Yea Family of Wiveliscombe
" Yet Barnstaple ; grac'd tho' thou be by the brackish Taw,
In all thy glory see thou not forget the little Yeaw." |
THERE are some surnames which, both with regard to their form of spelling and the traditionary style of their pronunciation, are alone sufficient to prove their antiquity. One of the first which has an especial claim on this account to be admitted within this category is the ancient Somerset surname of Yea.
There is no positive proof, however, to show that the surname of Yea is derived from either of the two Devonshire rivulets now known as Yeo, although there is reason for believing that they all originate from the old-English ea, which signifies " water" or "an island." The Testa de Nevill, compiled in the reigns of Henry III. and Edward L, informs us that a Nicholas de la Ya held of Lord Reginald de Valletort, in the manor of Holne, which is situated near Buckfastleigh in the county of Devon, the twentieth part of a knight's fee of the Honour of Totnes ; and we also glean from the same record the fact that Galfridus (Geoffrey) de la Ya was at the same time one of the twelve jurors for the Hundred of Stanborough in which this holding was situated not informed that lie himself held an}^ land in the county. It is worthy of notice that Risdon [Survey of Devon, page 152, edition 1811) describes Nicholas de la Ya as Kicholas de la Yeo.
In the year 1084 there was one mill in Wiveliscombe at a rental of fifty pence ; that the value of the whole Manor (estimated to have contained 4634 acres, exclusive of Fitzhead) was £10; and that there was arable sufficient for thirty-six ploughs. r l he land liable to land-tax was taken at twelve hides, of which three were held by the Bishop himself, and the remaining nine by three of his knights. From the same authority we learn that very little is recorded of the early history of the Manor of Wiveliscombe, with the exception of a grant of free-warren to the Bishop in his lordships of Wiveliscombe and Lydeard in the year 1256, and a charter granting the right of holding a weekly market for one day, and a fair every year for three days on "the vigil, the dav, and the morrow of the Trinity," until the year 1452. Anions:
From this date until the reign of Henry VII. very little documentary evidence has been discovered to enable us to throw any further light upon the history of this family. About the beginning of the reign of this last-named monarch we are informed, through the means of the Rev. Herbert Edward Reynolds' valuable work upon the Records of Wells Cathedral, that a John Atya or Atyaa, a priest, was connected with the Cathedral at Wells ; but upon referring to Appendix M. (page 201) we obtain more important information, vis., that upon the 19th of November, 1500, the Chapter granted to Richard Atya, and his wife, the reversion of the Manor of Okyngton, in Wiveliscombe, for life, immediately after the death of Elena, relict of John Sidenham, for £20, &c. &c, This manor of Okyngton, or as it is more correctly written, Oakhampton, is situated in the parish of Wiveliscombe, and was accounted the fourth part of a knight's fee, the tenant being compelled by custom to attend annually at the Court Leet with a horn slung over his shoulder and a hound in a leash, to signify that he was ready to attend his chief lord in his hunting excursions. Its tenants subsequently held as lessees for lives under the Dean and Chapter of Wells, when the personal service appears to have been commuted to a 'head' or 'chief ' rent.
The most valuable connecting- link, however, in the history of the family at this early period, and which throws more light upon it than any previous document, is the will of a Richard Yea, described as of the parish of Wiveliscombe " in the dioces of Bath and Welles," dated the 25th day of July, 1548. (See Appendix C.) His rank and condition in life are not given, it being rather general not to do so in wills at this early period ; but the bequest of his " bodie to be bueried in the churche of Wyviliscombe aforesaide" sufficiently proves him to have been a man of good local rank and position, it being the custom about this date for none but country gentlemen and merchants in cities and towns to select their last resting-place within the church. For this sepulchral honour, if it may be so termed, he was in position to give half-a-mark (6s.8d.), now equal to £6 13s. 4d. — ostensibly to the reparation of the church — as a mortuary fee. Four children or grandchildren are named by him in his will, viz., two sons or grandsons, John and David; a daughter or granddaughter, Radigond; and likewise a daughter, evidently by a former marriage, called Johanc Collard. Of the first three children named by Richard Yea, John was probably the eldest, his name appearing at the commencement of the will before those of his brother and sister. Although the testator bequeathes to his wife, Alice Yae.
- The Wiveliscombe Registers began in 1558, however there is a gap between the years 1687-1695.
Yea Family of Wiveliscombe
Richard Yea & Unknown Collard
The first documentation of the Collard name is in the will of Richard Yea 'Also I geve bequeth to Richard Collard the sonne of my dawghter Johane Collard 20 s. More over I constitute and make my overseers John Bennett, Johne Kinge, Thomas Collard and Christopher Howell. They were executors and witnessed the will. The will was proved 27.2.1549. This is an extract from Family of Yea by Alfred James Monday 1885.
Richard Yea married Unknown Collard: their children were: (Hugh Yea possibly of this marriage)
1. Hugh Yea of Kyngsnymet, Devon
There is mention of a Hugh Yea in the 1544 lease for Oakhampton and again in a dispute against robert Pollard concerning '30acres "Loades Oke'in Chittehampton, Devon. Which had been demised by Lweis Pollard deseased to plantiff Hugh Yea & to Richard Yea his father for their lives. Richard Yea held to manor Kyngsnymet and Lewis Pollock the ajoining parcel called 'Hewforde'.
2. Johane Yea b. Wiveliscombe married unknown Collard. their child was:
Richard Collard
Richard Yea married Unknown Collard: their children were: (Hugh Yea possibly of this marriage)
1. Hugh Yea of Kyngsnymet, Devon
There is mention of a Hugh Yea in the 1544 lease for Oakhampton and again in a dispute against robert Pollard concerning '30acres "Loades Oke'in Chittehampton, Devon. Which had been demised by Lweis Pollard deseased to plantiff Hugh Yea & to Richard Yea his father for their lives. Richard Yea held to manor Kyngsnymet and Lewis Pollock the ajoining parcel called 'Hewforde'.
2. Johane Yea b. Wiveliscombe married unknown Collard. their child was:
Richard Collard
Richard Collard & Unknown
Richard Collerd born abt 1546 is possibly the child of Johane Yea b. Wiveliscombe married unknown Collard
Richard Collerd is possibly the grandson mentioned in Richard Yea's will proven on 27.2.1549
Children of Richard Collard and unknown
John Collard 1566
Emmett Collard b. 1568
John Collard b. 1569
Richard Collard b. 1570
Thomas Collard b. 1573
Francis Collard b. 1576
John. Collard b 1576
Emmett Collard b. 1579
Christian Collard b. 1583
Mary Collard b. 1586 she married Christopher Hancocke 21.2.1603
Richard Collerd is possibly the grandson mentioned in Richard Yea's will proven on 27.2.1549
Children of Richard Collard and unknown
John Collard 1566
Emmett Collard b. 1568
John Collard b. 1569
Richard Collard b. 1570
Thomas Collard b. 1573
Francis Collard b. 1576
John. Collard b 1576
Emmett Collard b. 1579
Christian Collard b. 1583
Mary Collard b. 1586 she married Christopher Hancocke 21.2.1603
Richard Yea & Alice
Richard Yea (2nd marriage to ) Alice, their children were:
John
David
Radigond B. Wiveliscombe d. before 1544
Robert Yea B. Wiveliscombe d. before 1544 Wiveliscombe
Richard Yawe B Wiveliscombe d. 1591 Milverton
Richard Yea had the lease of Walredge adjacent to Yea Farm Wiveliscombe in 1580.
The families wealth came from the slate quarries at Oakhampton which was passed down the family through Robert.
The house at Walridge Farm is said to be made from the broken bricks and tiles from the quarry.
A John Collard married Tampsin Yea in 1634 there is a long connection with both families.
John
David
Radigond B. Wiveliscombe d. before 1544
Robert Yea B. Wiveliscombe d. before 1544 Wiveliscombe
Richard Yawe B Wiveliscombe d. 1591 Milverton
Richard Yea had the lease of Walredge adjacent to Yea Farm Wiveliscombe in 1580.
The families wealth came from the slate quarries at Oakhampton which was passed down the family through Robert.
The house at Walridge Farm is said to be made from the broken bricks and tiles from the quarry.
A John Collard married Tampsin Yea in 1634 there is a long connection with both families.
Richard Yea & Agnes Waye
Richard Yea of Oakhampton, d.1548, his son Richard Yea married Agnes Waye (of the Pollocks of Waye, Devon) married 22.311.1559 in Milverton, Somerset.
Richard Yea of Oakhampton (the father) had the lease for Walredge which was adjacent to the Yea Farm (Oakhampton) at Wiveliscombe in 1580. The deed was found in "Wivelascombe' by Rev F Hancock, published 1911.
Children of Richard Yea and Agnes Waye
1. John Yea of Chipstable b. before 1544, d. 1614 married Mary Marsh 22.11.1574 Wiveliscombe.
2. Edith Yea
3. James Yea
4. Emlyne Yea married Thomas Courten als Sully
Richard Yea of Oakhampton (the father) had the lease for Walredge which was adjacent to the Yea Farm (Oakhampton) at Wiveliscombe in 1580. The deed was found in "Wivelascombe' by Rev F Hancock, published 1911.
Children of Richard Yea and Agnes Waye
1. John Yea of Chipstable b. before 1544, d. 1614 married Mary Marsh 22.11.1574 Wiveliscombe.
2. Edith Yea
3. James Yea
4. Emlyne Yea married Thomas Courten als Sully
John Yea & Mary Marshe
Children of John Yea and Mary Marsh
Alice Yea b. 1574
Mary Yea 1577 married Lawrence Toogood
Judith Yea b. 21.3.1577 married John Hillinge
David Yea 11.10.1579
Tamsin Yea b. 1579 married John Collard in Wiveliscombe
John 26.9.1581 d. 1658
Thomas Yea b. 29.1.1587 married Alice Hancock
Alice Yea b. 1574
Mary Yea 1577 married Lawrence Toogood
Judith Yea b. 21.3.1577 married John Hillinge
David Yea 11.10.1579
Tamsin Yea b. 1579 married John Collard in Wiveliscombe
John 26.9.1581 d. 1658
Thomas Yea b. 29.1.1587 married Alice Hancock
Links
The Somerset & Devon Yea,Yaw & Yeaw Families
by Mike Darch & David Yaw revised in 2015
A History of the Somerset yea Families
"History of the family of Yea; formerly of Pyrland ... Somerset, Devon & Dorset"
The Somerset & Devon Yea,Yaw & Yeaw Families
by Mike Darch & David Yaw revised in 2015
A History of the Somerset yea Families
"History of the family of Yea; formerly of Pyrland ... Somerset, Devon & Dorset"
Cpoyright Sheridon Rayment 2015