yeovil people
Thomas sydenham
Cordwainer and Currier
Thomas Sydenham was born in Yeovil in 1786. He was the eldest of the nine children of cordwainer, or shoemaker, Nathan Sydenham (1760-1860) and Hannah née Shene (1767-1803).
Little is known of Thomas' early life other than he was a cordwainer like his father and had almost certainly served his apprenticeship with his father. Nathan and Thomas were in partnership but, as published in the London Gazette of 15 May 1813, the partnership was 'dissolved by mutual consent'.
On 7 March 1815 Thomas married Mary Loring at St John's church. It is doubtful that they had children or, if they did, they probably did not survive childhood. Thomas and Mary were living alone (albeit with a servant) in the 1841 census and his will Thomas left all his properties to his wife and several nephews.
Pigot's Directory of 1822 listed Nathan as a Boot & Shoe Maker of Middle Street and his son Thomas was listed as a Boot & Shoe Maker in the Borough. Pigot's Directory of 1830 repeated the listings although by this time Thomas was listed in Hendford.
In fact at this time Hendford included what we now know as the west side of Princes Street as far as Park Road. Thomas appears to have been the part-owner (with surgeon Markes Lambe) of today's 1 & 3 Princes Street, on the corner of today's Westminster Street.
Thomas was listed in the Poll Books of 1832, 1834 and 1846 by virtue of owning a freehold house in Hendford - presumably today's 1 & 3 Princes Street referred to above.
Robson's Directory of 1839 listed Nathan as a Boot & Shoe Maker of Middle Street again but Thomas was not listed, however another son, James Sydenham, was listed as a Boot & Shoe Maker of Belmont. In his later years Thomas described himself as a currier (a person who dresses and colours leather after it is tanned).
The 1841 census listed Thomas and Mary living in Porter's Lane - this was the very narrow lane that was the precursor to today's Westminster Street. Thomas and Mary lived, with a servant, in a house adjacent to what is now the Westminster pub.
Despite being a humble cordwainer and currier, Thomas accrued a considerable number of properties during his lifetime in addition to the Princes Street property referred to above. His will (see below) included
-
a house (at an undisclosed location, possibly their home in Porter's Lane) purchased from Stephen Parkhouse and left to his wife, valued at £350 (around £380,000 at today's value)
-
Seven cottages at Rustywell
-
"my newly erected dwelling house in Back Street or South Street" occupied by John Brett
-
"my dwellinghouse in Middle Street" occupied by Mr Stationer
Thomas Sydenham died in Yeovil in 1847. He was aged 61.
Thomas Sydenham's signature and seal on the 1835 lease in my collection.
gallery
The marriage of Thomas Sydenham and Mary Loring recorded in St John's register.
The Princes
Street elevation
of this lovely
building with
the usual
unsympathetic
twentieth
century ground
floor shop
fronts and
the
inappropriate
removal of lower
glazing bars to
the first floor
fenestration.
Thomas Sydenham
was responsible
for dividing the
building into
two properties,
both shops with
accommodation
over, between
1825 and 1829.
Photographed in
2013.
Will of Thomas Sydenham
This is the last
Will and
Testament
of me Thomas
Sydenham of
Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset Currier
I give and
bequeath all and
singular the
household
furniture books
linen wearing
(word illegible)
and other
apparel plate
china glass
wines liquors
provisions and
other goods and
effects of a
like sort or
(word illegible)
I shall be
possessed of at
the time of my
decease unto my
wife Mary
Sydenham her
executors
administrators
and assigns
absolutely I
give devise and
bequeath all
that messuage or
dwellinghouse
with the (word
illegible)
outhouses garden
stable and
premises
adjoining and
belonging
situate in
Yeovil aforesaid
which I lately
purchased of Mr
Stephen
Parkhouse and
his mortgagees
and which I now
hold for the
life of the said
Stephen
Parkhouse and
also the
reversion in fee
of and in three
undivided fifth
parts of the
same messuage or
dwellinghouse
and premises
expectant on the
decease of the
said Stephen
Parkhouse which
I have also
lately purchased
and all other my
estate and
interest in the
same premises
and also a
policy of
assurance in the
Royal Exchange
Assurance
Company whereby
the life of the
said Stephen
Parkhouse is
assured in the
sum of three
hundred and
fifty pounds and
all and every
sum and sums of
money to be at
any time due and
recoverable upon
or by virtue of
the said policy
unto my said
wife Mary
Sydenham her
heirs executors
administrators
and assigns
according to the
nature thereof
respectively I
devise my seven
cottages or
dwellinghouses
at Rustywell in
the Parish of
Yeovil aforesaid
with the gardens
and other
appurtenances to
the same
respectively
belonging to my
nephews George
Sydenham and
Charles Sydenham
(the sons of my
late brother
Joseph Sydenham)
their heirs and
assigns during
the life of my
sister Mary the
wife of John
Stagg Gill so as
she may not
anticipate the
same and after
her decease I
devise the same
unto her
children their
heirs and
assigns as
tenants in
common provided
always and (word
illegible) my
will to be that
if any of the
children of my
said sister
shall die under
the age of
twenty one years
without being or
having been
married then as
well the
original as the
accruing
hereinbefore
devised shall
from and after
such his or her
decease go to
his or her
respective heirs
and assigns for
ever and if more
than one in
equal shares as
tenants in
common I devise
my newly erected
dwelling house
in Back Street
or South Street
in the Town of
Yeovil aforesaid
and now in the
occupation of
John Brett or
his under
tenants To the
use of my
brother George
Sydenham and his
assigns for his
life without
impeachment of
waste and after
his decease I
devise the same
to his children
their heirs and
assigns as
tenants in
common Provided
always and I
declare my will
to be that if
any of the
children of my
said brother
George Sydenham
shall die under
the age of
twenty one years
without being or
having been
married then as
well the
original as the
accruing share
or shares of
each such child
so dying of or
in the
hereditaments
last
hereinbefore
devised shall
from and after
such his or her
decease (word
illegible) and
be to the use of
the others or
other of the
same children
and their his
other respective
heirs and
assigns for ever
and if more than
one in equal
shares as
tenants in
common I devise
my dwellinghouse
in Middle Street
in Yeovil
aforesaid now in
the occupation
of Mr Gloyne (?)
Stationer with
the
appurtenances to
the same
belonging unto
my said nephew
George Sydenham
his heirs and
assigns I give
to each of my
nephews George
Sydenham and
Walter Sydenham
(sons of my
brother William
Sydenham) the
sum of one
hundred pounds
sterling to be
paid to them
respectively
with interest in
the meantime at
the rate of five
pounds per cent
per annum at the
age of twenty
one years and in
case my said
last named
nephews George
Sydenham and
Walter Sydenham
or either of
them shall die
under the age of
twenty one years
then I direct
that the legacy
bequeathed to
him or them so
dying shall a
one undivided
moiety or half
part of the
residue of my
real estate To
the use of my
said nephew
George Sydenham
the son of my
brother Joseph
Sydenham and his
assigns for his
life without
impeachment or
waste and after
his decease I
devise the same
to his children
their heirs and
assigns as
tenants in
common Provided
always and I
declare my will
to be that if
any of the
children of my
said last
mentioned nephew
George Sydenham
shall die under
the age of
twenty one years
without being or
having been
married then as
well the
original as the
accruing share
or shares of
each such child
so dying of or
in the said
undivided moiety
hereinbefore
devised shall
from and after
such his or her
decease to
remain his or
her respective
heirs and
assigns for ever
and if more than
one in equal
shares as
tenants in
common I devise
the (word
illegible)
undivided moiety
or half part of
the residue of
my said real
estate to the
use of my said
nephew Charles
Sydenham (the
son of my said
late brother
Joseph Sydenham)
and his assigns
for his life
without
impeachment of
waste and after
his decease I
devise the same
to to his
children their
heirs and
assigns as
tenants in
common Provided
always and I
declare my will
to be that if
any of the
children of my
said nephew
Charles Sydenham
shall die under
the age of
twenty one years
without being or
having been
married then as
well the
original as the
accruing share
or shares of
each such child
so dying of or
in the said
undivided moiety
last
hereinbefore
devised shall
from and after
such his or her
decease to
remain and be to
the use of the
others or other
of the same
children and
their his or her
respective heirs
and assigns for
ever and if more
than one in
equal shares as
tenants in
common All the
cost and Residue
of my personal
estate and
effects
whatsoever and
wheresoever I
give and
bequeath unto my
said nephews
George Sydenham
and Charles
Sydenham (the
sons of my late
brother Joseph
Sydenham) their
executors and
administrators
in equal shares
I devise all
real estate
vested in me as
trustee or
mortgagee to the
said last named
George Sydenham
and Charles
Sydenham their
heirs and
assigns subject
to the equities
affecting the
same
respectively I
appoint the last
named George
Sydenham and
Charles Sydenham
to be Executors
of my will
Lastly I revoke
all other wills
In witness
whereof I have
hereunto set my
hand this twenty
seventh day of
July one
thousand eight
hundred and
forty one -
Thomas Sydenham
- Signed by the
said testator in
the presence of
us present at
the same time
who in his
presence and at
his request have
hereunto
subscribed our
names as
witnesses the
words 'his or'
in the first
sheet 'or her'
in the second
sheet and 'eah'
in this sheet
having been
first interlined
and the word
'sixth' having
been first
obliterated in
this sheet and
the word
'seventh'
substituted in
its stead.
John Slade Tho
Udall
This is
a Codicil
to the last will
and testament of
me Thomas
Sydenham of
Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset Currier
which will bears
the date twenty
seventh day of
July one
thousand eight
hundred and
forty one
whereas by my
said will I have
devised and
bequeathed the
dwellinghouse
with the
appurtenances in
the Parish of
Yeovil aforesaid
which I then
held for the
life of Mr
Stephen
Parkhouse and
also the
reversion in fee
of three
undivided fifth
parts of the
same
dwellinghouse
and premises
expectant on the
decease of the
said Stephen
Parkhouse and
all other my
estate and
interest in the
same premises
and also a
policy of
assurance in the
Royal Exchange
Assurance
Company whereby
the life of the
said Stephen
Parkhouse was
assured in the
sum of three
hundred and
fifty pounds and
all monies
recoverable by
virtue of the
said Policy unto
my wife Mary
Sydenham her
heirs executors
administrators
and assigns And
whereas the said
Stephen
Parkhouse has
since departed
this life and I
have received
the money due on
the said policy
and I have since
the date and
execution of my
said will
purchased the
two remaining
fifth parts of
and in the said
dwellinghouse
and premises Now
I do hereby give
and devise the
entirety of the
said
dwellinghouse
with the garden
and other
appurtenances to
the same
belonging now in
the occupation
of Mr John
Swatridge Carver
and Gilder unto
my said wife
Mary Sydenham
and her assigns
for and during
the term of her
Natural life
without
impeachment of
or for any
manner of waste
and from and
after her
decease I give
and devise the
same unto and to
the use of
Thomas Sydenham
Swatridge the
son of the said
John Swatridge
his hirs and
assigns for ever
and I confirm my
said will in
other respects
In witness
whereof I have
hereunto set my
hand this twenty
fifth day of
January one
thousand eight
hundred and
forty seven -
The Mark of Me X
Thomas Sydenham
- Signed by the
said Thomas
Sydenham in the
presence of us
present at the
same time who in
his presence and
at his request
have hereunto
subscribed our
names as
witnesses -
(signature
illegible) John
Slade
Proved
at London with a
Codicil 9th
March 1847
before the Judge
by the oaths of
George Sydenham
and Charles
Sydenham the
Executors to
whom (word
illegible) was
granted having
been first sworn
(words
illegible) only
to administer.