Sir John Jacob, 3rd Baronet

He went early into the army, almost all his father's estates having been seized by the creditors of his grandfather, for money he had lent King Charles I, which was never repaid by the crown. He served for 17 years in the reigns of James II and William III, in the latter as colonel of an old regiment of foot, which commission he resigned in favour of his brother in law James, Earl of Barrymore. Sir John was at the battle of the Boyne, sieges of Cork and Kingsale, and was severely wounded at Killicranky. King William, who had a high esteem of him, constituted him Colonel of Hasting's regiment.

An officer of his Regiment of Foot, Captain John Nonfan, was put forward for the position of Lieutenant Governor of New York on 10th May 1697 (State Papers - America and West Indies).

On 19th March 1717, described as of West Wratting, in Cambridgeshire, he was forced by need of finance to lease his manor of Stanstead Hall in Halstead to Marmaduke Allington of Lincoln's Inn and William Allington (Essex Record Office, D/DHt/T119/82).

On 24th September 1716 he leased the same to John Morley, junior, of Halstead, gentleman (Essex Record Office, D/DHt/T119/86).

He was executor of the will of Lord Allington and acted in that capacity on 14th December 1733 (Essex Record Office, DE/AS/84)

His will is dated 12th February 1738, wherein he is described as of West Wratting, in Cambridgeshire. He left his lands in Essex, in the parishes of Halsted, Earls Colne and Gains Colne, and a house and land in West Wratting to his son Hildebrand, who had married Muriel Bland in 1717 and to their heirs male. In default of such heirs then the above to go to his daughter Dorothy Morley and her heirs forever, on condition they pay his daughter Catherine Oakes £6000, that being the full value of the estates before Mr Morley improved them.

He states that whereas his son Hildebrand is very infirm and his grandson Jacob (Hildebrand) not like to marry while he live, and it may be never, if they wait for a great revolution which some vainly expect, he gave in trust to John Morley Esq of Blue Bridge in the parish of Halsted and to Captain John Morley his son in law and to Messrs Hoare and Arnold, bankers and partners in Fleet Street the sum of £30000 to purchase an estate in land which he gave to his son Hildebrand for and during the term of his natural life and after his death, in default of heirs male, to be divided equally between all his grand and great grandchildren. He also left to Hildebrand a legacy of £3000 and to his daughter Ann one of £2000. Notwithstanding the losses of most of his family's estates, he was still patently a man of means.

His remarks about his grandson Hildebrand are revealing. He has been described as an 'indelicate poet', and reading some of his poems as I have, they do suggest he was rather eccentric.

His will contained a number of codicils. The first dated 21st June 1739 states that he makes his grandson Hildebrand residuary legatee in the place of his father, and for that reason revoked the £3000 legacy. He bequeaths the £3000 as follows: £1000 to go to Marmaduke Allington Esq and to Messrs Hoare in trust for his daughter Catherine Oakes, independent of her husband. £1000 he gives to his granddaughter Ann Jacob. £500 he gives to his daughter Elizabeth Mee, independent of her husband and the remaining £500 he gives to his grandson Barry Morley. He also leaves to his granddaughter Catherine Oakes his chariot and everything that belongs to it, his two silver saucepans here in the country, his silver tea canister in London, his mother's picture, his wife's picture, Hildebrand Lord Allington's picture here in the country, her own picture, the Duke of Somerset his picture, the Countess of Barrymore her picture and Colonel Barry's picture. To his daughter Morley he gives his grandfather Jacob's picture and Mr Allington's picture.

The same day was declared a further codicil. Whereas in his will he has given an annuity to Fielder and tied his house in Charges Street as a supernumerary security for it, he revokes this and gives the leaser to the house to his daughter Jacob. Whereas Fielder begged of him a copy of his picture (Sir John's) taken by miss Jacob and he having given him another in its place, I leaves Miss Jacob her own copy. He gives her all his old China in London. He wills that his son Morley pay £10 a year to his cousin Grace Ryves for her life out of the profit of the £500 he gave to his late son Barry. He leaves his watch and gold sleeve buttons to Barry Oakes.

A further codicil dated 22nd November 1739 declares that £300 interest per annum out of the £30000 to purchase an estate be paid to his daughter in law Merrield (sic) Jacob after she gives up her right to his estate in Essex that is settled upon her as a jointure. This was dated 30th March 1740.

He died on 31st March 1740, and was buried at Withersfield, in Suffolk, on 4th April (Withersfield Parish Register).

Other Referfences

• Complete baronetage; Cokayne, George E. (George Edward); 1904; Vol. IV; page 3