Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Richard eva Reynolds

Marble & Stone Mason of Hendford

 

Richard Eva Reynolds was born in Yeovil in 1789 and baptised in St John's church on 21 April 1789. He was the son of Richard and Mary Reynolds.

Around 1818 Richard married Mary Brabham Wood (b1791) of Wiveliscombe (although no record exists of their marriage in that parish). Richard and Mary were to have at least eight children, all born in Yeovil; Henry (b1820), Jane Linscombe (b1820), Linscombe (b1820), Bishop Brabham (1824-1909), Lewis (1826-1888), Frederick (b1827), Mary (b1834) and Richard (b1837).

Richard was recorded in the Poll Books of both 1832 and 1834 by virtue of owning a freehold property in Kingston where he lived with his family.

In the 1841 census, Richard and Mary, together with children Henry, Jane, Bishop, Mary and Richard, were recoded living in Kingston. Richard, by now aged 52, and two of his sons - 21-year-old Henry and 17-year-old Bishop - all gave their occupations as marble masons.

Richard Eva Reynolds wrote his will (see below) in 1832 and died in Yeovil in the spring of 1842.

 

 

The record of Richard's baptism of 21 April 1789 in St John's parish register.

 

A notice in the 29 April 1839 edition of the Western Flying Post announcing the sale of Richard Reynolds' premises. Presumably Richard had retired by this date.

 

 

From my collection

 

This is the last Will and Testament of me Richard Eva Reynolds of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Stone and Marble Mason I give and bequeath unto George Stanhope Beavins of the City of Bath and Bishop Brabham of Yeovil aforesaid their Executors and Administrators All and singular my Household Goods and Furniture, plate Linen China Books Prints Pictures Stock and Implements in Trade and other my personal [Estate ??] and Effects [several words on a tear and crease illegible] Upon Trust to permit and suffer Mary my Wife to have and enjoy the use and occupation of the same and of the profits arising from my Trade which I direct to be carried on for her benefit and that of my Children for and during the term of her natural life And from and after her decease Upon Trust that they my said Trustees and the survivor of them his Executors or Administrators shall and do sell and dispose of the whole of my said personal Estate as and when they shall think fit [several words on a tear and crease illegible] from such Sale and pay unto and equally between and amongst All and every of my Children living at the time of her decease as they shall severally attain the age of Twenty one years And the Children of such of them who shall have previously died leaving lawful Issue him her or them surviving Such Issue to take only such share as his her or their parents or parent if living would have been entitled unto. I give devise and bequeath unto the said George Stanhope Beavins and Bishop Brabham their Heirs And Assigns All That my Freehold Dwellinghouse in which I now reside situate in Hendford in Yeovil aforesaid And also the Cottage and unfinished Dwellinghouse adjoining thereto with the Workshops Yards Gardens and Premises belonging to the same respectively And all and singular other my real Estate whatsoever and wheresoever Upon Trust that they my said Trustees and the Survivor of them his Heirs and Assigns do and shall permit my said Wife to reside in either and which of the same Dwellinghouses she shall prefer and choose free of any rent for and during the Term of her natural Life And upon Further Trust that they my said Trustees and the Survivor of them his Heirs and Assigns do and shall let the other parts of the said premises at the best and highest rent that can be obtained for the same And from time to time to pay such rents as they shall be received unto my said Wife for her own use for the term of her natural Life And from and after her decease Upon Trust to sell and absolutely dispose of the whole of my said Dwellinghouse and real Estate either by public Auction or private Contract together or in parcels [a few words on a crease illegible] different times and either by public Auction or private Contract as they or he shall think best for the best price or prices that can be obtained for the same And to convey and assure the premises which shall be so sold unto the purchaser or purchasers thereof his her or their Heirs or otherwise as he she or they shall direct or appoint And I do hereby declare that the receipt and receipts of them my said trustees shall be a good and sufficient discharge for the purchase money thereof And that no such purchaser or purchasers his her or their Heirs shall after payment of the same to such Trustees or Trustee be in any manner [two words on a crease illegible] for or liable to see to the application thereof or any part thereof And upon further Trust that they my said Trustees and the Survivor of them his Heirs or Assigns do and shall from and after the decease of my said Wife pay and divide the money arising from the sale of my said Real Estate (after deducting the expences of such sale) And the rents of the same until sold unto and equally between and amongst all and every my said Children living at the decease of my said Wife as and when they shall severally attain the age of Twenty one years And the Children of such of them as shall have died under that age leaving lawful Issue him her or them surviving Such Issue to take such share only as their his or her Parent or Parents would have been entitled unto if living at my dead Wife's deceased. And it is my Will and I do hereby expressly authorize and empower my said Trustees and the Survivor of them his Heirs and Assigns to complete and perfect my said unfinished Dwellinghouse as they shall see best and if necessary to borrow and take up at Interest thereon sufficient Sum or Sums of money for that purpose and to give the necessary receipts or receipt and to pay the Interest for the same as it shall become due. And To advance if they shall see occasion the whole or any part of the share of any or either of my said Children to which they shall be presumptively entitled for their advancement in Life although such Share or Shares shall not then be actually payable And I hereby Will and devise that my said Trustees and the Survivor of them and his Heirs shall be accountable only for such money as they shall respectively receive And that [word illegible on torn fold] one of them shall not be accountable for the other of them but each of them for his own separate receipts acts deeds and defaults only And I nominate and appoint the said George Stanhope Beavins and Bishop Brabham joint Executors In Trust of this my Will. In Witness whereof I the said Richard Eva Reynolds the Testator have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my Seal this seventeenth day of September One thousand eight hundred and thirty two

Richard E Reynolds

Signed sealed published and declared [several words illegible on torn fold] the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto
John Warden William Adams The mark of Betty Brabham

I the undersigned sign the above to John Strong of Yeovil
the mark of X Lewis Reynolds
Dated Oct 4th 1855
Witness John Lovell [word illegible]

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn

 

Note: Bishop Brabham was baptised in Wiveliscombe in 1787, the son of John and Susanna Brabham. Presumably a relative of Richard's wife, Mary Brabham Wood. Bishop Brabham, of Kingston, died in Yeovil in the summer of 1839, aged 57, and was buried in St John's churchyard on 1 May 1839.