Frederick Castle was one of the early pioneers of Birregurra, and fathered a family descending to the fourth generation during his lifetime. As one of Castle’s posthumous descendants, I’ve been trying to solve the “brick wall” of his parentage in Oxfordshire. Finally, this mystery has been solved!
But first, let’s recount Frederick Castle’s eventful life-story:
7 Years’ Transportation
At the age of 24, Frederick Castle was working as a wharf labourer in London, faraway from his birthplace in Oxfordshire. He was unmarried and had no children. On a Friday night in February 1843, Castle was taken into custody by a police constable, who didn’t tell him why. Castle’s life was about to change abruptly.
In court, a witness, Jane Brown, testified that she was watching from her window that afternoon when she saw Castle removing the lid from the shoot in a warehouse. This shoot could be used to transport seed from the upper floor to carts waiting on the ground. Jane Brown recognised Castle; she had seen him many times before. She reported what she had seen to police constable Cockerill, who took Castle into custody that night.
William Cuffley, a warehouseman, testified that he left 18 sacks of canary seed at the warehouse when he locked up at 1:00. But when he returned after his break, only 12 empty sacks were left. There was a crane attached to the building, which someone could have climbed to get into the warehouse. Cuffley knew that Castle did not work for Benjamin Smith, and therefore had no right to be near the shoot.
Richard Meager vouched for Castle’s character, but he and an accomplice, Richard Morris, were each sentenced to 7 years’ transportation to Australia.
Before being transported, Castle was taken to Pentonville Probationary Prison. When he arrived in the prison, his weight was about 66 kilograms.
Frederick Castle was transported to Victoria, Australia, on the ship Sir George Seymour in March 1845.
Settling in Australia
Frederick Castle was granted a conditional pardon in July 1847.
Earlier that year, on February 2nd, he had married 16 year-old Mary Ann Howarth, daughter of James Howarth and Mary Ann Cadd. They would eventually have the following children: William, Frederick, George, John, Mary Ann, Thomas, Euphemia, Jane, Louisa, Elizabeth, James, Isabella, Harriet, Albert and Alfred. Alfred was born in 1874.
Shortly after their marriage, Frederick and Mary moved from Geelong to Colac. Years later, Frederick’s obituary stated: “When Mr Castles arrived in Colac it was in its wildest state, being overrun with kangaroos… in fact it was a vast forest. He could relate many thrilling adventures through which the early settlers passed in establishing this Colac of ours to-day.”
A Work Dispute
Life was not easy in the young colony. Frederick Castle seems to have found work at building fences, a labour-intensive job without the modern tools. Around 1848, he was contracted to build three miles of fencing for a certain Gilbert Robertson. He had to collect the timber from a nearby forest, split and mortice the posts and rails, and then bring the pieces to the site where he was to build the fence. Robertson was to provide Castle with rations. However, in April 1848, Robertson accused Castle of breaching their written contract. Both sides of the story were heard in court.
Robertson complained that Castle had not finished the job; there seemed to be a delay. He had already drawn supplies from Robertson’s store, which were worth more than the payment due him for the work he had completed. Robertson claimed that when he found out Castle was actually selling the split timber to a neighbour, he stopped providing Castle with rations until he could continue with the work. An argument ensued, and Castle refused to continue with the job.
Mr Belcher, in Castle’s defence, tried to show that Robertson had breached the contract by refusing to supply Castle with the rations due to him.
The magistrate dismissed the summons and ordered Castle to finish putting up the fence as per the contract.
In July that same year, Castle brought Robertson to court and complained that he did not allow him to continue the work as ordered by the court. He also complained that Robertson had refused to pay him for the work already completed, and that he had hired other men to finish the job instead of him.
In his defence, Robertson argued that Castle did not offer to continue putting up the fence until more than two months after the court had ordered him to do so, and that during that time Robertson had employed other men to complete the work. Robertson claimed that this costed him twice as much as it would have been to hire Castle.
However, the bench of magistrates said that they thought Robertson should have applied for a warrant against Castle because of his delay in carrying out the court’s order. The magistrates recommended that Robertson pay Castle whatever wages were due to him and then let the matter end.
Robertson asked if this was the court’s verdict, saying that if it was he would appeal against it at the quarter sessions. The magistrates replied that it was just a recommendation, not a verdict. They also told Robertson that the case had to be dismissed anyway, as Castle’s delay in completing the requirements of the contract despite the court’s order meant that Castle forfeited the right to complete the contract. The magistrates also repeated their opinion that Robertson should have applied for a warrant against Castle when he was delaying to fulfil the court’s order.
But Robertson asked the magistrates who would have been required to execute such a warrant, and said to them: “I have been compelled to do such a thing myself before now, but I durst not on this occasion have done it; to have gone into the forest after that man (pointing to Frederick Castle) would have endangered my life… To obtain a warrant and appear to it, I must ride a distance of two hundred miles, which can only be done at the expense of time and outlay.”
Mr Conolly, retained by Castle, asked the magistrates to order Robertson to pay Castle the wages due him. But Robertson said that the charge of non-payment of wages had not been entered against him in the summons, and that if it were entered he would have prepared something to say. He did not think that he owed Castle any wages. Mr Conolly and Robertson argued for some time, while the court listened.
The case was dismissed.
It’s noteworthy that Castle charged such a low price for his work, that Robertson would have paid twice as much to hire other workers. And as the family grew, how would Castle afford to provide for so many mouths to feed?
Life in the Young Colony
Many years later, Frederick Castle’s son George was interviewed about his memories of the young colony. His experiences were published in the Camperdown Chronicle on June 9, 1932, and provide some extra insight into life in the early days:
“His father [Frederick Castle] came out from the Old Country some time in the forties… The gold rush commenced in Victoria in 1851, and it was in February of that year that Black Thursday cast a pall over the whole of the colony. Mrs Castles, the mother of Mr Geo. Castles, found it necessary to take refuge with her two sons (George’s elder brothers) in the Barongarook Creek, which empties itself into Lake Colac, so dense was the smoke screen and so awful were the bush fires. The dreadful happennies at that time were recounted time and again to the children by the parents who had experienced much peril and anxiety, and the Castles’ boys were made very familiar with these experiences.
“Mr George Castles was born in the Colac district on 19th January, 1852, and spent his very early days in that part of the colony. At the tender age of eight years George was learning to drive bullocks and was not far into his teens when he was using the whip on a team of bullocks for Mr David Prosser, one of the champion ploughmen of the colony. They used the swing ploughs in those days, having mould-boards and a wooden frame, but no wheels. With these primitive ploughs the experts could do wonderful work and drive a straighter furrow probably than the champions of to-day.
“Travellers by road between Colac and Camperdown in bygone days right down to the present time must all have noticed the splendidly constructed stone walls that line the road between Pirron Yallock and Weerite. They were not only cattle and sheep proof but prevented also the entrance to the land of the rabbit…”
The 1860s
By 1864, Frederick Castle was described as a “respectable farmer residing in the parish of [Whoorel].” But that year, Castle suffered an accident that nearly cost him his life.
Late one moonlit night, Castle went out to go fishing alone at Barwon River, near Bowden’s Point (now known as Birregurra). He brought with him a horse. He also carried a butcher’s knife, which he likely intended to use to gut the fish and perhaps also to dig for worms as bait. However, his horse suddenly broke loose and began running away, and so Castle rushed to chase after it. But he was unsafely holding the butcher’s knife in his right hand, turned upwards. The knife was sharp both in the point and in the edge.
Suddenly Frederick fell, and you can guess what happened. Castle made the very difficult journey home with a serious injury. As a newspaper reported, “in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred… [this accident] would beyond doubt prove fatal.” Castle’s tongue was so inflamed that he was unable to speak. A surgeon was quickly sent for.
As he was unable to speak, Castle would communicate by writing on paper. He suffered in agony for the next three days, still close to dying. But with help from a diligent medical attendant, Castle survived. However, it was expected that he would continue having difficulty speaking clearly for some time.
Castle’s survival is testament to what was said of him years later: “[he] was a robust man, and was rarely ill during life, at most for a few days. His sturdy constitution…”
The following year, in 1865, Castle was accused of assaulting Stephen White. White stated that on the 23rd of March, 1865, he was in Will’s Hotel in Birregurra, Victoria, when Castle accused him of carting stone under price. He further claimed that they then had a loud argument, and that then Castle struck White, stunning him. White claimed that no provocation was given. However, Castle called a witness who swore positively that White was the aggressor. So the case was dismissed.
Death and Obituary
Frederick Castle later died in 1897 of chronic hepatitis and asthenia. He was about 76 years old at the time. At the time his will was proven, Castle’s estate was worth £1,291.
Frederick Castle’s obituary was published in The Colac Herald on June 1st, 1897: “The latest to join the never-ending muster roll is Mr Frederick Castles, of Birregurra, who died on Friday afternoon last, after an illness of six weeks’ duration. The deceased was a robust man, and was rarely ill during life, at most for a few days. His sturdy constitution will be more readily gauged when it is remembered that on the 2nd February last he celebrated his golden wedding, and there was no more hale or hearty member at the gathering on that occasion, when he had nearly the whole of his children, grand children and great grand children around him.
“About six weeks since he resolved to spend a holiday at Beeac; and commenced the journey thither in apparently the best of health. He was taken ill, however, in the train; and though all that medical skill could do was done; he never recovered, gradually sinking until he passed away.
“The deceased was 76 years of age. He was born in Milton, Oxfordshire, in 1821, and arrived in Victoria in 1845, being thus a colonist of 52 years standing. After staying in Geelong for two years, where he got married, he came to Colac in 1847, and has since resided in the district. He remained in Colac for 15 years and then removed to Birregurra, which place for the past 35 years he has made his home.
“When Mr Castles arrived in Colac it was in its wildest state, being overrun with kangaroos… in fact it was a vast forest. He could relate many thrilling adventures through which the early settlers passed in establishing this Colac of ours to-day.
“The deceased was well-known to all the old identities, who have always expressed the greatest respect for him. He leaves a widow and a family of 13, six sons and seven daughters, all of whom have been amply provided for. His remains were interred in the Colac cemetery yesterday, in the presence of a number of the family and friends. Owing to the distance from Birregurra to Colac many old acquaintances regretted that they could not pay the last tribute of respect to the deceased.”
Frederick Castle’s widow, Mary Ann (nee Howarth), later died of cancer in 1908 at the age of 76.
Brick Wall Solved
Frederick Castle’s origins in Oxfordshire have long been a “brick wall.” However, an interesting discovery has helped solve the mystery.
It’s noteworthy that in 1843, Pentonville Prison recorded Frederick Castle’s “parent’s name” as “— Benson”. The location of residence for “Benson” was unknown. Keep the surname Benson in mind.
The Public Record Office of Victoria documents that in 1850 Frederick Castle’s sister, Mrs Emma Armatage, posted him a letter. Her address at the time was “6 Cumberland Street Curtin Road London”.
The following year, we find Emma Armatage in the 1851 census with her husband William. Their address is, you guessed it, 6 Cumberland Street, London. William’s occupation is carman.
In 1839 in London, we find a marriage certificate for William Armatage and Emma, not Castle, but Benson. According to the certificate, Emma was daughter of John Benson, a farmer. But her brother, as we know, was surnamed Castle.
Remember, Frederick Castle was born in Milton, Oxfordshire. Which Milton? And is there a possible connection between the surnames Benson and Castle?
Some have concluded that Frederick Castle’s parents were named Richard Castle and Sarah Benson, likely because these are the names on the death certificate of his sister Emma Armatage in 1898 at Colac, Victoria. However, supporting evidence seems to be lacking.
A certain John Benson and Sarah Castle were married in 1815 at Northleach, Gloucestershire.
We find Emma’s baptism record in Asthall, Oxfordshire, on December 28, 1817. Her father, John Benson, was a skinner by occupation. Her mother was named Sarah.
Another child of the family, John Severn Benson, had been baptised the year earlier at Shipton-under-Wychwood. At the time, his father’s occupation was glove-cutter. The family was residing at Milton (Milton-under-Wychwood). Remember: Frederick Castle’s birthplace was called “Milton”.
Esau Castle alias Collins alias Benson was buried on February 25, 1821, having died as an infant. He was son of Sarah Castle. Note Esau’s alias Benson. His mother died at the age of 30 and was buried on March 5, 1821, at Shipton-under-Wychwood.
So Sarah Castle was evidently the daughter of Paul Castle and Ann Perkins baptised in 1791 at Shipton-under-Wychwood. Paul Castle was found dead on the road at age 62, and was buried on June 17, 1824. He had lived at Milton. The Oxford Journal published on July 10th, 1824: “On the 16th of June, at Fifield Merrymouth… Paul Castle, who was found dead in the field with no marks of violence.” Was he Frederick’s grandfather? According to the research, it seems so.
Frederick Castle’s Maternal Ancestry
(Years of baptism in brackets)
Sarah Castle (1791) daughter of Paul Castle and Ann Perkins, married 1788.
Paul Castle (1763) son of Thomas Castle and Sebinah Eltam, married 1759.
Ann Perkins (1761) daughter of David Perkins and Sarah Shayler, married 1760.
Thomas Castle (1736) son of Paul Castle and Mary Whiter, married 1718.
David Perkins (1738) son of William Perkins and Mary Coomes, married 1728.
Sarah Shayler (1735) daughter of Martin Shayler and Elisabeth Young, married 1721.
Mary Whiter (1700) daughter of Richard Whiter and Sarah Young, married 1698.
Mary Coomes (1711) daughter of John Coomes and Margaret Wheeler, married 1710.
Martin Shayler (1689) son of Nicholas Shayler (blacksmith).
Elisabeth Young (1702) daughter of Edward Young and Mary Brookes, married 1699.
Sarah Young (1681) daughter of Edward Young (yeoman) and Mary Willet (nee Leonards), married 1673.
Margaret Wheeler (1679) daughter of John Wheeler.
Nicholas Shayler son of Nicholas Shayler (smith) and Alice Wheeler, married 1651.
Edward Young (1679) son of Edward Young (yeoman) and Mary Willet (nee Leonards), married 1673.
Mary Brookes (1672) daughter of Thomas Brookes and Elizabeth.
Mary Leonards (1646) daughter of Edward Leonard and Kinborough Rimel, married 1644.
Nicholas Shayler (1621) son of John Shayler (blacksmith) and Elizabeth Castle, married 1602.
John Shayler (1570) son of Richard Shayler and Margery Greene, married 1567.
Elizabeth Castle (1581) daughter of Thomas Castle.
Richard Shayler (1541) son of John Shayler and Julyan.
Margery Greene (1541) daughter of Thomas Greene.
John and Julyan Shayler
John and Julyan Shayler lived in Lyneham, Oxfordshire, where they owned a flock of sheep. Lyneham was nearby Shipton-under-Wychwood. One of John and Julyan’s children, Richard, was baptised at Shipton in 1541.
John Shayler wrote his will in 1560/1561, and bequeathed the following to his four children:
- Richard: a cart, a cow, 20 sheep and a cistern
- William: a cow, 20 sheep and a small mylne
- Maryan: a short-horn cow and five sheep; also five sheep to her daughter Emme
- Elizabeth: a cow, twenty sheep, a great pot and a pan
John Shayler also bequeathed to his wife Julyan a cart, a cow and 20 sheep. He gave 4 pence to the “repair of our bells”. He appointed Julyan and their son Richard as the executors of his will. One of the overseers was John’s brother Thomas. John’s inventory amounted to £38.
John Shayler’s children Richard, William and Elizabeth were to receive their inheritances on the day of their marriage, or on the day of their mother’s remarriage if this were to occur. It seems that their mother never did remarry, as she wrote her will in 1578 under the name “Julyan Shealar” (Shayler). The probate of the will was in 1579.
Richard Shayler, son of John and Julyan Shayler, was baptised in 1541. In 1567, he married Margery Greene, daughter of Thomas Greene.
In 1578, Richard’s mother, Julyan, mentioned earlier, wrote her will. She bequeathed to her son Richard the best of the three horses of her team. She also gave one sheep to each of Richard’s children, namely: Thomas, John, Richard, Jane, Robert and Henry. Julyan also gave Richard’s wife Margery (nee Greene) her red petticoat. She also bequeathed a sheep to a certain Katherine Ingram.
It appears that Julyan took a special interest in her granddaughter Emme, the daughter of her daughter, giving her the following items: one sheep, her best frock, her best white petticoat, a twillie cloth, a pair of sheets, a bolster, a salt cellar and 4 saucers.
Julyan bequeathed the rest of her goods to her son William, making him the sole executor of her will. One of the overseers whom Julyan appointed was her “cousin James Shealar.” Her inventory amounted to £17, 1 shilling and 10 pence.
Will of Thomas Greene
Margery Greene, who married Richard Shayler in 1567, was baptised in 1541 and was daughter of Thomas Greene. Thomas Greene wrote his will in 1580, and bequeathed the following to his seven children:
- James: his malt mill, his best iron-bound cart, 10 sheep, 8 bushels of barley, one of his best flock beds, four pairs of sheets, a tablecloth, and a cauldron along with his great platter and two iron wedges
- Thomas: two stone cisterns, a plough with its plough-irons, his second iron-bound cart and a harrow with iron tines, his second brass pot and one coffer; also a chilver sheep to each of this son’s sons, namely, Thomas and John
- Elizabeth: one cow, a flock bed, a coverlet, a twilly cloth, a bolster, four pairs of sheets, a table cloth, a towel, three platters, one candlestick, two brass pots (a bigger and a lesser), a cauldron that is commonly occupied (used?) and a smaller that is not occupied, and eight sheep.
- Margery Shayler: one sheep
- Alice Whiting: one sheep
- Mary Pulleyn: one sheep
- Joane Cox: one sheep
Thomas Greene also gave 12 pence to the church of Shipton. He bequeathed the rest of his goods to his “loving wife Elizabeth whom I make sole Executrix.” Thomas Greene’s inventory amounted to £44, 9 shillings and 4 pence.
Will of John Shayler
John Shayler, son of Richard Shayler and Margery Greene, was baptised in 1570 at Shipton-under-Wychwood. In 1602, he married Elizabeth Castle, daughter of Thomas Castle. Her mother was likely Isabel Maunder, whom her father married in 1568.
John Shayler was a blacksmith by occupation. He died in 1632. In his will, he had bequeathed the following to his seven children:
- John: 26 shillings and 8 pence
- Thomas: 26 shillings and 8 pence
- James: 26 shillings and 8 pence and his best coffer
- Nicholas: 26 shillings and 8 pence, also the lease of his house after the death of Nicholas’ brother Richard
- Elizabeth: £4, one sheet, one tablecloth, one towel, two pillow berds and a facecloth
- Margery: £5, one sheet, one tablecloth, one towel, two pillow beards and a facecloth
- Richard: all the rest of his goods, also the lease of his house for life
John Shayler appointed his son Richard as the executor of his will. He also appointed John Hooper and John Whithore as his overseers, giving each of them £4. John Shayler’s inventory amounted to £22, 3 shillings and 4 pence. Among his possessions included a score of sheep, two rudder animals and books.
Will of Nicholas Shayler
Nicholas Shayler, son of John Shayler and Elizabeth Castle, was baptised in 1621 at Shipton-under-Wychwood. In 1651, he married Alice Wheeler. Nicholas Shayler was a smith by occupation. He wrote his will in 1675, and bequeathed the following to his five children:
- John, the eldest son: £5
- Nicholas: his shop, his barn, his [?] house, part of the backside opposite against the barn, and half the goods in his shop (these being iron, coal, tools and iron ware)
- James: the other half of the goods in his shop; also his land, and the hay from it and the “Cows Common” during the term of his lease; also his dwelling house and the backside opposite against it after the decease of James’ sister Mary
- Mary: his dwelling house and the backside opposite against the house for life, also all of his household goods on the condition that she pay her brother John the £5 bequeathed to him and that she have a mound made to divide the backside
- Elizabeth: £20 (to be paid to her one year after her father’s decease)
Nicholas Shayler also bequeathed to his “loveing brother James Shayler of wickensome in the county of barke” all of the money owed to Nicholas from anyone. He also appointed James as his “sole executor of this my last will and teastement to pay the sayd some of mony above given to my daugter elisabeth [erasures] and to pay my debts.” Nicholas Shayler’s inventory amounted to £116, 8 shillings and 8 pence.
The Young Family
Mary Leonard, daughter of Edward Leonard and Kinborough Rimel, was baptised in 1646 at Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire. In 1663, she married Joseph Willet. They had the following children, with their years of baptism in brackets: Alice (1664), Henry (1665), Joseph (1667) and Mary (1672). Their father, Joseph Willet, died and was buried on June 01, 1673.
Mary Willet (nee Leonard), now a widow, married Edward Young on November 23, 1673. They married as Quakers. They had the following children in Milton-under-Wychwood, with their dates of birth in brackets: Edward (1679, March 26), Sarah (1681, June 21), Anne (1683, November 26 November), Susanna (1685, November 26) and Eleanor (1687, October 2). Notice that Anne and Susanna seem to have the same birthdate. Their mother, Mary (nee Leonard), died in 1695.
Their daughter Sarah, born 1681, married Richard Whiter in 1698.
Edward Young junior, born 1679, married Mary Brookes in 1699. She was daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Brookes.
Sadly, many of the family died in 1703. First Sarah, who had married Richard Whiter, was buried on October 14. Note that the year 1703 began on March 25. Sarah’s sister Anne died in February at the age of 19. Mary (nee Brookes) was buried on March 1. Edward Young senior was buried on March 10. His death was registered by the Quakers. Edward Young senior was a yeoman.
Will of Edward Young Senior
In his will, written on February 29, 1703, Edward Young senior directed that his debts and funeral expenses be paid first, and then he bequeathed the following to:
- Edward Young, son: his recently-purchased messuage with its close and arable land, and his recently-purchased house with its close and arable land
- Edward Crawley, grandson: the aforementioned recently-purchased house with its close and arable land after the death of Edward Young junior
- Mary Whiter, granddaughter: £60 to be paid by Edward Young junior from the messuage when she reaches age 16
- Susanna Young, daughter: £220 and half of the household goods and implements
- Eleanor Young, daughter: £220 and half of the household goods and implements
- Alice Shayler and her children: 20 shillings
- Robert Willet and his children: 20 shillings
- Henry Willet and his son Joseph: 20 shillings and all his right and title to the acre of arable land at Pincham Wall which is in dispute
- Mary Larg and her children: 20 shillings
- Elizabeth Steward, a widow: 10 shillings
- Eliza Chapman: 10 shillings
- John Crawley, son-in-law: everything else
Edward Young also directed that his executor, his son-in-law John Crawley, provide for his daughters’ needs until their inheritance is received. The overseers of this will were Jeremiah Warein and William Thien, yeomen of Witney. The witnesses were Richard Browne, Nicholas Shayler and Jephson Holland.
In his codicil on March 02, Edward Young senior also directed the following:
- If his daughter Susanna were to marry John Cracor (surname uncertain), then her inheritance would be reduced to only £20, the remainder being equally divided amongst his other children
- If either of his daughters were to die before age 21 without any children, then her portion is to be equally divided amongst his other children
- His son Edward Young is to receive: all of the corn and grain now growing on his arable land and half of the wheat in his rick
- His two daughters, Susanna and Eleanor, are to receive: half of the wheat in his rick, a quarter of malt, two flitches of bacon and all of the cheese in his dayhouse
- His two daughters, Susanna and Eleanor, are allowed to continue living in the kitchen chamber until they marry, and are free to cook their food at the fire
- Elizabeth Shayler, a widow, along with her children, are to receive 20 shillings
- Ann Hucks, a widow, is to receive 10 shillings
Eleanor later married Richard Heydon in 1708. Both Richard and his father, William Heydon, were maltsters by occupation. Richard and Eleanor were married as Quakers.
Mary Whiter, daughter of Richard Whiter and Sarah Young, was baptised in 1700. As aforementioned, her mother died in 1703. That same year, Mary was bequeathed £60 by her grandfather, Edward Young senior, to be paid to her by her uncle, Edward Young junior, when she reached age 16. Mary Whiter married Paul Castle in 1718. Her father, Richard Whiter, died in 1727.
Elizabeth Young, daughter of Edward Young and Mary Brookes, was baptised in 1702. In 1721, she married Martin Shayler.
Will of John Coomes
John Coomes and Margaret Wheeler were married in 1710 at Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire.
John Coomes wrote his will in 1753 and bequeathed the following:
- Margaret, his wife: his dwelling house and everything not bequeathed to others
- Francis, son: £5 if Margaret hadn’t already spent it
- John, son: the house and the outhouse and the garden 10 years after his John Coomes senior’s death or else upon Margaret’s decease, to remain with John Coomes junior’s heirs and never to be sold or mortgaged in any way intending to break the entail
- William Perkins, son-in-law: 2 shillings and 6 pence
John Coomes senior also directed that his son Francis, along with his wife and children, live with Margaret in the aforementioned dwelling house for 10 years if she were to live that long, paying the taxes and keeping the property in good repair. Margaret was executrix of the will.