Yeovil People
The Brook Family
Generations of Yeovil Tenant Farmers
John
Brook the Elder
John Brook the Elder was born in Kingstone (just southeast of Ilminster on the Crewkerne Road) on 21 November 1771, the eldest of the three children of Robert Brook the Younger (b1742) of Allowenshay (between Kingstone and Dinnington and recorded at the time as Allswinson) and his wife Elizabeth née Minson (b1751).
On 4 December 1797, John married Elizabeth Lukins at Dinnington. They were to have nine children - Mary (1798-1881), Joseph (1799-1882), Hannah (b1801), John Brook the Younger (1808-1888), William (b1810), Robert (1811-1885), George (1813-1871), Henry (b1818) and Elisabeth (1820-1821).
By 1810, John Brook the Elder and Elizabeth had moved their small family to Yeovil where their fifth son, Henry, was born. John was the tenant farmer of Aldon Farm. The 1841 census, recorded that 70-year-old John Brook the Elder was a yeoman of Brunswick Street, together with Elizabeth, and that his sons John the Younger (1808-1888) and Robert (1811-1885) were both listed as farmers of Brunswick Street. It will be seen from the following that it is most likely they all lived in Brunswick Street at this time, but farmed at various farms on the edge of Yeovil - certainly John the Elder worked at Aldon Farm.
The 29 March 1845 edition of the Sherborne Mercury reported on a meeting of the Vestry, in which it was noted "Mr Henry Bryant Phelps and Mr John Brook were appointed Surveyors of the Highways for the ensuing year."
In February 1846, father and son William and John Anstice announced they were quitting Key Farm on the Dorchester Road and the sale was advertised in the 28 February 1846 edition of the Sherborne Mercury (see Gallery). The Key Farm tenancy was purchased by John Brook the Elder.
Sadly John Brook the Elder died at Key Farm in 1847 - the year after the purchase. The 6 November 1847 edition of the Sherborne Mercury reported the demise of John Brook "October 31, at Key Farm, Yeovil, Mr Brookes, yeoman, at the advanced age of 77."
Joseph Brook
Joseph Brook was the eldest child of John Brook the Elder and Elizabeth and he was the first to leave home. In December 1829, 21-year-old Joseph Brook "Yeoman of Up Cerne, Dorset", applied for a license (see Gallery) to marry Mary Dampney née Smith. They were married on 23 February 1830 at St John's church, Yeovil.
The 1841 census recorded Joseph as a yeoman of Brimsmore Tree Farm, together with Mary and their four children; Robert Smith (b1831), Elisabeth (1832-1860), Ann (b1834) and George (b1837). They were at the farm in 1837 when George was baptised at St John's church.
The 1851 census was all but identical except that Mary's two youngest children from her first marriage to Thomas Dampney (1784-1827) were also living at the farm; Sarah Dampney (b1821) and William Dampney (b1825). In the census, Joseph gave his occupation as "Farmer of 176 Acres Employing 4 Men". By 1861, the two Dampney children (now aged 33 and 31 respectively) were the only 'children' living with Joseph and Mary.
The 1871 census recorded 71-year-old Joseph and and 78-year-old Mary at Brimsmore Tree Farm together with her two daughters Mary and Sarah Dampney. Joseph gave his occupation as "Farmer occupying 180 acres and employing 6 men 1 boy".
Joseph retired in 1878, at which time Brimsmore Tree Farm totalling 70a 2r 4p, was sold to draper and wine merchant Joseph Penny for £7,850 (around £4.5 million at today's value).
By the time of the 1881 census, Joseph (81), Mary (89) and Sarah Dampney (54) were living at a villa in Summerlands, together with a general servant.
Joseph died on 20 February 1882 in Yeovil. His will was proved by his son Robert Smith Brook, a wholesale stationer of London. His estate was valued at £2,340 18s 10d (around £300,000 at today's value).
John
Brook the
Younger
John Brook the Younger was born in Dinnington in 1808, the second son and fourth child of John Brook the Elder and Elizabeth née Lukins.
In the same report referred to above, in which John the Elder was appointed Surveyor of the Highways as reported in the 29 March 1845 edition of the Sherborne Mercury, the report continued "... it was expedient that Mr John Alexander, Mr Edward Raymond, Mr John Brook Junr. and Mr George Wellington (the present Overseers), should be reappointed to perform the duties of the office of Overseers for the year ensuing."
On 19 September 1843, at Donhead St Andrew, Wiltshire, John married Elizabeth Jeffery the daughter of innkeeper James Jeffery. John and Elizabeth were to have one child, William Henry Brook, born in Yeovil in 1845.
John Brook the Younger spent much of his early farming career as the tenant farmer of a scattered collection of parcels of land apparently acquired over a period of time by William Row (c1760-1832), gentleman of Little Lyde. In his will of 1828, William Row left all his land holdings to his 'natural' son John Tanner Whiteley Pitcher. The 1846 Tithe Apportionment noted all of Pitcher's holdings farmed by John as tenant (see land holdings as tenant farmers below).
However, it seems likely that when his father left Aldon Farm after buying the tenancy of Key Farm in 1846, John the Younger took over as the Aldon Farm tenant. The tenancy was, in turn, sold in 1857. By the time of the 1861 census, John Brook the Younger had become the tenant farmer of Preston Lower Farm. In the 1861 census, John gave his occupation as 'Farmer occupying 130 acres employing 6 men & 2 boys'. The 1871 census again lists John and Elizabeth, son William and a domestic servant. John gave his occupation as 'Farmer occupying 160 acres employing 5 men & 2 boys'.
By the time of the 1881 census, 75-year-old John Brook the Younger had retired and, together with 68-year0old Elizabeth had moved into Preston Lodge. The tenancy of Preston Lower Farm was taken on by his son William Henry Brook.
John Brook the Younger died at Preston Lodge on 30 June 1888, aged 81. He was buried in the churchyard of St James', to the west of the pathway between the church and Preston Road, on 5 July 1888.
Robert Brook
Robert Brook was born in Yeovil on 11 November 1812. He was the fourth son and the sixth of the nine children of John Brook the Elder and Elizabeth. As seen above, the 1841 census recorded that Robert was listed as a farmer of Brunswick Street - probably assisting his father with the tenancy of Aldon Farm..
In 1846, John Brook the Elder became the tenant farmer of Key Farm but died the following year. The 1851 census recorded that his 77-year-old widow Elizabeth was a "Farmer 160 Acres employing 10 labourers". His 39-year-old bachelor son Robert was described simply as a farmer.
On 24 November 1855, at Halstock, Dorset, 44-year-old Robert married 29-year-old Mary Paul (1827-1915). Mary was the eldest of the eight children of farmer Thomas John Paul (1795-1862) and Mary née Thomas. Robert and Mary were to have a daughter, although her name is illegible in the 1881 census. (Sidenote: the 1871 census notes 6-year-old Minie Brook staying with Robert and Mary on census night. Many genealogists have take Minie to be their daughter, but the census' relationship column clearly states "Neice" (sic)).
Since John Brook the Elder's first son Joseph Brook (1800-1882) was already established at Brimsmore Tree Farm, his second son John Brook the Younger was the tenant farmer at Aldon Farm, and the third son William moved away to farm in Hampshire, Key Farm effectively passed to his fourth son, Robert Brook, on the death of his mother Elizabeth in 1861.
The 1861 census noted Robert and Mary living at Key Farm with a servant. Robert simply described his occupation as a farmer. In the 1871 census, Robert described his occupation as "Farmer Employing 6 Men & 6 Boys".
The farm was mostly devoted to raising sheep and Robert successfully exhibited his prize-winning Southdown sheep at many local agricultural shows. Robert Brook decided to retire in 1882, but sadly died at Key Farm on 11 November 1885 - his 73rd birthday. His will was probated the following February. His estate was valued at £805 10s 1d (around £500,000 at today's value).
For the Brook Family Tree - click here
1846 Brook Family Land holdings as tenant farmers
The wide distribution of land at 1846 farmed by the Brook family as tenants. The eldest son of John Brooks the Elder was already at Brimsmore Tree Farm by this time, while John Brooks the Elder and John Brooks the Younger were living in Brunswick Street.
For details on historic land measurement (ie acres, roods and perches) click here.
John
Brook the Elder
Below, this extract from the 1846 Tithe Map shows in pink the parcels of land farmed by John Brook the Elder as tenant of Aldon Farm (owned by solicitor John Batten the Elder) from about 1810 until 1846 when he purchased the tenancy of Key Farm. Additionally, he farmed three parcels in Northover Field owned by Eleanor Upton, widow of solicitor George Proctor Upton.
Following his move to Key Farm, John Brook the Younger took on the Aldon Farm tenancy from 1846 until 1854.
John Brook the Elder died in 1847, at which time his son Robert Brook took on the tenancy of Key Farm (see below).
The Aldon Farm lands from the 1842 Yeovil Tithe Map.
Owner | Parcel | Parcel Name | Use | Area |
Eleanor Upton | 623 | In Middle Northover | Arable | 1a 2r 20p |
Eleanor Upton | 627 | In Higher Northover | Arable | 0a 3r 20p |
Eleanor Upton | 639 | In Higher Northover | Arable | 5a 1r 0p |
John Batten the Elder | 783 | Penny's Mead | Meadow | 2a 0r 10p |
John Batten the Elder | 784 | New Pond | Meadow | 7a 1r 6p |
John Batten the Elder | 787 | Tucker's Mead | Meadow | 3a 3r 0p |
John Batten the Elder | 789 | Gage Hill | Pasture | 4a 3r 10p |
John Batten the Elder | 790 | Gage Hill | Arable | 4a 2r 8p |
John Batten the Elder | 791 | Gage Hill | Arable | 7a 1r 0p |
John Batten the Elder | 792 | German's Grove | Arable | 3a 2r 15p |
John Batten the Elder | 793 | German's Grove | Arable | 1a 3r 3p |
John Batten the Elder | 797 | Symond's Ground | Arable | 6a 3r 10p |
John Batten the Elder | 798 | Symond's Ground | Arable | 6a 3r 19p |
John Batten the Elder | 799 | Barton Ground | Not recorded | |
John Batten the Elder | 800 | Mow Barton | Arable | 0a 1r 16p |
John Batten the Elder | 801 | Aldon Orchard | Orchard | 1a 0r 35p |
John Batten the Elder | 803 | Home Close | Pasture | 11a 1r 10p |
John Batten the Elder | 804 | Farm House & Garden | Orchard | 0a 2r 0p |
John Batten the Elder | 805 | Home Field | Arable | 4a 0r 9p |
John Batten the Elder | 806 | Footpath Field | Arable | 4a 2r 30p |
John Batten the Elder | 808 | Mill Close | Pasture | 3a 1r 0p |
Rev Edward Daniell | 809 | Penny's Hill | Pasture | 11a 3r 10p |
The Key Farm lands from the 1842 Yeovil Tithe Map.
Owner | Parcel | Parcel Name | Use | Area |
William Jones Prowse | 736 | Gold's Close | Arable | 3a 2r 35p |
William Jones Prowse | 738 | Little Brown's Close | Arable | 2a 0r 0p |
William Jones Prowse | 740 | Spragg's Close | Arable | 6a 1r 2p |
William Jones Prowse | 741 | Godsalls | Arable | 3a 2r 6p |
William Jones Prowse | 743 | Totwells | Arable | 4a 1r 30p |
William Jones Prowse | 749 | Key Farmhouse & Garden | 2s 3r 14p | |
William Jones Prowse | 750 | Orchard | Orchard | 1a 3r 8p |
William Jones Prowse | 751 | Orchard | Orchard | 0a 2r 7p |
William Jones Prowse | 754 | Leeches | Arable | 1a 0r 30p |
William Jones Prowse | 756 | Withey Bed | Moor | 0a 2r 20p |
William Jones Prowse | 757 | Dry Close | Arable | 11a 2r 11p |
William Jones Prowse | 758 | Kiln Close | Arable | 2a 1r 30p |
William Jones Prowse | 759 | Rookery | Arable | 11a 0r 22p |
William Jones Prowse | 760 | Lower Ash Walk | Arable | 15a 0r 3p |
William Jones Prowse | 762 | Higher Ash Walk | Arable | 14a 1r 13p |
William Jones Prowse | 763 | Red Mead | Arable | 9a 1r 10p |
Joseph Brook
Joseph Brook, the eldest of the sons of John Brook the Elder, was the first to leave home. He farmed Brimsmore Tree Farm from around 1830 until around 1878.
The Brimsmore Tree Farm lands from the 1842 Yeovil Tithe Map.
Above, is an extract of the 1842 Yeovil Tithe Map with, shaded light green, the parcels of land farmed by Joseph Brook as a tenant of Brimsmore Tree Farm. It is not known if all the parcels formed part of Brimsmore Tree Farm but unlikely. Thorne Lane runs across the centre of the map, while Tintinhull Road runs from bottom right to top left.
The nine coloured diamonds, both on the map above and in the schedule below, indicate the owners (other than John Winter) of the parcels farmed by Joseph Brook.
Owner | Parcel | Parcel Name | Use | Area |
John Ryall Mayo u | 1332 | Great Ashley | Pasture | 13a 2r 0p |
John Ryall Mayo u | 1333 | Ashley Mead | Meadow | 5a 0r 14p |
John Ryall Mayo u | 1334 | Little Ashley | Pasture | 4a 1r 30p |
John Winter | 1356 | Lockyer's Ground | Pasture | 9a 1r 9p |
John Winter | 1357 | Quarry Ground | Pasture | 10a 3r 15p |
John Winter | 1358 | Brimsmore Tree Ground | Meadow | 5a 2r 20p |
John Winter | 1359 | Five Acres | Arable | 4a 1r 20p |
John Winter | 1360 | Middlingwood | Pasture | 8a 3r 20p |
John Winter | 1361 | Andrews Hill | Pasture | 7a 3r 7p |
John Winter | 1362 | Cullom's Moor | Meadow | 5a 3r 10p |
John Winter | 1388 | House, Garden & Orchard | Meadow | 5a 0r 0p |
John Winter | 1391 | Lower Waldrons | Pasture | 5a 3r 20p |
John Winter | 1393 | Higher Waldrons | Arable | 5a 0r 24p |
Robert Donn u | 1394 | Lower Nobles Nap | Pasture | 4a 3r 0p |
Mary Phelps u | 1395 | Linswell | Pasture | 5a 0r 0p |
John Winter | 1396 | Linswell | Pasture | 3a 1r 19p |
Robert Donn u | 1397 | Higher Nobles Nap | Pasture | 4a 1r 30p |
Mary Phelps u | 1410 | Brimsmore Tree | Pasture | 5a 2r 0p |
Henry Coward u | 1411 | Higher Larkhill Lane | Pasture | 7a 2r 26p |
John Winter | 1412 | Fir Tree Ground | Pasture | 3a 3r 7p |
John Winter | 1414 | French Grass Ground | Pasture | 3a 1r 10p |
John Winter | 1419 | Thorney Bush | Arable | 5a 2r 0p |
Henry Coward u | 1422 | Sealey's Mead | Meadow | 6a 0r 15p |
John Winter | 1443 | Lower Larkhill Lane | Pasture | 2a 0r 10p |
John
Brook the
Younger
Initially John Brook the Younger farmed, as a tenant, several scattered parcels of land (shown blue on the map below) apparently acquired piecemeal by William Row of Lower Lyde. In his 1828 will, Row left these holdings to his 'natural' son John Tanner Whiteley Pitcher who lived at East Chelborough, Dorset). They were farmed by John Brook the Younger, probably from around 1830, until his father acquired the tenancy of Key Farm in 1846, from which time John Brook the Younger took on the Aldon Farm tenancy until 1854.
The scattered parcels of land, acquired by William Row and passed to his son John Pitcher, from the 1842 Yeovil Tithe Map. Sherborne Road loops across the bottom, St Michaels Avenue runs up to top left and Lyde Road runs across to centre right.
Owner | Parcel | Parcel Name | Use | Area |
John Tanner Pitcher | 523 | Sun House Orchard | Pasture | 1a 2r 0p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 524 | House, Gardens, etc. | 0a 2r 10p | |
John Tanner Pitcher | 861 | Distelmoor | Meadow | 2a 0r 20p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 866 | Drang (1) | Pasture | 0a 1r 26p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 868 | Medway | Meadow | 6a 2r 0p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 869 | Thompson's Close | Meadow | 5a 2r 2p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 870 | Thistlemoor | Meadow | 4a 0r 10p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 874 | Grubbins | Pasture | 3a 2r 0p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 920 | Cox's Close | Pasture | 4a 0r 29p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 929 | Great Lyde | Pasture | 8a 2r 35p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 967 | East Field | Arable | 5a 2r 0p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 968 | Pittard's Ground | Pasture | 5a 1r 19p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 976 | Louse & Jeanes Ground | Pasture / Orchard | 3a 3r 26p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 988 | Turnpike Orchard | Pasture / Orchard | 4a 3r 20p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 992 | Marsh Furlong | Pasture | 5a 3r 0p |
John Tanner Pitcher | 994 | Drang (2) | Arable | 0a 1r 20p |
In 1854, the tenancy of Aldon Farm was re-let and John Brook the Younger acquired the tenancy of Preston Lower Farm, where he remained until retiring around 1880.
.
The 1849 Tithe Map - all the fields shown formed part of Preston Lower Farm with the exception of Grove House Plot (Parcel 140a), the dwellinghouse and garden (Parcel 135 - the home of Couly de Chaville), and the two plantations at bottom right (Parcels 145a and 146a). All (except 140a) were owned by Robert Tucker with John Brook the Younger as tenant farmer.
Owner | Parcel | Parcel Name | Use | Area |
Robert Tucker | 132 | Farm House, Offices & Garden | ||
Robert Tucker | 133 | Home Orchard | Orchard | 3a 1r 32p |
Robert Tucker | 134 | Cowleaze & Barton | Pasture | 16a 2r 10p |
Robert Tucker | 136 | Long Mead | Meadow | 10a 2r 25p |
Robert Tucker | 137 | Second Close | Pasture | 10a 1r 5p |
Robert Tucker | 138 | Four Acres | Arable | 3a 2r 27p |
Robert Tucker | 139 | Seven & Eight Acres | Arable | 12a 2r 5p |
Robert Tucker | 141 | Five Acres | Arable | 4a 1r 10p |
Robert Tucker | 142 | Nine Acres | Arable | 7a 2r 8p |
Robert Tucker | 143 | Pookhay Mill | Pasture | 11a 0r 5p |
Robert Tucker | 144 | Five Acre Mead | Meadow | 4a 3r 10p |
Robert Tucker | 145 | Three Acre Mead | Meadow | 2a 2r 10p |
Robert Tucker | 146 | Little Bucks Mead | Pasture | 1a 2r 21p |
Robert Tucke | 147 | Catshill Eight Acres | Arable | 6a 0r 32p |
Robert Tucke | 148 | Catshill Ten Acres | Arable | 8a 2r 10p |
Robert Brook
In 1846, John Brook the Elder became the tenant farmer of Key Farm (see above) but died the following year. The 1851 census recorded that his 77-year-old widow Elizabeth was a "Farmer 160 Acres employing 10 labourers". His 39-year-old bachelor son Robert was described simply as a farmer.
Since John Brook the Elder's first son Joseph Brook (1800-1882) was already established at Brimsmore Tree Farm, his second son John Brook the Younger was the tenant farmer at Aldon Farm, and the third son William moved away to farm in Hampshire, Key Farm effectively passed to his fourth son, Robert Brook, on the death of his mother Elizabeth in 1861.
The farm was
mostly devoted
to raising sheep
and Robert
successfully
exhibited his
prize-winning
Southdown sheep
at many local
agricultural
shows. Robert
Brook decided to
retire in 1882,
but sadly died
at Key Farm on
11 November 1885
- his 73rd
birthday.
Gallery
John Brook the Elder
The 17 May 1818 record of the baptism of Henry Brook from St John's parish register. This indicates that John and Elizabeth (née Lukins) Brook "of Hendford" (the parish, not the street)had moved to Yeovil by this date.
Aldon Farmhouse, now a holiday let. John Brook the Elder was the tenant farmer here, probably from 1810 and until 1846 when he bought the tenancy of Key Farm. His son, John Brook the Younger, took over the tenancy of Aldon Farm until 1857.
An interesting article from the 14 March 1846 edition of the Sherborne Mercury concerning a ploughing match between two sons of John Brook the Elder - Robert and Henry.
The notice of the death of John Brook the Elder in the 6 November 1847 edition of the Sherborne Mercury.
Joseph Brook
The 25 December 1799 record of the baptism of Joseph Brook, son of John Brook the Elder and Elizabeth, from the Kingstone parish register.
The 8 December 1829 application by yeoman Joseph Brook "of Up Cerne" for a marriage license. Joseph and Mary were married in St John's church on on 23 February 1830.
Courtesy of
Somerset
Council
Brimsmore Tree Farm photographed in 1983. Joseph Brook spent his whole career here as the tenant farmer - probably from around the time of his marriage in 1829 until his retirement
John Brook the Younger
The 9 September 1843 marriage certificate of John Brook the Younger and Elizabeth Jeffrey from the Donhead St Andrew parish register.
Note of letting of Aldon Farm from the 12 May 1857 edition of the Western Flying Post.
Preston Park House, formerly Lower Preston Farm, photographed in 2014. John Brook the Younger was the tenant farmer here from 1857 until his retirement in the late 1870s.
The record of the 5 July 1888 burial of John Brook the Younger from the Preston Plucknett Parish Register.
Robert Brook
The 1 December 1811 record of the baptism of Robert Brooks from St John's parish register.

Courtesy of Somerset Council
Key Farm House, photographed in 1983. The Key Farm tenancy was purchased by John Brook the Elder in 1846. Sadly he died the following year and the tenancy was taken over by his son Robert Brook until his death in 1885.
The notice of the 24 November 1855 marriage or Robert Brook and Mary Paul from the 27 November 1855 edition of the Sherborne Mercury.
The report of Robert Brook's death in the 13 November 1885 edition of the Western Gazette.
The entry of 73-year-old Robert Brook's burial of 14 November 1885 from the Holy Trinity parish register. He was buried in Yeovil Cemetery