The Document chest
william phelps
Gentleman of Bottoms, Marsh
William Phelps was likely either the son of John Phelps, baptised at St John's church on 23 November 1617, or else the son of Giles Phelps who was baptised at St John's church on 10 March 1621. From his will, we know that he had a brother Thomas who had died by the time of William's 1684 will. It was this Thomas who was probably the owner of the George Inne in High Street and the Rose and Crowne, also in High Street - in both of which it seems William had a financial interest.
Whether or not William married is debatable. Certainly a William Phelps married a Mary James at Thorncombe, Dorset on 10 August 1642. They had a son Thomas. However it is unlikely that this is 'our' William Phelps, since Mary was still alive at the time of William's 1684 will, but the son Thomas had died in 1677. Indeed, there is no mention of a wife or children in 'our' William's will.
William left much of his estate to his siblings' children and to his 'servant' Thomazine Gaylard - one assumes their relationship was quite close.
1684 will of William phelps
In the name of God Amen
I William Phelps
of Bottomes in
the parish of
Yeoveil in the
Countie of
Sommersett Gent
being sick of
body but of
perfect and
sound memory (thankes
bee unto God)
Doe this Tenth
day of August
one thousand six
hundred eighty
foure make this
my last will and
Testament in
manner following
First I
willingly
resigne my soule
into the hands
of Jesus Christ
my body I desire
may bee interred
in the church of
Yeovell in such
Decent manner as
shall bee
thought fit by
such person as I
have instructed
to doe the same
And as for that
estate which it
hath pleased God
to blesse me
withal I dispose
of as followeth
First I give and
bequeath unto my
sister in law
Mrs Jane Phelps
Widdow one
shilling Item I
give unto my
Neece Jane
Phelps eldest
Daughter of my
late Brother
Thomas Phelps
all my right
title and
Interest which I
have or ought to
have either in
law or equity of
and in the
dwelling and
lands thereunto
belonging called
Bottoms lyeing
and being in
Marsh in the
parish of
Yeovell
aforesaid Item I
give and
bequeath unto
Mary Phelps and
Anne Phelps my
neeces All my
right title and
Interest which I
have or ought to
have of and in
the Tenement
called
Court Ayshe or Kings
living with the
lands thereunto
belonging and
the
George Inne
in [High Street] Yeovell
aforesaid
equally to bee
divided between
them Item I give
unto my said Neece Jane
Phelps All my
right title and
Interest which I
have or ought to
have either in
law or equity Of
and in all that
Messuage or
Inne
commonly called
the Rose and
Crowne together
with all the
houses thereunto
belonging lyeing
and being in
Yeovell
aforesaid Item I
give unto my
servant
Thomasine
Gaylard my three
fatt Cowes my
Tenne [word
illegible] Cowes
my three heyfors
and one Bull
Three Calves
foure [welsh ?]
Steeres, six
pigs, foure
sheepe, my Mare
and Colt and all
my hey and
ploughing [Tacklyng
?] One [Perone
?] Bedd one
Feather bed with
the bolsters
blankets one
rugg one bedsted
in the [Schoole
?] chamber and
other furniture
thereunto
belonging and
three paire of
sheetes and all
my wearing
Apparell to bee
delivered unto
her Immediately
after my decease
by my Executrix
hereafter named
Item I doe
further give and
bequeath unto my
said servant
Thomasine
Gaylard one
broad peece of
gold one ginney
and foure rings
Item I give unto
her Tenne
hundred weight
of my best
Cheese Two
lesser [Crocks ?
Skymmer ?]
basting ladle
Warming pann [perster
?] Bason the
biggest kettle
and Skillett
pott hooke the
best paire of
Candlesticks
three of my best
pewter platters
one paire of
Andirons of the
best One Spitt
and One dripeing
pan All w[hi]ch
last menconed
goods shee the
said Thomazine
is to have
immediately
after my decease
And my will is
that in case my
Executrix shall
refuse to take
the same unto
her That then it
shall bee
lawfull for the
said Thomazine
to take the same
at her owne will
and pleasure
Item I give unto
her the said
Thomazine Two
Coffers One
Cupbord the
biggest trunck
the four square
boards in the
Hall two [ioynt
= joint] stooled
the Chest in the
Hall The furnace
pann brasse
panne right
halfe
hoggesheads and
one barrell and
all my sider and
Beeres the
greate [orandize
?] and all my
other timber [dessett
?] cheese stane
and Vates one
flitch of Bacon
and all other my
household
provisions with
all the Cheese
[lacks ?] and
Racke Six diaper
napkins one
table Cloth
Three of the
best chaires soe
as the said
Thomasine doe
discharge my
funeral expences
and pay my
legacies
following that
is to say To Mr
John Hawker the
summe of Tenne
pounds to bee
disposed
according to the
discretion of
the said Mr John
Hawker and
Fifteen pounds
w[hi]ch will bee
due from mee for
Rent at Mich[aelm]as
and our Lady Day
that is to say
to the said Mr
Hawker five
pounds thereof
and to Mr Thomas
Cupper of
Sherborne Tenne
pounds and the
sume of Three
pounds to
Burnard Gaylard
of Yeovell Item
I give to my
Neece Jane
Phelps the gold
purse which was
my mothers and
her wedding Ring
Item I further
give and
bequeath unto my
Serv[an]t
Thomazine
Gaylard the
summe of Twenty
pounds to bee
paid unto her by
my Executrix
within One yeare
after my decease
And whereas
there is a suite
in Chancery
depending for my
right in the
houses and Lands
I have given
unto my said
Neeces in this
my will my Will
and meaning is
that the said
James Phelps
aswell on her
owne behalf as
in the behalf of
her sisters Doe
prosecute the
same by bill of
[Rediver ?] or
otherwise as
shee shall bee
advised by my
friend Mr Edward
Penney of
Bradford to whom
I doe Recommend
her for the
following of the
same if it can
not otherwise
bee composed by
faire meanes And
that my said
Neece may bee
the better
enabled to
performe the
same I doe give
unto her all my
bonds bills
debts and all
other my goods
and chattels of
what nature
soever they bee
not formerly by
mee given and
bequeathed And I
doe hereby make
her my full and
sole Executrix
of this my last
will and
testament In
witnesse whereof
I have hereunto
sett my hand and
seale the day
and yeare above
written
Will[iam] Phelps
Signed Sealed
and published in
the p[re]sence
of
Edward Jenner
Joseph
Minter
William
Hawkins
And
my Will and
meaning is That
after my
Executrix shall
either by
(Compaction ?]
or by suite
recover the
right of and in
the said Lands
That then it
shall bee
lawfull for her
to deduct out of
the proffitts of
the Lands hereby
devised to her
sisters soe much
money as will
amount unto and
moiety of the
charges which
shee shall be
put unto in the
obtaining of the
same in case
they doe not
give unto my
Executrix other
satisfaction for
the same
Will[iam] Phelps
Proved
at London
February 1684
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
