Chapel Cottage, Llanishen, Chepstow NP16
6QT
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Hassell Family Bible
Containing a short family register, this concerns the family in Bishop Sutton
in the 1870s. £18.50
[Plowman document] Deed of
Partition
This enormous deed was drawn up in
1825. It concerns - and is signed by - 5 Plowmans and provides details of
3 generations. We haven't read all of it, but the deed relates how the
family acquired (modest) property in Crewkerne (we noted a house or cottage in
Cross Free Street and a cottage in South Street) in the 18th century. In
passing, it provides some very useful 'primary evidence' on three generations of
the Plowman family, principally Edward Plowman the grandfather (died c1770),
Edward Plowman the father (died 1805) and Edward Plowman the son, 3 of his
siblings and his wife Elizabeth. The deed is in manuscript on 9 large
parchment sheets and bears the signatures of all 5 Plowmans. Attached to
the deed is another indentures dated the day previous - this single sheet
deed has had the entire left-hand quarter cut away and much text has been lost
- nevertheless it bears the signatures of the 4 Plowman siblings. Despite
it's age the parchment is quite strong and has a child-like obstinacy about
unfolding fully and revealing its detail, so there's still much to be gleaned
from this rather special document. (ref 104/11)
£30.00 post-free Not for export
[Whish family] Family Papers
etc
An array of minor papers from the
1900s to the 1940s, some of them providing detail going back to the 18th
century. At the time these papers were written/printed the family lived at
Fulford Grange, Kingston near Taunton. Included are several photos and
newspaper cuttings. One of the more recent items is an account book of the
sale of the contents of Fulford Grange in 1949. (ref 267/20)
£12.00 UK post-free
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Bath
Undated, probably c1920. One of the small [approx 4"x5"] 'Notes on
the Cathedrals' series produced by SPCK. 16pp, 15 photo-ills. Mild foxing to 1st page.
Originally 1d, now £0.50 UK post-free
[Bath] List of Mural Tablets in the Town
Carbon copy of typescript list of murals erected between 1899 and 1938
commemorating the residences of famous people. 73 items in all, including details of
who performed the unveiling. (ref 80/16) £5.00 UK post-free
[Bath] Covenant to Produce Title
Deeds
This 1871 covenant concerning a couple of houses in Bath has a schedule of
title deeds, the majority concerning various members of the Rivers family of Hampshire.
2 large parchment sheets. (ref 3/475) £8.00 post-free
Not for export
[Bedminster] Abstract of Title of the
Bristol Dock Company to the Redcliff Meads
The detail provided by this undated but undoubtedly 1810s abstract commences
in 1739 when Sir John Smyth of Long Ashton left in his will the manor of Bedminster (the
abstract is only concerned with this portion of what must have been a very large estate)
to his three sisters, Anne Smyth, Florence Smyth and Arabaella Gore. The Bedminster
property stayed in the family until it was effectively compulsorily purchased following
the 1803 'Act for Improving and Rendering more Commodious the Port and Harbour of
Bristol'. The abstract specifically mentions three plots of land then known
as Big Redcliff Mead [22 acres], Middle Redcliff Mead [8 acres] and Little Redcliff
Mead [6 acres] which were acquired for over £12,000. Although about two thirds of
this abstract provides details of what appears to be inter-family property transactions in
the 18th century, for anyone researching the formative years of the Bristol Dock Company
this could be quite a useful document. Manuscript on 32 large paper sheets.
The watermarks bear no date, but since the last transaction in the abstract is dated 1810
we are assuming the abstract will have been drawn up within a few years. Normally an
abstract of title has a blank sheet attached to keep the contents clean when folded for
storage. In this case it is clear this didn't happen, and as a result the last page
is worn, torn & holed - fortunately without loss of text. (ref 197/1)
£33.00 post-free
Not for export
[Chew document] 17th Century
Property Deed
This 1627 deed records the leasing out
of a copyhold cottage occupied by widow Sara Jones. The parties to
the deed were Thomas Jones and Thomas Weale of Chew, John Tibbett of
Whitchurch (Felton), and Thomas and John Hall of Chew. One wonders whether
Sara Jones had any say in the matter. Manuscript on parchment, size approx
27"x12", signed by Thomas Jones, Thomas Weale and John Tibbett. All three
seals are still attached. (ref 117/12)
£48.00 post-free
Not for export
[Clevedon] Inventory of House Contents of St
Mary's Lodge, Walton Park
Carbon copy of 1921 typescript inventory covering 6pp. Each item is
separately valued, the most expensive item being a walnut cased grand piano at £30. (ref
188/352) £3.00 UK post-free
[Draycott] Sale Poster
This sale of outdoor effects, shop goods and furniture was held at the Post
Office in 1921 following the death of Henry Spencer. Being only a poster announcing
the sale, the descriptions of the items are only very general, nevertheless this is a
useful local history item. Items in the sale include 'Excellent Waggonette with
Cushions and Hood.....2 Blacksmith's Pear-shape Bellows.....Iron French
Bedsteads.....Costly Knitting Machine.....Seven Pairs of Men's Army Boots'. Paper,
single sheet, approx 17"x22", multifolded, very nice condition. (ref 5128)
£12.50 UK post-free
[Godney documents] Authorities to
Churchwardens to Collect Tithes etc
Two formal authorisations of 1919 and 1934 bearing embossed seals of the
Vicar General and signed by the Registrar. Also a carbon copy of a similar
authorisation of 1938. Also an office copy of the 1929 authority, plus one
other associated document. 5 items in all, either manuscript or typescript
entries on printed forms. (ref 191/51) £20.00 post-free
Not for export
[Ilminster document] Lease of
Property at Winterhay
This 1790 deed records the lease of 'All that messuage or tenement
containing.....two and fifty acres and a half or thereabouts' and there follows
a written breakdown of the 52 acres into 9 blocks (mainly pasture land).
Names mentioned are Pring, Newcomen, Good and Petten. This lease, although
technically for a year, gave possession to Hugh Petten and there would have been
a release (ie deed of sale) the day following. This deed of release
appears not to have survived. Manuscript on parchment. (ref 479/26)
£12.00 post-free Not for export
[Keinton Mandeville documents]
Property Deeds
These deeds both concern Thomas Gray, a Sussex grocer, who in 1847 took a
lease of 'all that dwellinghouse.....and the stable garden and orchard
adjoining.....situate and being in the parish of Keinton Mansfield otherwise
Keinton Mandefield at a place called Townsend which said premises were
heretofore in the tenure of John Higgins.....'. The lease was for three
lives; Thomas Gray aged c35, Eliza Gray aged c31 and Thomas William Gray
aged c5. The lease bears a useful location plan showing the plot on the
Somerton/Castle Cary turnpike road at a crossroads - one way leading to the
church, the other way towards Baltonsborough. In 1862 Thomas Gray assigned
the lease over to local tailor and draper John Dark. Both deeds in
manuscript on parchment. The pair (ref 191/28) £20.00 post-free
Not for export
[Martock documents] Deeds to
Cottages in North Street
These 5 deeds provide details of owners and some occupiers from 1866 to
1889. Principal owners were local schoolmaster James Andrews and (we
assume) his widow Margaret. Manuscript on parchment. (ref 191/27)
£35.00 post-free Not for export
[Moorlinch documents] Property
Deeds to House adjoining The Moorlinch Inn
A broken run of 4 (of an original 6) parchment deeds for 'all that
dwellinghouse with the outhouses garden and premises.....formerly in the
possession of Thomas Jeffery.....afterwards of Amos Ames, then of Isaac Ames,
afterwards of John Ames, since of Samuel Venn, late of Charles Dowden and now of
Richard James Luscombe or his tenant on the North side of.....[what had once
been one large house known as] The Church House but lately called.....The
Moorlinch Inn.....'. A pair dated 1837 and a pair dated 1848. There
were another two deeds drawn up between these dates but they appear not to have
survived. The 4 (ref 191/14) £25.00 post-free
Not for export
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Oare
Single sheet, 1970. Just send 8x5" SAE - Free
Shepton Mallet - Notes on the Charities of the
Town
Herbert Heard, 1903. 96pp of details of the benefactors and much other
detail of 25 town charities, several of which were inaugurated more than 300 years ago.
An ex-ref lib copy with occasional stamps but no outward sign of it being ex-lib.
Nice clean copy of this scarce book, easily VG. (ref 3444) £30.00
The History of Taunton
James Savage, 1822 2nd. 608pp, frontis of St Mary's church. This
is one of a number of copies which also contains 3 folding plates from the 1st ed.
Savage's ed is an updated and considerably enlarged version of Toulmin's original ed
(1791), a small part of the additions being the inclusion of monumental inscriptions at St
John's, St Mary's and the Baptist Chapel. Recent half calf, mbld bds, new eps.
Scattered spotting & foxing mainly confined to the 1st & last several
leaves, offsetting from plates, minor dogearing to lower corners of quite a number of
leaves. For all these typical minor faults this is a better than average copy of
this reasonably uncommon book (of which fewer than 300 copies were subscribed for).
(ref 7471) £100.00
[Taunton document] Assignment
of Goodwill
This 1845 deed records the
purchase of the reputation and goodwill of Robert Buncombe [who] 'hath for many
years carried on the business of a Chemist & Druggist.....' by John Melhuish.
Manuscript on 2 large parchment sheets, signed by both parties. A bit
grubby but nothing serious. (ref 103/4) £15.00 post-free Not
for export
Wedmore's Moors and The Enclosure Acts of the
18th Century together with Some Records of the Parish relating to This Subject and Period
Cuthbert Arthur Rose, priv pub 1982. Large 8vo, 142pp, plenty of photos
& other ills, 18 chapters, 11 schedules and 4 plans which together are a local
historian's dream - there's also a great deal for the genealogist. Very nice clean
copy, VG in G d/w. (ref 1202) £18.00
[Wellington documents]
Property Deeds - Improvement Place
A broken sequence of deeds chronicling
owners/occupiers/leaseholders of 46-48 Improvement Place, formerly 5 Improvement
Place, before that Potmans, and formerly Munday's Close. 5 manuscript
deeds on parchment covering the period 1838-1887. (ref 191/24)
£40.00 post-free
Not for export