The Document Chest
James Pope
Yeoman of Larkhill Farm
James Pope was born at Folke (just south of Sherborne), Dorset, in 1785 and baptised at St Lawrence's church, Folke, on 9 August 1785. He was the son of William and Mary Pope, who had six sons and one daughter, all born at Folke; George (b1778), John (b1779), William (b1781), Thomas (b1784), James, Richard (1788-1862) and Mary (b1790).
On 30 October 1804, at Holy Trinity, Frome, James married Elizabeth Timbury of Nunney. Frome. Known as Betty, she was the daughter of James and Jane Timbury of Beckington, Frome, and was baptised at Beckington on 29 May 1803.
James was a tenant farmer but his farming career is difficult to establish. Certainly in 1832 he was a tenant farmer of Yeovil Marsh and in 1843 he is known to have been a tenant farmer of several fields totalling 112 acres, distributed across Yeovil Marsh and Ashington (72 acres), Mudford (20 acres) and Yeovil (20 acres) - see Gallery.
James wrote his will (see below) in 1852, but died in late 1856. He was buried at Yeovil on 9 February 1856.
For the 1821 will of James' mother, Mary Pope, - click here
Gallery
A notice of the sale of two plots of land being farmed by James Pope as the tenant farmer from the 5 March 1832 edition of the Western Flying Post.
A notice of the letting of several plots of land, totaling 120 acres, being farmed by James Pope as the tenant farmer, from the 18 November 1843 edition of the Western Flying Post.
The 1852 will of James Pope
This is the last Will and Testament
of me
James Pope of Larkhill in the parish of
Yeovil in the
County of
Somerset Yeoman
I appoint my
wife Elizabeth
Pope and my sons
William Pope and
Thomas pope
Executrix and
Executors
hereof I give to my grandson James Pope my Silver Watch I
give to my own
two sons William
and Thomas all
the plate that
was mine before
my marriage with
my present wife
to be taken and
divided as
equally as can
be between them
at my decease I
give unto my
said wife
Elizabeth Pope
the silver watch
and all the
plate which was
hers before our
marriage
absolutely and I
give to my said
wife the use
during her life
of such of my
household goods
as she shall
select And I
direct my
Executrix and
Executors to
convert all my
farming stock
implements in
husbandry and
dairy Utensils
and other
my personal property and effects
not hereinbefore
bequeathed
(except the
household
property
hereinafter
mentioned) as
soon as they can
into money and
out of the same
and any ready
money of which I
may be possessed
at my death to
pay my just
debts and
funeral and
testamentary
expenses and to
place out the
residue at
interest on
government or
real security
and the interest
and income
arising
therefrom I give
to my said wife
for her life And
also I give to
my said wife for
her life my
share of the
leasehold
premises and
property at
Clotfurlong in
the parish of
Folke in the
County of Dorset
held by me and
my brother
Richard jointly
if my term and
interest therein
shall so long
continue and
upon and from my
said wifes
decease my
desire is that
the whole of my
property estate
and effects then
remaining shall
go and belong to
my said sons
equally And my
Will further is
that in case the
interest and
income arising
from the
investment
hereinbefore
directed to be
made shall not
amount to twenty
six pounds per
annum then that
amount shall be
made up to my
said wife out of
the principal
And that such
yearly sum shall
be reckoned in
favor of my said
wife as growing
due from the day
of my death I
revoke all Wills
by me heretofore
made In Witness
whereof I have
hereunto
subscribed my
hand this twenty
seventh day of
August in the
year of our Lord
one thousand
eight hundred
and fifty two
James Pope
Signed by the
said James Pope
in the presence
of us both
present at the
same time and
attested and
subscribed by us
in his presence
the word
"Brother" being
written between
the two bottom
lines on the
other side
Thomas Phelps
Ann
Phelps
both of
Yeovil Somerset
Proved at London 23rd of Dec[embe]r 1856 Before the Judge by the
oaths of
Elizabeth Pope
Widow the Relict
and William Pope
and Thomas Pope
the Sons the Ex[ecut]ors
to whom Adm[inistrati]on
was granted
having been
first sworn by
Com[missi]on
duly to adm[iniste]r
Transcribed by Bob Osborn