Yeovil's Virtual Museum

William & Edward Forbes

Gentlemen and proprietors of the Angel Inn

 

Edward Forbes was born in Yeovil and baptised at St John's church on 30 July 1700. He was the son of William Forbes, the owner of the Angel Inn, standing in Hendford and facing High Street. He also owned lands at Lyde - probably Great Lyde Farm - all of which he left to his son Edward (see below). William also had a son John (d1744) and daughters Betty and Ann, who was married to Edward Jarman.

William Forbes died in Yeovil in 1726.

In 1761 Edward Forbes, then proprietor of the Angel Inn, was noted as the proud owner of a celebrated 'museum' in the kitchen of the inn (for full description see here). Included among Mr Forbes' curiosities was a panel now housed in the Community Heritage Access Centre at Lufton. It is of painted and gilded gesso on oak boards.

It appears that Edward never married and, in turn, left his personal and real estates (see below) to his nephew Bani John Forbes, the son of Edward's brother John and his wife Elizabeth.

Edward Forbes died in Yeovil in 1771.

 

 

A section of an 1810 image showing High Street from the Borough with the Angel Inn at centre. The inn was owned in turn by William Forbes, then his son Edward Forbes and then by Edward's nephew Bani John Forbes .

 

 

In the Name of God Amen I William Forbes of Yeovill in the County of Somerset Gent being in good health of Body and of a sound and disposing Mind and Memory thanks be therefore given to Almighty God for the same do make this my last Will and Testament in Manner and Form following that is to say Imprimis I give devise and bequeath all my Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever and wheresoever within the County of Somerset Kingdom of England whereof or wherein I have any Estate of Inheritance in Fee simple either in possession or Reversion unto my Son Edward Forbes his Heirs and Assigns for ever subject to the Charges hereinafter particularly mentioned Item I give unto my Son John Forbes one Annuity of Ten Pounds per Annum payable at two half yearly payments during his life chargeable upon and issuing out of the House adjoining to the Angel Inne in Yeovill aforesaid and in case my said Son John shall dye and shall happen to leave any Issue Male of his Body lawfully begotten such Issue Male shall during their respective Lives as they shall be in Seniority of Age and one after the other enjoy the said Annuity Item I give unto my Daughter Betty Forbes one Annuity or yearly Tent Charge of twenty pounds per annum payable at two half yearly payments during her natural Life chargeable upon and issuing out of my Lands at Lyde and [Caroles?] Pitt but in Case my said Daughter Betty shall marry then I give her the Sum of Four hundred pounds to be payd her at One hundred pounds per Annum from the Time of her Marriage until the whole is pays and that from such her Marriage the said Annuity shall cease Item I give one Annuity or yearly Rent Charge of Five Pounds per Annum payable at two half yearly payments unto my Daughter Ann Jarman during the term of her natural Life chargeable upon and issuing out of my House commonly called or knowne by the Name of the Angel Inn in Yeovill aforesaid which said Annuity is not to commence till after the death of Edward Jarman her present Husband item I give to the Charity School of Yeovill aforesaid for ever the yearly Sum of Ten Shillings and to such poor people of the parish of Yeovill as have not relief from the said Parish I give ten Shillings yearly forever to be distributed in Bread yearly In Christmas Day and its my desire and meaning that in Case any or either of the aforesaid Annuityes or Rent Charges herein before by me given shall be behind and unpayd by the Space of three Months next after any or either of the said Days and Times of payment whereon the same ought to be payd as aforesaid being lawfully demanded and not payd then it shall and may be lawful to and for the said several and respective Annuitants herein before named to take Distress in and upon the aforesaid several and respective Premises charged with the several and respective Annuityes and for want of Distress to sufer thereupon and the same premises To hold possess and enjoy until the said Annuityes and all [Messuages?] thereof together with all such Costs and Charges as they [word illegible] or either of them shall be at or be put unto shall be fully payd and satisfied Item all the Rest and Residue of my personal Estate Goods and Chatiles not herein before by me given I give devise and bequeath unto my said Son Edward whom I make full whole and sole Executor of this my Will hereby revoking all former Wills by me made and declaring this only to be my last Will IN Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this First Day of December Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and twenty four

W Forbes

Signed Sealed published and declared by the waid William Forbes to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have on his Request and in his presence subscribed our Names as Witnesses hereto

Will Waddon     Edwd Hayward     Jam Hooper

 

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn

 

 

 

This is the last Will and Testam[en]t of me Edward Forbes of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Gentleman First I Commend my Soul to God through Christ and my Body to the Earthed to be decently buried at the discretion of my Nephew and Executor hereinafter named I give and devise my Messuage or Dwelling House in Yeovil aforesaid called the Angel Inn with the Outhouses Stables Court Yards and Gardens to the same Messuage or Dwelling House belonging unto my Nephew Bani John Forbes and his assigns for and during the term of his natural Life and from and after his decease I Give and devise the same Estate and premises unto Edward Forbes the Eldest Son of the said Bani John Forbes to hold to him his Heirs and Assigns forever And I do hereby Will and Direct that immediately after my decease a true and perfect Inventory or particular be made and taken by my Executor hereafter named of all my Household Goods Utensils Furniture Plate China Collection of Rarieties and Curiosities in or belonging to my said House called the Angel Inn and Signed by the Executor and the persons who shall Inventory the same And that one Copy thereof be Filed in the Court whereof Probate shall be made of this my said Will and another be kept by my Executor herein after named And my will is that All such Household Goods Utensils Furniture Plate China Collection of Rarieties and Curiosities shall be used and Enjoyed (but not to be Sold and disposed off) by the respective Persons to whom the Freehold and Inheritance of the said House shall for the time being belong or Appertain To the intent that the same Household Goods Utensils Furniture Plate China Collection of Rarieties and Curiosities may be in the Nature of Heir Looms and go along with the said House as far as the Rules of Law and Equity will permitt Also I give and devise my Messuage or Dwelling House adjoining unto the Angel Inn  with all and Singular the Appurtenances there unto belonging late in the possession of Mrs Jane Foulkes unto my Nephew Bani John Forbes and his assigns for and during the term of his natural Life and from and after his decease I give and devise the same unto Mary his now Wife if She survives her said Husband for and during the Term of her natural Life in Case she shall so long Continue a Widow and unmarried and from and after their several deceases or other [Survivor?] determination of the said Mary Forbes Estate in the Premises by a Second Marriage I Give and devise the same Estate and Premises unto the said Edward Forbes Son of my said Nephew Bani John Forbes To hold unto him his Heirs and assigns for ever Also I Give and devise unto my Nephew Bani John Forbes all my Estate and Lands called Lyde Situate and Lying and being in Yeovil aforesaid for and during the term of his natural Life and from and after his decease I give and devise the same Estate and Premises unto John Forbes Son of the said Nephew Bani John Forbes To hold to him his Heirs and assigns for ever I also Give and devise unto my said Nephew Bani John Forbes my House and Malthouse now occupied by Mr John Kitson for and during the Term of his natural Life and from and after his decease I give and devise the same Premises with all and singular their Appurt[enance]s unto the said John Forbes Son of the said Bani John Forbes To hold unto him his Heirs and assigns for ever Also I Give and devise unto my said Nephew Bani John Forbes my Estate and lands called Gospit [Note - probably Goldspit in the Milford area] for and during the Term of his natural Life and from and after his decease I give and devise the same Estate unto Ann Forbes daughter of the said Bani John Forbes for and during the Term of her natural Life and from and after her decease I give and devise the same unto the Heirs of her Body Lawfully to be begotten and in default of such Issue I give and devise the same unto the said Edward Forbes Son of the said Bani John Forbes To hold to him his Heirs and assigns for ever Also I Give and devise unto my Nephew Bani John Forbes all my personal Estate which shall be Found due and owing unto me at the time of my decease on Securities of any kind or in the Publick Funds or Companys In Trust for all and every the younger Child and Children not herein and hereby provided For of my said Nephew Bani John Forbes by Mary his now Wife begotten or to be begotten Share and Share alike when they and Each and every of them shall attain their respective age of twenty one Years and I do hereby will and direct that the Interest and Produce of the Trust Moneys by me hereby given shall be placed out in some or one of the Publick Funds or on good Securities from time to time by the said Bani John Forbes his Executors or Adm[inistrat]ors when the same shall ammount Unto the Sum of one hundred pounds and be divided amongst the younger Children of my said of my said of my said Nephew Bani John Forbes in like manner as the Principal Moneys before bequeathed Also I Give and devise all and singular other my Real Estates in Yeovil or Elsewhere not before given and disposed off by this my will unto my Nephew Bani John Forbes assigns for and during the term of his natural Life and from and after his decease I give and devise the same unto the said Edward Forbes  his Son To hold to him his Heirs and assigns for ever And all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Personal Estate not hereinbefore disposed off I do give unto my said Nephew Bani John Forbes And do make him Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I the said Edward Forbes have to this my Last Will and Testament containing three sheets of paper to each Sheet set my hand and Seal this Ninth day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Nine

E Forbes

Signed Sealed Published and declared by the said Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at the request of the said testator have attested the same in the presence of the said Testator and of each other

Benj. Barry   Edwd Burton   John Allambridge

 

This Will was proved at London the twenty eighth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy one before the Right Worshipful George Hay Doctor of Laws Master Keeper of Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Lawfully constituted by the Oath of Bani John Forbes the Nephew of the deceased and Sole Executor named in the said Will to whom adm[inistrati]on was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased he having been First sworn by Commission duly to administer

 

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn