Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Edward Boucher (4)

Edward Boucher the Younger, Gentleman of Court Ash House

 

Edward Boucher the Younger was born in Yeovil in 1724. He was the only son of brick and tile manufacturer Edward Boucher (3) the Elder and his wife Betty. Edward the Younger had two sisters; Ann (1716-1740) and Betty (1718-1742).

On 8 June 1757, Edward married Elizabeth Newman (1727-1796), daughter of John Newman of Barwick House, at St John's church. They were to have at least four children; John, William, Francis (1767-1800) and Ann.

A Lease and Release dated 5/6 October 1773 recorded dealings between Joseph Hodges of Yeovil, innholder, Edward Burton, surgeon, and Edward Boucher the Younger, gent. of Yeovil for a Messuage in Pitt Lane or Middle Street, formerly called The Higher Three Cups and now known as The Castle. Bond for £300 between above in trust for Mary Sealy, daughter of Samuel Sealy, glover of Yeovil, decd. and Mary his wife also decd.

When his father died in 1786, Edward the Younger inherited his father's home, Court Ash House. At the time of his father's death, his mother Elizabeth and his two sisters had both died.

In the 20 September 1792 edition of the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette, Edward was listed as "Edward Boucher, gent of Yeovil" in the list of those paying duty Somerset Game Certificates.

Edward Boucher died in Yeovil on 28 August 1794, aged 70, and was buried in a vault in St John's church on 3 September 1794. His wife Elizabeth died on 15 September 1798 aged 71.

 

 

 

John Boucher (towards top right) inherited Court Ash House from his uncle, Edward Boucher (1) and left it in his will to his own nephew Edward Boucher (3), who in turn left it to his own son Edward Boucher (4) and he, in turn, left it to his son Francis Boucher.

 

 

The record of the 6 June 1757 marriage of Edward Boucher (4) and Elizabeth Newman from St John's parish register.

 

A contemporary sketch of Court Ash House by an unknown artist.

 

The memorial in St John's church listing those members of the Boucher family who were interred in the family vault within the church - Ann, Betty and Edward (4) - the children of Edward (3) and Betty. Elizabeth, wife of Edward (4) and Francis, the son of Edward (4) and Elizabeth.

 

 

This is the Last Will and Testament of me Edward Boucher of Yeovill in the County of Somerset Gentleman I Give and Devise unto my Wife Elizabeth Boucher the Front best parlour with the Bed Room over the same the Bed Room over the Kitchen and the Cellar under the back parlour in the Dwelling House in which I now live To hold the same to my said wife and her Assigns for ever during the Term of her natural Life I also Give to my said Wife full Liberty power and authority to use the Kitchen of the same House for Dressing victuals or for any other purpose not exclusively but in Common with my Son John Boucher for and during the Term of her natural Life I Give and Bequeath to my Son William Boucher (over and above the several Sums of Money that I have already from time to time given him) the Sum of three hundred pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid him in twelve Months after my Decease by my Executor hereinafter named I Give and Devise unto my Son Francis Boucher all that my Dwelling House Workshops Barn Stable Outhouses Gardens Orchard and Premises with the Appurt[enance]s called Court Ash together with the Orchard thereunto adjoining and which I purchased of the late John Old Goodford Esquire all situate at Yeovil aforesaid To hold the said Dwelling House Workshops Barns Stable Outhouses Gardens Orchard and Premises with the Appurt[enance]s unto the said Francis Boucher his Heirs and Assigns for ever I Give and Bequeath to my said Son Francis Boucher (over and above the several Sums of Money that I have already from time to time given him) the Sum of one hundred pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain to be paid him in twelve Months after my Decease by my Executor hereinafter named And whereas I am by two several Bonds or Obligations at the special Instance and request and for the only proper Debt of my said Son Francis Boucher together with my said Son Francis Boucher [ever ?] and firmly bound to Francis Grano Parsons of Yeovil aforesaid Clerk for securing to the said Francis Grano Parsons the several Sums of one hundred pounds and one hundred pounds and Interest therein mentioned Now I do hereby Direct my Executor hereinafter named to pay off and Discharge the said Sums of one hundred pounds and one hundred pounds and the Interest due on such Bonds or Obligations within twelve Months next after my Decease and in Default [therewith ?] I do Give and Bequeath unto my Son Francis Boucher the further Sum of two hundred pounds to be paid him at the end of the said twelve Months [two words illegible] that may be then due on such Bonds [several words illegible] him my said Son Francis Boucher to take up and Control such Bonds I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Ann the Wife of Mr Samuel Burge and to the said Samuel Burge to buy them Mourning Rings the Sum of two Guineas each and in [word illegible] having advanced my said Daughter her Fortune on her Marriage with the said Samuel Burge and if the said Edward Boucher by virtue of the power and powers authority and authorities to me [word illegible] and given in and by certain Indentures of Lease or [word illegible] bearing Date the second and third Days of June one thousand seven hundred and Fifty seven purporting to be a settlement made on my marriage with my said Wife and also [my land ?] by certain Articles bearing Date the said third Day of June one thousand seven hundred and Fifty seven made and or secured into on my said marriage and by [word illegible] of all other power and powers authority and authorities any ways enabling me the security as by this my last will and Testament in writing executed in the presence of the three Credible persons whose Names are [several words illegible] as Witnesses Give Devise Bequeath [limit ?] appoint all and singular the Lands Tenements and Her[e]dit[ament]s and all and every Sum and Sums of Money Mentioned and Comprized in the said Indentures and Articles from and Immediately after the Decease of my said Wife unto my said Son John Boucher To hold to him his Heirs Executors Adm[inistra]tors and Assigns for ever and the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Real and personal Estate whatsoever and whosoever I Give Devise and Bequeath to my said Son John Boucher To [lives ?] to him his Heirs Executors Adm[inistra]tors and Assigns for ever And I do nominate Constitute and appoint my said Son John Boucher my whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all others by me at any time heretofore made and declaring this only to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I the said Edward Boucher have to this m last Will and Testament contained in two sheets of paper set my hand to the first sheet and to this last sheet my hand and Seal this twenty Fifth Day of August in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety Four

Edward Boucher

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Testator Edward Boucher as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses

WL White      Jno Maundrell      Jno Harvey Junr

This Will was proved at London the twenty second Day of April in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety Five before the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of laws master Hooper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of John Boucher the Son of the Deceased and the sole Executor named in the said Will to whom Administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased was granted having first sworn duly to Administer

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn