yeovil people
The Foot Family
Four Generations of 17th and 18th Century Rope Makers
Much of the following is derived from the parish registers of St John's church and the Churchwardens' Accounts.
The earliest known of the Foot family was Joseph Foot who flourished in Yeovil during the seventeenth century. He probably had a son called Joseph but certainly had a son James (1), who was born in Yeovil in 1655, and a daughter Mary.
Mary married Henry Chipman in 1696 at St John's church and three years earlier, on 9 July 1693, James (1) had married Sarah Abut (Abbot). James was a rope maker and the Churchwardens' Accounts record that he supplied new bell ropes for the church annually from at least 1709 until 1720.
James and Sarah's children are unknown except for a son - James (2) - but nothing is known of this James, although he was probably born around 1695 and was most likely a rope maker although there is no evidence for this.
James (1 or 2, not sure which) lived in Hendford and the monthly Poor Rate Return of 1729 recorded that he paid 2d "for Lionel Wills" (presumably the owner of his home).
James (2) also had a son James (3) born in Yeovil and baptised at St John's church on 19 November 1723. This James was another Yeovil rope maker and was recorded in the Churchwardens' Accounts for supplying bell ropes regularly throughout the 1760s. James (3) served as a Churchwarden for three years; in 1755 with Samuel Sealy and in 1756 and 1757 with Andrew Everton.
A lease dated 2 April 1755 recorded that James Foot (3) leased "all that messuage, dwelling house, outhouses, garden, backside in Pitt Lane, Yeovil, lands of Richard Mines on the east and land of John Clarke on the west, Pitt Lane on the north. Length north to south 90ft and breadth east to west 23ft in possession of James Foot."
James (3) lived in Pit Lane (today's Middle Street) near the junction with Vicarage Street and the Woborn Property Rents recorded that he paid a rent of four shillings a year (around £350 at today's value) between 1762 and 1770.
We know that James' (3) wife was Bridget and they had a son and four daughters, all born in Yeovil; James (4, b1747), Jane, also known as Jenny, (b1753), Bridgett, also known as Biddy (b1756), Mary (b1758) and Rebecca (b1760). Jane married Thomas Garland in 1775 and Rebecca married Thomas Cole in 1790.
James (3) had substantial wealth leaving in his will dated 12 February 1771 (see below) "my dwelling house where I live with garden, orchard and backside" as well as "my land, tenements" (inferring he owned more than one property) to his wife and, on her death, his son James (4). He also bequeathed to each of his four daughters, Jane, Bridget, Mary and Rebecca, £40 each (around £74,000 at today's value). James (3) died on 23 April 1771 and was buried in St John's churchyard on 30 April 1771. His wife Bridget died in Yeovil in 1775 and was buried in St John's churchyard as "Widow Foot" on 20 April 1775.
James Foot (4) was born in Yeovil in 1747 and baptised at St John's church on 3 February 1747. He too was a rope maker and was recorded in the Churchwardens' Accounts for supplying ropes for the church bells every year from his father's death in 1771 until 1785, the year before his own death.
On 25 March 1773 he married Grace Bullock at St John's church. They were to have three children; Mary (b1774), John Hubert (bc1776) and Bridget (b1779) who married James Pickford in Yeovil in 1802. In his will dated 29 December 1785, James (4) left the same house his father had left his mother (which he inherited after her death) to Grace, and on her death to John Hubert. He left £40 each (around £68,000 at today's value) to his two daughters.
James Foot (4) died in Yeovil in 1787 and was buried in St John's churchyard on 17 October.
An indenture dated 23 March 1798 recorded that Grace Foot, widow of James (4), and their son John Hubert Foot described as "of St George, Bloomsbury, Middx, Gent." were paid £21 by Robert Jennings, a Yeovil glazier, "for all that messuage or dwelling house, garden, backside in Yeovil at Pitt Lane next to Richard Mines on the east and the lands formerly of John Clarke on the west, Pitt Lane on the north – length north to south 90ft width east to west 23ft."
Grace Foot died in Yeovil and was buried in St John's churchyard on 16 May 1814.
Gallery
The 1693 marriage record of James Foot (1) from St John's parish register which reads "James Foot and Sarah Abut were maried July the 9"
The 1723 baptism record of James Foot (3) from St John's parish register which reads "James son to James Foot Novem 19".
The 1747 baptism record of James Foot (4) from St John's parish register which reads "James son to James Foot bap Feb 3".
The 1771 burial record of James Foot (3) from St John's parish register which also records hi date of death. It reads "James Foot dide April 23 Buried Ap 30th".
The 1773 marriage record of James Foot (4) and Grace Bullock, both of Yeovil, from St John's parish register.
The 1787 burial record of James Foot (4) from St John's parish register. The number 17 at right indicates 17 October and the number 3 indicates that 3d was paid for "breaking the ground" that is, digging his grave.
The Will of James Foot (3)
I James Foot of
Yeovil,
Somerset, Roper,
weak of body but
sound of mind
and memory.
First I give my
dwelling house
where I live
with garden,
orchard and
backside; also
my land,
tenements to my
wife, Bridget
and my son James
for the use of
my wife, from
immediately
after her
decease or
marriage I
bequeath the
same to my son
James forever. I
give unto my
four daughters,
Jane, Bridget,
Mary and Rebecca
£40 a piece when
they reach the
age of 21 or
married. If any
of them should
die then the
legacy to be
divided amongst
the survivors. I
give my daughter
Jane a large
chest in the
parlour chamber
also all my
remaining goods
and chattels I
give to my wife
and son James
whom I make
joint Executors
and to pay all
my debts out of
the legacies. I
revoke all
former Wills.
Signed and
witnessed by
Joseph Wride,
Thomas Caswell
and William
Phelps
Will dated 12 February 1771
The Will of James Foot (4)
Last Will and
Testament of
James Foot of
Yeovil, Roper. I
give my dwelling
house in which I
live, garden,
orchard and
backside and all
other lands and
tenements to my
wife, Grace and
to my only son
John Hubert Foot
for and during
the natural life
of my wife and
from after her
death or
marriage I give
the above to my
son John Hubert
Foot forever. I
give unto my two
daughters Mary
and Bridget £40
each to be paid
at 21 and if
either of them
should die the
legacy to be
paid to the
survivor. All
the remaining
goods and
chattels etc I
leave to my wife
who I appoint as
my sole
executrix.
Signed and
witnessed by
Mary Foot, John
Bess,
Edmond Batten
Will dated 29 December 1785