Yeovil's Virtual Museum

George Bragge Prowse

and the Prowse family, Lords of the Manor of Kingston

 

The Prowse family lived in Yeovil certainly in the very early seventeenth century since a priceless treasure in St John's church is an early edition of the King James Bible, bound in leather with metal clasps and embossed on the cover with the letters E P and an inscription on the title page reading "This Bible was given to the Church of Yevell by Elizabeth Prowse, widow, of the same parish and delivered by John Ostler, her executor." Elizabeth née Paulet was the second wife and widow of George Prowse who died in 1624.

This is the earliest known evidence of the Prowse family in Yeovil and an elaborate brass, the Prowse Brass, on the chancel floor of St John's Church commemorates several members of the family and also bears its coat of arms - three lions guardant.

A lease exists, dated 1647, concerning George and Elizabeth's son Robert Prowse of Kingston juxta Yeovil, Gentleman, and a house and garden in Hendford. Robert married Bridget Harbin, a daughter of Robert Harbin of Newton Surmaville. She was described in a deed of 1640 as "Late of Newton and now of Kingston". Robert Prowse was closely connected to Woborn's Almshouse and held the positions of Custos and Warden of the almshouse on several occasions.

Robert's son, George, also held the positions of Custos and Warden of the almshouse on several occasions. He was also an Overseer of the Poor. His signature is shown in the Gallery below on the accounts of Woborn Almshouse for the year 1738 during his tenure as Warden.

Leases exist, dated 1708 and 1712 concerning Robert's grandson John Prowse, a solicitor of Kingston, Gentleman. The Manor of Kingston, together with the advowson of Kingston Pitney Chapel, was purchased from Lord Stourton in 1710 by John Prowse. The advowson was the right to present to the living of All Saints, a small disused chapel that stood on the site of the later Yeovil District Hospital's boiler house. The advowson was held by the 12th century de Say family, then in turn by the Ardens, the Wigtons, the Chydioks and then by marriage to Lord Stourton. Between 1714 and 1718 John is referred to as 'Landlord of the Manor of Kingston' and between 1718 and 1720 as 'Lord of the Manor of Kingston'. John Prowse acted as Custos or Warden of Woborn's Almshouse on six occasions.

From 1724 to at least 1767 John's eldest son (of his nine children), George Prowse, Gentleman, is named in documents as Lord of the Manor of Kingston juxta Yeovil. This George (the fourth) married Elizabeth Bragge (d 1800) of Hadfield Peverel, Essex, daughter of William Bragge (1708-1778) and Elizabeth née Hunt (1711-1741).

George and Elizabeth's only son, George Bragge Prowse was born in Yeovil in 1767. George went to University College, Oxford, matriculating on 7 November 1783 at the age of 17 and was created an MA on 17 December 1787.

George was probably the builder of Kingston Manor House, originally known as the Mansion House (not to be confused with today's Mansion House in Princes Street), an early Georgian house of two storeys and six bays with a Tuscan porch. A lease exists, dated 1801, in which George Bragge Prowse of Yeovil, Esq. leased to John Daniell of Yeovil, Esq. the “Capital Mansion House in Yeovil for 6 years with coach house, stables, offices, courtyard, gardens, orchard and paddock containing 6 acres with household goods, furniture and implements of household in and about the Mansion House as listed in a certain inventory also Home Close and Quarry Close 10 acres, lying opposite the Mansion House on the north side of the highway from Yeovil to Sherborne in occupation of John Daniell. Rent - £74 per annum”. This was John Daniell the younger who had already inherited Hendford House (today's Manor Hotel) on the death of his father, John Daniell the elder, in 1776.

In 1803 George was Custos of Woborn's Almshouse and he was also a trustee of the Charity School. By virtue of his social rank as Lord of the Manor of Kingston, he became a Lieutenant Colonel of the First Regiment of Somerset Militia. As well as the Manor of Kingston, George had substantial land holdings in Yeovil including a quarry in Oxenfurlong, Key Farm (off Dorchester Road, near the Red House), Longcroft Farm, Larkhill Farm and the Pen Mill Inn.

In 1821 George inherited the large Edgeworth Manor estate in Gloucestershire from his cousin William Hunt Prinn, at which time George assumed the name Prinn. After George's death this estate passed to a relation Jane Eliza, the widow of Sir William Russell, who changed her name to Prinn in 1841. On 20 October 1825 the following notice was published at Whitehall "The King has been pleased to give and grant unto George Bragge Prowse, of Yeovil, in the County of Somerset, Esq, His Majesty's royal license and authority, that he may, in compliance with a direction contained in the last will and testament of his cousin, William Hunt Prinn, of Charlton Park in the County of Gloucester, Esq. Deceased, henceforth assume and take the surname of Prinn, instead of that of Prowse, and also bear the arms of the said testator, quarterly with his own family arms; such arms being not duly exemplified according to the laws of arms, and recorded in the Herald's Office, otherwise the said licence and permission to be void and of none effect. And also to command, that the said Royal concession and declaration be recorded in his Majesty's College of Arms."

George Bragge Prinn died on 12 January 1839. His obituary was published in the Gentleman's Magazine "12 January: At the Somerset Hotel, Strand, aged 71, George Bragg Prowse Prinn Esq of Charlton Park, Cheltenham, and Yeovil, Somerset. He was descended from a very ancient family in the County of Somerset, where he had a good estate, as also at Hatfield Peverell, in Essex, and at Charlton Park, in Gloucestershire."

George's son, Captain William Jones Prowse RN, was the last of the family to live in Kingston Manor House. He let the house to Ann Batten, daughter of John Prigge Batten, before selling it to Yeovil glove manufacturer Thomas Dampier.

 

See the Prowse Family Tree

 

 

The Yeovil Tithe Apportionment of 1846 show that George Bragge Prowse had extensive land holdings in Yeovil, left to his son Captain William Jones Prowse in his will, as tabulated below. His total acreage held in Yeovil was 262a 0r 32p.

 

Yeovil Tithe Apportionment 1846
Owner	Occupier	No	Name
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	736	Gold's Close
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	740	Spragg's Close
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	741	Godsalls
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	743	Totwells
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	749	Key Farm House & Garden
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	750	Orchard
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	751	Orchard
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	754	Leeches
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	756	Withey Bed
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	757	Dry Close
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	758	Kiln Close
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	759	Rookery
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	760	Lower Ash Walk
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	761	Higher Ash Walk
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	763	Red Mead
Prowse, William Jones	Anstice, William	738a	Little Browns Close
Prowse, William Jones	Batten, Ann	270	Mansion House, Garden, etc
Prowse, William Jones	Batten, Ann	271	Home Field
Prowse, William Jones	Batten, Ann	272	Orchard
Prowse, William Jones	Batten, Ann	559a	Garden Ground
Prowse, William Jones	Batten, John	563	Kingstone Orchard
Prowse, William Jones	Bide, William	546	Houses & Gardens
Prowse, William Jones	Cooper, George	559	Houses & Gardens
Prowse, William Jones	Cupper, William	1379	Cottage, Garden & Orchard
Prowse, William Jones	Custard, George	563a	Houses & Gardens
Prowse, William Jones	Dark, Thomas	394	Houses & Gardens
Prowse, William Jones	Dodd, Samuel	1408	Oxenfurlong
Prowse, William Jones	Dodd, Samuel	1437	Harding's Mead
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	862	In Marke's Mead
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	863	Pen Mill Inn & Garden
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	864	Plot
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	865	Great Medway
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	867	In Jacob's Medway
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	871	Drang
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	879	Parcellas
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	880	Reckless Lake
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	883	Long Close
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	960	Great Hather Mead
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	971	King's Acre
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	972	In Penny's Close
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	973	West Beachams Close
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	975	Pennys Orchard
Prowse, William Jones	Frost, Thomas	977	In Little Hather Mead
Prowse, William Jones	Holt, Thomas	566	Cottages & Gardens
Prowse, William Jones	Lukins, John	553	Houses & Gardens
Prowse, William Jones	Male, James	1020	Milford Cross
Prowse, William Jones	Pike, George	1127	Cottage & Garden
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1337	In Great Ashley
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1351	Lockyer's Mead
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1353	In Lower Grubhams
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1354	Higher Grubhams
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1413	Higher Little Larkhill
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1415	Higher Larkhill
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1417	Higher Perrythorne
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1418	Great Larkhill
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1442	Drang Ground
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1444	Lower Little Larkhill
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1445	In Higher Perrythorne
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1446	Cribhouse Perrythorne
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1449	Lower Perrythorne
Prowse, William Jones	Pope, James	1453	Shore's Close
Prowse, William Jones	Prowse, William Jones	1095	Coombe Street Plot
Prowse, William Jones	Prowse, William Jones	1097	Noble's Nap
Prowse, William Jones	Prowse, William Jones	1102	Coppice
Prowse, William Jones	Prowse, William Jones	1104	Plantation
Prowse, William Jones	Prowse, William Jones	1110	Long Croft Coppice
Prowse, William Jones	Prowse, William Jones	1509	Plantation
Prowse, William Jones	Rendle, John	762	Inn, The & Garden (Red House)
Prowse, William Jones	Ricketts, Charles	1398	Cottage & Garden
Prowse, William Jones	Ricketts, James	1306	Houses & Gardens
Prowse, William Jones	Ricketts, James	1367	Houses & Gardens
Prowse, William Jones	Russell, William	392	Houses & Gardens
Prowse, William Jones	Smith, Robert	1217	Cottage & Garden
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	953	Quarry Ground
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	954	Mead, The
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1099	Little Nobles Nap
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1100	Great Nobles Nap
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1101	Footpath Ground
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1103	West Leaze
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1105	Higher Sleight
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1106	Lower Sleight
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1107	Barn Close
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1108	Higher Plaines
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1109	Longcroft House, Garden
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1117	Lower Plaines
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1118	Higher Great Long Croft
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1119	Higher Great Long Croft
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, James	1120	Yonder Great Long Croft
Prowse, William Jones	Tucker, Robert	1221	Cottage & Garden
Prowse, William Jones	Watts, Edward	576	Garden in Gold Croft Lane
Prowse, William Jones	White, John	1219	Cottage & Garden

 

 

A section of E Watts' map of 1806 showing George Bragge Prowse's lands in the centre of Yeovil between Higher Kingston at top, Lower Kingston (today's Kingston) at bottom, Red Lion Lane at left and Court Ash at right - essentially that area later to become Bide's Gardens - at this time subdivided into several smaller parcels. Prowse's new 'Capital Mansion House', later to become known as Kingston Manor House, is seen in pink at the top of the map next to Red Lion Lane, together with its outbuildings, stables, etc. shaded grey. At this time, according to the lease quoted above, the house was leased to John Daniell of Yeovil, Esq.

 

 

This photograph features in my book 'The Church of St John the Baptist, Yeovil - a History and Guide'.

The Prowse Brass, set in the floor of the chancel.

 

George Prowse's signature on the accounts of Woborn's Almshouse in the year 1738 when he was Warden. This document is in the County Records Office at Taunton.

 

The notice, published in the 12 November 1825 edition of the Bristol Mirror, of the royal license allowing George Prowse to adopt the name of Prinn.

 

This is a "Portrait of George Bragge Prinn Prowse as a Boy" painted by a 'follower of Sir Joshua Reynolds'. It was sold in 2011. The painting, oil on canvas, measures 30½" x 25¾" (77.5 x 65.4 cm) and is inscribed on a label on the reverse 'George Bragge Prinn Prowse / Col: Somerset Militia / born 1785 (sic) died Jan. 1839 / buried in Yeovil Church / Son of George Prowse & Elizabeth Bragge / of Hatfield Peverel, Essex'

 

Thomas William 'Willie' Dampier-Bide and Elizabeth Bide 'Bessie' Dampier photographed in 1907 outside their home, Kingston Manor House - believed to have been built by George Bragge Prowse. 

Nurses outside Kingston Manor around 1960. At this time the old manor house was being used as a nursing home.

 

The memorial in St John's church to George Bragge Prowse, who changed his name to George Bragge Prinn in 1825. The monument carver got a bit mixed up and called his father George Bragge Prowse (instead of just George Prowse) whereas actually his mother Elizabeth's maiden name was Bragge.

 

 

 

This is the last Will and Testament of me George Bragge Prowse of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Esq I do give devise and bequeath unto William Jones Prowse Esq a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy now serving on board His Majesty's Ship the Conqueror all my freehold and copyhold estate in the counties of Somerset and Essex or elsewhere and also all and singular my property in the funds as well of the Bank of England as of the India Company and all my money securities for money plate linen china wine goods chattels personal estate & effects whatsoever & wheresoever to hold unto the said William Jones Prowse his heirs executors Admons and assigns absolutely for ever and I appoint the said William Jones Prowse sole Executor of this my will in Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this fourteenth day of August 1820 - GB Prowse - (seal) Signed sealed published and declared by the said George Bragge Prowse as and for his last will and testament in ye presence of us who at his request in his presence & in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses Thos Ireland Staple Inn - R Henry Sawyer Staple Inn - Wm Austin of the same place.

I the within the named testator having (word illegible) the date and that execution by me of the within written will by Royal License am assumed the name of Prinn and also having purchased certain freehold and copyhold property do hereby republish my within written will and in all respects ratify and confirm the same as witness my hand this fourth day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven GB Prowse (seal) signed and published by the said George Bragg Prinn in our presence and in his presence at his request & in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses R Henry Sawyer - John King - George Corpe Clerks to Mr Sawyer

This is a Codicil to the last will and testament of me George Bragg Prinn of Charlton Park in the County of Gloucester Esq I avowe all that close of meadow or pasture ground called Distlemoor situate in the parish of Yeovil in the County of Somerset which I some time since purchased of William Tanner rose onto William Jones Prowse a commander in his Majesty's Royal Navy his heirs and assigns for ever in witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this tenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight - GB Prinn - signed by the said testator or as and for a codicil to his last will and testament in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses Jno B Alsup Solicitor Yeovil - William Watts Butler at Charlton

Proved at London with a Codicil 21st March 1839 before the lawful William Robinson Dr of Law and Surrogate by the oath of William Jones Prowse Esq the sole ex(ecut)or to whom Adm(inistrati)on was granted having been first sworn duly to Adm(inister)

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn