Robert Yeo

Robert Yeo of Shebbear, Devon, Gent - 1666

To be buried in South Eyle of parish church of Shebber, betwixt my dear wife Mrs Jane Yeo and Humfiy Yeo gent., my father. To poor of Shebber £5 to be paid to vicar and churchwardens and 2 or 3 of the best sort of the parish, wherein my son William Yeo and my executor to give there assent in the lending of the £5 yearly to 5 honest indigent persons 20s, each, they giving security for repayment 38every year. To poor of Shebber 20s. and of Sheepwash 20s. To Mr William Battishill, vicar of Shebber if he be living at time of my death 40s., besides the mortuary due and l0s., for a funeral sermon, in the whole £3 My corps to be privately interred without popularity and the sermon to be preached by Mr Battishill on the Sunday following. To my two brothers Ferdinando Yeo and Joseph Yeo all my wearing apparell. To Nathaniel Keine my old and trusty servant 2s 6d. To my two brothers Ferdinando Yeo and Joseph and 3 sisters Zenobia Yeo, Katherin Bligh and Agnes James, rings. To my brother in laws John Bligh and Jacob James 5s. To Humphry Yeo, William Yeo and Joseph Yeo and to Mary Yeo, Elizabeth Yeo and Jane Yeo, sons and daughters of my brother Joseph Yeo, 6 ewe sheep. I desire my beloved brothers Ferdinando Yeo, John Bligh and Jacob James to see that the sheep are put out to the best profit for my said cousins. All my servant men and women under covenant at the time of my death 2s. To my daughter Mary Yeo all the estate that I have in the Bartyn & demesnes of Thorne in parish of Holsworthy, which I hold by 2 several leases from Bartholomew Thorne, esq., deceased and William Holland, esq., also deceased, for 99 years if Ellinor Hoskins and my said daughter Mary Yeo so long live, my daur Mary paying all such rents as I am obliged by Mr Holland's last lease to pay and no otherwise, John Guard being by contract and agreement to pay all rents for the Easter Rude Parkes during the said term. But my will is that if Mary Yeo my daughter shall marry or contract herself in marriage unto James Smyth of Great Torrington, son of James Smyth the elder, this legacy of my estate in Thorne shall be void, and may will is that Mary Yeo my dearly beloved daur do not admit the said James Smyth the younger to her presence, the said Smythe [the] father, having dealt so unhandsomely with me and his son so unworthily. To Jane Yeo my second daughter her life in the moiety of Lonecott which I hold from John Giffard, esq., my said daur paying 8s. yearly, as also an estate in the other moiety of Lonecott for 99 years if said Jane Yeo shall live so long, yielding to my heirs 4s. yearly. I likewise give to my daughter Jane Yeo an estate for 99 years in that newly erected house and parcel of land where John Bligh now lives called Malachy Edwards Tenement or cottage, together with my great and little Moore newly enclosed called Ford Moore for 99 years if said Jane so long live, she paying 4s. yearly to my heirs. All the estate I have in Higher Wooton, Broompark, Berry Park, Barne parke & Barnparke meadow to Ursula Yeo my youngest daughter for 99 years if Ferdinando Yeo, Joseph Yeo, Sarah Huchings and John Thorne Alias Cornish live so long, and my said daughter Ursula live so long: also that house in the village of Chasty with a plot of land adjoining to the walls where the old houses were, with 10 parcels of land containing 30 acres which William Bennett of Holsworthy, tanner, is possessed of in the right, as he pretends, of John Bennett his brother who went for Ireland; to hold f or 21 years to begin from the death of the said John Bennett who is said to be in Ireland, Ursula paying to my heirs l0s 4d yearly and 3s payable to John Arscott, esq., lord of the Royalty every year. To William Yeo my son wearing apparell. Rest of apparell to my 2 brothers Ferdinando and Joseph. Residue I have, by an absolute bargain and sale unto my son William Yeo, Mary Yeo, Jane Yeo and Ursula Yea formerly made then, directed to be sold f or the payment of my debts, viz. Docter Bruton, Mr Norman and my sister Zenobia Yeo and others. All my lands in Shebber and Holsworthy to William Yeo my son for life and to the heirs of his body, not permitting him to sell or fell oak, ash or elm on any of my lands save only to build or repair houses. If William shall endeavour to alienate any of the land, my 3 daughters may enter and enjoy same to them and their heirs forever, as also if William should died without issue. My term in Speccott Parkes and my estate in Shebbear and my tenenent of Fourd the inheritance of John Moore, esq., to my son William during his life, if the estate so long continue, provided he does not alienate, in which case it shall go to my 3 daughters. The Bartyn of Thorne which I claim to have for 10 years if myself and daughter Mary so long live and my interest in the East Ride Parks for 99 years if my sister Mrs Elliener Hoskins so long live, above given to my best beloved daur Mary shall go to William, Jane, and Ursula, if Mary marries James Smyth whose vices and iniquities I do justly abhorre and abbominate. Whereas may errors of proper law terms may appear in this my will, my will is that such be abrogated. Witness this my own handwriting and seale. 14 September 1664 Witnesses: John Larkworthy ,Thomas Perkins Bond of William Yeo of Shebbeare, gent., and Richard Daniell of Torrington Magna, husbandman in £500. 2 June 1666. Condition that William Yeo shall administer estate of Robert Yeo, esq., his late father. Admon, with will annexed, granted to William Yeo, son and general legatee, no executor being named, 2 June 1666. (Archd. Of Barnstaple).

Transcriptions of Yeo, Yea, Yawe, Yoe and Yaw Early Wills, Administrations and Inquisitions Post Mortems 1409 - 1857, Pg. 37

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