Yeovil's Virtual Museum

William BoWzey

Innholder of Yeovill

 

William Bowzey (also recorded as Bozey, Bosey, Bose, Bozie, Boozey and Bewsey) was born in Yeovil in 1686 and was baptised at St John's church on 27 September 1686. He was the son of John Bozey.

On 13 June 1714, at Sherborne, Dorset, William married Mary Ridout (d pre-1745). They were to have five children, all baptised in Sherborne except Sarah; William (d1718), Edward (b1715), John (1718-1805), Mary (b1721) and Sarah (b 1728, bap 23 October 1728 at St John's church).

William was an innholder of Yeovil, although the hostelry he was the licensee of is unknown.

It is not known when William's wife Mary died, but in October 1743 he married Mary, the widow of Yeovil glover Samuel Beauchamp (d1733). The marriage was clearly not a love match, as he made his daughter Sarah, wife of Daniel Ridgeway, his sole executrix and left his wife one shilling (already having settled £120 - around £20,000 at today's value - on her at their marriage).

William Bowzey died in Yeovil in April 1745 and was buried in St John's churchyard on 15 April 1745. He was age 60.

 

 

The record of William Bozey's baptism of 27 September 1686, from St John's parish register.

 

The record of the 13 June 1714 marriage of William Boozey and Mary Ridout from the Sherborne parish register.

 

The record of William Bozey's burial of 15 April 1745, from St John's parish register.

 

 

I William Bowzey of Yeovill in the County of Somerset Innholder being of sound Memory Do this day the ninth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred Forty five make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say Imprimis I give to my son John Bowzey now in his Majestys Service the sum of five hundred and Fifty pounds On this Condition that if my said Son do not return to Yeovill or should dye beyond the Seas or in any part of England before he returns to Yeovill the Place of his Nativity in the said County of Somerset That then my Will is that my Executrix herein after named shall pay out of the said Legacy of five hundred and Fifty pounds the following Legacys that is to say To Grace Robinson of Yeovill Widow Five pounds To Sarah Chappell of Yeovill Widow Five pounds To Elizabeth Marsh Wife of William Marsh of Bristol Tobacco Cutter Five pounds To Sarah Butts Wife if Francis Butts of Yeovill Shoemaker Five pounds To Dorothy Johnson Wife of Samual Johnson of Yeovill Glove Cutter Five pounds To Giles Gillet of Yeovill Sexton Five pounds To John Farley of Yeovill Innholder Five pounds Hannah Humber Wife of Richard Humber Five pounds To John Farley Infant Son of the said John Farley the sum of ten pounds to bear Interest immediately from my Decease And in case my Said Son John Bowzey do return to Yeovill as aforesaid And that the said Infant should dye before the Age of Fourteen years my Will is that the said Sum of ten pounds and Interest from the day of my Decease shall be paid to Mary Farley the Daughter of the abovesaid John Farley And if it should so happen that my said Son John Bowzey should return at any time after my Decease to Yeovill as aforesaid my Will is that my Executrix do pay to every one of the above named Legatees the sum of One Guinea Each Item all the rest and residue of my Goods Chattells and Personal Estate whatsoever whether in Bonds Bills Notes Book Debts or any other Securitys whatsoever I give to my Daughter Sarah Bowzey And I make and ordain her my said Daughter Sole Executrix of this my Will And whereas some time in the month of October in the year One thousand Seven hundred Forty three I marryed with Mary Beauchamp Widow and Relict of Samuel Beauchamp of Yeovill Glover and gave to the said Mary now my Wife a Marriage Bond or Instrument to pay the sum of One hundred and twenty pounds to her And Whereas I have ever since permitted my Said Wife to keep a separate Trade for the good of her self and her Family and having never meddled [inserted = "with any of her Effects"] with which she was invested at the time of my Marriage nor at any time since I do hereby [inserted = "Order"] my Executrix above not to pay the said Sum of One hundred and twenty pounds but to defend the [word illegible] payment thereof by Law [inserted = "And I give to my said Wife One Shilling and no more"] And I make my Loving Friends William Dorrington and Samuel Kitson both of Yeovill my Overseers of this my Will to see it duly Executed In Witness whereof I the said William Bowzey have to this my last Will and testament Set my hand and Seal the day and year above written
X the mark of William Bowzey
Signed Sealed delivered and declared by the said William Bowzey as and for his last Will and Testament in the Presence of us who were present at the Signing and Sealing thereof After the Interlineation of And I give to my said wife One shilling and no more - and Hannah Humber Wife of Rich[ar]d Humber five pounds
Wm Donn Richd Mines

This Will was proved at London the twenty third day of November in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Forty five Before the Right Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted By the Oath of Sarah Ridgway otherwise Bowzey (Wife of Daniel Ridgeway) the Daughter and Sole Executrix named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and Singular the Goods Chattells and Credits of the said Deceased being first Sworn by Commission only to Administer

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn