Axe's Charity

Thomas Axe (1635-1691) was the eldest son of George Axe, a parish clerk of Ottery St. Mary. He married a daughter of Dr. Birstall, Master of the King's School and as Dr. Birstall had previously been a school-master at Blandford, Dorset, it is very likely that through him, Thomas Axe was appointed Assistant Steward of Sir William Portman's estate at Bryanston, near Blandford. Later he became sole steward and moved to the Portman estate at Orchard Portman, near Taunton.

By his Will, dated 20 July 1691, he left the profits and premises at Blandford to be used for the parish of Ottery St. Mary. Of these 3/12 was established as a fund to encourage steadiness, sobriety and industry - £3 on the marriage day of any young man or woman marrying after the age of 21 years who had lived in one service in the parish of Ottery St. Mary for 7 years (provided they had received no alms from the parish within 5 years), £1 a year to such couple or the survivor for 3 years on proof that in each of those years they had increased their stock by £3 and £5 at the end of 5 years if they had raised £15 in clear stock