Catalogue description WAMBROOK FARM DEEDS ETC

This small but complicated collection concerns an estate at Wambrook (no.208 on tithe map,called Wambrook Farm on 6" O.S. 2nd edition, 1906) acquired by the trustees of Harvey's Charity in three separate acquisitions: from John Beviss IV in 1855, Abraham Beviss in 1858 and John IV's son Abraham II as heir to his uncle Benjamin in 1877 D. This in effect reconstituted the major part of the estate divided under the will of John III.

By John III's will of 1840, parts were left to John and Abraham in common and to Benjamin and Thomas in common; Thomas, however, died in 1842 bequeathing his share to his mother who subsequently sold it to Benjamin.

Both sets of brothers partitioned their common holdings, of which the deed of partition between John and Abraham survives as relevant to this accumulation (DD\EM 3, articles of agreement 1841), John receiving approximately 81 acres and Abraham the house and approximately 60 acres. As the estate previously had been undivided the surviving title deeds could not be divided to match up with the post-1841 divisions and the brothers entered into a series of cross-covenants to produce the groups of older deeds allotted to them.

The deeds were received loose, and the present arrangement has been made to follow the above pattern. One point left unresolved is that the family possessed a second house (possibly no.215 on tithe map called Bartletts on 6" O.S. 2nd edition of 1905) which did not pass with this title but is represented in the earlier deeds.

The lands acquired by John Beviss IV had previously descended in the Browne family, whose ancestor Agnes Palfrey had bought their messuage in Wambrook in 1620 (deed in DD\EM 9). The lands acquired by Abraham Beviss had descended under the will of Henry Gould, charged with various legacies, the releases of which have survived in the collection. Henry Gould also owned a messuage in London

C/2659

• Beviss family of Wambrook, Somerset
• Browne family of Upottery, Devon
• Warry family of Somerset
• Gould family of Somerset
• Wambrook, Somerset