The Document Chest
1795 will of Francis Crane parsons
Vicar of Yeovil, 1766 to 1780
In the Name of God Amen
I Francis Crane Parsons of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Clerk do make
and declare this
my last Will and
Testament in
manner following
First I bequeath
my Soul into the
hands of
Almighty God
hoping and
believing a
remission of my
Sins by the
Merits and
[Mediation ?] of
Jesus Christ.
And my body I
commit to the
Earth to be
buried in a
frugal and
decent manner.
And as to my
worldly Estate I
give and devise
as follows I do
give and
bequeath unto my
loving Wife Jane
Parsons all my
Lands Tenements
and Estates
whatsoever lying
and being in the
Parish of
Somerton in the
County aforesaid
To hold to her
my said Wife and
her Assigns for
and during her
natural life
with full power
for her to grant
Leases for the
term of
Fourscore and
nineteen years
determinable on
one two or three
lives
respectively on
such or any
other of my
Messuages
Tenements or
Lands lying in
the Parish of
Somerton
aforesaid which
are now held for
years
determinable on
lives so as the
ancient and
accustomed rents
and services or
more be reserved
one or made
payable thereon.
And from and
after the
decease of my
said Wife I give
my said Lands
and Estates
lying in the
Parish of
Somerton
aforesaid unto
my Son Henry
Parsons and his
Heirs for ever
charged and
chargeable
nevertheless And
I do hereby
charge the same
with the payment
of One thousand
pounds to be
paid immediately
on the decease
of my said Wife
in equal shares
and proportions
to and among all
and every my
Younger
Children. Also I
give unto my
said Wife my
Dwelling house
with the
appurtenances in
the Town of
Bridgwater in
the said County
of Somerset for
and during her
natural life and
after her
decease I give
the said
Dwellinghouse to
my Son Henry
Parsons in Trust
that he may sell
the same to the
best advantage
and divide the
monies arising
from such Sale
to and among his
Four Brothers
viz Charles,
James, John, and
William Parsons.
Also I give and
devise all other
my real and
personal Estate
whatsoever or
wheresoever not
hereinbefore
mentioned and
devised unto my
s[ai]d loving
Wife in trust to
sell and dispose
of my Estates at
Yeovil and
Weston Zoyland
and also all
other real or
personal Estates
I am possessed
of or intitled
to under the
Will of the late
John Evered Eq.
at such times
and in such
manner as she
shall think
proper and to
divide the
monies arising
from such Sales
together with
all other monies
as may be due to
me on Securities
or otherwise
unto and among
all and every my
Younger Children
(Sons and
Daughters) in
equal shared and
proportions and
to be paid to
them
respectively at
such time or
times as my said
Wife in her
Judgement and
Discretion shall
think proper (my
just Debts and
Funeral being
first
discharged).
Also it is my
Will and desire
and I do hereby
order and direct
that whichsoever
of my Sons shall
survive my said
Wife and be at
her decease my
eldest Son and
intitled to my
Somerton Estate
(but subject to
the payment of
One thousand
pounds as
aforesaid) shall
not in such Case
be intitled to
and share or
part of any
other my real or
personal Estate
but the same
shall go to and
be divided
amongst all and
every of my
younger Children
in manner before
mentioned. Also
I give unto my
said Wife the
fair and
reasonable use
of and enjoyment
of all my
Household Goods
Plate and
Utensils of
Household (not
herein given)
that shall be in
and about my
said Dwelling at
the time of my
decease. And
from and after
the death of my
said Wife I give
the same to and
among all my
Younger Children
share and share
alike. Also I
give unto my Son
Henry Parsons my
Gold Watch and
Seal. Also I
give unto my Son
Henry Parsons
all the Books he
has of mine in
his possession.
All my Books at
Yeovil I give
unto my Son John
Parsons. Also I
give unto my Son
Henry Parsons my
large Silver Cup
and Cover. Also
I give unto my
Son Charles
Parsons my large
Silver Jug. Also
I give unto my
Son James
Parsons (after
his Mothers
decease) my four
large
Candlesticks
Also I give unto
my Daughter
Eliz[abeth]
Parsons (after
her Mothers
decease) my
Silver Tea
kettle and Lamp.
Also I give unto
my Daughter
Susan Parsons
(after her
Mothers decease)
my large Silver
Salver. Also I
give unto my
Daughter Ann
Parsons (after
her Mothers
decease) my
Silver Tea Pot
and Stand. All
my other Plate I
give unto my
Wife Jane
Parsons to be
divided amongst
my other younger
Children as she
thinks right.
And lastly I do
appoint my said
Wife Sole
Executrix of
this my last
Will and
Testament hereby
revoking all
other Wills by
me made. In
Witness whereof
I have hereunto
set my hand and
seal this first
day of March One
thousand seven
hundred and
ninety five
F C Parsons
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Francis Crane Parsons as
and for his last
Will in the
presence of us
Thomas Andrews
James Thorn
Fran[ci]s
Riggall
Whereas I
Francis Crane
Parsons of Yeovil in the County of Somerset
have made and
duly executed my
last Will and
Testament
bearing date on
or about first
day of March One
thousand seven
hundred and
ninety five. Now
I do hereby
declare this
present writing
to be as a
Codicil to my
said Will and
direct the same
to be annext
thereto and
taken as part
thereof. And
whereas by my
said Will I did
give and
bequeath (after
the decease of
my Wife) All my
real and
Personal Estate
and Effects
(except my
Capital Messuage
or Farm at
Somerton and
House at
Bridgwater) to
and among all my
younger Children
share and share
alike. Now as I
did advance and
give unto my two
eldest Daughters
Jane and
Elizabeth
Parsons at their
respective
marriages the
sum of Five
hundred pounds
piece I
do hereby revoke
any claim my
said Daughters
Jane and
Elizabeth may
have upon my
said effects
after the
decease of my
said Wife And I
do give unto
them my said
Daughters Jane
and Elizabeth
only an equal
share of the
residuum of my
effects after
all their
younger Brothers
and Sisters have
been paid Five
hundred pounds a
piece as they
were at their
respective
marriages. And
whereas I did
advance and give
un to my
Daughter Susanna
at her
respective
marriage the
like sum of Five
hundred pounds I
do hereby revoke
any claim my
said Daughter
Susanna may have
upon my said
effects after
the decease of
my said Wife And
I do give her
the further sum
of Five hundred
pounds in lieu
of any claim or
demand she may
have upon my
said effects and
for which I gave
a Security at
her said
Marriage In
Witness whereof
I the said
Francis Crane
Parsons have to
this my said
Codicil set my
hand and seal
this ninth day
of June One
thousand seven
hundred and
ninety six
F C Parsons
Signed Sealed and Published as and for a Codicil to be annexed to his last
Will and
Testament and to
be taken as part
thereof in the
presence of us
James Thorn Moses
Allen
Directions & ye plain meaning of my Will w[hi]ch I hope will be adhered to without any
disputes among
my Children viz
–
That my Wife shall receive ye rents & profits of all my Estates together
with all
Interest of
monies in ye
Funds or other
Securities
during her life.
That if an opportunity offers of marrying any of her Children I w[oul]d
advise her to
advance towards
their portions –
the same as I
gave my other
three Daughters
on their
respective
marriages.
That after her decease my eldest Son to have my Estate at Somerton paying
out of it £1000
among his
Brothers &
Sisters as
directed in my
Will.
That my House in B[ridg]Water may be sold & ye monies divided between my 4
younger Sons.
That as Mrs Ridout will be intitled after mine & my Wife’s Death to 500 more
it is my serious
request that if
my Wife sh[oul]d
outlive me &
shall have it in
her power either
from any Legacy
from my Sister
or her own that
she w[oul]d make
all her younger
Children equal
to Mrts Ridout
That if it sh[ould ?] be ever in my Wife’s power to make her Daughters’
Fortunes 1000
each that ye
residuum (if
any) might be
divided amongst
my 4 younger
Sons.
That if my Wife sh[ould] not out live her own Sister or mine it is my dying
request to them
that whatever
monies they may
choose to give
into my Family
to divide it in
that manner as
to make all my
younger Children
equal.
The Somerset Map I give top Harry.
My own riding mare & Colt I give to James.
The Mahogany Tea Table in ye Parlour I wish Mrs Hooper to have after her
Mothers Decease.
As I have given all my Books at Yeovil to John, it is at the same time my
desire that
Harry shall take
his choice of
six sets of
Sermons &
likewise [Cauldens
?] Brittania
Vols And that
Charles shall
have Crockers
Dictionary.
Let me be buried in a plain frugal manner without any Pall Bearers – the
Curate of
Rimpton to
perform ye
Service.
Let a Grave be dug in ye bottom of ye new Vault in Yeovil Church deep enough
just to take ye
Coffin & a thin
Stone upon it.
The same might
be made (when an
occasion) by ye
[word illegible]
of it.
A Single marble Slab without any Ornaments might be placed between ye
Windows over ye
Vault just
mentioning In
memory of F CV
Parsons A: M
Chaplain to Vere
Earl Poulett 14
y[ea]rs Vicar of
this Town &
Prebendary of
East Harptry in
ye [Ch ?] of
Wells –
Afterwards Rect[or]
of Limpsham &
Rimpton in ye
County of
Somerset
[inserted ? =
N.B. Born in
1731] Room might
be left at the
bottom to insert
(& w[hi]h I hope
may be many Y[ea]rs
after) Also Jane
Parsons the
affectionate
Wife of ye above
F. C.Parsons
aged [blank
space] – And (if
she approves
Mother of 15
Children.
Sept[ember] 10th 1797
F.C.
Parsons
N.B. As to my Manuscript Sermons – Many of them ought to be burnt If Harry
thinks any of
them worth his
transcribing he
is welcome to do
it They may
remain with
John.
My Last Legacy & Recommendation to all my Children From God be dutiful to
your Mother &
live in Unity &
Love
F.C. Parsons
Appeared Personally William Parker the elder of Bridgwater in the County of Somerset Gentleman
and Wyndham
Goodden of
Clifton in the
County of
Gloucester
Esquire and
being severally
Sworn on the
Holy Evangelists
to depose the
truth made in
Oath and follows
that they knew
and were well
acquainted with
The Reverend
Francis Crane
Parsons late of
Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset Clerk
deceased and
also with his
manner &
character of
handwriting
having often
seen him write
and subscribe
his name and now
viewing and
carefully
perusing the
papers writing
hereunto annexed
purporting to be
and contain the
last Will and
Testament with
three Codicils
of the said
deceased the
said Will
beginning thus
“In the name of
God I Francis
Crane Parsons of
Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset Clerk
do make and
declare this my
last Will and
Testament in
manner
following”
ending “In
Witness whereof
I have hereunto
set my hand and
seal this first
day of March One
thousand seven
hundred and
ninety five” F:
C: Parsons” the
first Codicil
beginning
thus
“Whereas I
Francis Crane
Parsons of
Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset have
made and duly
executed my last
Will and
Testament
bearing date on
or about first
day of March One
thousand seven
hundred and
ninety five”
ending thus “In
Witness whereof
I the said
Francis Crane
Parsons have to
this my said
Codicil set my
hand and seal
this ninth day
of June One
thousand seven
hundred and
ninety six” and
thus subscribed
“F: C: p[arsons”
the second
Codicil
beginning thus
“Directions & ye
plain meaning of
my Will w[hi]ch
I hope will be
adhered to
without any
disputes among
my Children viz”
ending thus
“Also Jane
Parsons the
affectionate
Wife of ye above
F: C: Parsons
aged [blank
space] – And (if
she approves
Mother of 15
Children” and
thus subscribed
“F. C. Parsons”
the third
Codicil
beginning thus
“N.B. As to my
Manuscript
Sermons many of
them ought to be
burnt [“] ending
thus “My last
Legacy &
recommendation
to all my
Children From
God be dutiful
to your Mother &
live in Unity &
Love” and thus
subscribed “F.
C. Parsons” they
these Appearers
do verily and in
their
consciences
believe the
whole body [word
illegible] and
contents of the
second and third
Codicil and trhe
said names F: C:
Parsons and F:
C: Parsons
thereto set and
subscribed to be
all of the
proper hand
writing and
subscription of
the said Francis
Crane Parsons
deceased
Wyndham Goodden
Wm Parker
The seventeenth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand seven
hundred and
ninety eight the
said William
parker and
Wyndham Goodden
only Signed and
were Sworn to
the truth of
this Affidavit
at Yeovil in the
said County of
Somerset by
virtue of the
Commission
hereunto annexed
before me H
Parsons
Commissioner
This Will was proved at London with three Codicils the twenty fourth day of May in
the year of our
Lord One
thousand seven
hundred and
ninety eight
before The Right
Honourable Sir
William Wynne
Knight Doctor of
Laws Master
Keeper or
Commissary of
the Prerogative
Court of
Canterbury
lawfully
constituted by
the Oath of Jane
parsons Widow
the relict of
the deceased and
Sole Executrix
named in the
Will to whom
Administration
was granted of
all and singular
the Goods
Chattels and
Credits of the
said deceased
having been
first Sworn by
Commission duly
to Administer
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
