Somerset Record Office DD/ PO t 2 This Indenture made the 28th day of November 1653 between Alexander Popham of Littlecott Wilts Esq of the one parte and Isatt Catford of Boomer in the parish of North Petherton Somerset, widdow of the other. Witnesseth that the said Alexander Popham as well for and in consideration of a surrender made to the said Alexander Popham of an estate of and in the lands hereafter mentioned determinable upon the death of one Joane Horsey as also for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred and four score pounds of lawful English money to him in hand paid by the said Isatt Catford at and before the sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof the said Alexander Popham doth acknowledge thereof dothe release and discharge the said Isatt Catford her executors and administrators by these presents hath demised grand and to farm letten and by these presents doth demise grant and to farm lett unto the said Isatt Catford.....all those closes of arable land and meadow and pasture coppice and wood following, this is to say five closes of arable land and pasture lying together commonly called the Great Shabcombe field which were sometimes both one close containing by estimation thirty acres or thereabouts be the same more or less one other close of arable land or pasture adjoining on the east side of the said closes called Great Shabcombe field commonly called the hilly field containing by estimation twelve acres or thereabouts be it more or less, two other closes of arable land and pasture commonly called the lower field which were sometimes but one close containing by estimation eighteen acres or thereabouts be the same more or less, two woods or coppice adjoining the east side of the foresaid closes called hilly field and lower field commonly called Cooktons wood which sometimes were before but one enclosure containing by estimation twelve acres or thereabouts be the same more or less , and one meadow to the said lower field also adjoining called Broadmeade containing by estimation eight acres or thereabouts be it more or less. All and singular which premises are situate lying and being within the manor of Shabcombe in the parish of Luppitt in the county of Devon. Heretofore in the tenure or occupation of one William Horsey his assign or assigns and in the tenure and occupation of the said Isatt Catford her assign or assigns . Together also with such commons or common of pasture whatsoever as to the same premises or any parte or parcel therof doth or shall of right belong or appertain except and always reserved out of this demise and grant unto the said Alexander Popham his heirs and assigns all and all manner of timber trees of oke ash and elme now growing and hereafter to grow in and upon the premises and full power and authority to fell down root up take and carry away the same at the will and pleasure of the said Alexander Popham his heirs and assigns To have and to hold the said demised premises which the appurtenances except before excepted unto the said Isatt Catford her exors admrs and assigns for and during the term of fourscore and nineteen years from henceforth next ensuing and fully to be complete and ended If Walter Catford son of the said Isatt Catford and Richard Nowell son of Alexander Nowell of Thorlopton yeoman and Richard Verrier son of John Verrier of North Petherton yeoman or any or either of them shall happen so lond to live yeilding and paying therefore yearly during the said term unto the said Alexander Popham his heirs or assigns seven pounds thirteen shillings and four pence of lawful money of England at the four most usual feasts or terms of the year that is to say the feast of the birth of our Lord God, the Annunciation of our Blessed Virgin Mary , the nativity of St John the Baptist and St Michael the archangel by even and equall portions and also yeilding and paying unto the said Alexander Popham his heirs and assigns upon the death of any of the the said Walter Catford , Richard Nowell, and Richard Verrier his or their best beast or four pounds of lawful English money at the choosin or choyce of the said Alexander Popham...and in the name of an heriott or far leife . Provided always that living the said Walter Catford no herriot shall be paid upon the death of the said Richard Nowell and living the said Walter Catford no herriot shall be paid upon the death of the said Richard Verrier , and the said Isat Catford herself her execrs admrs and assigns and for every of them dothe covenant grant promise and agree to and with the said Alexander Popham ......that the said Isat Catford .... Shall and will at their only costs and charges from time to time and at all times when and as often as need shall require during the said term well and sufficiently repair uphold sustain and maintain the said demised premises with all appurtenances and all houses and edifices thereupon made and hereafter to be made and every part and parcell therof as well as in houses buildings walls and coverings (?) As in hedges ditches yeates gates barrs stiles fences and inclosures and in all other needful and necessary reparations whatsoever ... Well and sufficiently repaired upholded sustained and maintained having and taking always for and towards and the doing thereof and for the making of any dwelling house or edifices upon the premises sufficient great timber in and upon the said premises by the delivery and appointment of the said Alexander Popham his heirs or assigns or his or their Bayleife of the said manor for the time being and having and taking without delivery sufficient and reasonable " fireboot foldboot ploughboot and yeatboot " in and upon the premises during the time aforesaid ...... Shall be paid in the space of one and twenty days next after any feast of the said feasts .....or may be found the said rent being behind and unpaid which average therof if any shall be may be levid and paid or if the said Isatt Catford ...shall do or committ or cause to be done or comitted any voluntary or willful waste or destruction in or upon the said premises or any part thereof to the value of twenty shillings of lawful English money and the same so found and presented by the verdict of the homage of the said manor at any court to be holden ....in the space of three months after such presentments ........for it shall and may be lawful for the said Alexander Popham to enter into and upon the said demised premises or any part thereof and distrain for the same and the distress and distresses there taken to lead devise carry away and impound or otherwise detain and keep until the said rent and the average thereof if any shall be and until the said amercements pains and fines shall unto the said Alexander Popham ..... Fully satisfied consented and paid......... The said Isatt Catford ....shall or lawfully may at all times hereafter from time to time during the ertn under the rents reservations convenants conditions and agreements ...peaceably and quietly have hold and enjoy the said demised premises.....without the let interuption usurpation eviction troubleless (?) Charge contradiction or denial of the said Alexander Popham his heirs and assigns or of the heirs or assigns of Sir Francis Popham , knt, deceased, or of the heirs or assigns of John Popham , esq, deceased ...........witness wherof ye parties above said to these indentures their hands and seals interchangeably have set the day and year first above written. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes on the main characters. From the Visitation of Somerset and the City of Bristol 1672 . Popham of Sherston . 1. Edward Popham of Huntworth in North Petherton , Esq . Will proved 27 Apl 1586 = Jane dau of Richard Norton of Bristol and had 2. Thomas Popham of Sherston in North Petherton, will proved 9 Jan 1616/17 = Grace Harley of the Isle of Wight and had 3. Alexander Popham of whom after, and Thomas Popham , daus Jane Margery and Elizabeth 3a. Alexander Popham b c 1598 , aged 74 ub 1672 , brother of Sir John Popham , Lord Chief Justice, K.B. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Visitation of Somerset etc 1672 Thomas Popham of Beaminster co. Dorset = 1st Grace dau of William Dale of Laxton and had Edward Popham , who dsp, and Sarah, and = 2ndly Mary dau of Henry Darbie of Beminster and had Thomas Popham of North Petherton aged 47 in 1672 , will (of Bridgwater) proved 25 Apl 1685 = Eleanor dau of Rowland Warndeston of York, and had Alexander Popham b c 1654 and Thomas Popham. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also Visitation of Somerset etc 1672 Thomas Venn of Lidiard St Lawrence , gent , aged 48 in 1672, = Avis dau of William Catford of Boomer in North Petherton and had John , aged 16 ,in 1672, Hannah, Catherine, Joan and Avis . ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Colonel Alexander Popham with his brother Edward, sacked the town of Yeovil during the Civil war and this and the Alexander Popham of the 1653 Indenture above may be identified as the same man . It is possible that the estate of Sharcombe in Luppitt was remaindered to Alexander Popham or he bought the reversion from her ? Son William Horsey.