yeovil people

john ryall

Early Yeovil Leather Dresser and Glove Manufacturer

 

John Ryall was an early promoter of the Yeovil leather and gloving industries and is thought to have been responsible for first importing foreign lamb and kid skins to Yeovil for dressing in the town. Writing in 1856 Vickery said that he "was the first person to introduce the dressing of leather as a feature in the staple trade of the town. He was strongly opposed by the London dressers, and lost £1,000 the first year; but the next he gained more than that sum. Since then the dressing of leather has formed a part of the trade, and the material, the preparation of which was then, for the first time, introduced into the town, is now turned out, in the shape of a manufactured article, fit to adorn the hand of the first lady of the land."

John Ryall became a wealthy eighteenth century pioneering leather dresser and glove manufacturer and owner of Old Sarum House in Princes Street. Old Sarum House had been built in the early eighteenth century for wealthy clothier Samuel Dampier. His son, Samuel Dampier Jnr inherited the house on the death of his father in 1744 and Samuel Junior's daughter Susannah, who was John Ryall's second wife, eventually inherited the house on the death of her father. Their daughter Christian (1762-1826) married yeoman farmer George Mayo (1760-1825) of Nether Compton. George and Christian's son, John Ryall Mayo, became Yeovil's first mayor and eventually he too inherited Old Sarum House.

In 1776 and 1777 John Ryall was a Churchwarden as St John's church alongside Henry Penny. He was re-elected in 1793.

In his will of 1795, banker Samuel Daniell left "...a certain Orchard in Yeovil aforesaid called Salthouse Orchard with the Garden or Nursery adjoining which Orchard I lately had in exchange of Mr John Ryall unto my Wife Melloni Daniell...".

From the 1760s until his death in 1813 leather dresser and glove manufacturer Ryall had a leather dressing yard and glove factory in the area now occupied by Kiddles off Eastland Road. Indeed for decades Eastland Road was known as Ryall's Lane and is shown as such on Watt's map of 1806 seen below. He may also have owned a small glove factory and/or dressing yard on the site of what would become Nichols leather factory between the Railway Hotel and today's Brunswick Street _ also on Watts' map of 1806.

John Ryall is recorded as a glove manufacturer in several deeds between 1769 and 1789. He was listed as a 'Glove Manufacturer and Leather Dresser' in Bailey's British Directory of 1784 and the Universal British Directory of 1790 listed the company of Ryall & Corry as 'Glovers and Lamb & Kid Leather Dressers'. John Ryall was recorded as a 'Glover of Yeovil' when he indentured William Rodber to an apprenticeship in 1779 and Francis Boucher in 1783. John was also a longstanding member of the Yeovil Lodge of Freemasons.

John Ryall died in Yeovil in 1813.

 

See Family Tree

 

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From my collection

John Ryall's signature and seal (enlarged to show the detail in the latter) on a deed, dated 1810.

 

Edward Bullock Watts' map of Yeovil of 1806 shows the location of John Ryall's glove factory and dressing yard in what was known at the time as Ryall's Lane, now Eastland Road.

 

... and Edward Watts' map of 1806 showing John Ryall's properties, possibly a large house and a small glove factory or dressing yard, at the southern end of Hendford. Brunswick Street is yet to be built, but at the bottom left corner is Horsey Lane.

 

Old Sarum House in Princes Street, home of John Ryall until his death.

 

The Last Will & Testament of John Ryall

 

 

This is the last Will and Testament of me John Ryall of Yeovil in the County of Somerset Glover I direct that my body be interred in the parish of Chilton Cantelo as near the grave of my first Wife Christian Ryall as it can be without the least disturbing her Bones that my Grave be [word illegible] Six Foot deep at the least that it be Walled up with Brick the depth of my Coffin filled up with Earth and covered over with Flat Stones I do hereby remit and release to John Coombs John Strickland and and John Cabell the several debts which they respectively over me and do direct that the several Notes of Hand which they have given me for securing the same shall be delivered up to them by my Executors hereinafter named to be cancelled I give and bequeath to Henry Whitmash Esquire and John Greenham Glover Both of Yeovil aforesaid their Executors Admin[istrators] and Assigns the several sums of Money that shall at the time of my decease be due and owing to me under and by virtue of any Bonds or Notes of [word illegible] given to me in my Private Capacity and not in my Trade Upon Trust in the first place to call in so much thereof as shall be sufficient to pay off and discharge the principal sum of One Thousand pounds which I own to Mr John Symes upon Mortgage together with such Interest as may be due thereon which I hereby direct to be paid off and discharged accordingly with all convenient speed after my decease and after payment thereof upon trust to call in and pay the remainder of the said several sums of Money that shall be so do you and owing to me to such person or persons in such shares and proportions and two and four such intents and purposes and in such manner and form as my daughter Christian Mayo Wife of George Mayo shall from time to time notwithstanding her (word illegible) by any Note in Writing under her hand direct or appoint and in default of and until such direction or appointment shall be made so and shall pay the same or so much thereof concerning which no such direction or appointment shall be made or take effect into the proper hands of my said daughter for her own sole and separate use and benefits to the intent that the same or any part thereof may not be subject or liable to the controul order direction debts engagements or incumbrances of her said husband but may be absolutely at her own separate and exclusive disposal as if she were sole and unmarried and the Receipt or Receipts of my said daur [daughter] or any person or persons to whom she shall direct or appoint the same to be paid shall notwithstanding her said Coverture be or sufficient and (word illegible) do discharge for so much thereof as shall in such Receipt or Receipts be acknowledged or expressed to be received I give and devise to the said Henry Whitmarsh and John Greenham their Heirs and Assigns all my estate lands and Herod it amounts situate lying and being in the parish of Chilton Cantelo in the first said County of Somerset now in the occupation of John Corry upon trust to receive the [words illegible] and profits thereof during the term of the natural life of my said daughter and to pay the same and to such person or persons and to and for such intents and purposes and in such manner and form as she my said Daur (daughter) shall from time to time notwithstanding her Coverture by any Note in Writing under her hand direct or appoint and in default of and until such direction or appointment shall be made do and shall pay the same or so much thereof concerning of which no such direction or appointment shall be made or take effect into the proper hands of my said daughter for her own sole and separate use and benefit to the intent that the said rents do use and profits or any part thereof may not be subject or liable to the Controul order direction debts Engagements or incumbrances of her said husband but may be absolutely at her own separate and exclusive disposal as if she were sole and unmarried and the Receipt or Receipts of my said daughter or of any person or persons to whom she shall direct or appoint the same to be paid shall notwithstanding her said (Coverture ?) Be a sufficient and entire discharge for so much thereof as shall in such receipt or receipts be acknowledged or expressed to be received provided always and I do hereby direct that my said daughter with the [word illegible] of her said husband shall and do within six months next after my decease by good and sufficient Deeds and Conveyances Release and Convey to my Grandson George Mayo the younger his Heirs and Assigns all the Estate and Interest in the dwellinghouse in which I reside with the outhouses Garden Orchards and Heriditaments thereto belonging situate in Yeovil aforesaid and in default of my said Daughters so Releasing and Conveying her estate and interest in the said Dwellinghouse Outhouses Garden Orchards and Hereditaments then it is my will and I do hereby direct that the said Henry Whitmash and John Greenham their Heirs and Assigns shall and do pay the [words illegible] and profits of my said Estate Lands and Hereditaments situate lying and being in the parish of Chilton Cantelo aforesaid during the natural life of my said daughter to my said Grandson George Mayo the younger his Heirs and Assigns and from and immediately after the death of my said daughter I give and devise my said Estate Lands and Heredit[ament]s situate lying and being in the parish of Chilton Cantelo aforesaid onto my said Grandson George Mayo the younger to hold and to the use of my said Grandson George Mayo the younger his Heirs and Assigns for ever I give and devise unto my said grandson George Mayo the younger the said Dwellinghouse in which I reside with the Workshops Drying houses Garden Orchards and premises thereto belonging situate lying and being in Yeovil aforesaid together with the several Cottages Gardens and premises in the possession of James Cook Samuel Rodber James Slade William Tavener George Gregory and Benjamin (word illegible) all situate lying and being in the parish of Yeovil aforesaid To hold to and to the use of my said grandson George Mayo the younger his Heirs and Assigns for ever I also give and devise unto my said Grandson George Mayo the younger all those my Closes of Land called [Spring ?]Close containing by estimation eight Acres three Roods and twenty Perches Little [Soyde ?] Or House Ground containing by estimation four Acres Hyde containing by estimation ten Acres [Socketts ?] Containing by estimation one Acre and Roping Path containing by estimation one Acre and half together with my Close of Arable Land in Lyde Lane containing by estimation four Acres and also might Orchards called Preston Park Orchard containing by estimation one Acre and Pen Hill Orchard containing by estimation one Acre to hold and to the use of my said Grandson George Mayo the younger his Heirs and Assigns for ever *

* Margin Note - I also give & Devise unto my said Grandson George Mayo the younger his Heirs & Assigns for ever

all and singular my Freehold Messuages Tenements Farms Lands and Hereditaments with their and every of their App[ertainmen]ts called Willoughbys [Crest ?] Hill part of Pryors Down and a Cottage house and Orchard called late Dibbles now in the tenure or possession [word illegible] Cogan and Farthing as my Tenants situate lying and being in the parish of Broomfield in the said County of Somerset Also I give and bequeath to my said Grandson George Mayo the younger all and singular my Leasehold Messuages Tenements Lands and Premises with their App[ertainmen]ts in the tenure or possession of the said [word illegible] Cogan and Farthing as my Tenants situate in the parish of Broomfield aforesaid To hold the same to my said Grandson George Mayo the younger his Executors Adm(inistrator)s and Assigns for and during all my Estate and Estates [Terms ?] and Interest therein to come at my death

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I give and devise unto my grandson John Ryall Mayo his heirs and assigns for ever all and singular my Freehold Messuages Tenements Farms Lands and Hereditaments with their and every of their Appurtenances called [West Dee ?] and Rawshill with the Right of Common thereto belonging Timbercombe and part of Pryors Down now in the possession of Mr William Hayward as my Tenant situate lying and being in the parishes of Broomfield aforesaid and Spaxton in the said County of Somerset except that part of Kingshill (part of the said hereditaments) called Twelve Acres which is not at present planted to Firs

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Also I give and bequeath to my said Grandson John Ryall Mayo all and singular my Leasehold Messuages Tenements Lands and Premises with their App[ertainmen]ts in the tenure or possession of the said William Hayward as my Tenant situate in the said parishes of Broomfield and Spaxton to hold the same to my said Grandson John Ryall Mayo is Ex[exut]ors Adm[inistrator]s and Assigns for and during all my Estate and Estates Terms and Interest therein to come at my death I give and devise unto my said grandson John Ryall Mayo his heirs and assigns for ever all of these my Dwellinghouses Outhouses Gardens and Orchards in the possession of Robert Ellis George Symonds and Charles Parsons as my Tenants containing by estimation 5 acres situate in the parish of Yeovil aforesaid subject Nevertheless to the payment of an Annuity of Eight Guineas payable to Mrs Seward for her life and charged on it some part of the said last mentioned hereditaments Also I give and devise unto my said Grandson John Ryall Mayo his heirs and assigns for ever all those my to orchards called Roping Field Orchards containing together by estimation four Acres all that my Close of pasture land called Roping Field containing by estimation Eight Acres my Close of pasture land called Lower Picketty Witch containing by estimation four Acres all that my Close of pasture called Higher Picketty Witch containing by estimation seven Acres all that my Close of pasture land called South Path containing by estimation six Acres all that my Close of pasture land called Coomb Street containing by estimation eight Acres and all those my to Closes of pasture land called Oxen Furlongs containing together by estimation ten Acres all situate in the parish of Yeovil aforesaid I give and devise unto my said Grandson George Mayo the younger his Heirs and Assigns for ever my Pew and Sittings on the Floor in Yeovil Church I give and devise unto my said Grandson John Ryall Mayo his Heirs and Assigns for ever my Pews and Sittings in the Gallery in Yeovil Church aforesaid I give and devise unto my said Grandson's George Mayo the younger and John Ryall Mayo their Heirs and Assigns for ever as Tenants in common and not as joint Tenants all my lands in the parish of Broomfield aforesaid which I have planted to Firs containing by estimation twenty eight Acres together with that part of King's well aforesaid which is hereinbefore excepted called twentye Acres and which is not at present planted but which if it should please God to prolong my life I intend to plant I give and devise unto my Niece Elizabeth Coombs now residing with me and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life all these my Closes of pasture land called Ashley and later [Drills ?] Adjoining containing by admeasurement Twenty nine Acres two Roods and three Perches situate in the Tithing of Yeovil Marsh in the parish of Yeovil aforesaid and from and immediately after the decease of my said Nice I give and devise the said closes of land called Ashley and late [Drills ?] to my said Grandson John Ryall Mayo his Heirs and Assigns for ever Also I give and bequeath to my said Niece Elizabeth Coombs and her Assigns for and during the term of her natural life (if my Estate and Interest so long continue) all that my Cottage or Dwellinghouse and Garden in Rackleford in the said parish of Yeovil together with the Close of Pasture land adjoining containing by estimation two Acres and from and immediately after the decease of my said Niece I give and bequeath the said last mentioned Cottage or Dwellinghouse Garden and Close of land onto my said Grandson John Ryall Mayo his Exors [Executors] Admons [Administrators] and Assigns for and during all my Estate term and Interest therein I give and devise unto my said Grandson John Ryall Mayo his Heirs and Assigns for ever upon the Condition hereinafter mentioned all that my Capital Messuage [this refers to Old Sarum House] or Tenement and Dwellinghouse with the Court Yard Garden and Appurtenances thereunto belonging situate and being in Hendford Yeovil within the Parish of Yeovil aforesaid formerly in the possession of Samuel Dampier the elder afterwards of his Son Samuel Dampier since of Mary Bright and Sarah Bright since of the said Mary Bright and wife of John Ashley the elder provided always that in case my said Grandson John Ryall Mayo shall marry a Woman not really and bone fide possessed of property of the value of Three Thousand Pounds at the least then I do give and devise the said Capital Messuage or Tenement and Dwellinghouse with the Court Yard Garden and Appurtenances thereunto belonging unto the said Henry Whitmash and John Greenham their Heirs and Assigns upon trust to sell and dispose of the same and the Fee simple thereof by public Auction or private Contract for the most Money that can be reasonably got for the same and upon trust to pay the [word illegible] arising by such Date unto such person or persons and to and for such intents and purposes and in such manner and form as my said Daughter Christian Mayo shall notwithstanding [word illegible] by any Note in writing under her hand direct or appoint and in default of and until such direction or appointment shall be made do and shall pay this same or so much thereof concerning of which no such direction or appointment shall be made or take effect into the proper hands of my said daughter for her own soul and separate use and benefit to the intent that the same or any part thereof may not be subject liable to the constraint order direction debts Engagements or incumbrances of her said husband but may be absolutely at her own separate and exclusive disposal as if she were Sole and unmarried and the Receipt or Receipts of my said daughter or of any person or persons to whom she shall direct or appoint the same to be paid shall notwithstanding her [word illegible] be a sufficient and entire discharge for so much thereof as shall in such Receipt or Receipts be acknowledged or expressed to be received and I do hereby will hand declare that the receipt of the said Henry Whitmash and John Greenham shall be a sufficient discharge to the purchaser or purchasers of the said Capital Messuage or Tenement and Dwellinghouse with the Court Yard Garden and Appurtenances thereunto belonging and that such purchaser or purchasers shall be answerable or accountable for the missapplication or nonapplication of the Purchase Money nor shall such purchaser or purchasers be at all concerned to see the application thereof And I do hereby order and direct that my present tenant Mrs Mountford shall have the use and enjoyment of the said Capital Messuage or Tenement and Dwellinghouse with the Court Yard Garden and Appurtenances and of the lands which I let her therewith for the term of her life or until my said Grandson John Ryall Mayo shall Marry at the Rent and upon the Terms and Conditions upon which she now holds and enjoys the same provided she shall cause to accept the same at the Rent and upon those terms and conditions I give and bequeath to the said Henry Whitmash and John Greenham the sum of Fifty pounds each to be paid to them in Six Months After my decease I give and bequeath to the Servant Maid living at my death in Domestic Service with me the sum of ten pounds to be paid to her in three Months next after my decease or sooner at the discretion of my Executors I give and bequeath to my old workman John Butts that part of my Leasehold House and Garden in Higher Kingstone in Yeovil aforesaid which he now occupies during the term of his life Rent Free if he lives I hold it by so long live and I give and bequeath the remaining part of the said house and garden immediately after my decease and that part bequeathed to the said John Butts for his life from and immediately after his death unto my said Grandson George Mayo the younger his Executors Admons [Administrators] and Assigns for the remainder of my Estate term and interest therein I give and devise unto my Old Workman Abraham Chaffey the dwellinghouse wherein he now lives and the Woodhouse at the West and thereof and the Garden thereunto belonging for and during the term of his natural life Rent free provided he continues to occupy it himself but not otherwise he the said Abraham Chaffey keeping the said dwellinghouse and premises in proper repair at his own expense and from and immediately after his decease I give and devise the said last mentioned Dwellinghouse Woodhouse Garden and provided unto my said Grandson George Mayo the younger his Heirs and Assigns for ever I give and bequeath to my said Niece Elizabeth Coombs a Hogshead of Beer and a Hogshead of Cyder with the Casks containing the same All the rest residue and remainder of my Real and Personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever I give devise and bequeath to my said Grandsons George Mayo the younger and John Ryall Mayo their Heirs Executors Admons [Administrators] and Assigns absolutely as tenants in common and not as joint tenants provided always and I do hereby further will declare and direct that the said Henry Whitmash and John Greenham their Heirs Exors [Executors] Admons [Administrators] and Assigns shall be charged and rechargeable only for such Monies as they shall actually [word illegible] notwithstanding he or they shall or may give or sign or join in giving or signing any Receipt or Receipts for the sake of Conformity and that neither of them shall be answerable or accountable for the other of them but each of them only for his own debts receipts [word illegible] defaults respectively and that they or either of them shall not be answerable or accountable for any misfortune loss or damage which may happen to the said trust Monies and promises or any part thereof unless the same shall happen by or through his or their own wilful default respectively and then and in that case such person respectively shall singly and alone be answerable for such loss or damage as shall arise from his own act or default and also that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Henry Whitmash and John Greenham their heirs executors Admons [Administrators] and Assigns by and out of the said Trust Monies which shall come to their respective hands by virtue of the trusts aforesaid to deter retain to and reimburse himself and themselves respectively all Costs charges Damages and Expenses which they or either of them shall or may expend disburse lay out be at sufferage sustain or be put unto in or about the Execution of the aforesaid Trusts in Relation thereto and lastly I do appoint my said Grandsons George Mayo the younger and John Ryall Mayo joint Executors of this my last Will and Testament and do revoke all others by me at any time heretofore made In Witness whereof I have two this my said last Will and Testament contained in six sheets of paper set my hand to [word illegible] of the first five sheets thereof and to this sixth and last sheet my hand and seal tenth day of September in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and thirteen

Jno Ryall

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Testator John Ryall as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have here to subscribe to our names as witnesses

WS White      Saint [Prat ?] Hutchings

Proved at London 4th February 1814 before the Judge by the Oaths of George Mayo the Younger and John Ryall Mayo the Grandsons the Executors to whom Administration was granted having been first sworn by Commission duly to Administer

 

Transcribed by Bob Osborn