Yeovil's Virtual Museum

William Pitman

Tailor of Yeovil

 

William Pitman was born around 1738, possibly in Yeovil although this cannot be proven. Indeed records are very scarce for William.

William married Mary (1739-1804), around 1763, but the record has not been found - they were both Quakers and the Quaker registers are somewhat incomplete for Yeovil. The baptisms and/or deaths of their six children are recorded in the registers;

• Elizabeth (baptised 14 December 1765, died 25 January 1825, age 60)

• William (1776-1808, baptism not recorded, died 6 November 1808, age 32, buried 10 November 1808 at Yeovil)

• Anna (1774-1829, baptism not recorded, died 7 May 1829, buried 13 May 1829 at Yeovil)

• Jenney (baptised 22 May 1778)

• Samuel (baptised 3 July 1780, died 14 February 1826 aged 44, buried 18 February 1826 in Yeovil. Recorded as 'not a member', that is, not a Quaker.)

• Robert (baptised 2 December 1782, died 16 November 1826, age 44, buried 22 November 1826 in Yeovil).

By trade William was a tailor and was listed as such in the Universal British Directory of 1790. On 7 May 1767 14 July 1774 William Pitman, Taylor of Yeovil, took as an apprentice John Seward and on 14 July 1774 he took Mephibosheth Bartlett as an apprentice.

On 22 June 1804, William's wife Mary died aged 65. She was buried in the Quaker cemetery, Preston Road, on 26 June 1804. On 6 November 1808, William and Mary's son William Pitman Jnr died aged 32. He too was buried in the Quaker cemetery, Preston Road, on 10 November 1808.

On 14 December 1808 William and Mary's daughter Elizabeth was married, as recorded in the Quaker register - "John Isaac son of Samuel Isaac of Montacute and Martha his wife and Elizabeth Pitman daughter of William Pitman of Yeovil and Mary his wife deceased". John Isaac was born in 1748 and died in 1821.

An indenture in my collection, dated 9 January 1814, bears the signature of William Pitman (see Gallery). William was acting in his role of surviving executor of Mary Hawkins, for the annual lease of a property in Higher Kingston.

William Pitman died in Yeovil on 6 April 1814 and was buried in the Quaker, or Friends, burial ground in Preston Road on 13 April 1814.

 

 

An entry from the Register of Duties paid for Apprentices Indentures, showing that on 7 May 1767 William Pitman, of Yeovil, Somerset, Taylor, took as an apprentice John Seward.

 

An entry from the Register of Duties paid for Apprentices Indentures, showing that on 14 July 1774 William Pitman, of Yeovil in Co Somerset, took as an apprentice Mephibosheth Bartlett (1757-1827, buried Lopen).

 

From my collection

An indenture, dated 9 January 1814 and signed by William Pitman for the annual lease of a property in Higher Kingston. See below for transcript.

 

From my collection

William Pitman's signature and seal on the above indenture dated 9 January 1814, just three months before his death.

 

An entry from the Quaker register for the death and burial of William Pitman - "1814, 4th Month 6th Day [4 April 1814 - date of death], William Pitman, 76, Yeovil [resident of], Member [that is, a Quaker], 1814 4th Month 13 day [13 April 1814 - date of burial], Yeovil [burial ground]".

 

The stone set into the Quaker, or Friends, burial ground's boundary wall, facing Preston Road. Photographed 2013. William Pitman, his wife Mary and most, if not all, of their children are buried here.

 

The title page of a Quaker Burial Register.

 

 

This indenture made the ninth day of January One Thousand eight hundred and fourteen Between William Pitman of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Taylor (Surviving Executor and Devisor in trust named and appointed in and by the last will and testament of Mary Hankins heretofore of the same place Widow deceased) of the one part and Sarah Moore of the same place Spinster of the other part Witnesseth that in consideration of the sum of five shillings to the said William Pitman now paid by the said Sarah Moore the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged He the said William Pitman Hath bargained and sold and by these presence Doth bargain and sell unto the said Sarah Moore her executors administrators and assigns All that Messuage or Dwellinghouse with the Garden and Orchard to the same belonging situate lying and being in Higher Kingston in the said Parish of Yeovil and late in the possession of Elizabeth Brooke deceased Daughter of the said Mary Hankins (Except the West end of the said Messuage or Dwellinghouse with the Barton and appurtenances thereunto belonging which by a certain Deed poll or Instrument in writing bearing date the twenty fifth day of March One Thousand seven hundred and eighty four the said Mary Hankins granted unto her Grandson John Bose since deceased his heirs and assigns for ever and which by Indenture of ffeoffment bearing date the thirty first day of December One Thousand seven hundred and ninety nine and made between Samuel Cayme of the one part and Ann Bose Widow Devisee of the said John Bose of the other part were granted and conveyed unto and to the use of the said Ann Bose her heirs and assigns for ever Together with all outhouses ways paths passages waters watercourses [word illegible] profits advantages and appurtenances whatsoever to the said Messuage or Dwellinghouse and premises hereby bargained and said or mentioned so to be belonging or in any wise appurtaining and the reversion and reversions remainder and remainders rents issues and profits thereof To have and to hold the said Messuage or Dwelling House Garden Orchard and all and singular other the previous hereby bargained and sold or expressed or intended so to be with their appurtenances (Except as before expressed unto the said Sarah Moore her executors administrators and assigns from the day next before the day or the date of these presents for and during and unto the full one and term of one year from thence next evening and fully to be complete and ended Yielding and paying therefore unto the said William Pitman his heirs or assigns the rent of a pepper corn on the last day of the said term if the same be lawfully demanded To the intent that by virtue of these presents and of the Statute made for transferring near into possession She the said Sarah Moore may be in the actual possession of the said hereditament and premises hereby bargained and sold or expressed or intended so to be with the appurtenances and be thereby enabled to accept and take a Grant and Release of the reversion and inheritance thereof to her and her heirs To the only proper use and behoof of the said Sarah Moore her heirs and assigns for ever by Indenture intended to be made between the said William Pitman of the first part George Incker of Yeovil aforesaid Laborer and Harriet his wife late Harriet Bose Spinster [words illegible] present part William Bose of Bath in the said county Porter therein described of the third part Richard Brooke of Yeovil aforesaid Laborer Edward Warren of the same place Tyler and plasterer therein also described Thomas Brooke of the same place Carpenter John Brooke of Odcombe in the said county of Somerset Blacksmith James Hodges of Yeovil aforesaid [Woolsorter ?] and Mary his wife heretofore Mary Brooke spinster and the said Ann Bose of Yeovil aforesaid Widow heretofore Ann Brooke Spinster therein also described of the fourth part and the said Sarah Brooke of the fifth part and to bear [word illegible] the day next after the day or the date of these presents In Witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto set their hands and seals this day and year first above written ./.
Signature and seal of William Pitman

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn