Yeovil's Virtual Museum

Richard Taylor

Master Butcher of Court Ash House

 

Richard Taylor was born on 23 June 1843 at Wells and was baptised on 19 July 1843 at St Cuthbert, Wells. He was the eleventh of the thirteen children of butcher Robert Taylor (1804-1889) and Elizabeth née Millard (1805-1870) of Southover, Wells. Robert and Elizabeth's children were; Frederick Edwin (b1824), Matilda Susannah (b1826), Maria Jane (b1827), Stephen Henry (1829-1829), Elizabeth Martha (1930-1896), Sophia (1832-1835), Prucella (1833-1898), Henry George (bc1835), Sarah Emma (1838-1911), Charles William (bc1840-1904), Richard, Emily Selina (c1846-1894) and Martha Ann (c1847-1898).

In the 1851 census, seven year old Richard was recorded living with his parents and five of his siblings at Southover, Wells. When he left school, Richard was articled to a solicitor, although this was not to last long as the profession was too inactive for him. The family were still in Southover in the following 1861 census, at which time 17-year-old Richard gave his occupation as an apprentice plasterer and painter. He then joined his brother in a large pork, ham and bacon curing business in Wells.

In 1870 Richard's mother died and in the census of the following year 67-year-old widowed Robert Taylor was recorded at 20 South Street, Wells. Living with him were his three youngest children; Richard, Emily and Martha, aged 27, 25 and 23 respectively and all unmarried. There was also a young servant living in. Although Robert  was listed as a retired butcher, Richard gave his occupation as a butcher.

On 5 December 1871, at the church of St Mary, Chilthorne Domer, Richard married Sarah Streets Pearse (1850-1918), some seven years his junior. Sarah was the daughter and youngest of the seven children of farmer of 270 acres John Raymond Pearse (1810-1887) and Elizabeth née Willmington (1815-1897) of Shortlands Farm, Chilthorne Domer.

Richard and Sarah were to have seven children (an eighth child whose name is not known died in infancy); Clara Alice Sarah (b1873, Devizes, Wiltshire - 1942), John Richard Brake (bc 1875, Devizes - 1957), Linda Elizabeth (1877, Devizes - 1959), Ethel Jane (bc 1881, Castle Cary), Beatrice Pearse (bc 1883, Marlborough, Wiltshire - 1964), Thomas Robert (1886, Chilthorne Domer - 1923) and Wilfred George (bc 1889, Yeovil - 1960).

As may be seen from the birth places of their children, Richard and Sarah moved around quite a bit during early years of their marriage; being in Devizes during the 1870s, then moving briefly to Castle Cary, then Marlborough, Chilthorne Domer and finally settling in Yeovil in 1883. He appears to have set up several butchery businesses at Devizes, Castle Cary and Marlborough. On moving to Yeovil he purchased the premises and business of Harry Hallett at 91 Middle Street.

The 1881 census recorded Richard and Sarah at High Street, Marlborough, Wiltshire where he gave his occupation as a 'Master Butcher employing 3 men'. Living with them were daughters Clara and Ethel, two domestic servants, an assistant butcher and a butcher's clerk.

Owing to heart trouble, Richard sold his business in 1890 and retired to Court Ash House, now the site of the old Odeon Cinema. The 1891 census recorded 47-year old Richard as a retired butcher, living at Court Ash House with Sarah, their five youngest children, a general servant and a nurse. The listings in the 1901 census and the 1911 census were similar.

As well as owning Court Ash House, Richard also owned 89, 90 and 91 Middle Street and 42 and 43 South Street - all described in his will as "Messuages or dwellinghouses shops and premises". He also came to own 92 Huish, 4 Peter Street and a house on Reckleford Hill - although these latter properties are not mentioned in his will, and had probably been sold by the time of his death. (It should be noted that most of the streets referred to here have been re-numbered.) All of these properties he rented out in the years before his death, as evidenced by the adverts shown in the Gallery below.

Of poor health in his final years, Richard died at Court Ash House on 19 June 1914 aged 70. He was buried in Yeovil Cemetery on 24 June. His will was proved at Taunton the following September and his effects were valued at £11,413 2s (in excess of one million pounds at today's value). Sarah died in Yeovil on 28 April 1918, aged 67.

 

 

The entry of Richard's 16 July 1843 baptism in the register of St Cuthbert's church, Wells.

 

A contemporary sketch of Court Ash House by an unknown artist.

 

An aerial view of St John's church taken in 1924. At top left is the large Court Ash House (now the site of the Odeon cinema building) set within its extensive grounds that reach across the top of the photograph. This was the residence Richard Taylor purchased and his family lived from 1891 to around 1924 - the date of this photograph.

 

This advertisement, from the 14 September 1894 edition of the Western Gazette, was for the sale of Richard's substantial holdings in Devizes, Wiltshire, following his move to Yeovil.

 

An advertisement placed by Richard in the 10 August 1906 edition of the Western Chronicle. This advertisement would be periodically repeated at least as late as the summer of 1909.

 

An advertisement placed by Richard in the 2 April 1909 edition of the Western Chronicle. This advertisement would be periodically repeated at least as late as the summer of 1912.

 

An advertisement placed by Richard in the 28 May 1909 edition of the Western Chronicle.

 

An advertisement placed by Richard in the 18 June 1909 edition of the Western Chronicle.

 

The record of Richard's burial on 24 June 1914, from St John's burial register. Richard was buried in Yeovil cemetery.

 

 

This is the last Will and Testament of me Richard Taylor of Court Ash, Yeovil, in the County of Somerset Gentleman. I revoke all former Wills and former testamentary dispositions heretofore made by me. I appoint my Wife Sarah Streets Taylor my son Wilfred George Taylor and my son-in-law Herbert Ewen Alexander of 168 Oakbrook Road, Nether Green, Sheffield (hereinafter called 'my Trustees') to be the Executors and Trustees of this my Will. I give to each of them the said Wilfred George Taylor and Herbert Ewen Alexander the sum of Twenty pounds (free of duty) for their trouble in acting as such Executors and trustees. I give all my plate linen china glass jewellery books pictures prints wines liquors furniture and other household effects and all my garden produce utensils and other household effects to my said Wife Sarah Streets Taylor absolutely. I devise and bequeath all my real and personal estate not hereby otherwise dispersed of unto my Trustees Upon trust after paying thereout my funeral and testamentary expenses and debts and the legacies bequeathed by this my Will and the expenses of keeping my real estate in reasonable repair and insured against loss or damage by fire to pay to or permit my said wife to receive the net profits and income thereof during her life such payment to or receipt by my said wife to commence as soon after my decease as such profits and income shall be received. And after her decease I give my dwellinghouses shops and premises situate and being Nos 90 and 91 Middle Street Yeovil aforesaid and now in the occupation of my sons Thomas Robert Taylor and Wilfred George Taylor and also my dwellinghouse shop and premises situate and being No 89 Middle Street and now in the occupation of Mr Watt to my said sons Thomas Robert Taylor and Wilfred George Taylor as tenants in common in equal shares. And as to the residue of my estate and effects Upon trust to sell call in and convert into money and to pay to my daughters Linda Elizabeth Taylor, Ethel Jane Alexander and Beatrice Pearse Taylor One hundred pounds each and to stand possessed of the residue of the net moneys derived from such sale calling in and conversion (hereinafter called the residuary trust funds) In trust for all my children who shall survive me in equal shares as tenants in common subject nevertheless as hereinafter mentioned. Provided always and I hereby declare that the share of my son John Richard Brake Taylor of and in the residuary trust funds shall be Two hundred and fifty pounds less than each of my other children's individual shares thereof. And my Trustees shall retain such share of my son John Richard Brake Taylor and hold the same upon the trusts following (that is to say) In trust to invest the same with power to vary the investments and to pay the income of the said share and the investments representing the same unto the said John Richard Brake Taylor during his life subject nevertheless to the proviso hereinafter contained And from and after his decease then In trust for all his children who being sons shall attain that age of twenty one years or being daughters shall attain that age or marry in equal shares and if there shall be but one such child then the whole to be in trust for that one child. And if there shall be no such child then In trust for such of the brothers and sisters of the said John Richard Brake Taylor as shall be living at his decease in equal shares. Provided also and I hereby expressly declare that if my said son John Richard Brake Taylor shall during the lifetime of my said Wife to the knowledge of my Trustees or either of them remain in Yeovil for more than one calendar month in any year then and in such case the trust hereinbefore contained in his favour shall thereupon cease and determine and in lieu thereof I direct that my Trustees shall after the decease of my said Wife pay to my said son John Richard Brake Taylor during his life one half only of the income of the share of and in the residuary trust funds given in trust for him and his children as aforesaid and of the investments representing the same And shall stand possessed of the remaining half of the income of such share upon the like trusts as are hereinbefore declared of and concerning the capital of such share after the death of my said son John Richard Brake Taylor. And I also declare that if any dispute of doubt shall arise as to whether my said son John Richard Brake Taylor has committed a breach of the conditions aforesaid the decision of the Trustees or Trustee for the time being of this my Will shall be final and conclusive. Provided also and I hereby declare that my Trustees shall retain the share of my daughter Clara Anna Sarah Scott of and in the residuary trust funds and hold the same upoon the trusts following (that is to say) In trust to invest the same with power to vary the investments and to pay the income of the said share and the investments representing the same unto the said Clara Anna Sarah Scott during her life without power of anticipation while under coverture. And from and after her decease then In trust for all her children who being sons shall attain the age of twenty one years or being daughters shall attain that age or marry under that age in equal shares but should there be only one such child then In trust as to one half part of the share of the said Clara Anna Sarah Scott for such child and as to the remaining half part of the said share or if there shall be no such child then as to the whole of the said share In trust for all my children who shall be living at the decease of the said Clara Anna Sarah Scott in equal shares. Provided also and I hereby declare that if any child of mine other than the said John Richard Brake Taylor and Clara Anna Sarah Scott shall die in my lifetime leaving a child or children who shall survive me and being a son or sons shall attain the age of twenty one years or being a daughter or daughters shall attain that age or marry under that age then and in every such case the last mentioned child or children shall take (and if more than one equally between them) the share which his her or their parent would have taken of and in the residuary trust funds if such parent had survived me and attained the age of twenty one years. Provided also and I hereby declare that the value of my said dwellinghouses shops and premises known as Nos 89, 90 and 91 Middle Street shall be taken to be the sum of Four thousand two hundred pounds and for the purposes of the division of the residuary trust funds under this my Will such sum of Four thousand two hundred pounds shall be deemed to form part thereof and my said sons Thomas Robert Taylor and Wilfred George Taylor shall each be charged with the sum of Two thousand one hundred pounds (being one half of such sum of Four thousand two hundred pounds) as having been paid to them in respect of their shares of and in the residuary trust funds and if such sum of Four thousand two hundred pounds shall be found to exceed the amount of the share to which each of my said sons Thomas Robert Taylor and Wilfred George Taylor is entitled they shall pay to my Trustees the amount of such excess. Provided also and I hereby declare that my Trustees shall offer my Messuages or dwellinghouses shops and premises known as Nos 42 and 43 South Street, Yeovil and also the piece of land adjoining the last mentioned premises for sale to my said sons Thomas Robert Taylor and Wilfred George Taylor (notwithstanding the said Wilfred George Taylor is a Trustee of this my Will) at the sum of Eight hundred pounds and if they shall jointly decline such offer but one of them my said sons Thomas Robert Taylor and Wilfred George Taylor shall be desirous of purchasing the premises comprised in the offer so declined by my said sons then my Trustees shall offer the said premises so declined by my said sons to him so desiring to purchase at the price aforesaid and if my sons shall decline such offers my Trustees shall sell the said premises to any person or persons and in such manner as they may think fit. And I declare that my said sons shall be allowed one month within which they must either accept or decline such offer and if they or he shall not accept the same within such month they or he shall be deemed to have declined it. And I further declare that upon any sale made by my Trustees the statement in writing of my trustees that that the offers made to my said sons have not been accepted shall be conclusive evidence to the purchaser to the fact so stated. And I also declare that as regards my real property until the sale thereof my Trustees shall be at liberty to let or demise the same either from year to year or for any term of years at such rent and subject to such covenant and conditions as they shall think fit to accept surrenders of leases and tenancies to expend money in repairs and improvements and generally to manage the property according to their absolute discretion. And I also declare that any money required for repairs or improvements may be raised either out of income or out of the capital of my estate as my Trustees shall under the circumstances think fair and equitable. And I also declare that the power of appointing new Trustees conferred by Statute shall foir the purposes of this my Will be vested in my said Wife during her life. And I also declare that my Trustees may postpone the sale and conversion and any part of my residuary real and personal estate after the death of my said Wife for so long as they shall think fit and that the rents profits and income to accrue from and after the decease of my said Wife of and from such part of my estate as shall for the time being remain unsold and unconverted shall after payment thereout of all incidental expenses and outgoings be paid and applied to the person or persons and in the manner to whom and in which the income of the proceeds of such sale and conversion would for the time being be payable or applicable under this my Will if such sale and conversion had been actually made. And lastly I declare that my said son Wilfred George Taylor notwithstanding he is a Trustee of this my Will shall have full liberty to purchase any part of my estate at any sale thereof by auction as freely as though he were not a Trustee. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand to this my Will contained in this and the four preceding sheets of paper this third day of November One thousand nine hundred and thirteen.
Signed and acknowledged by the said Richard Taylor the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
Richard Taylor
Wm Wills Henley, Solicitor, Yeovil
George JW Flower, Surgeon, Yeovil

This is a Codicil to the last Will and Testament of me Richard Taylor of Court Ash Yeovil in the County of Somerset, Gentleman, which Will bears the date the third day of November One thousand nine hundred and thirteen. I give to my Wife Sarah Streets Taylor a legacy of One hundred pounds and I direct that the same shall be paid to her within three calendar months after my decease. I bequeath to my daughter Clara Anna Sarah Scott after the death of my said Wife a legacy of One hundred pounds. And whereas by my said Will I have bequeathed to my daughters Linda Elizabeth Taylor, Ethel Jane Alexander and Beatrice Pearse Taylor on the death of my said Wife One hundred pounds each. Now I hereby bequeath to each of my said three daughters on the death of my said Wife an additional sum of One hundred pounds. And I direct that any sums owing by me to any or either of my said daughters at my decease shall be paid to them as it is not my intention or desire that the legacies bequeathed to them shall be considered as in any way discharging my indebtedness to them. And whereas by my said Will I declared that the share of my said Son John Richard Brake Taylor of and in the residuary trust funds should be Two hundred and fifty pounds less than each of my other childrens individual shares thereof Now I hereby declare that my said Will shall be read and construed as though the sum of Seven hundred and fifty pounds had been inserted therein instead of the said sum of Two hundred and fifty pounds. And whereas by my said Will I declared that the value of my Dwellinghouses shops and premises known as Nos 89, 90 and 91 Middle Street, Yeovil, should be taken to be the sum of Four thousand two hundred pounds. Now I hereby declare that my said Will shall be read and construed as though the sum of Three thousand four hundred pounds had been inserted therein instead of the said sum of Four thousand two hundred pounds. In all other respects I confirm my said Will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this twenty first day of February One thousand nine hundred and fourteen.
Signed and acknowledged by the said Richard Taylor the Testator as and for a Codicil to his last Will and Testament in the presence of us at the same time who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses
Richard Taylor
George JW Flower, Surgeon, Yeovil
Wm Wills Henley, Solicitor, Yeovil

On the 23rd day of September 1914 Probate of this Will (with one Codicil) was granted at Taunton to Sarah Streets Taylor, Wilfred George Taylor and Herbert Ewen Alexander, the Executors.

 

Courtesy of Bob Allan
Transcribed by Bob Osborn