Endowed Charities Report, 1908 – Northam

Transcribed by David Carter 2023

Spelling, punctuation and paragraphs are verbatim

= = = = = = = =

Sources:

i) Book:

Public Charities of the County of Devon. Hundred of Shebbear.
Pages 315 to 324 (Northam).

ii) Publication: 

Endowed Charities (County of Devon).
Return to an Order of the Honourable The House of Commons. dated 26 July 1905
Return
"comprising (1) The Reports made to the Charity Commissioners, in the result of an Inquiry held in every Parish wholly or partly within the Administrative County of Devon into Endowments, subject to the provisions of the Charitable Trusts Acts, 1853 to 1894, and appropriated in whole or in part for the benefit of that County, or of any part thereof, together with the Reports on those Endowments of the Commissioners for inquiring concerning Charities, 1818 to 1837"; 
and "(2) A DIGEST showing, in the case of each such Parish, whether any, and, if any, what such Endowments are recorded in the books of the Charity Commissioners in the Parish."

Parish of Northam (including Appledore)
Charity Commission, March 1908.
R. Durnford.
(Mr. Griffith-Boscawen) 
Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 24 March 1908.

London, Printed for his Majesty’s Stationery Office by Eyre and Spottiswoode Ltd, printers to the King’s most excellent majesty.
And to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from Wyman & Sons Ltd, Fetter Lane, E.C., and 32 Abingdon Street, Westminster, SW; or Oliver & Boyd, Tweedale Court, Edinburgh; or E Ponsonby, 116 Grafton Street, Dublin.

The above publications are largely verbatim copies of each other, but (ii) has additional material concerning further charities.

= = = = = = = =

STRANGE'S GIFT

By deed, bearing date 10th October 1626, John Strange, of Bideford, executor of the will of Philip Strange, as well of the mere motion which the said Philip made to the said John, touching his charitable intent which he had towards the better relief and maintenance of the poor inhabitants of the town and parish of Northam, as for the performance of the charitable intent of the said Philip Strange, granted to William Leigh, and four others, and their heirs, a yearly rent charge of 20s to be paid out of his lands called Bennetts, situate at Underborough, in the parish of Northam, payable quarterly, to the intent, that they should, after the receipt of each quarter's rent, distribute the same unto such poor and impotent people, inhabitants within the said town and parish, as the most part of them should in their discretion think most meet, with a proviso for appointing new trustees, when they should be reduced to two.

John Pyke, esq. is the proprietor of the land called Bennetts, whose tenant pays to the overseer of the poor of this parish 16s per annum, a deduction of 4s which appears large, being made for land tax. 

A book was laid before us, containing an account of the receipt and application of this and some other charities of the parish, from 1787 to 1790. It also contains accounts of the receipt, but not of the distribution of them, to a later period. We are told, that before 1787, the annual income of the gifts referred to, was applied in aid of the poor's rate, and that it has been so since 1790; but we think that this gift, and some others, which will be noticed hereafter, have been misapplied, and that this annuity ought to be distributed amongst the poor and impotent people of the parish.

BERRIMAN'S GIFT

By indendure, bearing date 20th June 1622, Thomas Scamp and Hugh Breton, in consideration of £100 granted to William Leigh, and four others, and their heirs, a yearly rent of £6 issuing out of nine closes of land, called the Lambenacroft, containing eight acres; the Furze Close, containing two acres; the Downe Park, containing two acres; the New Bulknolle, containing two acres; the Little Meadow, thereunto adjoining, containing one acre; the Huxen Park, containing two acres; the Old Bulknolle, containing two acres; the Butterhille, containing two acres; and the Ashen Park, containing one acre; situate at Nethercote, within the parish of Braunton, in the county of Devon, to the use of the said William Leigh, and others, their heirs and assigns, for ever.

It is to be collected from the Returns made to Parliament, in 1786, that this rent charge was purchased with £100 given to the poor by the will of Mr. Berriman, in 1622.

Mr. Skinner has lately become the proprietor of the tenement, called Nethercote. On an examination of the overseers' accounts, we find, that the annuity was paid without deduction until 1767. From that period until 1780, the annual payments appear to have varied, being sometimes £6 sometimes £5.0s.6d. and sometimes £4.14s.6d. From 1781, to the time of the last payment, at Lady-day 1819, the sum of £4.14s.6d. has been invariably paid. The deduction has been made for land tax; the amount of which, paid by the proprietor, in respect of the whole estate called Nethercote, appears to be only £1.5s. per annum; a sum, therefore, somewhat exceeding the amount of land-tax charged on the whole estate has been yearly deducted from the charity, which ought only to sustain its due share of that charge. Care should be taken in future, that the allowance, on account of land-tax, should not exceed the fair proportion.

We were told at the time of our inquiry, that Mr. Skinner had promised to pay the arrears of the annuity.

Since the year 1790, the amount annually received has been carried to the general account of the poor; but if the statement made in the returns of 1786, that this annuity arose from the gift of [blank] Berriman, to the poor, be correct, we think it ought not to be applied in aid of the poor rate, but to be distributed amongst the pour of the parish.

BRITTON'S GIFT

Anne Britton, by her will, bearing date 18th July 1661, after giving several legacies directed, that the residue of her goods should be sold, and that one moiety of the money arising therefrom, should be employed in manner following, for the use and benefit of the poor of Northam, that is to say; that Nicholas Hutchings and two others, of Northam, should at the cheapest time of the year bestow that money in coals, to the use of the most sober and godly poor of that parish, who were in greatest need; and that they should sell those coals to the poor only, and below the ordinary rates, yet so that the said stock should be preserved, and an account yearly taken by the said trustees.

It appears from an instrument in writing, bearing date 20 January 1664, and signed by the minister, churchwardens, and overseers of the poor of Northam, that the moiety of the said residue produced £30 but that it was found not practicable that the money should be employed for buying coals without hazard of loss, and that therefore the said trustees, with the consent of the minister, churchwardens, overseers, and principal inhabitants of Northam, had thought fit, that the said money should be employed in purchasing an annuity of 36s for ever, being the interest of the said sum, at £6. per cent. to be distributed yearly amongst such poor people as were to have the advantage of the coals, so appointed by the said will.

By indenture, bearing date 15th March 1674, the said Nicholas Hutchings, in consideration of the said sum of £30 which he states himself to have received, granted to John Heale, and another, and their heirs, a yearly rent charge of 36s. to be issuing out of a messuage, tenement and lands, called Southcote, in the parish of Shebbear, and out of a moiety of a messuage and tenement called South Furze, in the said parish of Shebbear; and the said parties of the second part thereby covenanted that the yearly rent should be distributed among the poor of Northam, according to the true intent of the before mentioned writing, bearing date 20th Jan 1664.

A portion of the above-mentioned annuity, amounting to £1.7s. has been paid by the owner of the tenement called Southcote, and the residue being 9s. by the proprietor of the moiety of South Furze. The former payment was, at the time our inquiry, in arrear from Lady-day, 1817, but Christopher Clement, the occupier of Southcote, had promised to pay the sum due. John Wonnacott is in the occupation of the moiety of South Furze, and has regularly paid the annuity of 9s. The sums received have been improperly applied in aid of the poor's rate; it appears to us, that they ought to be laid out in the purchase of coals, which should be distributed amongst the poor of the parish.

GIFTS OF BERRY AND CHOLWILL

By indenture of lease and release, bearing date the 24th and 25th June, 1691, between John Jeffery and William Thomas of Northam, of the one part; and Sir Thomas Berry, knight, 11 others, of Northam, of the other part; reciting, that the said John Jeffery and William Thomas, being overseers of the poor of the said parish of Northam, the inheritance of three fourth parts of the premises thereinafter mentioned, was, by the desire of the parties thereto, purchased in the names of the said John Jeffery and William Thomas, of John Fortescue, for the sum of £107.10s which sum was made up, partly of £50 given by the will of John Berry, to be bestowed in lands, for the benefit of the poor of of the said parish, the yearly profit of such lands to be distributed amongst the poor of such parish, yearly, as soon as conveniently might be done, after the receipt thereof; and partly of £60 given by the will of Richard Cholwill, bearing date 22d June 1687, to be bestowed in land, the yearly benefit thereof to be employed for teaching poor children of the said parish, at school; the said John Jeffery and William Thomas conveyed to the said Sir Thomas Berry, and others, and their heirs, three parts (in four to be divided) of a messuage and tenement called Colscott, in the parish of West Putford, with the appurtenances, upon trust, to receive, and to distribute the rents, yearly, for and towards the ends and purposes for which the said bequests were given, by the said John Berry and Richard Cholwill, in such proportions as the sums of the respective gifts laid out io the said purchase should amount to, with a proviso for appointing new trustees when the number should be reduced to three.

By indentures of lease and release, bearing date 15th and 16th August 1792, reciting the above mentioned deed, and that all the parties of the second part were long since dead, whereby the said premises were vested in Samuel Tetherly, and William Chappell, as overseers of the poor of the said parish; in order to fulfil the said trusts, the said Samuel Tetherly and William Chappell, conveyed the tenement called Colscott, to Augustus Saltren Willett, esquire, and others, and their heirs, upon the same trusts, with a proviso, when the trustees should be reduced to three, for appointing new ones.

All the trustees appointed by the last mentioned deeds are dead.

The tenement called Colscott, consists of a house, garden, orchard and seven fields, containing in the whole, as appears from a map produced, 15A.28R.3P. The house, garden and orchard, were let many years ago, for 99 years, determinable on lives, at an annual rent of 4s, and the lease was vested in Mrs Hobbs, an aged woman, whose son, Peter Hobbs, early in the year 1819, informed the parish officers of Northam, that the lease had determined, offered on the part of his mother, to surrender the house, and afterwards paid all the arrears of rent. The house has for many years been used as two dwellings, in one part of which Thomas Sanders lives, and has a small garden adjoining that of Hobbs. We were informed by Sanders, that the portion of the building occupied by himself, was erected about 50 years ago, by one Mary Morrish; that James Parsons lived in it some years; that upon his death, his daughter occupied it, and afterwards, about seven years ago, sold it to him (Sanders) for 50s; and that he repaired it an expense of about £16; that he had no conveyance of it; that he did not know at the time of his purchase, that it was holden on one life, and was not aware that Mary Morrish or Parsons, had ever paid rent for it.

He admitted, however, that after the determination of Mrs. Hobbs's lease, he had applied to the parish officers of Northam, to know whether he was liable to any sum due for arrears of the rent of 4s.

On the 6th of April, 1819, William Partridge, churchwarden, and Richard Cooper, overseer of Northam, met Peter Hobbs and Sanders at West Putford, and then entered into a written agreement, signed by all parties, whereby Sanders undertook to pay £2.10s. per annum, and Hobbs £2.15s. for the parts they respectively occupied, upon condition that the lessors should first put the tenements in repair.

Mr. Partridge informs us, that in pursuance of this contract, the parish of Northam expended upwards of £20 in the repair of the premises, but Sanders states that no repairs were done to his tenement. Hobbs has paid a portion of his rent due at Lady-day, 1822, and promises to pay the remainder; but Sanders has refused to pay any rent.

As far as we are able to form a judgment from the evidence that we have stated, we are inclined to think, that Sanders has no rightful claim to the part of the building occupied by him, and that it belongs to the charity.

The lands are in the occupation of Wm. Brent, under an agreement for a lease for 7 years, from Lady-day, 1819, at the yearly rent of £11 for the whole. They were let by the parish officers, and the rent is considered a good one.

Thomas Stevens, esquire, is the owner of the one-fourth part of' the property, which does not belong to the parish, and as such receives one-fourth of the rent of the lands let to Brent. Two-fourths are paid towards the salary of a schoolmaster, of Northam, who, together with his wife, teaches 70 or 80 poor children of the parish, on the Madras system, and the remaining fourth part is carried to the general overseers account. It appears to us, that the application of this portion is improper, inasmuch as John Berry, in respect of whose gift it seems to be made, directed that the yearly profits of his charity, should be distributed amongst the poor of the parish; by which description we apprehend to be meant, such of the poor as are not in the receipt of constant parochial relief.

POOR HOUSES

By indenture, bearing date 8th July 1695, Henry Birch and John Dennard, in consideration of £60 paid by Sir Thomas Berry, of Northam, knight, for the use, benefit and behoof of the poor of Northam, granted and assigned to John Benson, and others, overseers of the poor of the said parish, and their successors in the said office, three little dwelling-houses, then lately built, upon part of a garden, together with the residue of the said garden, situate at Eastern Appledore, in the parish of Northam, for the term of 86 years, being the residue of a term before created of 99 years, upon trust, to permit their successors in the office of overseers of the poor, for the use and benefit of the poor of the said parish, quietly to enjoy the said premises during the said term.

By indenture, bearing date 9th [19th in another source] September 1695, John Bishop, in consideration of £14 conveyed to Sir Thomas Berry, of Northam, knight, the fee simple of the above-mentioned premises.

It is stated in the returns made to Parliament, in 1786, that Richard Branton gave, but by what instrument, or at what time, does not appear, £50 for building almshouses, and it is supposed that that sum may have formed part of the purchase money of the above-mentioned premises.

There are four small houses in Eastern Appledore, which are occupied rent free, by poor persons, placed therein by the overseers of Northam; they are kept in repair by the parish, and are said to be in good condition; no garden is attached to them, but it is supposed that the fourth house was built on the residue of the garden mentioned in the deed.

COCKE'S GIFT

James Cocke, of Northam, by will, bearing date 3rd of April 1700, gave to the poor of the parish of Northam, £200 to be lent out at interest, or to be bestowed on an estate, by his trustees, thereinafter named, as they should think most convenient for the advantage of the poor, and directed that the issues and profits thereof, should be yearly distributed to the poor widows and fatherless children of the said pariah of Northam, by his said trustees, during their lives, and afterwards by the overseers of the poor of the said parish, for the time being; and he appointed Thomas Gribble the elder, and William Lymbery, to be his trustees, to see his will performed. By indenture, bearing date 14th of February 1701, between John Bond, and another, of the one part; and the said Thomas Gribble and William Lymbery, of the other part; reciting the will of the said James Cooke, and that the said Thomas Gribble and William Lymbery, had thought it most beneficial for the poor, to lay out the said sums of £200 in an annuity, to be paid to the said poor for ever, in pursuance of such bequest; the said parties of the first part, in consideration of the said sum of £200 granted to the said Thomas Gribble and William Lymbery, and to all the overseers of the poor of the said parish, and their successors, an annuity of £10 to be issuing out of a messuage and tenement, houses, lands, &c called Tomouth and Stoopehill, situate in the parish of Northam; to hold the said annuity to the said Thomas Gribble and William Lymbery, during the lives of them, and the survivor, and after their deceases, to the overseers of the poor of the said parish, and their successors, for the use of the said poor.

LANGDON'S GIFT

Mark Cocke, by deed, bearing date 27th June 1702, (reciting that Elizabeth Langdon, widow, sister of the said Mark Cocke, who died intestate, did shortly before her death, declare to him, that it was her desire, that £100 should be committed to the trust of John Quick and William Lymbery, as trustees, and after their decease, to two such other persons, as they should appoint, as trustees, to employ the profits and advantage of the said £100 to such good and charitable uses, as they should think convenient, for the relief and maintenance of any pious or poor persons; and reciting also, that the estate of the said Elizabeth Langdon had descended to the said Mark Cocke, and that he being desirous to fulfil the said intention, and to dispose of the said sum to such charitable uses as were designed by the said Elizabeth Langdon, had delivered into the hands of John Quick and William Lymbery, so many bills and obligations for money, as amounted to the sum of £100 to be by them disposed of for the uses aforesaid,) granted and assigned to the said John Quick and William Lymbery, and the survivor, the said bills and obligations, to the intent that they should dispose of the advantage of the said £100 to such pious uses as aforesaid, as they should think meet; and to the intent, that after the death of one of them, the survivor should appoint another person, who should be added with such survivor, for managing the said £100 and disposing of the profits thereof, and so from time to time, as often as it should be necessary.

By indenture, bearing date 2nd May 1703, between John Bond, of Northam, of the one part, and Roger Melhuish and four others, of the other part, reciting the last-mentioned deed, and also, that the said parties of the second part and others, the principal inhabitants of the said parish, were desirous that the said sum might be laid out in some estate, annuity or other good income, to continue the benefit thereof to such pious use as the same was intended for, and that the benefit and profits thereof might be distributed to such pious uses as aforesaid, by the overseers of the poor of the said parish, for the time being, with the approbation of the chief inhabitants of the said parish; and that the said parties of the second part, with the approbation of the inhabitants of the said parish, had thought it beneficial to lay out the said £100 in the purchase of an annuity, to be disposed of as aforesaid the said John Bond, in consideration of the said sum of £100 granted unto the said parties of the second part, and to the overseer and overseers of the poor of the said parish, and their successors, an annuity of £5 issuing out of the said messuage, tenement, lands, &c. called Tomouth and Stoopehill, situate in Northam, to and for the use of the poor of the said parish for evermore.

The earliest book of accounts we have found relating to this charity, is of the year 1748, from which it appears, that the parish were then in the receipt of the rents of the premises out of which the two annuities issued, which rents amounted to about £8 per annum. We have found no conveyance of the estate to any persons on behalf of the parish, but think it probable, that as the charges exceeded at one time the income of the property, the owner resigned it into the hands of the parish. It appears to have been since let, and the rents and profits to have been disposed of by the minister, churchwardens and overseers. The estate called Tomouth and Stoopehill consists of four small houses, a rope-walk, an orchard and four fields, containing, in the whole, about 10 acres of land, and is let to Thomas Hogg, esquire, for 21 years, from Lady-day 1813, at a clear rent of £47 per annum. An auction was held for granting the lease, and the rent appears to be a very good one. Mr Hogg has made the rope-walk since the commencement of his term; the houses are in good repair; a few elm trees are growing upon the land, but they are not of much value. The estate was exonerated from the land-tax in 1806, and the tenant now pays £2.10s the amount of it, in addition to his rent. The overseers hold an annual meeting about Christmas, of which previous notice is given, when, after reserving 4s.6d a chief rent payable to the lord of the manor, 3s.6d as a compensation to the parish clerk, for his trouble in making up the accounts, and about 4s for refreshments afforded at the time of the distribution, they distribute the residue among the poor widows and fatherless children of the parish, such only as are inmates of the workhouse being excluded. The sum distributed to each varies according to the number of claimants, but the widows have, of late years, usually received 6s. or 7s. and the children 5s. or 6s. each. In the last distribution, in January 1822, 138 widows and 23 children participated; a balance of £1.6s.9d then remaining in hand, to be carried to the next year's account.

A list is annually prepared of the persons receiving the charity, and of the sums paid to each which is afterwards entered in the book of accounts.

We are told, that although this charity is extended to persons receiving relief, provided they are not in the workhouse, no diminution is made of the allowance which such persons would otherwise receive from the parish.

MELHUISH'S GIFT

By indentures of lease and release, bearing date 9th and 10th October 1702, Thomas Melhuish, esquire, and Joan, his wife, in pursuance, of a pious design to augment, from the time of the death of the said Joan, the income of the vicar of Northam, for the time being, and his successors, for ever, and for establishing the other charities thereinafter mentioned, granted and conveyed to Roger Melhuish and two others, and their heirs, a tenement, called Cox tenement, and a field adjoining, called the Gutter Meadow, containing, by estimation, an acre and a half, upon trust, to permit the said Joan to take the rents and profits thereof for her life, and after her decease to permit the vicar or minister of the parish church of Northam aforesaid, and his successors, for the time being, to receive the said rents and profits, every such vicar or minister paying thereout, annually, the yearly sum of 40s. to the schoolmaster of Northam, and to his successors, for ever, to the intent that the said schoolmaster should instruct six poor children yearly, each child to remain in the said school for three years, to learn the art of writing and arithmetic, and to be such poor children as to the said Roger Melhuish, and the vicar or minister aforesaid, should be thought meet; and likewise paying the yearly sum of 40s. for ever, to four poor old maids that should be church people, and for want of such, seamen's widows that should be church people as aforesaid, and their successors, that, for the time being, should live in an almshouse which the said Joan Melhuish was about to erect in Northam aforesaid, and which it was directed should always be kept full, by the order and appointment of the trustees and vicars aforesaid; and it was further directed, that the said vicar or minister, for the time being, and his and their successors, should, by and out of the rents, issues and profits of the premises, from time to time, and at all times, and as often as occasion required, repair, sustain and maintain the said almshouse in all needful and necessary reparations, for ever, the said rents, issues and profits of the premises being thereby to the limited, subject to that charge, and subject to all rates, taxes and assessments, issuable out of or payable in respect of the premises.

It is stated, in a note to the returns to Parliament, in 1786, that Gutter Meadow was retained by the heirs of Thomas Melhuish, as being under a prior family settlement, and that the vicar, therefore, instead of the rentcharge of £2 for schooling poor children, paid only £1.10s per annum.

The Reverend Mr. Mill, vicar of Northam, is in possession of Cox tenement, which consists of six fields, containing about 10 acres of land, its annual value being about £20. He pays to the schoolmaster of a school established in Northam, on the Madras system, 30s. per annum, and 40s. per annum to four poor old women residing in an almshouse, called the Old Maid's almshouse. This house consists of two rooms on the ground floor, with two chambers above; it is repaired by the vicar, and is represented to be in tolerable condition. Each room is occupied by an almswoman of this parish appointed by the vicar. The apartments were stated to be inhabited, at the time of our inquiry, by one old maid and three widows.

LADY BERRY'S GIFT

Dame Ann Berry, of Northam, Devon, widow, by will, dated in 1716, desired and empowered her executors and trustees, thereinafter named, to bestow of the money they should receive by virtue of their trust, the sum of £30 or thereabouts, in the purchasing of the inheritance of some such piece of land as they should think fit and convenient, when and as soon as they had a convenient opportunity of so doing; and she directed, that her said trustees should, immediately after the purchasing thereof, settle the same in much manner, as that all the yearly benefit and profit thereof might, for ever thereafter, be annually paid and applied to and for the use and benefit of such parson's widow, of Northam aforesaid, whose husband did officiate and dwell therein, during the life-time of every such widow; and if there should be two such parson's widows at any one time living, then such profits of such field to be paid and applied to such or of them as the trustees of such field, for the time being, should think fit; and when, at any time, there should be no such parson's widow living, then, in such case, the said annual profits of the said lands so to be purchased, to come and be unto such minister of the said parish of Northam, for the time being, as should actually officiate therein; and to that end, she desired that the same might be conveyed and vested in trustees accordingly; and it was her will and desire, that the sum of 30s yearly should be paid and applied by her said trustees, in the same manner as the profits of the said lands so to be purchased were before therein directed, until such time as the same could be so conveniently purchased, in lieu thereof; and further, she desired and empowered her executors and trustees thereinafter named to bestow, of the money they should receive by virtue of their trust, the sum of £20 or some such sum, in the purchasing of the inheritance of some such piece of land as they should think fit, when they had a convenient opportunity of so doing; and that her said trustees should, immediately after the purchasing thereof, settle the same in such manner, as that all the yearly benefit and profit thereof might be for ever thereafter, annually, paid and applied to the keeping to school of poor boys of the parish aforesaid, to be taught the A.B.C. and initiated in their first learning; and if a sufficient number of boys could not be conveniently had, then for poor girls of the parish of Northam aforesaid, to be taught as aforesaid; and to that end, she desired that the said field or piece of land, so to be purchased, should be vested in trustees accordingly; and she directed, that the sum of 20s. yearly, should be paid and applied by her trustees, in the same manner as the profits of the lands so to be bought were before therein directed, until such time as the same could be so conveniently purchased, and was intended to be in lieu thereof; and she appointed her son, Roger Melhuish, her cousin, John Benson, the younger, of Northam, merchant, her cousin, Henry Chope, of Bideford, gentleman, and her cousin, John Reynolds, of the same, doctor of physic, and Narcissus Hatherley, of the same, executors of her said will.

The above-mentioned donations have not been laid out in land, in pursuance of the directions of the testatrix, but the annuities were regularly paid by Mrs. Grace Saltren, her grand-daughter and residuary legatee, during her life, and afterwards by Narcissus Hatherley, esquire, Mrs. Saltren's executor. Mr. Hatherley died in 1820, leaving a small personal estate, but considerable real property, the whole of which was charged with the payment of his debts. His executor, William Collins Hatherley, esquire, has since paid regularly the annuity of 20s. to a schoolmistress of Northam, but had not, at the time of our inquiry, paid that of 30s. in consequence of his entertaining doubts as to his liability as the representative of Mrs. Saltren or Mr. Narcissus Hatherley. However, upon our suggestion, that the constant payment of the annuities by Mrs. Saltren and Mr. Hatherley was strong evidence of a liability to pay the principal sums, he undertook to invest the sum of £50 in a savings bank, in the names of trustees, to be applied to the purposes directed by the will of Lady Berry.

The annuity of 30s. appears, when paid, to have been given to the officiating minister of Northam, and that of 20s. to a schoolmistress of the parish, for teaching poor children to read.

JEFFERY'S GIFT

John Jeffery, of Appledore, in the parish of Northam, by his will, bearing date 3rd August 1724, gave to the poor of the parish of Northam, £3 a year, to be given them in bread four times a year, at 15s. per time, to be distributed for ever by his executor, thereafter named, and his successors, according to his will, with power to the overseers of the poor of the said parish, if any default should be in the distribution, to distrain and levy the said money on any part of his estate; and he charged his whole estate with such payment, provided that his executor and the possessor of his estate should never thereafter be molested in the peaceable enjoyment and possession of the garden, which he had, with the consent of the parish, taken out of the field, commonly known by the name of Gerrat's Field; and he directed, that the above-mentioned bread should be given to none that had relief of the parish; and he appointed William Jeffery his sole executor.

It appears, from a memorandum, which is stated to be in the hand-writing of the Reverend Joshua Bawden, who was vicar of Northam at the time the returns were made to Parliament, in 1786, that the garden, mentioned in Mr. Jeffery's will, was a part of the estate of Tomouth, now held in respect of the gifts of Cocke and Langdon, and that the possessor of Mr. Jeffery's estates destroyed the fence of the garden, and made it a part of the field, which was occupied by the tenant of Tomouth, and had then for some years discontinued the payment of £3 per annum.

DOCTON'S GIFT

By deed, indented and enrolled in Chancery, bearing date 3rd November 1737, reciting that the before-mentioned John Jeffery, by his will, bearing date 3rd August 1724, charged his whole estate with an annuity of 40s. to be paid for ever, to the use that Dorothy Docton should devise by will, provided that a £40 bond, which she had on him, should be delivered up to his executor, or the possessor of his estate, and appointed William Jeffery his executor, and devised all his estate not before given, to him, the said William Jeffery, and his heirs male, for ever, and died seised of a considerable real estate at Northam, which, on his death, came to the said William Jeffery, by virtue of such will, charged with the said 40s. per annum; and reciting, that she, the said Dorothy, had delivered to the said William Jeffery the said bond for £40 and that the said annuity had been, for many years, continually paid by the said executor, but that else had made no disposition of the said annuity; the said Dorothy Docton thereby granted and devised to Robert Dolman, of Northam, clerk, and two others, and their heirs, the said annuity of 40s. upon trust, to employ the same yearly, for ever, in keeping to school and teaching to read, until they could respectively read the Bible in the English tongue, six poor children, inhabitants of the said parish of Northam under the age of 11 years, such as the trustees, for the time being, or any two of them, should think most proper objects of charity for that purpose, and appoint, without respect or difference of persons, whether their parents or themselves had relief of the said parish, or not; every such appointment to be in writing, under the hands of two of the trustees; and in buying books for the use of such poor children in such their reading; and upon trust, upon the death of one trustee, to appoint another by writing, under their hands, so that there should be always three, the minister of Northam, for the time being, to be always one; provided that the trustees, or any two of them, should have power to remove any of the children from the said school and appoint others.

It is stated in an entry in the parish book, said to be in the hand-writing of Mr. Thomas Chappell, an inhabitant of Northam, now deceased, that this annuity was charged on late Jeffery's lands, in East Appledore, adjoining the river, which were, after this donation, purchased by Mr. Benson; that Mr. Benson paid the annuity to Lady-day 1750, after which, on his failure, the lands were seised by the crown; and that afterwards, upon the affairs of Mr. Benson being settled, Mr. Peter Benson, in 1775, being put into quiet possession, made his first payment of 16s.10d. for half a year's annuity, to Lady-day 1775, allowing 3s.2d. for land-tax.

Another entry in the same book, in the same hand-writing, states, that Mrs. Docton's annuity of 40s was payable by Mr. Peter Benson, out of Jeffery's lands, on the new quay.

By deed, bearing date 4th October 1776, Joshua Bawden, as being a trustee of Mrs. Docton's gift, and in respect of his situation as minister of the poor of Northam, appointed James Chappell, and Thomas Chappell, of Northam, to be trustees with him of the said gift.

It appears that Mr. Peter Benson died about 20 years ago, that his son, Mr. John Benson, succeeded to his real property, and that he has since died, leaving his estate to trustees, for the benefit of his widow and children.

We have no evidence of the payment of the annuity since 1775, and are told that it has been demanded at various times of Peter and John Benson, but that payment has been refused by both, the latter assigning as a reason, that the land charged was not accurately described. We have applied for information to James Cutcliffe, esq. a trustee under Mr. John Benson's will, and are told by him, that he had never heard of such a charge on any part of the estate, and that he had written to the widow of John Benson, who, in answer to his inquiries, had stated, that she had heard nothing of it. It seems clear, that the estate, which formerly belonged to John Jeffery, is liable to the annuity of 40s; and if, as we are led to suppose, the whole, or at least some part of it has come into the possession of the trustees of John Benson, we apprehend they are chargeable with the payment of the annuity in respect thereof. 

WOOD'S GIFT

John Wood, by his will, bearing date 14th March 1752, gave to the free parish school of Northam, 20s per annum, for ever, towards the teaching of poor children of Northam, to be paid out of his estate, called Lower Assells.

This annuity was paid for several years, but in consequence of the grant being void under the mortmain act, payment of it has been since refused.

BEST'S GIFT

By indenture, bearing date 28th May 1791, between David Best, of Newport, in the parish of Bishop's Tawton, of the one part; and Miles Hammett, and four others, in trust, for the minister and churchwardens of the parish of Northam, for the time being, for the purposes thereinafter mentioned, of the other part; reciting, that the said David Best had, out of a charitable intention, freely educated 20 poor children of the parish of Northam, for 18 years then last past, and being desirous that the same might be continued for ever, agreed to grant to the parties of the second part, in trust, an annuity of £4 the said David Best, in consideration of 10s and for carrying his said charitable intention into execution, and for better securing the regular payment of the said annuity, wanted unto the said parties of the second part, and their heirs, an annuity of £4 to be issuing out of a messuage or tenement, called Commons, situate in the parish of Northam, upon trust, that they should yearly apply the said annuity by quarterly payments, towards the education of 20 children in reading, of such poor people, parishioners of the said parish of Northam, as were not in sufficient circumstances to educate them themselves, at the rate of 4s each child, by the year, 14 of which children were to be inhabitants of Appledore, in the said parish, and six of Northam, which children should continue to be educated, or should be replaced by others, as the minister and churchwardens of the said parish for the time being, or the majority of them, should, in their discretion think proper; and upon further trust, that whenever the trustees should be reduced to two, that could appear and act, the survivors should convey the said annuity to two discreet and worthy neighbouring gentlemen, and their heirs, on trust, that they should immediately convey to the two survivors, and so many new trustees as would make the number of five, to be chosen out of the most honest and substantial inhabitants, then living within the parish of Northam, as such surviving trustees should find most fit, upon the trusts aforesaid.

By indenture, bearing date 13th September 1806, enrolled in the court of Chancery, 24th January 1807, between the said David Best, of the one part; and Thomas Benson, esquire, and three others, of the other part; reciting the above-mentioned gift, and that the said David Best considered the aforesaid annuity very insufficient for carrying into effect the trusts expressed in the above-mentioned indenture, and was, therefore, desirous of granting the further annuity thereafter mentioned, he the said David Best, in consideration of 10s and for the better enabling the carrying into execution the trusts expressed in the above-mentioned indenture, granted to the parties of the second part, and their heirs, the further annuity of £4 to be issuing out of five fields, called Calvesford and Honey Bags, situate near Hathmoor, in the parish of Great Torrington, to be paid quarterly; the first quarterly payment thereof to be made at Michaelmas-day next ensuing the date thereof; and which said annuity was to be received, paid, and applied, for and upon the several uses and trusts set forth in the before-mentioned indenture.

By indenture, bearing date the 1st of September 1819, the annuity granted by the deed, dated 28th of May 1791, was conveyed by Miles Hammett, the surviving trustee, to Josias Wren; and three others, and their heirs, upon the trusts expressed in that deed.

George Cook, esquire, is the proprietor of the tenement called Commons, whose tenant pays annually £4 to the vicar of Northam; of this sum, a schoolmistress of Appledore receives 14s on each quarter-day, for instructing 14 poor children of that village; and a schoolmistress of Northam receives 6s on the same day, for the education of six poor children belonging to that place.

The annuity out of Calves Ford and Honey Bags, is not at present paid, in consequence of the trustees having entered into a written engagement, bearing date 5th November 1806, that the rent-charge shall not be demanded during the life-time of the then wife of the donor, who is still in existence.

ALMSHOUSE FOR FOUR WIDOWS, INCLUDING SMITH’S GIFT

There is an almshouse situate near the church of this parish, which contains two rooms on the ground floor, and two chambers above, each room being inhabited by a poor widow of Northam.

It is stated in the returns made to Parliament 1786, that Mrs. Ann Smith, paid 10s annually to four poor widows in an almshouse, which she repaired.

The small sum of 10s appears to have been annually applied towards the repair of the above-mentioned almshouse, by Mr. Thomas Smith, the present town clerk of Bideford, who informed us that a relative of his, named Elizabeth Smith, who died many years ago, mentioned to him shortly before her death, that she had been accustomed to pay 10s a year, in sums of 2s.6d. a piece to the four almswomen; there was a sum in the three per cent. consols, producing a dividend to that amount, which she wished to be applied to the continuance of the payment; that she made a will, which contained no mention of her intended charity, and that after her death, he, considering the stock applicable to that purpose, paid the annuity for many years to the poor widows, until the house fell into decay, when, as there was no fund for its repair, he, with the consent of the almswomen, contracted with a bricklayer to keep it in repair, as far as the small sum would extend. It has proved, however, insufficient for its purpose, and the house is now in bad condition.

The almswomen have been appointed by Mr. Smith, with the approbation of the vicar of the parish, and they have received annually front the overseer the sum of 14s as the interest of £14 which is said to have been placed for their benefit in the hands of the overseers many years ago, by some unknown donor.

The returns made to Parliament in 1786 also state, that William Leigh gave an almshouse for four poor widows for ever, and that Thomas Leigh gave £2 per annum to the four widows in the above almshouse for ever, but that nothing more was known of them, than that they had been commemorated on the walls of the church.

ARUNDELL'S GIFT

In the returns made to Parliament in 1786, it is stated that Alexander Arundell gave to the poor of this parish, but by what instrument is not mentioned, an Annuity of 13.4d.

The Rev. William Radford is the present owner of Rudge Arundell, in the parish of Bishop's Morchard, out of which the annuity has formerly been paid, but it has been in arrear since 1816. It appears, when received, to have been carried to the general account of the overseers of the poor of this parish. 

ANNUITIES OF 6s AND 3s.4d. ARIDING FROM BEAPLE'S GIFTS

By indenture bearing date the 29th March 1645, between Alice Thomas and William Thomas of the one part, and John Berry and six others, of the other part; reciting that John Beaple, had by his will, given £5 to be bestowed in an annuity, for the use and behalf of the poor people of the parish of Northam; the said Alice Thomas and William Thomas, in consideration of the said £5 granted unto the said parties of the second part, and their heirs, an annuity of 6s to be issuing out of all those two parts, in three parts to be divided, of a messuage and tenement in West Youngaton, in Underborough, in the parish of Northam, whereof the said Alice was possessed for life, and the said Thomas was seized of the inheritance, to the use of the poor people of the parish of Northam, for ever, payable quarterly.

By indenture, bearing date the 6th of June 1645, between the said Alice Thomas and the said William Thomas, of the one part, and the said John Berry and six others, of the other part; reciting that the said John Beaple, had by his said will, given £3 to be bestowed to the use, reparation and maintenance of the parish church of Northam, the said Alice Thomas and William Thomas, in consideration of £3 to them paid by the said parties of the second part, granted to them and their heirs, a yearly rent charge of 3s.7d. to be issuing out of the above-mentioned promises, for and towards the use, reparation and maintenance of the parish church of Northam.

Two annuities of 6s each, appear to have been paid out of Youngaton's, by Augustus Saltren Willett, esquire, in 1782, and the same gentleman is stated to have paid that of 3s.4d. till 1791. We are told, that to subsequent applications for payment, he has replied that he would pay the annuities, if the parishioners would show their right, and that no further steps were taken by the parish. Mr. Willett has since died, and his widow is the present owner of West Youngaton. 

SMALL ANNUITIES

Various small annuities appear to have been granted, about the year 1580, by Thomas Leigh and John Beare, to William Leigh and others, by deeds, which contain no declaration of trust. Some of these have been paid to Lady-day 1821, and have been carried to the general account of the overseers of the poor, for the time being.

By deed, bearing date 10th October, 21 Elizabeth, reciting that Thomas Leigh and John Beare, were seised in possession, to them, and the heirs of Thomas Leigh, of a tenement, with the lands therewith usually occupied, lying at Underborough, in Youngaton, in the parish of Northam, which had of late been reputed, used and taken as a land belonging to the parishioners of Northam aforesaid; the said Thomas Leigh and John Beare, for divers considerations, granted to William Leigh and others, and their heirs, a yearly rent charge of 7s.5d. out of the said tenement.

By another deed, of the same date, the said Thomas Leigh and John Beare granted to the said William Leigh and others, and their heirs, another rent charge of 6s. to be issuing out of the same tenement.

By another deed, of the same date, they also granted to the same persons another rent charge of 16s.l1d. issuing out of a cottage and tenement in Northam, aforesaid.

By deed, bearing date 26th January, 22 Elizabeth, the said Thomas Leigh and John Beare, granted to the said William Leigh and others, and their heirs, a yearly rent-charge of 2s. to be issuing out of a piece of land, containing by estimation, one acre, in East Willamore, in the parish of Northam.

No trusts are declared by either of these deeds, of the rent-charges thereby respectively granted.

OLIVEAN'S GIFT

A statement of this donation, from which nothing is received, will be found in the present Report, in our account of the charities of the parish of Barnstaple.

The following is the description of the Charities of this Parish contained in the General Digest, 1865-7:

WILLIAM PICKARD’S CHARITY

By deed of 28th October 1902, enrolled 31st October following, made between P.J. O'Leary of the first part, William Pickard of the second part, and the Rev. Prebendary M.D. Dimond-Churchward, vicar, and Colonel D. Townley and William Pickard, churchwardens of the parish, of the third part, in consideration of £90 paid by William Pickard, three dwelling-houses in Cross Street, Northam, then occupied by W. Nicholls, E. Lock, and P. Parish, subject to a yearly rent of £1, were assigned to the vicar and churchwardens for the residue of a term of 80 years, created by deed of 16th June 1845, upon trust, that the vicar and churchwardens for the time being should receive the rents and keep the premises insured against fire and in good repair, and any money received for insurance should be laid out in reinstating the property, and that they should distribute the net rent among such aged and deserving widows of the parish of Northam, including Appledore, as they should select, and the vicar and churchwardens for the time being should be trustees, and if the legal estate in the premises should become vested in any other persons, such person should not be responsible for carrying out the trusts, but should assign and deal with the legal estate and interest as the vicar and churchwardens should direct.

By a previous deed poll of 27th June 1894, the same William Pickard conveyed to the vicar and churchwardens for the time being of Northam, the reversion in fee simple in the premises comprised in the deed above mentioned, and also in a further house, subject to the same lease, forming part of one block with the others, which will come into hand in 1925.

The three houses now in possession are now let to Messrs. Glover at £3 a year, Lock at £3 a year, and Dunn at £3 a year respectively.

The income is in practice used to supplement the grants made to the recipients of Cocke and Langdon's Charities, in small sums varying from 2s.6d. to 1s. On the last occasion £11 was distributed. 

The following Charities are for the benefit of Appledore:

JOHN EDGAR WILLIAMS’S CHARITY

By will of 11th August 1887, proved in the Principal Registry 4th November 1901, John Edgar Williams bequeathed £200 to be invested with the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds, so that the gift might be made a Charity in perpetuity, the dividends to be paid to the vicar and churchwardens of St. Mary's Parish Church, Appledore, and divided by them among seamen's widows residing at Appledore.

The bequest is now represented by a sum of £188.14s.7d. India 3 per Cent. Stock, bought with £180 (remaining after payment of legacy duty) paid under an Order of the Charity Commissioners of 1st December 1891, and transferred to the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds 11th December following.

Since its institution in 1893, the income of the Charity, £5.13s., has been expended in the purchase of coal distributed among poor widows; in 1906 there were 80 recipients, in 1905 there were 86, and in 1904 83, the unit being 2 cwts of coal. The same persons generally continue to receive the gift. The list of recipients is not published, nor is the coal tendered for. On the last occasion the price per ton paid was 21s.

CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL

A chapel was built by a congregation of Independent Dissenters at Appledore in 1600 [sic - actually 1699], which was taken down and a new chapel erected in 1815, for which trustees were appointed. The earliest deed now extant relating to the chapel is one of 12th March 1795, by which after reciting a deed of 5th September 1747, duly enrolled, assigning to new trustees a meeting house in Meeting Street, Appledore, for a term of 90 years then determined, and another term of 200 years absolute in reversion thereof, the same premises were assigned to new trustees for the remainder of the latter term, in trust for the congregation of Protestant Dissenters who should from time to time meet there for Divine worship, and for no other purpose.

The present trustees, appointed under Peto's Act, are Messrs. James Partridge (26th September 1854), and T.H. Kelly, P. Green, A Beara, W.L. Beara, A.B. Cook, A. Evans, R.G. Cooksley, T. Beara, senior, W. Clibbett, W.J. Kelly, and T. Jordan (10th February 1904).

The trustees for the time being of the chapel were appointed trustees of the Charities next mentioned by Order of the Charity Commissioners of 3rd June 1904, and the real estate of the chapel, and those Charities is thereby vested in the Official Trustee of Charity Lands.

Adjoining the chapel there is a schoolroom, used solely as a Sunday school in connexion with it, the site of which was acquired about 1864, when the room was built. The trustees of the schoolroom are the same as the trustees for the chapel, but no deed of conveyance of it is now extant. There is, however, an entry in the records of the chapel, under date 30th March 1864, relating to a draft deed of the "new schoolroom." It is thought that it is held for the same term. as the chapel. The Charity Commissioners have determined that the school is held solely for educational purposes, and it is not included in the Order of 3rd June 1904.

The three following Charities are for the benefit of this chapel:

HANNAH PUNCHARD’S CHARITY

By will dated 24th March 1798, Hannah Punchard, widow, bequeathed £500 New South Sea Annuities to trustees upon trust, after the death of certain persons, to pay the interest of £200 of such stock for the use of the minister of the Appledore Meeting, for the peaceable enjoyment, to certain named persons and their representatives, of a seat in the same meeting, formerly belonging to one Bankes. Since the erection of the new chapel on the taking down of the old one, it appeared that no person had claimed the occupation of a pew in the chapel, and no pew was allotted to the family there, and the Charity thus became an absolute endowment of the minister of the chapel's office.

On the death of the testatrix, £180 New South Sea Annuities were transferred to the trustees, and this bequest is now represented by a sum of £296.19s.6d. Consols, standing (1904) in the names of John Beara, John Beara the younger, William Leslie Beara, and Philip Green.

MARY HOOPER’S CHARITY

By will of 14th November 1799, proved 2nd June 1806 at Doctors' Commons, Mary Hooper, widow, bequeathed to trustees £100 New South Sea Annuities, upon trust to pay the interest thereon to the minister for the time being of the Protestant Dissenting Meeting at Appledore.

The bequest is now represented by a sum of £105 Consols, standing (1904) in the names of John Beara, the younger, Thomas Bailey, John Day the younger, and Richard Jenkins. 

ELIZABETH WYOTT’S CHARITY

By deed of 25th February 1808, enrolled 27th April following, Elizabeth Wyott conveyed two dwelling-houses in Appledore to trustees upon trust for the benefit of the minister or pastor for the time being of the society or congregation of Protestant Dissenters of the Independent denomination then assembling in Appledore, for his better and more comfortable subsistence, maintenance and support.

The Charity possesses two cottages in Myrtle Street, Appledore, one let to Mr. William Rook at £2 yearly, and the other to Mr. Henry Channon for £7 a year. Both are old, and a few years ago were repaired at the expense of the congregation.

The trustees have now been authorised by the Charity Commissioners to offer the cottages for sale by auction; it is intended to devote the proceeds towards the purchase or building of a residence for the minister.

Trustees were appointed for these Charities by Order of the County Court of 6th November 1856, approved by Order of the Charity Commissioners of 12th December following, and the present trustees of these Charities are the trustees of the chapel as above mentioned.

The dividends on the respective sums of Stock, £7.8s.4d. and £2.12s.4d., and the rents of the houses, are paid to Mr. T.H. Kelly as treasurer, under the authority of the trustees. 

PARTICULAR BAPTIST CHAPEL AT APPLEDORE

The following Charities are in connexion with this chapel:

Chapel and School. By deed of 27th April 1858, John Darracott conveyed to the trustees of a society called the Particular or Calvinistic Baptists, a chapel and schoolroom which he had previously erected on premises belonging to him, situate on the north side of Meeting Street, Appledore, measuring 33 feet at one end and 31 feet at another end, and 76 feet long, and more particularly therein described, upon trust, to be used as a place of public religious worship and as a school by that society, and to allow to officiate in the meeting house such persons as the members of that society assembled at a church meeting, or two-thirds thereof, should order and direct to teach and instruct in the meeting house or in the schoolroom, and to permit a Sunday or other school to be held in such schoolroom or the meeting house, under such regulations as should be agreed upon by the members of the said society, with power of mortgage, sale, or exchange by the same authority, and hold such property on the same trusts, and the money so received upon trust to lay out the proceeds for the improvement of the trust property or the building or restoring of the trust premises, as the meeting of the society should direct, and if the society should be dissolved and regular public worship be discontinued for twelve months, to dispose of the premises for such purposes as the managers of the society called the Baptist Building Fund, established in London in 1824, or the North Devon Associated Churches of that denomination should direct, with a provision for the renewal of trustees when reduced to five, to make up the number to fourteen, appointed by the members of the society assembled in church meeting.

RESIDENCE FOR THE MINISTER

By a deed of 24th November 1880, the same T. Darracott conveyed to himself and twelve others, as trustees, a dwelling house in part of Chapel Field, and more particularly therein described, adjoining the Baptist Chapel and schoolroom above mentioned, in consideration of £5, upon trust for the use of the minister for the time being of the chapel free of rent, or at a rent to be fixed by the trustees, and in all other respects on the same trusts and with like powers and subject to like provisions for management or sale, or appointment of new trustees as were contained in the preceding deed so far as applicable.

On the application of the trustees stating that the house was not suited for its purpose and insanitary, and that it was desired to add it to the schoolroom which stood between it and the chapel, for which more accommodation was required, under an Order of the Charity Commissioners of 26th April 1894, the house was sold to the trustees of the chapel for the sum of £166.13s.4d. India 3 per Cent. Stock raised by voluntary subscription of the congregation; and by a further Order of 20th May following the stock was transferred to the Official Trustees of Charitable Funds, 14th June following.

By the same Order it was directed, by way of Scheme, that the dividends on the stock should be applied in the first instance towards the cost of providing the minister with a residence, and in no far as not so required they may be applied for the general purposes of the chapel.

The house has now been added to the other buildings.

The Charity Commissioners have determined that no part of the endowment of the Charity of the chapel and schoolroom is held for solely educational purposes, evidence being produced that the schoolroom is used for a Sunday School and for religious services (31st May 1906).

The dividends are paid to the account of the Charity at the National Provincial Bank, Bideford, and are received by the minister as part of his stipend. No residence is provided for him. 

NATIONAL SCHOOL

There is a National School at Appledore, which was until 1902 managed jointly with those at Northam. No deed is known to exist constituting the foundation, school. but it is stated that the site was granted by the Dean and Chapter of Windsor about 1842. The school was enlarged in 1900 by the addition of a classroom seating 60 children.

GIFT FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL

There is a gift of £100 4 per Cent. Consolidated Preference Stock of the London and South-Western Railway Company, held in trust for the Sunday School. 

4th October 1907.
George G. Phillimore, Assistant Commissioner.

= = = = = = = =