The Document Chest
1848 will of Mary Eaton
Spinster of Middle Street
Very little is known of Mary Eaton, other than she was a spinster of Middle Street. She was born around 1780 but, according to the 1841 census, not in Somerset.
At the time of the 1841 census she was listed living with bootmaker Nathaniel Sydenham and his family in the small shop-cum-house next door to the George Hotel (see Gallery). Mary gave her occupation as being of independent means and her age as 60 (bearing in mind that ages of adults were rounded down to the nearest multiple of five years in this census).
gallery
At left, next to the George Inn, is Nathaniel Sydenham's shop, workshop and home in Middle Street. Mary Eaton lived here during the 1840s. This photograph dates to between 1885 and 1891.
1847 Will of Mary Eaton
In the Name of God Amen I Mary Eaton of Yeovil in the County of Somerset being of sound and disposing mind memory understanding praised be God for the same do make and publish my last Will and Testament in manner following and I appoint Mr Thomas Parton to be my Executor and I bequeath to the same Mr Parton ten pounds I bequeath ten pounds to Edward Clark a nephew ten pounds to Joseph Clark a nephew ten pounds to Charles Clark a nephew ten pounds to Sarah Clark a niece ten pounds to Charles Pottle a nephew ten pounds to Sarah Pottle a niece ten pounds to Ann White Niece five pounds to Emily White five pounds to Ann Pottle ten pounds to Sarah Pottle and the remainder of my money and [word illegible] I am in possession of at my decease I bequeath to my sister Sarah Clark her husband is not to have any part in it she is to receive it herself my just debts and funeral expences and expences of proving this my Will to be paid all former Wills by me made I declare this only to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I the said Mary Eaton the Testator have to this my last Will and Testament set my hand and affixed my seal this the fifteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight.
Signed sealed
published and
declared by the
said Mary Eaton
in the presence
of her
Mary Eaton
Nathan Sydenham William King
In the
Prerogative
Court of
Canterbury
In the Goods of
Mary Eaton
Spinster
deceased
Appeared
Personally
Nathan
Sydenham
of Middle Street
in the parish of
New Hendford
Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset Boot
Maker and made
oath that he is
one of the
subscribed
witnesses to the
last Will and
Testament
hereunto annexed
of Mary Eaton
formerly of
Bruton but late
of Yeovil
respectively in
the County of
Somerset
Spinster
deceased bearing
date this the
fifteenth day of
June in the year
of our Lord one
thousand eight
hundred and
forty eight and
he further made
oath that on the
fifteenth day of
June aforesaid
the said
Testatrix duly
exercised her
said Will by
signing her name
at the foot or
end thereof in
the presence of
this appearer
and of William
King the other
subscribed
witness thereto
both of whom
were present at
the same time
and this
appearer and the
said William
King thereupon
attested and
subscribed the
said Will in the
presence of the
said Testatrix
and of each
other
Nathan Sydenham
On the eighteenth day of December 1848 the said Nathan Sydenham was duly sworn to the truth of this Affidavit by virtue of the annexed Commission - Before me John Williams Commissioner
Proved
at London 23rd
Dec[embe]r 1848
before The
Worshipful John
Haggard Doctor
of Laws and
Surrogate by the
oath of Thomas
Parton the sole
Executor to whom
Adm[inistrati]on
was granted
having been
first sworn duly
to administer.
Transcribed by
Bob Osborn
