The Document Chest
The Will of Clement Cheeseman
The 1697 Will of Clement Cheesman, Glover
Clement Cheeseman was an affluent glover of Yeovil. Little is known of his life other than the information gleaned from his will (below), dated 29 October 1697, the 1711 will of his daughter Frances and the 1730 will of his son Thomas. He lived in Hendford but had other properties in Addlewell, the latter bequeathed to his spinster daughter Frances. His wife was named Mary. They had three sons; Richard, Clement and Thomas and several daughters - Mary, Elizabeth and Frances as well as up to four other daughters only referred to as wives of their respective husbands.
Of the daughters, Mary was married to Samuel Kitson, Elizabeth was married to John Reeke and Frances remained a spinster. The four daughters whose names are unknown, were married to John Newman, William Avoake, Andrew Everton and William Donn.
In the Name of
God Amen I
Clement
Cheeseman of Yeovill in the
County of Som[ers]ett
Glover being
weak in body but
of sound mind
and
understanding Do
make and ordaine
this my last
Will and
Testament in
manner and form
following that
is to say I
recom[m]end my
Soul into the
hands of God
that gave it and
my body to the
Earth from
whence it came
And as for the
disposition of
my worldly
Estate I give
and dispose as
followeth (viz)
I Give devise
and bequeath
unto Mary my
loving wife all
that my now
dwelling House
Outhouses
Cottages and
Garden thereunto
belonging with
the
Appurtenances
And the
Reversion Rents
and Services
thereof or of
any part thereof
lying situate
and being in
Hinford in
Yeovill
aforesaid for
and during the
term of her
natural life And
from and after
her decease I
give and devise
the same unto my
Son Richard
Cheeseman and
the heirs of his
body forever
lawfully to be
begotten
Provided that
the said Richard
shall pay unto
my Son Thomas
and Daughter
Elizabeth twenty
pounds apiece
when he shall be
seized thereof
by virtue of
this devise then
it shall be
lawfull for them
or either of
them to enter
into the said
House and
premises and the
same to have
untill the said
severall Sumes
of twenty pounds
be satisfyed and
paid with
reasonable cost
and charges and
for want of such
Issue of the
body Of the said
Richard Then I
give and devise
the said house
outhouses and
premises with
the
Appurtenances to
my son Clement
Cheeseman and
his heirs
forever provided
my Son Clement
do pay or cause
to be paid the
Sume of One
Hundred pounds
equally among
all my Children
that shall be
living after he
shall or may be
seized [or ?]
possessed of the
said House and
premisses by
vertue of this
my Will [word
illegible] it
shall be lawfull
for such other
Child or
Children that
shall be then
living to enter
into the said
House and
premises and to
have and hold
the same unto
him her or them
that shall be
living and to
the heirs of
them and every
of them for ever
And I do hereby
give and devise
the same
accordingly I
give and devise
all my houses
Cottages gardens
Lands and
premisses
situate lying
and being at a
place called
Adlewell with
the Appurten[an]ces
in the parish of
Yeovill
aforesaid Unto
my daughter
Frances
Cheeseman and
her heirs for
ever provided
she permit and
suffer my said
wife to hould
and enjoy the
same And to
receive the
Rents and
profitts thereof
for the term of
Five years next
after my decease
and after the
end of the said
term shall pay
unto my Son
Clement the Sume
of tenn pounds
Item I give unto
my Son Thomas
and Daughter
Elizabeth One
hundred pounds
apiece to be
paid by my
Executrix on the
Day of her
second marriage
with any other
man or att the
severall Ages of
One and twenty
years
respectively of
the said Thomas
and Elizabeth
(which shall
first happen to
come to pass)
All the rest of
my goods and
chattles I give
and devise unto
my said wife
Mary Cheeseman
whome I make
whole Executrix
of this my Will
desireing her to
breed up my
Children to
[trades ?] in
the best manner
that she can and
in the fear of
the Lord In
testimony
whereof I have
hereunto sett my
hand and Seale
the twenty ninth
Day of October
in the year of
our Lord One
thousand six
hundred ninety
and seaven
[several words
illegible]
The marke of
Clement
Cheeseman
Signed Sealed
published and
declared in the
presence of us
Wm aCourt James
Wills Tho. Leach
Ed. Hayward
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
