RECORDS RELATING MAINLY TO THE POWELL AND ALFORD FAMILIES OF CURRY RIVEL

Deeds, wills, etc concerning the Powell and Alford families

The collection, consisting very largely of deeds and leases, was much confused before listing and property bundles have been recreated so far as possible. In addition to documents relating to the holdings of the Powell and Alford families, described above, there are others which evidently reached the collection through various family marriages, and especially the marriages of Samuel Alford I to Mary Bush and of Samuel Alford II to Rebecca Shute (see, eg., 1-3, 18-20, 28-9, 35-7 and 40-42 below.)

<span class="wrapper"><p>For a history and further pedigrees of the Alford family see J G Alford, Alford Family Notes (1908).</p> <p>[Various portraits, etc., of the Alford family are at the Blake Museum, Bridgwater.]</p></span>

Open

N/35; N/42

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

This collection chiefly relates to the Powell and Alford families of Heale House, Curry Rivel, and to estates held by them in Curry Rivel and elsewhere.

The Heale Farm Estate, originally covering 75a., was purchased in 1616 by Samuel Powell I, who began soon after (reputedly in 1620) to build the mansion still called Heale House. The estate was enlarged before 1721 by Samuel Powell II and Samuel Powell III who purchased lands belonging to Cox's Tenement, Heale. In 1721 Samuel Powell III also held the manor of Weeke Parham, Curry Rivel, with 46a., which he had 'lately purchased' from Jn. Langhorne, an earlier owner having been Thomas Hussey. At that date his landholdings included in addition 28a. of meadow in Allermoor, Aller, and the manor of Knowle St Giles, acquired by his ancestor William Powell D.D. in 1612. His marriage in 1721 to Sarah Bonner brought him a quarter part of the manor of Waston [Waterleston/Weston], Combe St Nicholas, and by 1731 he was also recorded as holding, inter alia, Pearse's Tenement and 15a. at Wiltown, Curry Rivel, and a mess. and 24a. at Burton, Drayton, lately purchased from Sir William Pynsent. [See 5, 11 and 21 below, and DD\CM 76.]

The estates of Samuel Powell III descended to his daughter Mary, his sons having died without issue. At her death, the manor of Knowle St Giles was left to Thomas Alford III, and the Heale House Estate to his brother Samuel Alford I, the quarter part of the manor of Waston descending to Henry Powell Collins of Hatch Beauchamp who held the whole manor by 1839 (D\D\Rt). The manor of Knowle St Giles was sold in 1811, but the Heale House Estate remained in the family's possession until the 20th century, and together with other Alford lands in Curry Rivel covered c.249a. in 1839 (D\D\RT).