Old Ashburton

Occupations in Ashburton PCC wills (extracted from fuller list in the People and Properties section)

I have included 'Yeoman' as an occupation, but not 'Gentleman'

John Dolbeare, tanner, February 1611

John Blundell, yeoman, October 1616

Alfred Denband, yeoman, November 1636

William Tolchard or Tolcheard, yeoman, June 1637

Thomas Harris, mercer, November 1648

William Fabian, clothier, May 1654

Henry Furse, yeoman, August 1654

Thomas Reeve, cordwainer, May 1655

Peter Elford, husbandman, July 1655

William Pinsent, baker, December 1655

John Ogier, yeoman, April 1658

Sampson Bound, yeoman, November 1689

Sampson Bound, gentleman now on board her Majesty's ship The Dunkirk, June 1707

Delann Pridham, chirurgeon, August 1723

John Stidston, mariner, June 1756

Thomas Foot, mariner, now belonging to his Majesty's ship Saint Albans, August 1762

John Parrott, mariner of his Majesty's ship Lowestoffe, January 1763

John Winsor, clothier, June 1772

Richard Emmett, belonging to his Majesty's ship Berwick, March 1782

Thomas Foot, now belonging to his Majesty's ship Berwick, March 1782

William Crossing, belonging to his Majesty's sloop Martin, June 1784

James Bonnamy, of his Majesty's ship Burford, July 1784

Reverend John Mogridge, clerk, October 1785

George Stone, cordwainer, September 1791

Doctor John Sibthorp, MD and Regius Professor of Botany in the University of Oxford, Doctor of Physic, February 1796

Richard Hill, captain in the Royal Navy and now commander of his Majesty's store ship Dromedary, August 1799

Thomas Madge Smerdon, Captain of a vessel in the African trade, September 1799

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Until 1858, wills were proved in various church courts - where exactly depended on both the location of the properties and goods, where the person died and the value of the estate.

The highest court for the south of England was the Prerogative Court of the Archbishop of Canterbury - hence PCC wills

Copies of PCC wills are kept at the National Archives -

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/. You can find full references on the website, and order copies online. Alternatively you can visit the archives and view the wills for free

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 People claiming benefit under an Act for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors.

John St. Hill, Sleamaker ?

Gawen Johnson, Chapman

William Browne, Miller

London Gazette Issue 6379, 5 June 1725,  p4

Frances Risdon, Widow ( a prisoner in the Sheriff's Ward, St Thomas the Apostle)

London Gazette Issue 6878 28 April 1730, p3

By order of the High Court of Chancery, various estates of Giles Risden, deceased, being sold

London Gazette Issue 8384 27 November 1744,  p6

Commission of bankrupt awarded against Walter Jerman of Ashburton, Sergemaker and Chapman. He had to appear at three places to face his creditors - one of these places was the house of Widow Bale, The Exeter Inn.

London Gazette Issue 9304 18 September 1753, p4 

Prisoners for debt in the Sheriff's Ward or Prison, St Thomas the Apostle, claiming benefit under an Act for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors.

John Williams, formerly of Ashburton, late of Topsham, Hatmaker

London Gazette Issue 9474 6 May 1755,  p5

Prisoners in the gaol of Trematon, Cornwall

Thomas Adams, formerly of Stoke Damerell, late of Ashburton, Labourer

London Gazette Issue 11252 26 May 1772, p7  

Declared bankrupt:

Keneth R-ss, Dealer and Chapman

London Gazette Issue 12432 15 April 1783, p8  

Notice for the creditors and legatees of

William Ley, surgeon, deceased, to come forward

London Gazette Issue 12642 26 April 1785, p209 

William Carwardine, executor to Paul Hyde, late of Pridewood, Yarkhill, Hereford, Cyder merchant

London Gazette Issue 12896 19 June 1787,  p297

Edward Laskey, Sergemaker, Dealer and Chapman. Certificate of bankruptcy allowed 'unless cause be shown to the contrary'. 

London Gazette Issue 13276 22 January 1791, p53 

Names and occupations from documents connected to the Palk family of Haldon, in the Devon Heritage Centre. Ref Z10:

1762

John Bidlake, yeo., nephew and heir at law of Nicholas Luscombe, yeo., dec'd.

Mathew White, cordwainer

1767

Mathew White, cordwainer
Richard Whiteway, yeo., a trustee for George Ninis, tinner

 1779 
Roger Maunder  cordwainer

Margery, his wife, one of the daughters and heirs at law of Andrew Bennett, late of Ashburton, clothier, dec'd.
Nicholas Fabyan, fellmonger
William Fabyan, clothier

1788

William Fabyan (of Plymouth, an officer in the Salt Office), heretofore of Ashburton, perukemaker, only son and heir of George Fabyan, woolcoomber, dec'd.

1790

William Fabyan, serge maker.

1796

Robert Abraham the younger of Ashburton, gent.
Elizabeth (wife of John Orchard of South tawton, butcher) one of the two only sisters and co-heiresses at law of John Ireland late of Ashburton, butcher, dec'd.

John Lemon of Ashburton, butcher
Susanna, his wife, one of the two only sisters and co-heiresses at law of John Ireland, late of Ashburton, butcher, dec'd.

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