Yeovil people
George Eason
Glove Manufacturer
George Eason was born in Yeovil, the bastard son of Elinor (also Eloner) Eason (b1745) and an unknown father. He was baptised at St John's church on 7 August 1782. Having said that, it transpires that his father may not have been as unknown as the records would suggest, since in his will of 1817 Richard Taylor wrote "... unto my illegitimate Son George Taylor otherwise Eason Son of Eleanor Eason Spinster dec[eas]ed...".
George was a glove manufacturer in partnership with, it transpires, his father Richard Taylor. In January 1810 they were paid £5 per head for binding Matthew Andrews, Samuel Hammond and John Hammond to apprenticeships. The three lads were from the Yeovil Charity School, and they were funded by the John Nowes Charity. The father and son partnership ended when Richard Taylor died in 1817.
on 15 January 1821, at St John's church, George married Rebecca Tucker by license. She was the daughter of Charles Tucker (1761-1798) of Chard and Nancy née Horsley. George and Rebecca were to have four children, all born in Yeovil; George (bap 4 November 1821-1880), Charles (bap 11 May 1823), Mary (bap 16 March 1826) and Emma Lance (bap 14 January 1828-1861). The two daughters are not mentioned in George's will, since both were born between his writing the will in February 1825 and his death on 31 August 1828.
George was recorded as living at Townsend in Pigot's Directory of 1824.
George Eason died, after a short illness, on 31 August 1828. He was aged 46. Although George had provided well for his family in his will, Rebecca was left to bring up 6-year-old George, 5-year-old Charles, 2-year-old Mary and 7-month-old Emma on her own. Rebecca initially moved back to her home town of Chard and then to Banbury, Oxfordshire. In the 1851 census she was recorded as a 56-year-old school mistress, as were her daughters Mary and Emma - all living at 19 Crouch Street, Banbury - where Rebecca ran her own school with 15 boarding pupils at the time of the census..
Map
A sketch map based on Edward Bullock Watts' 1827 map of Yeovil. George Eason's houses and garden are seen to the left - what is today the row of shops in Lower Middle Street running to what would become Wyndham Street. Townsend Close, owned by George, is seen at the right.
Gallery
The entry of George's baptism of 7 August 1782 in St John's parish register. The 'B' to the left of his name indicates his bastardy.
The entry of George and Rebecca's 15 January 1821 marriage in St John's parish register.
The notice of George and Rebecca's marriage from the 25 January 1821 edition of the Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette.
The notice of George's death at the age of 49 from the 10 September 1828 edition of the Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser.
The 1825 will of george eason
This is the last Will
and Testament of
me George Eason
of Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset Glove
Manufacturer I
give and devise
all that my
close of land at
the eastern end
of the Town of
Yeovil called
Townsend Close
and also my
garden at the
eastern end of
the orchard
adjoining my
dwelling house
formerly a
nursery called [Smoak?]
Acre including a
small part of
the said Orchard
now enclosed
with the said
garden unto my
dear wife
Rebecca Eason
her heirs and
assigns for ever
I give and
devise my
dwelling house
and all other my
lands
hereditaments
and real estate
in the parish of
Yeovil aforesaid
unto my friends
William Hooper
Masters of
Yeovil aforesaid
Glove
manufacturer
Thomas Fooks of
the same place
Glove
Manufacturer and
John Toms of
Chard in the
said County
Grocer their
heirs and
assigns Upon the
trusts
hereinafter
expressed and
declared
concerning the
same that is to
say As to for
and concerning
my dwelling
house in my own
occupation
situate at the
eastern end of
the Town of
Yeovil
heretofore
called the Punch
bowl and the
little garden
behind the same
with the orchard
adjoining
(except such
part thereof as
is enclosed with
the said garden
hereinbefore
devised to my
said wife and
inclosing a
small part of
the said Nursery
heretobefore
called [Smoak?]
Acre as the same
is now fenced
and divided with
the stable
leather dressing
yard pits
buildings and
workshops
adjoining and
belonging to
such dwelling
house and now
used by me for
the purposes of
my said business
as far as the
boundary wall
which divided
the same from my
premises
adjoining in the
occupation of
Messieurs
William and
Elias
Whitby And
also my dwelling
house and back
kitchen
adjoining in the
occupation of Mr
Samuel Cayme
with the little
garden
immediately
behind the same
In trust for and
for the only
benefit and
advantage of my
eldest son
George Eason his
heirs and
assigns for ever
but in case my
said son shall
happen to die
under the age of
twenty one years
without lawful
issue then In
Trust for my
second son
Charles Eason
his heirs and
assigns for ever
and in case my
said son Charles
Eason shall
happen to die
under the age of
twenty one years
without lawful
issue then In
Trust for my
third son
William Tucker
Eason his heirs
and assigns for
ever And as to
for and
concerning all
that my dwelling
house and garden
late Genge's
adjoining the
last mentioned
premises and now
in the
occupation of Mr
Elias Whitby
with the Leather
dressing yard
workshops and
buildings
thereunto
belonging now in
the occupation
of the said
William and
Elias Whitby In
trust for my
said second son
Charles Eason
his heirs and
assigns for ever
but in case my
said son Charles
Eason shall
happen to die
under the age of
twenty one years
without lawful
issue then In
Trust for my
said eldest son
George Eason his
heirs and
assigns for ever
And in case my
said son George
Eason shall
happen to die
under the age of
twenty one years
without lawful
issue then In
Trust for my
third son
William Tucker
Eason his heirs
and assigns for
ever And as to
for and
concerning All
that my piece of
Arable land in
Penfield in the
Parish of Yeovil
aforesaid and my
dwelling house
in Reckleford in
Yeovil aforesaid
divided into
three tenements
In Trust for my
youngest son
William Tucker
Eason his heirs
and assigns for
ever but in case
my said son
William Tucker
Eason shall
happen to die
under the age of
twenty one years
without lawful
issue then In
Trust for my
said eldest son
George Eason his
heirs and
assigns for ever
in case my said
son George Eason
shall happen to
die under the
age of twenty
one years
without lawful
issue then In
Trust for my
second son
Charles Eason
his heirs and
assigns for ever
And in case all
my said children
shall happen to
die under the
age of twenty
one years
without lawful
issue then as to
all and singular
the before
mentioned
dwellinghouses
and premises so
devised to my
said Trustees
upon the trusts
aforesaid In
trust for my
said wife
Rebecca Eason
and her assigns
for and during
the term of her
natural life &
from and after
her death in
case of such
failure of my
issue as
aforesaid then
as for my said
dwelling house
leather dressing
yard and
premises late
Genges in the
occupation of
the said William
and Elias Whitby
And also that
part of the yard
workshops and
buildings in my
own occupation
which formerly
belonged to and
was purchased
with such
dwelling house
bounded partly
by Mr Isaacs
orchard and
partly by the
[rivulet?] In
trust for my
kinsman the said
Elias Whitby his
heirs and
assigns for ever
And as to my
said dwelling
house in
Reckleford with
the appurt[enance]s
In trust for
Elias Helliar of
Yeovil aforesaid
Glove Cutter his
heirs and
assigns for ever
And as to all
other the
beforementioned
dwellinghouses
and premises so
devised to my
said Trustees
(from and after
the death of my
said wife and
such failure of
my issue as
aforesaid) In
trust for such
person and for
such estate and
estates uses
trusts [word
illegible]
intents and
purposes as my
said wife
Rebecca Eason by
her Will and
Testament in
writing or
Codicil thereto
duly executed
and attested
shall give
devise direct or
appoint And in
default of such
gift devise
direction or
appointment In
trust for the
right heirs of
my said wife for
ever I give and
bequeath all my
household goods
and furniture
liquor casks and
[vessels?] plate
linen and china
my stock in
trade whether
manufactured or
unmanufactured
[book?] and
other debts
money and
securities for
money and all
other my
personal estate
whatsoever and
wheresoever and
of what nature
or kind soever
(subject to the
payment of my
debts and my
funeral and
testamentary
charges) unto my
said wife
Rebecca Eason
her executors
and
administrators
for her and
their own proper
use and benefit
And I hereby
declare that the
provision hereby
made for my said
wife shall be
taken and
accepted by her
in lieu and in
satisfaction of
all [word
illegible] or
thirds which she
may be entitled
to in or out of
any messuages
lands or real
estate of which
I may die seized
I make and
appoint the said
William Hooper
Masters Thomas
Fooks and John
Toms joint
Executors In
trust of this my
Will And I
hereby authorize
and empower my
said Trustees
and the survivor
of them and his
heirs during the
respective
minorities of my
said children to
devise and let
the said
respective
dwelling houses
and premises so
devised In trust
for them as
aforesaid to any
person or
persons for the
best and most
improved rent
that can be
reasonably had
for the same And
I direct that a
sufficient part
of the rent of
the said
premises
respectively
shall be from
time to time
applied by my
said Trustees in
repairing and
keeping in
repair the said
buildings and
premises and in
insuring the
same from loss
or damage by
fire And upon
trust that they
my said Trustees
do and shall
during the
minority of any
or other of my
said children
pay the
remainder of the
rents and
profits of the
said premises
respectively
which shall
presumptively
belong to such
child or
children under
the trusts
aforesaid unto
my said wife and
her assigns in
case she shall
so long remain
my Widow but in
case of the
death or
marriage again
of my said wife
during the
minority of any
or either of my
said children I
hereby further
authorize and
empower my
Trustees for the
time being to
apply all or
part of the
rents of the
premises so
devised to or In
trust for my
said children
respectively as
aforesaid for
his and their
support
maintenance and
education or for
establishing him
or them
respectively in
any trade
profession or
business or
otherwise for
his or their
benefit or
advancement in
life during
their respective
minorities And I
hereby direct
and declare that
my said Trustees
and their
respective heirs
executors and
administrators
shall be
chargeable only
for such monies
and effects as
they shall
respectively
actually receive
by virtue of the
trusts hereby in
them reposed and
that no one or
more of them
shall be
answerable or
accountable for
the others or
other of them
nor for the acts
or defaults of
the other or
others of them
nor for any
involuntary
losses And that
they and each of
them shall and
lawfully by
virtue of the
trusts aforesaid
retain and
reimburse and
allow to each
other all loss
costs charges
damages and
expences which
they or either
of them shall or
may sustain
expend or be put
unto in or about
the execution or
defence of the
trusts hereby in
them reposed In
Witness whereof
I the said
George Eason
have to this my
last Will and
Testament
contained in
four sheets of
paper to the
first three
sheets thereof
set my hand and
to this fourth
and last sheet
thereof my hand
and seal this
eighteenth day
of February One
thousand eight
hundred and
twenty five
George Eason
Signed sealed
published and
declared by the
said George
Eason the
Testator as and
for his last
Will and
Testament in the
presence of us
who at his
request have
subscribed our
names as
witnesses
thereto in the
presence of the
said Testator
and of each
other
Jno Batten
Jno
Warden
John
Gould Smith
Proved at London 8th Nov[embe]r 1828 before the Judge by the
oaths of William
Hooper Masters
Thomas Fooks &
John Toms the
Executors to
whom Adm[inistrati]on
was granted
having been
first sworn by
Com[missi]on
duly to
administer
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
