Rev Martin Strong
Rev Martin Strong
Vicar of Yeovil, 1690 to 1720
Martin Strong was born in 1660 at Henlade, near Taunton. Nothing is known of his early life but in 1680 he was Servitor of Lincoln College, Oxford, and in 1690, at the age of 30, he was presented to the vicarage of Yeovil by Sir Edward Phelips of Montacute who was Lord of Yeovil at the time. "Martin Strong Instituted to the Vic(arage) of Yeovil, May the 22nd 1690. Inducted the day following." (see first photo in the gallery below).
He was married twice, mentioning his 'first wife' in his will although not naming her. His second wife was called Mary. His daughter Edith was by his first wife and his younger daughter Elizabeth (baptised at St John's church on 14 December 1704) was by his second wife. Elizabeth was under age at his death. A third known daughter, Mary, was baptised at St John's church on 11 July 1700. He also had two sons; John baptised at St John's church on 6 April 1702 and Henry baptised on 20 January 1707. He also makes a passing reference to a son in his will but leaves nothing to him. He also mentions his father's 'Widdow' who remains un-named and was, presumably, his stepmother. Again un-named was his sister who was married to Alexander Procter. The final family member to be mentioned was his nephew James Strong, son of an un-named brother.
Perhaps revealing is his statement in his will concerning his daughter Elizabeth and her first cousin James Strong "And if my Daughter Elizabeth and my said Nephew can love and like each other so well as to intermarry to preserve my Name Family and Memory It is that which I could earnestly wish Will and Desire." Surprising for a vicar, since under Canon law marriage between first cousins had been prohibited as the 'fourth degree' of consanguinity since the ninth century.
Commencing in 1698 he kept a ‘commonplace book’, now in the Heritage Centre at Taunton, in which he recorded details he considered would benefit his successors. In it he wrote that when he became vicar of Yeovil he found a sadly disorganised parish, the vicarage to be in a ruinous state, the result of chronic, unchecked neglect, and parishioners who were indolent and slack in their attendance at church.
He fought against what had become the 'prevailing' custom of private baptism, where the people expected their children to be baptised in their own homes. The problem was widespread and the Bishop of London's campaign for public baptism in church was further promoted in visitations of the Diocese of Bath and Wells among others. Martin Strong preached sermons and published on The Indecency and Unlawfulness of Baptizing Children in Private.
Perhaps what upset Martin Strong most of all was how his parishioners did their utmost to avoid paying tithes in full, pretending all sorts of strange customs to avoid paying their tithes. As a consequence, many pages of his commonplace book are devoted to receipt of tithes. Interestingly, however, these showing that a large proportion of income came from flax and hemp being grown to support the flourishing cloth, rope and twine industries in the area.
In fact the vicarage also included substantial lands in both Yeovil and Preston Plucknett parishes and had been farmed by tenants. Martin noted "In the year 1704 I took the vicarage into my own hands (having always let it out to tenants before, which I found occasioned some inconvenience, and was like to make some stubborn people worse and begin to insult my tenants and pretend to strange customs)". The annual income from both Yeovil and Preston Plucknett combined was quite substantial; in 1704 for instance it came to £180 (around £400,000 at today's value) with 88% derived from the Yeovil lands and 12% from those in Preston Plucknett. The breakdown of this income is interesting as it gives an insight into how the vicarage land was used and is tabulated below -
|
37% |
Flax
and Hemp |
His first major project was to tackle the ruinous state of the vicarage. It was located in Quedam Street, later Vicarage Street. indeed the name Vicarage Street, which appears to have happily existed alongside the name Quedam Street for several centuries, was named after the vicarage of St John's church that was established there in 1377.
He stated both house and gardens were "miserably ruinous and out of all repair", nothing having been done to it since a predecessor, Dr Shore’s time during the Commonwealth. He noted that he rebuilt the "wall against the street which was almost all fallen down" and had "set up new stone steps, and a new door with pillars and balls of Hambden Stone". By 1699 he estimated he had already spent £120 on refurbishment on the house, and subsequently at least another £30 on the garden, outhouses, stables and barn - almost a whole year's income from the vicarage lands.
"In the year 1705-06 I built the stable and woodhouse from the ground which (besides the timber, which was all my own, and is not here reckoned) cost me out of my pocket in all £9. The reason of my building it was this, viz; the barn adjoining belongs to Mr Ambrose Seward (who was Portreeve of Yeovil in 1734) who has (from his father) a good estate at Marsh. This barn, both his father in the time of Dr Beal, and the son in my time, made use of as a snare upon the vicar, for thinking that the vicar could not possibly be without the barn, they would have the tithes of their estate at what rate they pleased, or else presently the vicar was threatened he must turn out of the barn, so I myself was told by the present Mr Seward, which made me resolved to read the vicar of this snare by building on my own ground. I built this for the sake and ease of my successes for ever as well as for my own, and from my god alone I hope for reward. This cost me as I said before (beside the timber) in all £9."
In 1707 he began a public subscription in order to endow a charity school "for 20 poor boys to be taught and closed after the manner used in and about London". The Yeovil Charity School, also known as the Free School, the Latin School, the Charity Grammar School and later the Blue Coat School, opened in 1709 in the Chantry, providing a free elementary education for children up to the age of 12 or 13. Strong acted as Steward-Treasurer, together with six trustees and thirty nine subscribers. This school, he claimed in a sermon on the occasion of the opening of the school and later published as a pamphlet, was "the first (town) in all this part of the world to have set up a Charity School of this nature". In fact his 'founding' of the school was actually a revival of an old institution; the Chantry was the building that the parishioners asked the Chantry Commissioners to let them have as a school in 1547 and a school was established there at the "expense of the parish" in 1573.
In 1714 he started what was probably Yeovil’s first free lending library. He wrote "I caused several good practical books" to be placed in the church under the supervision of the parish clerk. These were to be lent to the poor for a maximum period of a fortnight at a time.
Martin Strong died in 1720 at the age of 60, leaving £40 to the Charity School in the Chantry that he had largely been instrumental in founding. Among other bequests a shilling was to be given to each of two hundred poor families in Yeovil Marsh and Preston. A further five shillings each was for the inmates of Woborn’s almshouses for ‘use of their Pall’ at his burial. Most of his lands, chattels, and so on, as well as £500 each (about £1.1 million at today's value), he left to his daughters Edith and Elizabeth - while his wife Mary was merely left "Ten Pounds The Bed which we lye upon with all belonging to it my Silver Watch and the Square Chest of Drawers". At the end of his will he then had the apparent effrontery to state "my earnest Desire and Will is that my dear Wife do Live piously soberly and in the fear of God".
The Will of Martin Strong
In the Name of
God I Martin
Strong Vicar of Yeovill do make
and appoint this
my last Will and
Testament as
follows propria
manu (Latin
phrase -see note
below) Imprimis
I commend my
Soul into the
hands of God who
gave it humbly
hopeing and
earnestly
praying for
pardon and mercy
thro the merrits
of Jesus Christ
my Saviour My
Body I commit to
the dust to be
gravely and
modestly
interred in a
few days after
my decease chose
by my Deare
Children without
any needless
vanity or
extravagance at
the discretion
of my Trustees
and Executive
herein after
named in hope of
a Joyfull
Resurrection And
as for all my
worldly Goods
Lands Chattells
Money Plate (etc)
I give and
dispose of them
as follows First
I give two
hundred poor
families of
Yeovil, Marsh
Preston Ten
pounds (viz) one
shilling to each
Family to be
impartially
distributed the
morning after my
funerall at the
Church presently
after prayers.
And to the Ten
poor people of
the old
Almshouse in
Yeovill I do
give fifty
shillings for
the use of their
pall at my
Buriall (viz)
five Shillings
to each person
And to the poor
of Riston and
Henlade the
place of my
Nativity I do
give to each
place 20
Shillings and to
the poor of
Yetminster in
Dorset I do give
Ten shillings to
Ten poor
families to be
paid in three
months after my
Decease Item I
do give to
Edward Phellipps
of Preston Esq
forty pounds to
the intent and
on Trust that he
pay the said
forty pounds in
six Months after
my Death to the
Treasurer of the
Charity School
Yeovill for the
Sole use and
benefitt of the
poor Boys of the
said School But
if ever the said
School Should
fail or cease
which God forbid
then my Will is
that the said
forty pounds be
given and
applyed to the
use and benefitt
of the Woborns
Almshouse in
Yeovill But if I
should happen to
purchase a peice
of Land and
Settle it upon
the said Charity
School in my
Lifetime which I
fully designe
Then my Will is
that the
aforesaid forty
pounds shall not
be paid to the
school but go to
my Executor
hereinafter
named Item I do
hereby nominate
and appoint my
daughter Edith
to be the next
Tenant and taker
to my Customary
estate at
Yetminster in
Dorset And I do
also give to the
said Edith
whatever Rents
Shall remain due
to me from the
Tenants of the
said Estate at
the time of my
Death. And I do
also give to my
daughter Edith
all the papers
Bonds (word
illegible) Debt
-- Credits
Accounts
whatever that
were any way due
to or that did
anyway concern
my First Wife
her Mother from
or with any
person or
persons whatever
I do also give
to my daughter
Edith all the
Goods that were
her Mothers (viz)
large silver
plate the small
copper picture
the Brass Dogs
with great round
heads the dozen
of pewter plates
marked (with ?)
her Mothers name
the smaller
Brass kettle All
the Boxes and
the Small Trunk
in my Studdy I
do also give to
the said Edith
the Chest of
Drawers in the
Kitchin Chamber
which she now
uses and the
Damask Board
Cloth and one
dozen of Damask
napkins
(abbreviation) I
do also give to
my daughter
Edith the
Reversionary
Lease of a Life
or Lives which I
have in a
Tenement in
Acreman Street
in Sherborn
Dorset to be
disposed of in
what manner I
shall by word or
writing Will and
Direct her
hereafter And I
do also give to
my daughter
Edith five
hundredd pounds
in Money to be
paid her in one
year after my
death But if the
said Edith
happen to Dye
unmarriedd Then
my Will is that
the said five
hundredd pound
Shall after the
said Ediths
death unmarried
be paid to my
Daughter
Elizabeth Item I
doe give to my
Daughter
Elizabeth five
hundredd pounds
to be paid at
her age of 21
Years and also
the Chest of
Drawers which I
myself now use
And my Will is
that the use and
Interest of the
said five
hundredd pound
Shall goe and be
applied to the
Education and
maintenance of
my said daughter
Elizabeth untill
she come to the
said age of 21
Years All of it
Except only
forty eight
shillings p ann
(per annum)
which I am
obliged to pay
Yearly to my
Fathers Widdow
for her Thirds
during her life
and no longer
which said 48
Shillings shall
be yearly paid
out of the
Interest of the
last named five
hundred pound
till she the
said Widdow dy
and then all to
goe to my
daughter
Elizabeth Item I
do give to my
Nephew James
Strong of Bruton
St George all
those Books and
pamphletts which
I have purposely
placed in that
corner of my
study which is
next to my Bed
and Chamber
Window which I
desire him to
keep and
preserve well
for my Sake And
if my Daughter
Elizabeth and my
said Nephew can
love and like
each other so
well as to
intermarry to
preserve my Name
Family and
Memory It is
that which I
could earnestly
wish Will and
Desire As for
all the rest of
my Books my Will
is that they be
sold not Rashly
but to the best
advantage the
Care of which I
commend to my
fine Friends Mr
John Gale and Mr
Bowyer of
Martock and as
for the money
whith which the
said Books do
yeild My Will as
that it goe to
the use and
benefitt of my
Executrix herein
after named Item
whereas I did
sometime in the
year 1719 make a
Dormant
Surrender of my
Customary Estate
at Henlade to Mr
Thomas Gale and
Mr Alexander
Procter in Trust
to and for the
use of my last
Will and
Testament My
Will now is that
the said Tho
Gale and
Alexander
Procter Shall
Surrender back
the said Estate
to my Daughter
Elizabeth and to
her heirs
according to the
Custom of the
mannor of
Taunton Item On
condition that
the Said
Elizabeth my
Daughter shell
permitt and
Suffer Mary her
Mother quickly
to hold and
enjoy the Said
Estate so long
as she Lives
according to a (coccody
?) or Jointure
which she has
upon the said
Estate in Barr
of Dower as by
Marriage
Articles appears
And if my said
Daughter and
Nephew think
fitt to
intermarry My
Will and Desire
is that they
make the House
at Henlade to be
their common
dwelling house
after the
Mothers death or
before if she
please to let
them (word
illegible) as
Tenants to her
Item I do give
my Dear Wife
Mary Ten Pounds
The Bed which we
lye upon with
all belonging to
it my Silver
Watch and the
Square Chest of
Drawers Item I
do give to my
hon(ourable ?)
Friends the Lady
Phellipps of
Montacute and to
her two
daughters and to
Edw(ard)
Phellipps Esq to
each a Ring of
20 Shillings
value in token
of my gratefull
sence of their
kindness to me I
do beg the said
Mr Phellipps to
be an overseer
of this my Will
-- to see it
Justly
performedd and I
do earnestly
request my good
Lady Phellipps
and her good
daughters and Mr
Edward Phellipps
to be Friends
and advisers to
my Daughter
Edith and not to
suffer her to be
wronged and let
this my request
be communicated
to them as soon
as may be And I
do also hereby
earnestly
request my Good
Friends the Rev
Mr Bowyer
Minister of
Martock and my
Brother
Alexander
Procter and my
Nephew James
Strong to be
Trustees to see
this my Will in
all points
exactly
performed and to
be Guardians for
and of my
Daughter
Elizabeth till
she come of age
for which great
favour I do as a
small
aknowledgment
give to each of
the said
Trustees a Ring
of 20 shillings
value and to my
sister Procter I
give a Ring of
15 Shillings
value desiring
her to be kind
to my Daughter
Elizabeth Item
after my few
Debts if any are
apid and after
all my legacies
and funerall
Expenses (which
I desire may be
modest) are
first fully paid
and discharged
My Will is and I
do hereby give
all the rest of
my Goods, Plate
Money whatsoever
not before
disposed of to
my Daughter
Elizabeth whom I
do make and
appoint Sole
Executrix of
this may last
Will and
Testament And my
Will and desire
is that a True
and perfect
Inventory be
taken and a Just
appraisement
made in two days
after my
funerall of all
my said Goods
and of the Just
value of them in
order to
preserve as many
of them for my
Son & Daughter
as she shall
think fitt to
keep and the
Rest to be Sold
for her use and
Benefitt Item I
do give and
allow to my
Trustees and
Executrix fifty
pounds for the
Modest and
Decent Discharge
of my Funerall
and I desire no
more may be
appended in it
And my earnest
desire and Will
is that my
written Sermons
whatever may be
all burnt within
six hours after
my Death and I
charge my Wife
and Children
that this be
Religiously
observed as they
hope to answere
it to God Lastly
my earnest
Desire and Will
is that my dear
Wife do Live
piously soberly
and in the fear
of God and that
my Children do
the same and
that they
continue in a
Strict and
Stedfast
Communion with
the Church of
England And I
charge my
Children upon my
Blessing never
to depart from
this Church but
to hold fast the
Doctrines and to
live up to the
pious principles
of it To live in
perfect love
peace and unity
with each other
To be very kind
and dutifull to
their Mother and
Trustees and in
all things of
moment to ask
their advice and
consent and
Never to Differ
about small
matters
Particularly I
do earnestly
commend my
Daughter Edith
to the Care and
kindness of my
Good friends at
Montacute & my
other Daughter
Elizabeth I
commend to the
particular care
and kindness of
her Uncle and
Aunt Procter to
whom I do
especially
bequeath her And
my Will is that
my above named
Trustees Shall
not Suffer and
Damage for their
kindness in this
Trust but shall
be indemnifyde
and (word
illegible)
harmless both in
Law and equity
for any loss of
money or for any
other accident
that may
unavoidably
happen without
any fault or
neglect of
theirs I only
begg and beseach
them to use
their best care
to prevent all
such bad
accidents and to
Trust what I
have left to the
uses by this my
Will intended so
far as possibly
they can for
which may God
bless and Reward
them Amen Martin
Strong Signed
Sealed Published
and Declared to
be my last Will
and Testament
this fourteenth
Day of May Anno
Dom(ini) 1720 in
presence of Nath(aniel)
Bridges James
Foot William
Newman..
Probate (in
Latin) granted
to Elizabeth
Strong 22 March
1721
Transcribed by Bob Osborn
Note: "Propria manu" is a Latin phrase meaning "(signed) with one's own hand".
gallery
Written in his own hand in his 'commonplace book' - "M. Strong Instituted to the Vic(ar) of Yeovill May the 22nd 1690. Inducted the day following:"
Again written in his own hand in his 'commonplace book' -
"Here follows an Exact Account of what I have done and laid out about the repairs of the Vicarage House and Gardens, Since the Year 1690. Total about ----- 120 - 0 - 0
When I came to Yeovil in the year 1690 I found the Vicarage house and Gardens miserably ruinous, and out of all repair, nothing considerable having been done w(ith) it from the turning out of Dr Shore in the time of Oliver Cromwell."
