Articles of Agreement (for the division of Hewish Manor).

(i) Mary Merefield of Shaston (co. Dorset), widow of Robert M., and Matthew M. son and heir of Robert M.;

(ii) William Merefield of Woolminston in par. of Crewkerne, gent;

(iii) John Donne of Crewkerne, gent.

[Recites: (A) That (i), (ii) and (iii) each stand seised of: one third part of the manor of Hewish.

(B) That a dispute had arisen between the parties whether Rack Close (6 ac.) in Crewkerne, close called Riches Rodnells (5 ac.), close called Higgins's Ryalls als Higgins's Mead (2 ac.) and a close called Hewish Lake als Bennetts Mead (1 ac.), were parcel of the jointure of Lydia, late mother of Robert Merefield, decd.

(C) And that Rack Close had been regarded for upwards of 20 years as parcel of the jointure lands, and the remainder as parcel of the manor of Hewish, and not part of the jointure; and

(D) That the parties have cast lots to divide the manor and agreed to hold the parts in severalty].

It is agreed that (i) shall take as divided third part of the manor:

Barn, stable, etc. (1½ ac.) late Greenways, close of arable (11 ac.) called East Field, close of mdw. or past. (3 ac.) called East Field Mead, close of past. (3 ac.) called Goar, and close of past. (1½ ac.) called Twin Mead, all late parcel of Greenways Tenement; close of past. (5 ac.) called Rich's Rodnells, close of mdw. (2 ac.) called Higginses Ryalls als Higginses Mead, a close (1 ac.) called Riches Little Mead, all now in hand; dw. house etc. and Dyers Mead (1½ ac.), parcel of Saunders's Tenement, on lease for 2 terms of 99 years determinable on the deaths of Robert Saunders and Ann Shire, widow; tenement called Slades consisting of 4 closes called Slades Backside, the Two Whetstones and Slades Meadow cont. 16 ac. on lease for 99 years granted to Robert Patten determinable on deaths of himself, Edward Patten junr. and senr.; cottage, etc. late Thomas Miller's on lease for 99 years determinable on death of Mary Philley and her son John; cottage on lease for 99 years to Jasper Bagery for 99 years determinable on deaths of himself, wife Mary, and son John; cottage, etc. on lease for 99 years determinable on the deaths of William Milbourn and chdn. William and Joan; and cottage, etc., on the Waste late Butchers now in the possn. of William Sherwood. Also it is agreed that (ii) shall take as divided third part of the manor: Coppice wood (3 yards) called Greenways in Breach Moore, and coppice belonging (2½ ac.); plot of coppice belonging to Coombes's Tenement; close (1 ac.) called Peeps Moore; close of past. (2½ ac.) called Wadham; close of past. and coppice (7 ac.) called Breach; close of past. (1 ac.) called Hewish Lake; close of arable or past. (3½ ac.) called Peeps Cuckow Hill with the reversion of the coppice arable and mdw. (11 ac.) called Higher Common Close, Lower Common Close, and Common Close Mead; and close of mdw. (2 ac.) called Goar Mead; all of which premises are now in hand. Also close of arable (2½ ac.) called Headlands, close of past (2 ac.) called Cuckow Hill, 2 plots of ground (5½ ac.) called Twins Well and Four Acres, close of past. (5 ac.) called Bowles's Down, close of past. (3½ ac.) called Hambrooks, plot of moor or coppice (2½ ac.) called Coles's Plot, and close (2 ac.) called Pattens Backside; all now held for 2 terms of 99 years determinable on the deaths of Robert Saunders and [Ann] Shire, widow. 2 closes called the Little Close (1½ ac.) and Hewish Lake (1½ ac.), held by lease for 99 years determinable on the deaths of Robert, Edward, and Mary Patten; cottage, etc., formerly part of Merefield's Tenement, on lease for 99 years determinable on the deaths of John and George Butler; cottage, etc. on lease for 99 years determinable on the deaths of Thomas Prigg, senr. and junr. and Eliz. Prigg; cottage, etc., on lease for 99 years determinable on the deaths of Mary Bragg, senr. and junr. and William Bragg; cottage, etc. on lease for 99 years determinable on the deaths of Thomas Austin, wife Mary and son John; and a cottage and garden on the Waste now in the possn. of William Larcombe, the elder.

Also it is agreed that (iii) shall take as divided third part of the manor: 2 closes of past. (11 ac.) called Rodnells; close (3½ ac.) called Squab Mead; 1 ac. past. at Coxford; close (2½ ac.) called Millers Twin Mead; close of past. (1½ ac.) called Twinsons Well, part of Greenways Tenement; 3 closes of arable and past. (10 ac.) parcel of Millers Tenement, called Great Birch Moore, Little Birch Moore, and Further Birch Moore; all in hand. 2 closes of mdw. (9 ac.) called Whetfords Meadow and Higher Whetfords, now in demise by copy for the widow estate of Eliz. Butcher, widow, and life of son William B.; 2 closes (12 ac.) called Two Beattlands, and close (2 ac.) called Twin Mead, held for 2 terms of 99 years determinable on the deaths of Robert Saunders and Ann Shire, widow; cottage, etc. now on lease for 99 years to John Bartlett determinable on the deaths of himself and wife Ann; cottage (now in 2 dwellings) and close (1 ac.) on lease for 99 years determinable on the deaths of Hugh Pople, wife Mary and son Isaac; cottage and garden on the Mill Bank on lease for 99 years determinable on the deaths of Hannah and Mary Bagery, and James Bussell; cottage and garden called Gravenors on lease for 99 years determinable on the death of the wife of John Chubb; and cottage and garden on the Mill Bank now in possn. of Robert Hill.

Also it is agreed:

(a) that within six months after Matthew Merefield attains the age of 21 the parties will execute any further deeds confirming the petition;

(b) that the high and chief rents and heriots of such premises as are now in grant by lease or copy shall be payable to the parties entitled to the reversion and inheritance thereof, except

The high or chief yearly rent of 20s. and heriot of £4 reserved on the respective grants of two tenements called the Upper and Lower Tenements, granted for 2 terms of 99 years determinable on the deaths of Robert Saunders and Ann Shire, widow; which rent and heriot shall be applied first in discharge of the chief rent payable to the Crown out of the Manor of Hewish, and the residue divided between the parties to this partition during the lives of the sd. Robert Saunders and Ann Shire, and at their deaths, shall sink into the inheritance, and the crown rent shall be paid equally by the parties.

Witn: Will. Raw, John Sampson.

12 Aug. 1740