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| The Mayor's Court Roll for Exeter Freemen dated
the 15th January 1442 records a John Havell being fined the sum of £1,
a considerable sum of money for the time. There is no record of his
offence but it does suggest that John Havell would have been able to pay
the fine, and was therefore presumably a person of some standing. This
record predates the introduction of parish records by at least a hundred
years. Three centuries later another John Havill, a merchant, apparently childless, in drawing up his will left his not inconsiderable fortune to his wife, Frances, together with a curious anomaly concerning a conflict in the dates of his marriage and will (see note below). However, his marriage record is one of the few Havill parish records remaining prior to 1760. The 1670 Militia record of Joseph Havill hints at a continuity between the Plymouth St Andrew's records and the start of the established Exeter records, in particular, Joseph Havill 1749. Another cluster of Havill records for the period 1550 -1600, presumably of one and same family is found at Uffculme, a parish located on the periphery of the St Thomas area. The records must form part of the wider Havill family, but there is no clue as to how precisely they link to other family groupings. |
| 1739 -The Will of John Havill of the City of Exeter -Merchant | |
| IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN |
| I John Havill of the City of Exon Merchant being of sound mind memory and understanding and calling to mind the uncertainty of this Life, and the good Effects and Consequences of a Settled Estate and Condition hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me made, Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament first I recommend my Soul to God who gave it and desire for my Body decent Christian Burial and as to my Worldly Estate I give and dispose thereof, my Debts and funeral Expenses being first satisfied and paid as follows, I give and bequeath to Jeremiah Haynes of the City of Exon Gent(leman) John Haddy of the same City Merchant and Elias Eastway of the same City Gent(leman) Ten Pounds each to buy themselves Mourning All my Lands Tenements and Hereditaments and all my Goods Chattles Real and Testamentary Estate whatsoever and wheresoever not herein before given I give devise and bequeath unto my dear wife Frances Havill her heirs and assigns for ever and I do hereby make constitute and appoint her Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. Lastly I do make the said Jeremiah Haynes John Haddy and Elias Eastway Trustees of this my Will hereby requesting and desiring them to assist my said Wife in the Management of her Affairs In Witness whereof I the said John Havill have hereunto Sett my Hand and Seal the nineteenth Day of January 1739 / John Havill / Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the- Above named John Havill for and as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us Mary Morgan Richard Lascelles Elias Eastway THIS WILL was proved at London On the Twenty Second Day of November in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty before the Right and Worshipfull John Bettesworth Doctor of Laws Master & Keeper or Commissionary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath Frances Havill Widow the (wife?) of the deceased (?) and sole Executrix named in the said Will To whom admon was granted of all and singulars the Goods Chattles and Credits of the said deceased She being first Sworn by Commission Well and duly to administer the same. |
| Notes and Key Dates: The will dated 19/01/1739, refers to "his dear wife Frances" This predates his marriage to Frances Mann 05/06/1739 St Leonards, Exeter, (IGI marriage record). Although no record exists, John probably died about the end of 1739. Frances, Mrs Havill married Claudius Passavant 09/03/1740 at Alphington, (IGI marriage record). Will proved in London 22/11/1740 in favour of Frances Havill, widow. At the time she would have been Mrs Passavant. |
| Exeter Early Records |
| Elizabeth b. abt 1575 | m. Thomas Masters 8 Oct 1597 Exeter St Martins |
| Garterre bap. 20 Oct 1690 Exeter St Lawrence | |
| Militia List for 1803 Exeter | -1670 Joseph Havill,
St Mary Major "serving in the Militia" -1670 Joseph Havill St George |
| John b. abt. 1690 | m. Frances Mann 5 Jun
1739 Exeter St Leonard Will 1739 above. |
| Frances, Mrs Havill | m. Claudius Passavant 9 Mar 1740 Alphington |
| Uffculme Records |
| Johan b. abt. 1520 | m. William Richards of Milverton Somerset 22 Jan 1543 |
| William bap. 7 Aug 1545 | |
| Fortune bap. 4 Dec 1553 | |
| Christen b. abt. 1558 | m. Henry Woodroffe 2 Jun 1578 |
| Philip b. abt. 1560 | m. Mary Aplynge 15 Apr 1581 |
| Alice b. abt 1570 | m. John Membury 15 Oct 1588 |