Yeovil's Virtual Museum

SARAH BARRETT

Milliner of Church Lane

 

Little is known of Sarah Barrett. She was born in Yeovil in late 1757 and was baptised in St John's church on 4 January 1758. She was the daughter and first child of John Barrett and Mary née Cattle, who were married at St John's church in June 1757.

Sarah later lived in Church Lane, today's Church Street, and from her will it is apparent that she also owned an adjoining cottage and a stable. Also from her will, it is known that she had a brother Charles (b1761) and two sisters; Ann (b1760) and Maria (b1767) - the latter being married in 1793 to Samuel Farley (1767-1857), the son of Lionel Farley (1731-1806). Maria and Samuel had five children; George, John, Ann, Robert and Elizabeth. Therefore her nephews Charles Junior and Henry, and her niece Sarah, mentioned in her will, were presumably the children of her brother Charles, since her sister Ann appears to have been unmarried.

Sarah was a milliner, probably working from her home. On 27 June 1793, she took Mary Lilley as an apprentice and on 23 October 1798 she took Anna Seward as an apprentice.

Sarah Barrett died in August 1810 and she was buried in St John's churchyard on 28 August 1810. Her will was proved 26 June 1811.

 

 

The record of Sarah's 4 January 1758 baptism in St John's parish register.

 

The record of Sarah's 28 August 1810 burial in St John's churchyard, from the parish register.

 

 

From my collection

 

This is the last Will and Testament of me Sarah Barrett of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Spinster. I give and bequeath to my Brother Charles Barrett All that my Dwelling House and garden in my possession, with my Cottage adjoining in the possession of [space for forename]Maidment, and my Stable thereto belonging in the possession of Mr Thomas Andrews together with the appurtenances thereto belonging all situate in Church Lane in Yeovil aforesaid, To hold to the said Charles Barrett his Executors Administrators and Assigns for and during all my Estate Term and Interest therein. All the rest residue and remainder of my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever I give and bequeath to George Wellington, Druggist, and William Buck, Yeoman, both of Yeovil aforesaid, their Executors administrators and assigns Upon trust to sell and dispose of such parts thereof as do not consist of money and to call in such sums as are due to me on Securities or otherwise and after payment of my Debts and funeral Expenses to lend and advance the Money arising by such sale and all other Monies to be received by them by virtue of this my Will, on such Security or Securities as they shall think proper and upon trust to pay out of the interest to arise therefrom the Annuity or yearly sum of ten pounds to my Sister Ann Barrett to whom I give and bequeath the same for and during the Term of her natural life, by equal half yearly payments, on Christmas Day and Midsummer Day in each year, the first payment to be made on such of those Days as shall next happen after my decease and upon trust to pay the residue of the interest to arise from such last mentioned Security or Securities into the proper hands of my Sister Maria Farley to whom I give and bequeath the same for and during the term of her natural life independent of her Husband Sam[ue]l Farley, who is to have nothing to do therewith, nor is the same to be liable to his controul debts or engagements and I direct that her receipt alone shall be a sufficient discharge for the same and upon further trust after the death of the said Ann Barrett to pay the said sum of ten pounds a year also to the said Maria Farley to whom I also give and bequeath the same for and during the term of her natural life, in case she shall survive the said Ann Barrett which I direct shall also be paid into the proper hands of the said Maria Farley, independent of the said Husband, who is to have nothing to do therewith, nor is the same to be liable to his controul debts or engagements and I also direct that her receipt alone shall be a sufficient discharge for the same and upon trust from and after the decease of the said Maria Farley, to pay to my Nephew Charles Barrett the younger to whom I give and bequeath the same the like sum of twenty pounds, to my Niece Sarah Barrett to whom I give and bequeath the same the like sum of twenty pounds, and to my Nephew Henry Barrett to whom I give and bequeath the same the like sum of Twenty pounds, and to pay and divide the residue of the money the interest of which shall have been paid or payable to the said Maria Farley for her life as aforesaid into and equally between all the Children of the said Maria Farley born or to be born and their respective Executors Administrators and Assigns to whom I give and bequeath the same accordingly and in case the said Ann Barrett shall survive the said Maria Farley, by reason whereof it may be necessary to keep a sufficient sum or sums of money as interest to pay the said Annuity of Ten pounds, then from and after the demise of the said Ann Barrett upon trust to pay and divide the sum and sums of Money that shall have been so kept as Interest unto and equally between the said Children of the said Maria Farley respective Executors Administrators and Assigns to whom I give and bequeath the same Provided always and I do hereby direct authorize and empower my said Trustees to advance and pay out of the Interest directed to be paid to the said Maria Farley out of the Principal Money from which such interest shall be payable, as they shall think proper the sum of ten pounds towards the education of my Niece Ann Farley, And I appoint the said George Wellington and William Buck joint Executors of this my Will and do revoke all others by me at any time heretobefore made and do declare this only to be my last Will and Testament and lastly I direct that it shall be lawful for my said Trustees and Executors to reimburse themselves all such loss costs charges damages [charges inserted again] and expenses as they shall sustain pay bear or be put unto in the execution of this my Will, that they shall not be answerable for more monies than they shall receive by virtue hereof and that neither of them shall be answerable for the other In witness whereof I have to this my Will contained in two sheets of paper set my Hand to the first sheet and my Hand and seal to this second and last sheet this eighteenth Day of August 1810.

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testatrix Sarah Barrett as an for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her request in her presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses
W L White          Robt Parsons

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn