Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Francis Boucher

Gentleman and Glover

 

Francis Boucher was born in Yeovil in 1767, the son of Edward Boucher (4) the Younger and Elizabeth née Newman. Francis had three siblings; John, William and Ann.

On 6 November 1783, sixteen-year-old Francis was apprenticed to Yeovil glover John Ryall.

On the death of his father in 1796, Francis inherited Court Ash House, although he was to die just four years later.

 Nothing is known of him after this date until he wrote his will in 1800, in which he described himself as a "Gentleman Glover".

It appears that Francis never married and there is no mention of a spouse or children in his will of 1800. He died on 21 January 1800 and is interred in the family vault in St John's church. He was just 32 years old. His estate was sold and the proceeds divided between his three siblings. Court Ash House was bought by glove manufacturer Henry Collins.

 

 

 

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.

 

 

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 Francis Boucher Gentleman Glover of Yeovil in the County of Somerset is as follows First I give unto my Servant Rachel Club the sum of twenty pounds immediately after my decease and I direct that my just Debts and Funeral Expences be paid after which I give all my Real and Personal Estates whatsoever and wheresoever equally share and share alike to be divided between my Brother John Boucher my Brother William Boucher and my Sister Ann Burge And I do appoint my Brother John Boucher my whole and sole Executor In Witness whereof I have set my Hand and Seal this sixteenth day of January one thousand eight hundred

Francis Boucher

Signed sealed Published and declared to be the last Will and Testament of the said Testator in the presence of three Witnesses

Tho[ma]s Shorland        Tho[ma]s Shorland Junr         Cha[rle]s Holloway

This Will was proved at London the sixth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred before the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne Knight Doctor of Laws [two words illegible] or Commissary of the prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of John Boucher the Brother of the deceased and 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 he having been first sworn by Commission duly to administer

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn