Ari’s 9x great-grandfather, David Abbott, was born in Dorset in 1669, and married Martha Squibb on 6 September 1702 at St Michael & All Angels in the village of Steeple.
Their first son, Matthew (Ari’s 8x great-grandfather), was born the following year, followed by a daughter, Anne, and another son, David.
The records of these events don’t tell us anything more about David, but in August 1753 he died in Bloxworth, and the burial record gives the information that he was eighty-four years old. He was buried on the 16th of August at St Andrew’s church.
On 13 September 1754, David’s will was proved in Bere Regis, telling us that he was a yeoman farmer. It reads as follows (punctuation added):
This is the last will and testament of me, David Abbott, of Bloxworth in the County of Dorset, yeoman, made this twenty-fifth day of October in the year of our Lord 1748 as follows. First I will that my debts and funeral expenses [be] in the first place paid and discharged. Also I give unto my brother John Abbott one annuity or yearly sum of twenty-eight shillings to be paid him by my executor hereinafter named by equal quarterly payments during his natural life.
Also I give and bequeath unto my son Matthew Abbott all that my leasehold tenement and lands with the appurtenances situate lying and being in the parish of Winterborne Stickland in the said County of Dorset for and during so many years of my term therein as shall expire in his lifetime and after his death I give the same tenement and lands to his wife and children equally between them share and share alike.
Also I give unto my said son Matthew Abbott all the stock and crops growing and being on my said leasehold tenement and lands at Winterborne Stickland except twenty-eight chilver sheep [female lambs].
Also I give my team of horses, harness, wagon and dung potts [a horse-drawn cart, used to carry and distribute dung in the fields] jointly between my said son Matthew Abbott and my son David Abbott.
Also I give unto my daughter Ann, the wife of Joseph Watts, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds to be paid her by my executor within two years after my death.
Also I give unto my said son David Abbott all my leasehold tenements and hereditaments situate, lying and being in Bloxworth aforesaid.
And all the rest and residue of my goods, chattels, real and personal estates I give unto my said son David Abbott and make and appoint him sole executor of this, my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
© Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.
Ari, this is how you are related to David:
