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Jefferys Family at Kingsdown and Prospect House Dr Peter Carpenter April 2022 This wall memorial in Box Church commemorates deaths in the village amongst the Jefferys family between 1770 and 1812.[1] The story of the family is a good example of The Enlightenment in England when reason and individualism became more important than tradition. It was a time when James Jefferys, the son of a yeoman farmer, could go into new professions, including medicine at Kingsdown Asylum. Not for them the usual Victorian route for landowners’ sons - landlord, cleric, army. It enabled the family to become fabulously wealthy over the course of two generations and to live in style at a mansion called Prospect House.[2] |
Jefferys Memorial in Box Church (photo courtesy Carol Payne)
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Jefferys in Wadswick
There were at least two different branches of the Jefferys family in Box, going back to early Tudor times in records of birth, death, marriage and baptism. These include 12 October 1538 or 1539 Alice Jefferaies of Box married to John Poppingay; 23 November 1589 George Jefferares buried in Box; and 8 July 1604 William Jefferay baptised (father William). Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to get beyond these brief mentions until the 1600s.
One significant branch of the family were yeoman farmers in Wadswick who extended their estate into Rudloe and Hazelbury. The patriarch was William Jefferys of Wadswick who married twice and probably had 11 children by 2 wives before dying in 1641. His inventory was that of a farmer or yeoman. His oldest son was William Jefferys (baptised 1604) who as a yeoman married Edith Wilshire of Melksham in 1636. The Wadswick estate passed down through three generations called William Jefferys until it was inherited by three brothers in turn, each of them dying childless. The Wadswick property then passed out of the Jefferys name to their sister’s husband William Brown of Westbury and afterwards to his son William Jeffery Brown in 1770.
Tracing the line of succession is instrumental in connecting the Wadswick and Kingsdown branches of the line. William and Edith’s second son, Edward, also a yeoman farmer (and as a yeoman, he was at that time called a Gentleman), who in 1681 married Jone (sic) Harris, daughter of Zachariah Harris of Kingsdown House and inherited Kingsdown House on the death of Zachariah.
Edward and Jone Jefferys had six children, the eldest being Zachariah (died in 1717), a yeoman in Kingsdown. Zachariah left his estate to his next brother Edward, a carpenter in Kingsdown. The third son William (baptised 1689) diversified. We know that he acquired property for an income outside of husbandry and in 1732 as a Gentleman of Ashley bought three cottages at Kingsdown from the Northey family.[3] This was a significant division in the estate because the properties were part of the Northey family, unlike the farming land in Wadswick and Rudloe, which previously had been owned by the Goddard family.
For the Jefferys the investment provided an income stream and for the Northey family it was part of a rationalisation of their holdings shortly after they started to buy property in Box from the earlier lords of the manor, the Speke family. William Jefferys wasn’t of the same social class as the Northeys but he had similar aspirations to acquire landholdings.
In William’s will of 1748 he put the three Kingsdown cottages in trust to be managed by his cousin John Jefferys and Michael Baylis (probably the husband of his aunt) for the use of his daughter Elizabeth and her son, Thomas Hancock. There was a proviso that Elizabeth’s husband, Thomas Hancock the elder, should have no right to the estate or its income. Despite the provisions of the will, Thomas took possession of the cottages (along with most of William's possessions and money) and lived in one with Elizabeth for a number of years.
The fourth son of Edward and Jone was James Jefferys, baptised in 1691. In 1728 Dr James Jefferys married Mary Briscoe of Bathford, the daughter of John Briscoe, a maltster from Marshfield – they appear in the Jefferys memorial in Box Church. He lived at Kingsdown House and built the new imposing house there, and his son Zachariah, followed him as the doctor managing the Asylum there. We tell their story later. The Briscoes of Bathford and Batheaston appear to have kept close contact with the Jeffreys and with the Asylum over the next century.
Ownership of Kingsdown Asylum
The Box Madhouse or Asylum appeared as an established asylum in a published Quaker pamphlet in 1697 and the Quaker records detail an asylum in the area in 1684. We don’t know where it was first located, if not Kingsdown House, and who first ran it if not the Jefferys. In 1734 Gentleman William Jefferys of Ashley was paid by the Box overseers for the physic and care of Giles Nowell, who was his tenant in one of his cottages. In 1736 he was then paid for keeping and cureing Giles Nowell being distempered in his mind. This suggests that he managed the asylum but one assumes his brother Dr James Jeffreys was also involved.
The earliest reference to the Jefferys family operating Kingsdown House as an Asylum was in 1749 when the Trowbridge overseers pay 13s.6½d to confine John Porter being disordered in his mind and carry him to the madhouse at Kingsdown,[4] with James Jeffreys of Kingsdown then updating the overseers, assuring them that we will do the best for his recovery.[5]
James Jefferys was probably a surgeon as he was variously called Mr and Dr Jefferys and even a Doctor in Physicke. Professional distinctions were blurred in the provinces at this time. He paid rates in 1736 and 1737 for the living at Kingsdown, which may have referred to the Kingsdown Asylum. The Box overseers accounts record a Mary Jeffery being paid 1/6d for bleeding Jane Hogden and Elizth Castle on 12 September 1742. It is probable that this Mary was James’s wife. Several of the rate assessments for James Jefferys dated 1753, 1766, 1775 and 1791 mention his Kingsdown Living and Hawlies and a small rateable fee for fields called Hardings and Harris’s. We cannot be certain but these appear to be further down Doctors Hill, close to the bend at Week Farm. He later left some of this land to his son Zachariah. The Box parish window tax of 1754 referred to the 17 windows in Mr James Jeffreys’ house and the 9 in his old house, suggesting he had now built the impressive Kingsdown House but kept the old one.
James and Mary had five children. Their first son William was described as a Gentleman when he lived in Ashley after the death of his uncle William. He later moved to Warminster. Their second son, James, was apprenticed to James Grist, a Bath apothecary in 1747 but he doesn’t appear to have been involved in the Kingsdown Asylum.[6] Instead, the Asylum business was taken over by the third son, Zachariah. Zachariah was apprenticed to surgeon Benjamin Jennings of Poole in 1751. He qualified in 1758 and married Mary Edwards of Holt, describing himself as a surgeon and apothecary. He joined in the business at this point and invoiced the Trowbridge authorities in 1762 in his father’s name. After 1766 he appears to be sometimes using the term
Dr Jeffreys, elevating his status above that of surgeon or apothecary, distinguishing himself from his father and implying that he had taken over the full running of the asylum. On the church memorial he is stated to be qualified as a Physician with an MD – but where he obtained his academic degree has not been found.
Zachariah had two children. Mary married Edmund Lewis, surgeon of Semington. Zachariah junior took over operating Kingsdown Asylum but there is no evidence he ever became a doctor.
Construction of Prospect House
In the 1775 Box Rates, Zachariah paid for Kingsdown and Hawlies and for a copyhold and a living. He then appears to have begun acquiring more property. In 1782 Thomas and Elizabeth Hancock and their son Thomas agree to sell the three cottages bought by William Jeffreys (one occupied by them and one occupied by Thomas Gale) to Zachariah Jefferys. In the Rates of 1791 Zachariah also pays rates on part of Wormclift Farm (the Haw Leaze) and part of Ashley Farm.
In his will of October 1796, Zachariah Jefferys talked of a coach house which he said was lately erected and which may be the next house below Prospect Cottages. He talked of the land bought off the Hancocks and buildings thereon, but did not talk of the three cottages, nor of a newly-built house. He was living with his son in Kingsdown House, the Box Asylum.
There were at least two different branches of the Jefferys family in Box, going back to early Tudor times in records of birth, death, marriage and baptism. These include 12 October 1538 or 1539 Alice Jefferaies of Box married to John Poppingay; 23 November 1589 George Jefferares buried in Box; and 8 July 1604 William Jefferay baptised (father William). Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to get beyond these brief mentions until the 1600s.
One significant branch of the family were yeoman farmers in Wadswick who extended their estate into Rudloe and Hazelbury. The patriarch was William Jefferys of Wadswick who married twice and probably had 11 children by 2 wives before dying in 1641. His inventory was that of a farmer or yeoman. His oldest son was William Jefferys (baptised 1604) who as a yeoman married Edith Wilshire of Melksham in 1636. The Wadswick estate passed down through three generations called William Jefferys until it was inherited by three brothers in turn, each of them dying childless. The Wadswick property then passed out of the Jefferys name to their sister’s husband William Brown of Westbury and afterwards to his son William Jeffery Brown in 1770.
Tracing the line of succession is instrumental in connecting the Wadswick and Kingsdown branches of the line. William and Edith’s second son, Edward, also a yeoman farmer (and as a yeoman, he was at that time called a Gentleman), who in 1681 married Jone (sic) Harris, daughter of Zachariah Harris of Kingsdown House and inherited Kingsdown House on the death of Zachariah.
Edward and Jone Jefferys had six children, the eldest being Zachariah (died in 1717), a yeoman in Kingsdown. Zachariah left his estate to his next brother Edward, a carpenter in Kingsdown. The third son William (baptised 1689) diversified. We know that he acquired property for an income outside of husbandry and in 1732 as a Gentleman of Ashley bought three cottages at Kingsdown from the Northey family.[3] This was a significant division in the estate because the properties were part of the Northey family, unlike the farming land in Wadswick and Rudloe, which previously had been owned by the Goddard family.
For the Jefferys the investment provided an income stream and for the Northey family it was part of a rationalisation of their holdings shortly after they started to buy property in Box from the earlier lords of the manor, the Speke family. William Jefferys wasn’t of the same social class as the Northeys but he had similar aspirations to acquire landholdings.
In William’s will of 1748 he put the three Kingsdown cottages in trust to be managed by his cousin John Jefferys and Michael Baylis (probably the husband of his aunt) for the use of his daughter Elizabeth and her son, Thomas Hancock. There was a proviso that Elizabeth’s husband, Thomas Hancock the elder, should have no right to the estate or its income. Despite the provisions of the will, Thomas took possession of the cottages (along with most of William's possessions and money) and lived in one with Elizabeth for a number of years.
The fourth son of Edward and Jone was James Jefferys, baptised in 1691. In 1728 Dr James Jefferys married Mary Briscoe of Bathford, the daughter of John Briscoe, a maltster from Marshfield – they appear in the Jefferys memorial in Box Church. He lived at Kingsdown House and built the new imposing house there, and his son Zachariah, followed him as the doctor managing the Asylum there. We tell their story later. The Briscoes of Bathford and Batheaston appear to have kept close contact with the Jeffreys and with the Asylum over the next century.
Ownership of Kingsdown Asylum
The Box Madhouse or Asylum appeared as an established asylum in a published Quaker pamphlet in 1697 and the Quaker records detail an asylum in the area in 1684. We don’t know where it was first located, if not Kingsdown House, and who first ran it if not the Jefferys. In 1734 Gentleman William Jefferys of Ashley was paid by the Box overseers for the physic and care of Giles Nowell, who was his tenant in one of his cottages. In 1736 he was then paid for keeping and cureing Giles Nowell being distempered in his mind. This suggests that he managed the asylum but one assumes his brother Dr James Jeffreys was also involved.
The earliest reference to the Jefferys family operating Kingsdown House as an Asylum was in 1749 when the Trowbridge overseers pay 13s.6½d to confine John Porter being disordered in his mind and carry him to the madhouse at Kingsdown,[4] with James Jeffreys of Kingsdown then updating the overseers, assuring them that we will do the best for his recovery.[5]
James Jefferys was probably a surgeon as he was variously called Mr and Dr Jefferys and even a Doctor in Physicke. Professional distinctions were blurred in the provinces at this time. He paid rates in 1736 and 1737 for the living at Kingsdown, which may have referred to the Kingsdown Asylum. The Box overseers accounts record a Mary Jeffery being paid 1/6d for bleeding Jane Hogden and Elizth Castle on 12 September 1742. It is probable that this Mary was James’s wife. Several of the rate assessments for James Jefferys dated 1753, 1766, 1775 and 1791 mention his Kingsdown Living and Hawlies and a small rateable fee for fields called Hardings and Harris’s. We cannot be certain but these appear to be further down Doctors Hill, close to the bend at Week Farm. He later left some of this land to his son Zachariah. The Box parish window tax of 1754 referred to the 17 windows in Mr James Jeffreys’ house and the 9 in his old house, suggesting he had now built the impressive Kingsdown House but kept the old one.
James and Mary had five children. Their first son William was described as a Gentleman when he lived in Ashley after the death of his uncle William. He later moved to Warminster. Their second son, James, was apprenticed to James Grist, a Bath apothecary in 1747 but he doesn’t appear to have been involved in the Kingsdown Asylum.[6] Instead, the Asylum business was taken over by the third son, Zachariah. Zachariah was apprenticed to surgeon Benjamin Jennings of Poole in 1751. He qualified in 1758 and married Mary Edwards of Holt, describing himself as a surgeon and apothecary. He joined in the business at this point and invoiced the Trowbridge authorities in 1762 in his father’s name. After 1766 he appears to be sometimes using the term
Dr Jeffreys, elevating his status above that of surgeon or apothecary, distinguishing himself from his father and implying that he had taken over the full running of the asylum. On the church memorial he is stated to be qualified as a Physician with an MD – but where he obtained his academic degree has not been found.
Zachariah had two children. Mary married Edmund Lewis, surgeon of Semington. Zachariah junior took over operating Kingsdown Asylum but there is no evidence he ever became a doctor.
Construction of Prospect House
In the 1775 Box Rates, Zachariah paid for Kingsdown and Hawlies and for a copyhold and a living. He then appears to have begun acquiring more property. In 1782 Thomas and Elizabeth Hancock and their son Thomas agree to sell the three cottages bought by William Jeffreys (one occupied by them and one occupied by Thomas Gale) to Zachariah Jefferys. In the Rates of 1791 Zachariah also pays rates on part of Wormclift Farm (the Haw Leaze) and part of Ashley Farm.
In his will of October 1796, Zachariah Jefferys talked of a coach house which he said was lately erected and which may be the next house below Prospect Cottages. He talked of the land bought off the Hancocks and buildings thereon, but did not talk of the three cottages, nor of a newly-built house. He was living with his son in Kingsdown House, the Box Asylum.
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We get more details of the property the next year in 1797 when a deed authorised his trustee and his heirs, Edmund Lewis and wife Mary, to sell Prospect House, Box. The deed confirmed that the house had been erected lately by Zachariah on land which had been sold to him in 1782 (separately identified as previously belonging to Thomas Hancock). |
The Sun (London), 5 April 1799
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This house appears to be confirmed by newspaper advertisements in 1799, described as A Valuable House, lately built, pleasantly situated on Kingsdown, with a coach house and stable, garden and pleasure-ground, and about four acres of land adjoining… Further particulars may be known by applying to Mr Daniel, Bath; or Mr Lewis, surgeon, Semington, near Melksham, Wilts. More land may be had if required.[7] It is apparent that Prospect House was built by Zachariah Jefferys between 1796 and 1797.
It is interesting that Zachariah split Kingsdown House from Prospect House when settling his estates on his children and that he did not give the asylum business to his daughter Mary, given that her husband Edmund Lewis was described as a surgeon. But his son worked the asylum business with him and Edmund and Mary lived some distance away and one assumes had little to do with the business. In addition, Prospect House related to the maternal side of the family. There are some intriguing (but unexplained) suggestions of this, such as William Jefferys’ 1751 will inventory referring to Thomas Hancock as the promotor of the cause; and a lease from Thomas Handcock (sic) to Zachariah Jefferys dated 24 December 1782. So, Mary got the Thomas Hancock land and the household goods. There is a lot in Zachariah’s will of 1796 about passing the Kingsdown House estate to the children of his son Zachariah (at that time only his granddaughter Mary) as he clearly did not expect his son Zachariah to live long. Zachariah Junior died two months after his father, and left little trace of his existence – he doesn’t appear to have trained as a surgeon, inherited no property, left no will and inherited no land in his father's will.
Later Residents of Prospect House
Prospect House wasn’t sold at that time and passed to Mary and Edmund’s son, Edmund Zachariah Jefferys Lewis who let the property to Dr Charles Cunningham Langworthy. In 1813 Charles took over running the asylum from the Jeffreys family.
Possibly some of the more spectacular events at the house were the twenty-first birthday celebrations of Charles’ son and daughter-in-law. His only surviving son Robert Austen Langworthy, along with William Webster of the Royal Navy (a fellow surgeon) eloped with two sisters and wealthy heiresses and married them at Portpatrick, Scotland. Austen was 22 and married 19-year-old Elizabeth Rigby Collins, and the much older William married her younger sister Mary.
When Robert reached majority, they had a celebration at Prospect House recorded as: The morning was ushered in by the discharge of 21 rounds of canon and a band played at intervals.[8] The most grand and elegant entertainment given in June 1825 at their country residence Prospect House, by Dr Langworthy to celebrate the coming of age of Mr Austin Langworthy included cannon, ringing bells feeding over 200 children followed by dancing though the night.[9]
On Edmund Zachariah Jefferys Lewis’ death in 1824, Prospect House was authorised to be sold and the proceeds form part of the estate left to his widow Eliza Diana, daughter of Thomas Timbrell of Trowbridge. The house appears to have been bought by Charles Langworthy, though the family normally lived in the midst of society at 24 Circus Bath. In the 1840 tithe map the position of Prospect House was identified as plot 625 and Langworthy was stated to be the landowner and occupier.
Charles Langworthy died in June 1847 leaving the House to his wife Maria, who in turn died six months later and left it to her friend and the trustee of her will, William John Church.[10] This may have been a scheme to avoid creditors as Austen’s undischarged bankruptcy of 1834 allowed his creditors to claim any property he later owned and indeed forced the sale of Kingsdown House in 1858.[11] William allowed Austen to continue to occupy Prospect House until Austen died in 1850. Prospect House was uninhabited at the time of the 1851 census. Austen’s wife went into partnership with the Nashes who eventually bought Kingsdown Asylum when it was auctioned. Dr Nash then leased out Prospect House but it is unclear if he lived there or used it for the asylum. Prospect House was auctioned at the same time as Kingsdown House in 1858.[12] Who bought it is unknown but it was let unfurnished in 1860, described as having three reception rooms, three best bedrooms and three servant bedrooms. In the 1861 census Prospect House was rented by a retired Lieutenant Colonel Richard Saunders, his wife and their retired Lieutenant Colonel son Henry.
Something was wrong with Prospect House though – it may have been poorly built and suffered from movement or other defects, or after 80 years it was seen as old and poorly arranged. In 1867 an advert was put out: To Builders: TENDERS are required for TAKING DOWN “PROSPECT HOUSE” at BOX, and BUILDING EIGHT COTTAGES on the site. – Hans F Price, Architect, Weston-super-mare.[13]
It is interesting that Zachariah split Kingsdown House from Prospect House when settling his estates on his children and that he did not give the asylum business to his daughter Mary, given that her husband Edmund Lewis was described as a surgeon. But his son worked the asylum business with him and Edmund and Mary lived some distance away and one assumes had little to do with the business. In addition, Prospect House related to the maternal side of the family. There are some intriguing (but unexplained) suggestions of this, such as William Jefferys’ 1751 will inventory referring to Thomas Hancock as the promotor of the cause; and a lease from Thomas Handcock (sic) to Zachariah Jefferys dated 24 December 1782. So, Mary got the Thomas Hancock land and the household goods. There is a lot in Zachariah’s will of 1796 about passing the Kingsdown House estate to the children of his son Zachariah (at that time only his granddaughter Mary) as he clearly did not expect his son Zachariah to live long. Zachariah Junior died two months after his father, and left little trace of his existence – he doesn’t appear to have trained as a surgeon, inherited no property, left no will and inherited no land in his father's will.
Later Residents of Prospect House
Prospect House wasn’t sold at that time and passed to Mary and Edmund’s son, Edmund Zachariah Jefferys Lewis who let the property to Dr Charles Cunningham Langworthy. In 1813 Charles took over running the asylum from the Jeffreys family.
Possibly some of the more spectacular events at the house were the twenty-first birthday celebrations of Charles’ son and daughter-in-law. His only surviving son Robert Austen Langworthy, along with William Webster of the Royal Navy (a fellow surgeon) eloped with two sisters and wealthy heiresses and married them at Portpatrick, Scotland. Austen was 22 and married 19-year-old Elizabeth Rigby Collins, and the much older William married her younger sister Mary.
When Robert reached majority, they had a celebration at Prospect House recorded as: The morning was ushered in by the discharge of 21 rounds of canon and a band played at intervals.[8] The most grand and elegant entertainment given in June 1825 at their country residence Prospect House, by Dr Langworthy to celebrate the coming of age of Mr Austin Langworthy included cannon, ringing bells feeding over 200 children followed by dancing though the night.[9]
On Edmund Zachariah Jefferys Lewis’ death in 1824, Prospect House was authorised to be sold and the proceeds form part of the estate left to his widow Eliza Diana, daughter of Thomas Timbrell of Trowbridge. The house appears to have been bought by Charles Langworthy, though the family normally lived in the midst of society at 24 Circus Bath. In the 1840 tithe map the position of Prospect House was identified as plot 625 and Langworthy was stated to be the landowner and occupier.
Charles Langworthy died in June 1847 leaving the House to his wife Maria, who in turn died six months later and left it to her friend and the trustee of her will, William John Church.[10] This may have been a scheme to avoid creditors as Austen’s undischarged bankruptcy of 1834 allowed his creditors to claim any property he later owned and indeed forced the sale of Kingsdown House in 1858.[11] William allowed Austen to continue to occupy Prospect House until Austen died in 1850. Prospect House was uninhabited at the time of the 1851 census. Austen’s wife went into partnership with the Nashes who eventually bought Kingsdown Asylum when it was auctioned. Dr Nash then leased out Prospect House but it is unclear if he lived there or used it for the asylum. Prospect House was auctioned at the same time as Kingsdown House in 1858.[12] Who bought it is unknown but it was let unfurnished in 1860, described as having three reception rooms, three best bedrooms and three servant bedrooms. In the 1861 census Prospect House was rented by a retired Lieutenant Colonel Richard Saunders, his wife and their retired Lieutenant Colonel son Henry.
Something was wrong with Prospect House though – it may have been poorly built and suffered from movement or other defects, or after 80 years it was seen as old and poorly arranged. In 1867 an advert was put out: To Builders: TENDERS are required for TAKING DOWN “PROSPECT HOUSE” at BOX, and BUILDING EIGHT COTTAGES on the site. – Hans F Price, Architect, Weston-super-mare.[13]
This engraving of Kingsdown Asylum is believed to also show Prospect House (courtesy Box resident who prefers to remain anonymous)
Images of Prospect House
There are only two known sets of images of Prospect House. The first possibly being the building on the left of the undated prospectus view of Kingsdown (above). There is some licence in this image as the house is shown on the nearside of the road, when nothing is there. But the house being 3 windows wide and 3 storeys above the basement fits with what else we know. The tree in front of the asylum possibly deliberately hid the old central buildings, so it is unclear if it dates between 1840 and 1867.
It fits with prospectuses often issued to potential patients at this time and might be one put out by Austen when he took over in 1847. Alternatively, it could date to the Nashes as part of their empire development.
There are only two known sets of images of Prospect House. The first possibly being the building on the left of the undated prospectus view of Kingsdown (above). There is some licence in this image as the house is shown on the nearside of the road, when nothing is there. But the house being 3 windows wide and 3 storeys above the basement fits with what else we know. The tree in front of the asylum possibly deliberately hid the old central buildings, so it is unclear if it dates between 1840 and 1867.
It fits with prospectuses often issued to potential patients at this time and might be one put out by Austen when he took over in 1847. Alternatively, it could date to the Nashes as part of their empire development.
Plans of Detached House in the records of Kingsdown Asylum at Wiltshire Heritage Centre (photo courtesy Peter Carpenter)
The second set of images relate to plans of Kingsdown Asylum in the Wiltshire archives, (an example of which is above).[14]
The archives date this as 1850 but the evidence for this is not known (although it would make sense to relate it to Nash).
Apart from the main site the plans include a detached house to be used for patients with 4 acres of land – and is clearly Prospect House. The plan is of a 3-window wide house that has three rooms of identical form on each floor that fits the description in the 1860 advert. What is striking is how small the rooms are – the main receptions rooms are 10 by 15 feet and the entrance is at the back of the house. Not an imposing country mansion and little-suited for a large family.
The archives date this as 1850 but the evidence for this is not known (although it would make sense to relate it to Nash).
Apart from the main site the plans include a detached house to be used for patients with 4 acres of land – and is clearly Prospect House. The plan is of a 3-window wide house that has three rooms of identical form on each floor that fits the description in the 1860 advert. What is striking is how small the rooms are – the main receptions rooms are 10 by 15 feet and the entrance is at the back of the house. Not an imposing country mansion and little-suited for a large family.
The Jefferys family in Box are a marvellous example of the rise of the middling families of yeomen farmers to the ranks of professional families in the late Georgian period. They lived in style, built fine country houses and tried to develop dynasties in local areas. They developed Kingsdown House and built Prospect House but the family line ran out. The Wadswick branch of the family passed their landholdings to a female line called Brown but the Kingsdown estate was lost to the family and sold.
In the next issue, we review the buildings at Kingsdown House, when they were built and those which were demolished. The story of the building construction gives us indications of the probable origin of the graffiti in the walls of the buildings and walls.
In the next issue, we review the buildings at Kingsdown House, when they were built and those which were demolished. The story of the building construction gives us indications of the probable origin of the graffiti in the walls of the buildings and walls.
Jefferys Family Tree
William Jefferys (died 1641)
Married 1) Elizabeth who died 1610; Children:
William Jefferys (baptised 1604- buried 1683), yeoman, married Edith Wilshire in 1636 and had children who separated into the branches at Wadswick and Kingsdown. Children:
Jefferys Family at Wadswick
William Jeffery (baptised 1641-buried 25 March 1718), yeoman at Wadswick married Joan (buried 1698). Children:
Jefferys Family at Kingsdown
Edward Jefferys (1648 – 1706) Yeoman, married 1681 Jone Harris of Kingsdown House & had 6 children who survived to adulthood:
James Jeffreys (1691-17 April 1778) married Mary Briscoe (1703-12 April 1777) of Bathford in 1728. He owned Kingsdown House in 1749. Children:[15]
Zachariah (baptised 12 February 1735-died 6 May 1797) married Mary Edwards of Holt on 25 March 1758.[16] Children:
Zachariah Jeffreys junr (1761 – 1797) married 1792 Jane Cottle (buried 1832) of Monkton Farleigh.
William Jefferys (died 1641)
Married 1) Elizabeth who died 1610; Children:
- William baptised 1604
- Thomas baptised 1607 ? died 1648
William Jefferys (baptised 1604- buried 1683), yeoman, married Edith Wilshire in 1636 and had children who separated into the branches at Wadswick and Kingsdown. Children:
- Edith (baptised 1637-) married Thomas Simson of Box;
- Mary married Michael Bayley in 1669;
- William Jeffery of Wadswick (baptised 1641-buried 25 March 1718); and
- Edward (baptised 1648).
Jefferys Family at Wadswick
William Jeffery (baptised 1641-buried 25 March 1718), yeoman at Wadswick married Joan (buried 1698). Children:
- Marie died in infancy (baptised and buried 1676;
- Elizabeth (baptised 1677);
- William (baptised 1678-13 July 1738), left the land to his brother Thomas;
- John (baptised 1683-1762);
- Thomas (baptised 1684- 1770), leaving land to a nephew William Brown of Westbury;
- Robert (baptised 1686-buried 1688);
- Gabriel died in infancy (baptised 1688-buried 1688):
- James (baptised 1689-buried 1719);
- Mary (baptised 1691).
Jefferys Family at Kingsdown
Edward Jefferys (1648 – 1706) Yeoman, married 1681 Jone Harris of Kingsdown House & had 6 children who survived to adulthood:
- Zachariah (1683-1717), yeoman who gave all his assets to his next brother Edward
- Edward, who in 1717 is called a Carpenter of Kingsdown
- William (1689 – 1748) who is Yeoman/ Gentleman of Ashley
- James Jefferys (1691-17 April 1778), the first named proprietor of the Asylum
- Two other children, whose names are untraced
James Jeffreys (1691-17 April 1778) married Mary Briscoe (1703-12 April 1777) of Bathford in 1728. He owned Kingsdown House in 1749. Children:[15]
- William, Gentleman, bapt 1729 who lived at Ashley Hall (presumably Ashley Manor) before later moving to Warminster, Married ? Milicent; had Henrietta who married John Jones.
- John – died in infancy.
- James (1731 to ?1761), apprenticed to a Bath apothecary in 1747;
- Sarah, (1733 – 1816) unmarried – on Box monument
- Zachariah (baptised 12 February 1735-died May 1797), surgeon and later physician.
- Mary (1739 - ?)
- John (died in infancy)
- Thomas (died in infancy)
- Hester (1743 - 1796), unmarried; on Box monument
Zachariah (baptised 12 February 1735-died 6 May 1797) married Mary Edwards of Holt on 25 March 1758.[16] Children:
- Mary (baptised 1761-) married Edmund Lewis, surgeon of Semington;
- And had two children
- Edmund Zachariah Jeffreys Lewis (1797-1824) who married 1821 Elizabeth Diana Timbrell of Trowbridge and died childless
- Mary Lewis who died in Infancy.
- And had two children
- Zachariah (baptised 1761- July 1797
Zachariah Jeffreys junr (1761 – 1797) married 1792 Jane Cottle (buried 1832) of Monkton Farleigh.
- Only Child: Mary (1793 – 1837) who married
- (1) 1809 James Goolden of Clutton who died 1815, by whom she had only child Mary Jane Goolden (1810 – 1875), who married 1856 Richard Stothet, widower, solicitor, and died childless
- (2) 1817 John Gibbs surgeon (who married 3 times including Mary’s cousin Charlotte Cottle)
References
[1] In this artice we have stuck to the spelling Jefferys although there are multiple variations
[2] The full text of the epitaph is:
Sacred to the memory of Mary wife of Zachariah Jefferys MD who died February 3rd 1777aged 43 years. Mary wife of James Jefferys and mother of the above Zach Jefferys died April 12th 1777aged 74 years also the aforesaid James Jefferys died April 17th 1778 aged 86 years. Hesther, daughter of the above James and Mary Jefferys who died June 6th 1796 aged 53 years. Zachariah Jefferys MD son of the above James and Mary Jefferys died May 6th 1797 aged 61 years. Sarah, daughter of the above James and Mary Jefferys died May 18th 1816 aged 83 years. Jane wife of Zachariah Junr who died November 18th 1832 aged 81 years. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
[3] Details from deeds reference 220/3 in the Wiltshire History Centre
[4] Trowbridge accounts 206/63, 8 Oct – 5 November 1749
[5] Trowbridge accounts 206/93, 8 October – 5 November 1749
[6] Inland revenue apprenticeship records IR1/ 51 f.148
[7] Bath Chronicle & Weekly Gazette 4 April 1799 also in the Sun (London) 15 April 1799
[8] The Bath Chronicle, September 1822
[9] Salisbury & Winchester Journal 13 June 1825
[10] Death Certificate: died 28 June 1847 at 24 Circus, of Bronchitis Charles Cunningham Langworthy Physician. Died 25 January 1848 at 24 Circus, Maria Langworthy of apoplexy aged about 86
[11] National Archives C15/286/F89
[12] Bath Chronicle, 7 October 1858
[13] Bath Chronicle, 18 April 1867
[14] Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre A1/562/5L
[15] Lease and Releases concerning Kingsdown House and land around, 6 & 7 March 1760s and 7 March 1770
[16] Wiltshire History Centre, 220/3
[1] In this artice we have stuck to the spelling Jefferys although there are multiple variations
[2] The full text of the epitaph is:
Sacred to the memory of Mary wife of Zachariah Jefferys MD who died February 3rd 1777aged 43 years. Mary wife of James Jefferys and mother of the above Zach Jefferys died April 12th 1777aged 74 years also the aforesaid James Jefferys died April 17th 1778 aged 86 years. Hesther, daughter of the above James and Mary Jefferys who died June 6th 1796 aged 53 years. Zachariah Jefferys MD son of the above James and Mary Jefferys died May 6th 1797 aged 61 years. Sarah, daughter of the above James and Mary Jefferys died May 18th 1816 aged 83 years. Jane wife of Zachariah Junr who died November 18th 1832 aged 81 years. The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
[3] Details from deeds reference 220/3 in the Wiltshire History Centre
[4] Trowbridge accounts 206/63, 8 Oct – 5 November 1749
[5] Trowbridge accounts 206/93, 8 October – 5 November 1749
[6] Inland revenue apprenticeship records IR1/ 51 f.148
[7] Bath Chronicle & Weekly Gazette 4 April 1799 also in the Sun (London) 15 April 1799
[8] The Bath Chronicle, September 1822
[9] Salisbury & Winchester Journal 13 June 1825
[10] Death Certificate: died 28 June 1847 at 24 Circus, of Bronchitis Charles Cunningham Langworthy Physician. Died 25 January 1848 at 24 Circus, Maria Langworthy of apoplexy aged about 86
[11] National Archives C15/286/F89
[12] Bath Chronicle, 7 October 1858
[13] Bath Chronicle, 18 April 1867
[14] Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre A1/562/5L
[15] Lease and Releases concerning Kingsdown House and land around, 6 & 7 March 1760s and 7 March 1770
[16] Wiltshire History Centre, 220/3