The Henvill Family

THE WEB FRESHFORD SITE
When he died in 1737 he gave a substantial proportion of his wealth to his two nephews, Richard Ellesdon Henvill and Charles Henvill. It seems Charles was to stay in Charmouth and married Elizabeth Hodder and both were later buried here. His brother becomes Lord of the Manor, but it is probably Charles who lives in the Manor House. For Richard is often described as a Bristol Merchant and was very active in the Tobacco and Slave Trade. He was one of the agents who were responsible for outfitting the ships, making the arrangements for the supply and selling of slaves. He was a leading agent directing many slaving voyages. In 1744 he gives evidence to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and plantations that Bristol sent out 40 slave ships per year each with goods on board worth £4000. Another brother Robert lives at the time in St. Kitts in the West Indies.
Richard is only Lord of the Manor for seven years and it is his 17-year-old daughter, Benedicta, who is to inherit the village. Later in 1760 she is left Catherstone on the death of her uncle Charles Henville. At the age of 36 she marries the Rev. Joseph Durston, but they are to have no children and she is widowed by 1770. She is no doubt living in the village either at Charmouth or Catherstone Manor as her signature appears on documents of the time. They reveal that in 1771, Thomas Rickard, her Steward was leasing the property on the corner of the Street and Lower Sea Lane, currently known today as the Pharmacy from her for 6d per annum. Another lease for the same year shows her owning the building that was known as the “Wander Inn” on the Street in Charmouth. At a Court Leet held in 1770,in consideration of a good road being made in the lane leading to the sea at the cost and expense of the Parishioners, she renounced all the rights and titles to the lane, with all wrecks, stone, sand, and sea weed during her life time. Her Will shows her leaving her Manor of Charmouth to her distant cousin Richard Henvill. The Manor of Catherstone was left to his brother, Robert who was a Barrister on the Island of St. Kitts.
The Manor of Charmouth finally ends up being owned by a Merchant living with his family on the Island of St. Kitts in the West Indies. But it is only for four years as he is to die in 1788 and the Manor is put up for sale probably by Auction. The Ellesdons and their descendants owned the Village for over 130 years and Ellesdon Road is a reminder today of this important family.
and brasses to Anna Henvill and Margaret Henvill, d. 1681: and to Ralph Henvill of Looke, gent. d. 9 Dec 1644: Litton Cheney
brasses to Henvil of Looke and Pope, retroscripts, 29 273 -275 - Litton Cheyney
A small shallow circular bowl, with two handles, and embossed ornamentation, nearly 3in. diam., and one inch in height, marked with the leopard's head only. These vessels, sometimes called " tasters," were in use about the latter half of the 17th century, and are occasionally found amongst Church plate as gifts. At the bottom is inscribed, " Gift of Mr. Edward Henvill, 1716, to the Church of Litton." The date of this bowl, which is now used at private Communion, is probably somewhat earlier than this. The donor was buried here 6th April, 1716. " A silver Paten, with gadroon edge, 7^in. diam. It cover. is of the Britannia standard of the year 1700. is C. O. surmounted by a crown, that of John Cory. On the surface is engraved, " The Gift of Richard Henvell, of Loake,

Gent., to the Parish Church of Litton." Below this is his coat of arms, A lion rampant between eight cross crosslets. Crest, An eagle's head between two 7i"ings. The Henvilles resided in an old family house here, nominally in Abbotsbury, but practically in Richard Henvill, of Lower Looke, born 1653, was High Sheriff of Dorset, 9th Geo. ist ; he died 1732. ". brasses to Anna Henvill and Margaret Henvill, d. 1681: and to Ralph Henvill of Looke, gent. d. 9 Dec 1644
1674 16-Jun; Mr George SANSOM & Mrs Margaret HENVILL marriage, monuments: Richard Henvil 1691
Netherbury parish church of St. Mary: 5 Table Tombs 5–10 Metres East and South East of South Porch (Clift, Hearn, Crode, Henvill, Defaced) to john son of richard henvill,1702 richard 1776, son of john henvill and elizabeth his widow and other later tombs
Puncknoll Church on a flat stone near the lower end of the body: Here lieth the body of Frances Henvill, the wife of Edward Henvill of Lower Looke , who departed this life the 7th day of July, 1717, in the 87th year of age. In the register. Mrs Elizabeth Henvil 1744
The Manor of Looke is mentioned in the Domesday Book afrer the reformation it was owned by John Tregonwell and he divided it into two farms: Higher and Lower Looke. Higher was granted to Ralph Henvill of Corton in 1629 for the lives of his three sons, Richard, Edward and Andrew. In 1697, the fee was purchased by Edward Henvill. In 1790 it was sold by by his descnedants to George Browne of Frampton. In 1697 it belonged to R.B. Sheridan. M.P. Lower Looke was bought in 1697 by Richard Henvill from Mr. Bankes. He sold it in 1731 to John Richards. Both farms in 1867 were owned by R.B. Sheridan.
 
Looke Farmhouse at Punknowle, SY 58 NW PUNCKNOWLE LOOKE LANE

6/226 Looke Farmhouse
7-8-52
GV II*

Detached Farmhouse. Dated R and M H 1700 on door lintel.
The initails are those of Richard and Mary Henvill. Mary was the daughter of William Ellesdon of Charmouth (see Hutchins Family Tree below). The house was sold by the family after he died in 1732. It was their son, Robert, a Merchant of Bristol who was to inherit the Ellesdon Estate in Charmouth on the death of Anthony Ellesdon, his uncle in 1737. There is another house 40yards East of this house which has a stone with the initails R.H. over the doorway.
On the surface is engraved, “ The Gift of Richard Henvell, of Loake, Gent., to the Parish Church of Litton.” Below this is his coat of arms, A lion rampant between eight cross crosslets. Crest, An eagle's head between two wings. The Henvilles resided in an old family house here, nominally in Abbotsbury, but practically in Lytton. Richard Henvill, of Lower Looke, born 1653, was High Sheriff of Dorset, 9th Geo. 1st; he died 1732.
In 1845, the year of this Estate Map the farm was owned by Richard Brinsley Sheridan, and rented by Richard Groves.
Richard Henville buried at Litton Cheyney in 1732
 
 
An Abstract from the Will of Charles Henvill dated 1761 in which he gives his niece, Benedicta Durston his large Estate including Catherston Manor and its surrounding fields.
Charles Henvile Will
I Charles Henvill of Yandover, Esq. my sister Margaret Henvill, deceased. Her will dated 1739 left her estate to me. If there is no issue between the children of her brothers, Richard and Robert. She wanted to give £100 to Phillip Henvil and Elizabeth, his sisters son and daughter of her cousin Philips Henvill of Look and £100 to her cousins Philip and Mary Henvill son and daughter of her cousin William Henvill of Heyden, and. £50 to Robert Henvill of Look, yeoman. Give and bequeathe unto William Henvill of Haydon, within Parish of Lidinor in Dorset.
All that my capital messuage, Barton and Farm of Great Catherston with the parsonage advowson unto my beloved friends the said William and Philip Henvill and Daniel Case and their heirs for the benefit of my beloved wife during her life and the interest on £1060 made on our marriage. Thereupon on trust to my niece Benedicta Henvill, daughter of my late deceased brother, Richard Henvill. 
I give and bequeathe to William, Philip Henvill and Daniel Case, all my lands and messuages in Winterbourne, Stapleton, Winterbourne Abbas, Litton Cheyney and Symondsbury. To my niece.
The said Close was purchased by the said Barbara Clapcott of the said Ezakiad Smith. In the tenure of Barabara Jackson, Widow, whose maiden name was Barbara Clapcott afterwards of Thomas Ellesdon, suits of Anthony Ellesdon, but now of the said Charles Henvill. After his wife’s decease to her nephew and niece William Hodder and Elizabeth Hodder, Son and daughter of her brother, Henry Hodder. Elizabeth Hodder, Widow.

Richard Henvill presentation of Rev. William Combe to the Bishop of Bristol in 1747.

Presentation of the Union of Catherston and Charmouth Church in 1767 when Durston was Patron
6th September 1783 - Attested copy of Indenture of release between Francis Phipps Henvill, then late of the island of St Christopher in the West Indies, But then residing at Charmouth in the County of Dorset, cousin and heir at Law of Benedicta Durston, late of Charmouth, aforesaid widow, formerly Benedicta Henvill, deceased of the one part and Mary Hoskins of Bristol in the county of Somerset, widow and relict of Joseph Hoskins, late of Long Ashton in the county of Somerset, esq., deceased, James Ireland  of Brislington in Somerset, Esq. and Willliam Blake of the City of Bristol aforesaid. Merchant (trustees named in the last Will and Testament of the said James Haskins deceased of the other part whereby the said Francis Phipps Henvill granted and conveyed the said Manor, herediaments and premises to the said Mary Hoskins James Ireland and William Blake and their heirs by way of Mortgage for securing £1,200 and lawful interest.  
13th November 1783 Attested copy of Indenture between said parties whereby said Francis Phipps Henvill charged said premises with the further sum of £300 and lawful interest making together the sum of £1500.  
15th November 1783 Attested Copy of Bargain and sale involved in the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster between said Francis Phipps Henvill and Mary his wife of the one part and Baruch Fox the elder of Beaminster in the County of Dorset, gentleman and John James Millard of the City of Bristol, Cooper with of the other part whereby said Francis Phipps Henvill granted and conveyed said Manor, Heridiaments and premises to said Fox and Millard and their heirs interest for sale .
3rd June 1788 Attested Copy of Indenture of Release being of 5 parts made between said James Ireland and William Blake Surviving Trustees named in the last will and Testament of the said James Hoskins, deceased of the first part said Baruch Fox and John James Millard of the second part, William Durston of Mark in Somerset, gentleman the residuary devises of the last Will and Testament of Benedicta Durston, late of Charmouth, widow, deceased of the third part the said James Warden of the fourth part and John Harvey Pearce of the fifth part whereby the said James Ireland and William Blake Baruth Fox John James Millard and William Durston. Granted and conveyed said Manor and premises to said James Warden and John Harvey Pearse and the heirs and assigns of the said James Warden forever and as to the Estate of the said John Harvey Pearse Interest for said James Warden, his heirs and Assigns.  
The Quarter Sessions book in 1770 clearly describes his role for Benedicta as follows:
“Benedicta Durston, Lady of the Manor of Charmouth in the County of Dorset did and by her deputation in the year 1770 nominate constitute and appoint Thomas Rickard (her Bailiff and Agent) to be her gamekeeper of within the said Manors of Charmouth, Catherston and Newlands with full power and License and authority to kill game in the said Manors for her sole use”.
the Henvils also owned the nearby Catherstone Manor house a larger, more impressive building. They also had estates in St Kitts and one branch of the family was to live there. Richard was only to live for a few more years and it was his daughter Benedicta who in 1744 was to inherit the manor. She also owned Catherstone and Newlands and may well have lived in one of the properties. She was to be the Lady of the Manor for the next 35 years and her name appears at times in the records for the village. One of these reveals that in 1771, Thomas Rickard, her Steward was leasing the property on the corner of the Street and Lower Sea Lane, currently known today as the Pharmacy from her for 6d per annum. At a Court Leet held on 5th Oct. 1770 it was stated that there ought to be a pair of Stocks erected within the manor at the expense of the Lady of the Manor. Later in her life she was to marry the Rev. Joseph Durston(1733-1770) in 1763 and live near Gloucester, but they were to have no children and her estate was to go to a distant cousin living in St. Kitts. 
This Marble Memorial can be seen at St. Mary Magdalene Church, Coast Road, Berrow, Sedgemoor District, Somerset. It is very similar to the one in St. Andrews Church, Charmouth foe Anthony Ellesdon presented by Benedicta Durston`s father, Richard Henvill.
 
 
Baptism of Costantine Phipps Henvill, son of Richard and Mary Henvill of Netherbury, Gentleman by Rev. Brian Coombe in Charmouth in 1814
Marriage in 1830 of Constantine Phipps Henvill of this parish to Ann Brown of this parish in Chideock in 1830
1841 Census shows that Constantine was a Miller at Seatown Mill in Chideock with his wife and 2 children. He is renting the Mill from John Roper.
 
Richard Henvill of Netherbury Will 1814, 3 Children - Phillip, Constantine Phipps, Benedicta Henvill. Wife Mary. To be divided equally between them. Trustees John Banger Russell of Beaminster, the Rev. John Cox Russell of the same place clerk and John Dare of Lower Stoode in the parish of Netherbury aforesaid, Gentleman. Proved 1819
 

Constantine & Mary Anne Henville nee Knight, came out to Australia aboard the ship "Bolton" which arrived in Sydney,NSW,Australia on 23/06/1853.Constantine brought his children from his 1st marriage to Ann Brown.~Mary Benedicta,Anne Brune & Charles Brune. The 4th child-William Brune Henville had died as a baby in Chideock,Dorsetshire,England.The Henvilles' boarded the ship at Plymouth,Engand on 22/02/1853 bound for Australia.Constantine Phipps & Mary Ann Henville moved to the Braidwood area in NSW.Braidwood is a small rural village 85 kms from Canberra,ACT.Constantine's Occupation: Listed as Baker,Grazier,Flour Miller & Farmer
 

30 April 1756
Jane Henvill otherwise Jane Henville, widow of Constantine Phipps Henvill otherwise Constantine Phipps Henville, Lieutenant Royal Navy who died 31 Jul 1801. Papers submitted to the Charity for the relief of Officers' Widows.
In the 18th century, Queen Square was the most sought after place to live in Bristol
Phipps, Jos., married to Miss Mary Henvill 29 Dec. 1789. 
8 At Sandy Point, Francis Phipps Henville, Esq., to Mary Michael, only daughter of R. Spence, Esq. „
Abstract from Will of Benedicta Durston who died in 1781
Richard Henvill living in St. Michaels area of Bristol in 1734 in Poll Book.In 1754 he is in St. Stephens area of the city.