James Balne

Information from Bristol Burgess records (via RootsChat):

A John Balne was apprenticed to his father James Balne, a merchant tailor, in 1747. Master's wife Betty.

He (John) became a Burgess (Freeman of the city) in 1755, qualifying both by inheritance and having served an apprenticeship, and was himself described as a Merchant Tailor.

James Balne, Victualler, became a burgess in 1740 by vote of council - which basically means he bought the right and would fit with him coming from elsewhere.

There was also another James, a labourer, who became a burgess by right of inheritance from his father James Balne, victualler, in 1774. There are no other Balnes in the burgess records so, unless there's another with a different spelling, this must be the same father.

and

I do think it probable that the two fathers called James are the same person, even if they were listed with different occupations. There's only one earlier James listed in the Burgess Books and you couldn't pass the right to a son or take an apprentice unless you were already a burgess. I suppose if a merchant tailor was more merchant than tailor he could also have been importing "vittles" and been called a victualler at times.

(See also sons John and James for further info.)

I, James Balne, late of the city of Bristol, Merchant Taylor, but now of Colonel Towney's otherwise Tory's(?) Regiment of Volunteers...ffirst my son John being fully provided... only one shilling...my beloved wife Betty all my Right Title and Interest of and into my Ground called or known by the Name of Lyehill ffield in the parish of Compondendo in the said County of Somerset..."
...my said brother Gyles in trust for my youngest son James to be paid and delivered to him at the age of 21... or if said son dies... to sister Sarah ffortescue of London widow and in case my said sister Sarah ffortescue should die... to her daughter Mary Rutson oldest daughter of my said sister Sarah wife of Isaac Rutson bookbinder...
nominate brother Giles to be executor, etc.... on the seventeenth day of December 1761..

This Will was proved at London on the 3rd day of January 1767 before the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

From Rootschat:

Canterbury was the highest court of probate in the country - possibly proved there because he left property in more than one diocese probably, although some people did it for status reasons.
The gap between the date of the will and probate may be because he didn't die for many years after making it. He doesn't include the usual formula "being sick in body but of sound memory..." but comments on the uncertainty of life. Perhaps because he was going to war.

Presumbably that parish name is meant to be Compton Dando.

Lye Hill Farm in the parish of Compton Dando: https://goo.gl/maps/jtBKMgupgPR2