarations and provisions hereinafter contained (words illegible) (that is to say) upon trust as soon as conveniently may be after my decease to sell and absolutely dispose of all my said freehold copy hold and leasehold messuages lands tenements and hereditaments with their appurtenances either together or in parcels and either by public auction or private contract for such price or prices as can be reasonably obtained for sure price or prices as can be reasonably obtained for the sums And to convey and (word illegible) the same when sold direct and to receive the purchase money for her same And upon further trust as soon as may be after my decease to collect get in and convert into money all such parts of my residuary personal estate as shall not consist of money or stocks funds or sureties for money and to collect and get in all such parts of my said estate as shall consist of money stocks funds and securities for money And I declare and direct that my said trustees and trustee shall stand possessed of and interested in the monies to arise from the ways and means aforesaid upon the trusts and for the intents and purposes following that is to say As to one equal fourth part or share thereof Upon trust to pay the account unto the trustees or trustee for the time being of the settlement made on the Marriage of my daughter Christiana Jane Overbury the sum of eight hundred pounds in discharge of the Promissory note or other security given by her husband Robert Overbury to the said trustees or trustee for that sum And upon trust to layout and invest the residue of the said one fourth part of my said residuary estate in the names or name of my said trustees or trustee for the time being at interest on some of the Public Works funds or securities or on real security in (word illegible) and by and out of the dividends interest and annual profits arising therefrom to pay unto my said wife Jane Mayo the sum of £30 annually during her life and subject to each Upon trust to pay the said dividends interest and annual produce into the proper hands of my said daughter Christiana Jane Overbury or to any person or persons whomsoever shall from time to time by note in writing under her hand appoint to receive the same during her life to the intent that the sums may be enjoyed by my said daughter during her life for her soul and separate use independently of her present or any future husband and so that has (word illegible) may not be

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liable to his debts (words illegible) receipts to be given by my said daughter and her appointed (words illegible) said dividends interest and annual produce or any part of (words illegible) And I further declare that my said daughter shall have (words illegible) alieu (?) or assign the said dividends interest and annual produce every part thereof before the same shall from time to time become (words illegible) payable and immediately after the (words illegible) Christiana Jane Overbury then as to the said one fourth part of my said residuary estate and the stocks funds and (words illegible) may then be invested and the dividends interest and annual produce of the same (word illegible) of my said daughter in trust for all the illegible) more than out of my said daughter Christiana Jane Overbury to take in equal shares as tenants in common and (words illegible) executors administrators and assigns and in case any one (words illegible) of the said children shall die under the age of twenty one (words illegible) as to as well that original share or shares of the said (words illegible) stocks funds and securities belonging to her child or children irrespective in was shall so die as aforesaid as also the (words illegible) the same child or children respectively may become entitled undertake (?) present trust In trust for the other or others of the said children and if more than one to take as aforesaid his lot or their executors administrators and assigns or in case they shall originally be only one child of my said daughter then entrust for such only child his or her executors administrators and assigns in case they shall be no child of my said daughter or (no true ?) child was shall attain the age of twenty one years then as to the said trust monies shares funds and securities In trust for (word illegible) person or persons as (words illegible) statute for the distribution of the personal effects of intestate's would be entitled to the personal estate of my said daughter in case she were to die intestate and unmarried And as to one of the equal fourth part or share of my said trust monies Upon the same or the like with concern as to the payment of the debt of eight hundred pounds and subject to the like charge in favour of my said wife and subject also to the same or the like powers provisoes and declarations as are hereinbefore contained concerning the first mentioned fourth part or share of my said residuary estate substituting throughout the name of Anne Randall Abbott for the name of Christiana Jane Overbury And as to one other equal fourth part or share of my said trust monies Upon the same or the like trusts and subject to the like charges in favor of my said wife and subject also to the same or the like payment powers provisions and declarations as are hereinbefore contained concerning the said first mentioned fourth part or share substituting throughout the name of Emma Vining for the name of Christiana Jane Overbury and James Tally Vining and the trustees of the Settlement maid on the Marriage of the said Emma Vining for the name of Robert Overbury and the trustees of the Settlement made on the marriage of the said Christiana Jane Overbury and the sum of one thousand pounds for the sum of eight hundred pounds and as to the other or remaining equal fourth part or share of my said trust monies Upon the same or the like trusts (except as regards the payment of the debt to the trustees of the said Settlement) and subject to the like charge in favor of my said wife and subject also to the same or the like powers provisions and declarations as are hereinbefore contained concerning the said first (word illegible) fourth part or share substituting throughout the name of Mary

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(words illegible) for the name of Christiana Jane Overbury Provided (words illegible) it shall be lawful for my said trustees and (words illegible) being to apply in or towards the maintenance and (words illegible) otherwise for the benefit of the issue of my said children (words illegible) trusts aforesaid all or any part of the yearly income (words illegible) or respective shares of such issue during their respective (words illegible) and the unapplied income shall be accumulated and the accumulation be added and go along with the share or sums (words illegible) shall have arisen and be subject to all the trusts affecting the same provided and I hereby declare that it shall be lawful for the trustees or trustee for the time being of this my Will at any time or times in their or his discretion to vary and transpose all or any of my said several trusts shares funds and securities for others of a like nature as often as occasion shall require or as shall be thought expedient provided always and I hereby declare that the yearly rents (word illegible) and proceeds of my said freehold copyhold and leasehold messuages lands tenements and hereditaments and my said residuary personal estate in the meantime until the same shall be respectively sold converted and got in pursuant to the trusts hereinbefore contained shall be applied and disposed of according to the trusts hereinbefore contained containing the dividends interest and yearly produce of my said trust monies and that the same hereditaments and real estate shall for all the purposes of the trusts hereinbefore contained in favor of my wife and children and issue be considered as personal estate and be transmissable accordingly although the sale thereof shall not actually have taken place provided also and I hereby declare and direct that in case it shall be considered expedient for the purpose of sale or otherwise to make partition of such of my lands and Herod it and's hereinbefore devised as I hold in common with any other person or persons whomsoever it shall be lawful for my trustees or trustee for the time being in their or his discretion to join and concur with the person or persons for the time being entitled to the other part or share parts or shares of the said hereditaments or empowered to make a partition thereof in making a partition or division of the same hereditaments or any of them and for that purpose to enter into make and execute such contracts and agreements deeds conveyances and assurances as shall be necessary or expedient and to pay any sum or sums of money for equality of partition out of the trust funds which shall be vested in such trustees or trustee by virtue of the trusts aforesaid or to accept any sum or sums of money for equality of partition and I hereby further declare that the (word illegible) lands and Herod it's to be allotted to the said at trustees or trustee by such partition shall be a steward and limited to the use of the said trustees or trustee they or his heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the respective terms thereof in severalty Upon and for such of the several trusts and with such of the several powers provisions and declarations except the power of partition hearing expressed and contained concerning my said freehold copyhold and leasehold hereditaments and premises hereby devised in trust for save as aforesaid as shall then be subsisting and capable of taking effect And I hereby further declare that the money to be paid or recused to my said trustees or trustee for equality of partition (if any) shall be subject to all such of the trusts provisions and declarations hearing expressed and contained concerning my said trust monies stocks funds and securities as shall then be subsisting or capable of taking effect I give devise and bequeath all and every messuages lands tenements and hereditaments estate and estates as well real as

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personal (words illegible) in trust for any person or persons (words illegible) and to have use of the said John Ryall Mayo and James Tally Vining (two lines illegible) estates respectively subject to such equity of (words illegible) for such trusts in tents and purposes as shall (words illegible) Provided also and I hereby further declare that the receipt or receipts to be given by the trustees or trustee for the time being of this my will to any person or persons (words illegible) the purchaser or purchasers of any real or personal estate which shall be sold by virtue of the trusts or powers hereinbefore (words illegible) his her or their purchase money or any part thereof or to any person or persons was shall have any of the trust monies aforesaid in their his or her hands upon securities or (word illegible) for the same monies or any part thereof or to be any other person or persons for any other monies which shall become payable and be paid to the said trustees or trustee shall be a sufficient discharge or discharges for so much money as in every such receipt or receipts shall be expressed to be received and (word illegible) after taking such receipt or receipts the person or persons aforesaid shall not be obliged to see to the application or being answerable or accountable for the misapplication or nonapplication of the same money or any part thereof Provided also that in case the said John Ryall Mayo and Frederick Greenham or either of them or any trustees or trustee to be appointed under this present provision in their place or the place of any of them shall die or become unwilling or unable to act in the aforesaid trusts before the said trusts shall be fully executed and performed (word illegible) and as often as the same shall happen it shall be lawful for the acting trustees or trustee for the time being under this my Will or for the executors or administrators of any surviving trustee (with the consent of my said wife during her life and afterwards in their or his discretion) to nominate and appoint any fit person or persons to supply the place or places of the trustee or trustees respectively (words illegible) or becoming unwilling or unable to act as aforesaid and that immediately after every such appointment the said trust estates monies and promises stocks funds and securities shall be conveyed assigned and transferred so and in such manner that the same may rest in such new trustee or trustees jointly with the surviving or continuing trustee or trustees solely as the case may require subject to the trusts aforesaid and such new trustee or trustees shall execute all the powers and authorities whatsoever hereinbefore contained in the same manner to all intents and purposes as if he or they had been appointed a trustee or trustees by this my Will Provided also that the said trustees hereby appointed and also the trustees to be appointed by virtue of the provision lastly hereinbefore contained severally and respectively and his and there are several and respective heirs executors and administrators shall be charged and chargeable with such monies only as the said trustees respectively shall actually receive by virtue of the trusts hereby reposed in them notwithstanding (words illegible) joining in or signing any receipt or receipts or doing any other act for the sake of conformity And that they or any of them shall not be answerable or accountable for any (misfortunate ?) loss or damage which may happen in the execution of the aforesaid trusts or in relation thereto except the same shall (word illegible) by or through his or their own wilful act neglect or default and in that case such person alone shall be answerable for such loss or damage as it shall arise from his own act neglect or default Provided also that it shall be lawful for the said trustees hereby named and such

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(word illegible) trustee or trustees to be appointed as aforesaid severally and (words illegible) several and respective heirs executors and administrators (words illegible) which shall come to their hands (several lines illegible) I hereby nominate and appoint the said John Ryall Mayo and Frederick Greenham joint executors of this my will upon the trusts aforesaid hereby revoking all former Wills by me made in witness whereof I have here to set my hand and seal this ninth day of April one thousand eight hundred and forty four - George Mayo - signed and sealed by the said George Mayo the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us was in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses - William Churchouse Carpenter Yeovil - Stephen Pullman Painter Yeovil


This is a Codicil to the Will of me George Mayo which bears date the ninth day of April one thousand eight hundred and forty four I give and bequeath unto my Grandsons John Dobbell and George Mayo Dobbell in addition to the legacy bequeathed to them in and by my said Will the sum of two hundred pounds each to be paid to them on their respectively attaining the age of twenty one years and to be invested at interest in the meantime in the names of my Executors of such security as they shall think fit and the interest and proceeds thereof to be applied towards the (word illegible) of my said to Grandsons during their minority And in case either of my said Grandsons should die under the age of twenty one years then I direct that the said sum of £200 bequeathed to such Grandson so dying shall be paid to the survivor of my said Grandsons to whom I bequeath the same accordingly and in case both of my said Grandsons shall die under the age of twenty one years then I direct that the said legacies or sums of £200 and £200 so bequeathed to them as aforesaid shall be paid to and divided equally between all my Grandchildren living at the decease of the survivor of them the said Joan Dobbell and George Mayo Dobbell in all other respects I confirm my said Will In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty eighth day of January one thousand eight hundred and forty six - George Mayo - signed by the said testator George Mayo in the joint presence of us was in his presence have hereunto set our hands as witnesses this twenty eighth day of January one thousand eight hundred and forty six - Jno Rodber - JH Hammond Clerks to Messrs Slade & Vining Sols Yeovil

 

Proved at London with a Codicil 3rd July 1852 before the Judge by the oaths of John Ryall Mayo and Frederick Greenham the executors to whom admin was granted having been first sworn by Comon (= Commission) duly to administer.

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn