Essex Sherbourne (Part 2)

Published by medpem

Last week we mentioned that there were three generations of Essex Sherbourne who lived in Pembridge. The second of these was the grandson of William Sherbourne and a lot of what we know about this Essex Sherborne comes from his will, which was written in 1723, two years before he died at the age of 67. He lived at the Court House, Pembridge and was a gentleman and a farmer, with a ‘deare wife‘, who survived him. Though he was a wealthy man he asked for a modest funeral, ‘to be buried in my father’s grave as may be convenient with as little Expense as may be and to be decent.’

His death and lands are detailed in the bequests that he made in his will:

  • To his nephew Essex Sherborne (son of the Rector Nicholas Sherbourne);
    • Court House
    • Clearbrook Farm and lands;
    • Middlebrook and lands, on lease to Captain Steward and his wife Katherine (Eesex’s niece);
    • Barewood Farm;
    • some land in Eardisland and Pembridge,
    • and the Rents of Twyford Farm and the Broom Farm, and the lease of some water.
  • His ‘deare wife‘ was left a regular income and £50, and a place to live
    • ‘the furniture of any roome in the house‘ (Court House),
    • ‘the choice of what linen she pleases’ and
    • ‘a bed and all the furniture to it ‘ for her and one for her maid.
  • Essex also left various sums of money to other members of his family. He especially mentions nephew Essex’s brother William, he was insane – hence – ‘I recommend to my nephew Essex Sherborne the deplorable condition of his brother Will Sherborne in case his said brother survive … that he suffer him not to want‘.

Will of Essex Sherbourne

THE WILL OF ESSEX SHEBORNE of ‘THE COURT’ PEMBRIDGE. Written in 1723
ln the name of God Amen. I Esssx Sherborne of Pembridge in the County of Hereford Esq. being in p(er)fect mind & memory thanks be to God doe make this my last Will & Testament as followes

My Soule into the hands of Almighty God hopeing thro the Merritts of Christ to be Saved And my body is he buried in my father’s Grave as may be convenient with as little Expense as may be ard to be decent And I will that my debts be paid

I bequeath unto my Nephew Essex Sherborne All that Capitall Messuage wherein I now dwel called the Court with all outhouses Gardens Orchards and all the freehold lands belonging and Appertaineing to him and his heirs forever

I bequeath unto my s’d Nephew Essex Sherborne and his heires forever All that Messuege or Tenem’t called or knowne by the name of Clearbrooke farms with all the freehold lands belonging and all houses outhhouses Gardens and p(re)mises with the ap’ten‘ces whatever

Item I give and bequeath unto my said nephew and his heirs forever the Messuage or Tenem‘t called or knowne by the name of Middlebrook with all houses outhhouses Gardens Orchards p’mises whatsoever or anywise app’taining together with all the freehold lands which now belong to the said Tenement subject nevertheless to a Lease or Terms of Ninety Nine Years Granted by me to my Coz(en) Stewart said Messuage or Tenem’t buildings Garden and Orchard belonging

And I give and bequeath unto my said Nephew Essex Sherborne and his heires for ever All that Estate being freehold called or knowne by the name of Barewood farme  there was a farmehouse and outbuilding lately standing subject to the paym’t of five pound yearly during the lifetime of Humfry Howards wife

And I give and bequeath unto my said nephew Essex Sherborne and his heirs for ever all the other freehold and Copyhold lands which I bought and purchased of Mr John Prise lately dec’d or of my brother Sherborne  dec’d or of Wm. Parlor Joyner dec’d or of Fransis Smith of Kington or of any other p’son or p’sons lying and being in the p’ishes of Pembridge or Eardisland or elsewhere in the County of Hereford.

I give and bequeath unto my said nephew Essex Sherborne and his Assignes all my leasehold lands and the benefit owing as far as in me lyes together with ye yearly Rent issuing out of the farmes of Twyford and the Broome and lease of ye Water AND whereof there is a Settlement of great part of my Estate on my deare Wife and of the Copyhold and leasehold lands hereby Given and bequeathed unto my said nephew Essex Sherborne and his Assignes which out of affection and kindness to him is willing to remitt Upon Condit’on that he my s’d nephew Essex Sherborne his heires Adm’ or Assignes shall and will att the end of three moneths next after my desease and soe att the end of every moneths successively during her life pay or cause to be paid punctually and without delaye the sume of fifteene pounds of lawfull money of Great Brittaine to her or to her Assignes without any deduction or defaltat’on whatsoever to the payment doe hereby charge and make subject All my lands Tenem’ts Hereditam’ts and p’mises be it freehold, copyhold or leasehold hereby Given and bequeathed nd which I dye possessed of to the true and exact payme’t thereof

And doe also bequeath and unto her my deare Wife the sume of fifty pounds to be p’d by my said Nephew Eesex Sherborne within two months after my decease And alsoe I doe hereby Give and bequeath unto her and her assigns the further sum of fifty pounds to be paid to any parson or persons to whom she shall by any instrument under her hand and seal give devise and dispose the same to the payment of which sums of fifty pound and fifty pound I do hereby subject all and singular to my real and p’sonal Estate the first mentioned fifty pound to be p’d as above directed the other to be p’d within six moneths after my decease

And I will that my deare wife shall have the furniture of any Roome in my house for her use as long as she thinke fitt And all other convenitys for her liveing and being in the house and alsoe for her Maide dureing if shee thinke fitt

And alsoe l give and bequeath unto her my deare wife A Bed and all furniture to for the use of her maide and her choice of what Linen shee pleases for her use and in case shee shall Remove to any of her place in such case shee hath hereby power and Authority to pull downe and take awaye the two Beds and e hereby given and alsoe the linen she shall make choice of and to dispose the same to any p’son or p’sons shee pleases by any writeinq & under her hand and seale

Item I give and bequeath unto her my deare wife moiety or halfe part of all my plate whatsoever to be equally divided betweene her and my Executor hereafter with all due regard to be had to her share and proport’on

Item And I give and bequeath unto My bro’ Nicholas  Sherborne Rector of Pembridge the sume of five pound.

Ite. And I give and bequeath unto my bro’ Cocks. And sister D? the Sume of ten pound

ltem I give and bequeath my Neece Katherine Stewart the sume of One hundred pound to be paid to her within Twelve Moneths after my death But in case shee happens to depart this Iife then I will that the said hundred pound be paid and divided Equally betwene her children either to place them att the time of Attaining the Age Of One and Twenty yeares as their Father Captine Stewart shall thinke fitt and approve

Item I give and bequeath unto my neece Davenant her sister an Annuity or Rentcharge of Tenpound p. Annum to be issueing out freehold lands above mentioned during her life But to commence only from the death of her father and to be paid her without any deduct’on.

Itm. I give and bequeath unto my deare sisters Gertrude Lyde Alice George Mary Burton Sherborne and Dorothy Sherborne the sum of five pound a peece

And I hereby give and bequeath unto my deare Elizabeth Lea the sume of Ten pound All which several legacys to be p’d within six moneths after my death I give and bequeath unto my neece Gertrude Sherborne daughter of my brother Thomas Sherborne dec’d the sume of Ten pound to be Paid unto her when shee shall attaine the age of One and Twenty yeares or be marryed

Itm. I give and bequeath unto my deare sister my brother Davenants Widd and Relict One Guinny which I desire her to accept as a Token of my true love

I give and bequeath unto my Coz. Powel the sume of five pound and to every Godsonn and God daughter of Mine one Guinny each

I recommend to my Nephew Essex Sherborne the deplorable condition of his bro. Will Sherborne in case his said brother survive that he suffer him not to want

And I doe hereby appoynt my said Nephew Essex Sherborne my whole and sole Executor of this my last will Revokeing all former Wills by me made witnes my hard & seale this fowerth day of Aprill in the Ninth year of our Soveraigne Lord George over Greate Brittaine Anno domini 1723
Essex Sherborne