Individual Details
James Templer
(17 Apr 1722 - 4 Mar 1782)
1722
James was born in Exeter 17 April 1722. He was the youngest child of Thomas and Grace Templer. Thomas was a craftsman known as a "brazier", ie he worked in brass. James was baptised in St Mary Major, Exeter on 30 April.
1728
James' father died in 1728 at the age of 49 when James was only 6. His father was buried in St Mary Major on 01 September, and he left his business to eldest son and former apprentice, Thomas, who was himself only 17 years of age at the time. Thomas therefore found himself having to provide for the whole family which at the time consisted of four other surviving children as well as his mother Grace.
Date Unknown.
We don't know when, but or why, but Thomas decided to transfer the business to Totnes, and that may have been a significant factor in the decision to place James in the 'Blue Coat' School in Exeter. Family tradition says that Thomas could not afford to keep James who was 6 years younger than the next youngest brother, and therefore probably not able to make much of a contribution to the family income. It is not clear whether Grace, James' mother also went to Totnes, but she probably didn't, because she appears to have later remarried to a man living north of Exeter.
Date Unknown.
We don't know the date when James was admitted as a "Blue Coat" boy into St James' Hospital, Exeter, but one of its purposes was to give him a basic education. 'Blue Coat' was a school for orphans, and it must have come as a shock to James to be classified in this category. He might well have felt a sense of betrayal and resentment, because there is some indication that in later years that he made little effort to resumed contact with his family.
1736
In August 1736, then aged 14, James was apprenticed to John Bickley,a carpenter of Exeter, (sometimes described as an Architect). JB was paid a £10 premium to take James in, £4 came from elder brother Thomas, and £6 from the Governors of the Hospital.
Date Unknown.
After some years as an apprentice, but probably when he was 16 or 17,James ran away, and here the stories tend to conflict. One version is that he made his way to Plymouth and took ship to India working as a shipwright. Another version is that he made his way to London, repairing the roof of one of the Glastonbury Churches en route, but whilst there is no evidence to support the Glastonbury version, there is some evidence, albeit tenuous, that he went to India.
What he did in India is also confused. The official version put out by the family in the late 19th century implied that he was in some way in the service the Honorable East India Company, but his name appears in none of the ship's musters of the time, either as an employee, a passenger or a member of the crew, so if he went to India at all, he will almost certainly have travelled on some sort of privateer in breach of the HEIC's monopoly. The official family history also credits him with (in partnership with John Line and Thomas Parlby) building the Madras docks, but we now know that the docks were actually built many years after James and his partners had left India. [The docks were build long after James could have been involved - This is likely to be a story added to sound better than living and working in Rotherhithe, with the Parlby's)
We will probably never know the whole story, but there are two tantalizing snippets with which to excite our imaginations. The first is the reference in the log of one of the EIC ships which was carrying silver bullion (the EIC had to pay for Indian goods in silver because England's main exportable commodity - wool - was of no interest to the Indians) that on arrival in Madras the bullion was handed over to a small group consisting of, amongst others, Line and Templer. Another snippet derived from a remote family source is that James Templer and his partners were actually trading in Mexican silver dollars, but why and how they came by the dollars is not explained. However, there are two other possibly completely irrelevant facts worth noting. The first is that 'Indian' i.e. adulterated silver became a problem in India, and secondly that James's father and elder brother were both 'braziers', i.e. brass craftsmen, so James would have had some knowledge of foundries and metallurgy. [This part of the story has no actual fact and should be dismissed]
1745
Whatever the truth, James was able to return from India [Rotherhithe] at the age of 22 or 23 still a very young but, by now, very wealthy man. The official family version is that he and his partners had made their money in India from their contracting work, and this may have been true at least in part, but the time scales are so short, the corroborative evidence so absent, and the sums so large, that this is unlikely to be the whole story.
What is known is that James was back in England by 1745, and in conjunction with partners John Line and Thomas Parlby, contracted for some dockyard construction in Chatham, Kent. The trio had settled in Rotherhithe in Kent, probably because it was close to the home town of Thomas Parlby, but the fact that James had absconded from his master in Devon no doubt influenced matters as well. 'Breaking apprenticeship indentures' was a serious matter in the 18th century, representing as it did a significant financial loss to the Master, and in some circumstances it could even lead to the imprisonment of the absconder. James probably therefore decided to avoid Devon.
At Greenwich on 04 September, James married his partner Thomas' sister Mary, daughter of John Parlby of Chatham. His wife was 6 years his junior, having been born on 17 August 1728 in Chatham.
In the same year, 1745, the records tell us that one Grace Templer, who was probably James' mother, married a Richard Galsworthy on 15 April 1745 at Morchard Bishop, north of Exeter.
1748
James' eldest son, James II, born and baptised in Rotherhithe, Kent.
1751
James' second son, John, born and baptised in Rotherhithe, Kent.
Date Unknown.
James' third son, William, born and baptised in Rotherhithe, Kent.
1755
James' fourth son, George, born and baptised in Rotherhithe, Kent.
1758
James' only daughter, Anne, born and baptised in Rotherhithe, Kent.
1760 approximately.
With his partners, Thomas Parlby and John Line, James was awarded a contract to build a new dockyard in Plymouth. This necessitated a return to Devon and the need to resolve the issue of his earlier breaking of his apprenticeship 'indentures'. By now aged 38, he did this by 'buying off' his old master, John Bickley, and the settlement cost him £500, which 1998 prices is the rough equivalent of £50,000, or about 4 or 5 years labour for a trainee
The construction of the new dockyard necessitated a supply of large, hard wearing, stone blocks, and the nearest source was Dartmoor granite. However, the blocks were likely to be so heavy that a long overland journey over poor roads would be difficult if not impossible, so a quarry was sought that was as near to the sea as possible. A glance at the map shows that the Teign estuary is the nearest point that Dartmoor gets to the sea, so James therefore either bought or rented Stofford Lodge, near Newton Abbot, whilst a quarry was being sought or developed. The quarry that was identified as fulfilling their needs was the now famous Haytor quarry, which was eventually connected to the sea by canal and the granite railway constructed by James's eldest son and grandson. However, in the early days, the stone was transported down to the estuary by cart.
1763
Whilst resident at Stofford Lodge, James applied for and was granted a Coat of Arms on 03 May 1763 by the Heralds of the College of Arms.
1765 approximately.
About this time, James completed the purchase of Stofford Lodge and Manor of Teigngrace, which he had presumably been occupying as a tenant. He must have also have continued to live part of the time at Rotherhithe, as his 6th child, Henry Line, was born and baptised there in 1765. The Godfather to the child was his partner, John Line.
They were now gaining many building contracts and this put pressure on the supply of stone with its difficult journey down from the moor. However, James was obviously determined to stay in South Devon - tradition has it that he loved the area - so he pulled down the damp old Lodge in the valley close to the marshes along the banks of the river Teign, (it had been a hunting lodge) and build a mansion on higher ground which he call Stover House. This was completed in approx. 1780.
In the meantime, James' partner Thomas, bought a property at Stonehouse, near Plymouth, no doubt to enable him to supervise the work on the dockyard, whilst his other partner, John Line, bought, also in 1765, Lindridge House near Ideford, also probably because of its proximity to the quarry, but perhaps also to help locate supplies of timber. It is known that James Templer planted trees extensively on his new estate, which indicates that there was a shortage of timber in the area. As far a John Line was concerned, Lindridge had another attraction in that it was conveniently near to the Templer home which would have been an advantage as John Line and James Templer were very great friends as well as partners.
1768
The links with Kent were not totally broken, however, because either James or his eldest son James II (by now aged 20), bought in 1768 part of the Demesne of Somerhill Park at Tunbridge in Kent. This 'James' is recorded as being resident in Westminster, so it was probably the son James II who was educated at Westminster and at the time would have been studying law in preparation for a distinguished legal career.
1770
James I continued to have a residence in Rotherhithe because in 1770 his 7th child, a son, Charles Bickford is born and baptised there.
1776
In 1776, James eldest son, James, married Mary Buller (see his records for details)
1777
in 1777 John Line, James' partner and friend died suddenly at Lindridge, and is buried at Teigngrace.
1778
In 1778 James' 3rd son, William died in Portsmouth of a "decline". He was probably aged about 25 and was buried 08 January at Teigngrace.
James' 2nd son John, then aged 27 and training for Holy Orders, married John Line's widow Jane, also aged about 27, and he moved into Lindridge.
James' first grandchild, Mary, daughter of his eldest son James and Mary (Buller) was born.
1780
In 1780 Stover House was completed. James I and his family now appear to be living there almost permanently, because there are no other references in the records to Kent.
1781
In 1781, James' 4th son George, who had joined the HEIC, married Jane Paul in India. She was the daughter of another HEIC 'Nabob.'
James' first grandson, George, was born in the same year to his eldest son James and his wife Mary (Buller).
Also in 1781, James' only daughter Anne married Sir John de la Pole, Bart. of Shute in Devon.
1782
In 1782, James I contracted a fever after drinking "mineral" water at nearby Bellamarsh (Devon), and died on 04 March aged nearly 60. He was buried in Teigngrace church.
In the same year, another grandson, George Henry, the eldest child of his 4th son George, is born in India.
1784
On 21 June 1784, James' widow, Mary (Parlby), is frightened by jibbing carriage horses on returning from a visit to Bradley Hall. She faints, and is carried into the Globe Inn at Newton Abbot, and dies within an hour. She was also buried in Teigngrace.
1787
In 1787, James' sons, the brothers James II, George, and John, pull down and rebuild the old church at Teigngrace as a memorial to their parents. The new church includes a vault where many Templers were subsequently buried.
Updated 17 January 1998
Templer, James, 1722-82
British businessman
Templer was born to a poor family in Exeter. He was orphaned at the age of six and placed in St. John's Hospital, a school for destitute young children. He was apprenticed at 14 to a joiner or architect but after three years of the seven to which he was bonded he ran away to sea as a shipwright. He jumped ship in Madras, India, where he put his skills to use in the construction of docks and other buildings, soon making a very large fortune. Returning to England, still in his 20s, he became even wealthier through building docks at Rotherhithe and Plymouth. In 1765 he bought a large derelict estate near Newton Abbot, Devon,called Stofford Manor and Teign Buer and built Stover House, which is now a private girls' school. [Last updated: 9 June 1999]
References:
1. Ewans, Michael Christopher. The Haytor Granite Tramway and Stover Canal. (Dawlish: David & Charles, 1964)
2. "The Story of Stover," compiled by Stover School
Justin Templer
James Templer was an apprentice in Exeter in 1736 but ran away and joined a vessel at Plymouth bound for Madras, India. He returned to Devon a few years later, having made a considerable fortune, and joined a partnership with Henry Line and Thomas Palby to build docks for the Government at Plymouth. He married Mary Palby, daughter of Thomas Palby, in 1747. In 1765 he bought the 80,000 acre Stover estate near Newton Abbot (parish of Teigngrace), demolished the previous building, Stover Lodge, and between 1776 and 1781 built Stover House where he lived until his death in 1790. (His wife also died there, in 1784.) His eldest son, James, inherited the estate, along with granite mining rights on nearby Dartmoor.
[Research by Stephen Coombes of Chudleigh, Devon, 2002] Swete Family Tree
James Templer was born in Exeter in 1722, the sixth and youngest son of Thomas Templer. As an orphan he attended school at St. Johns Hospital known as the 'Blue School', to which many 'Devonshire Worthies' owe their early training. In 1736, when 14 years old, he was apprenticed to John Bickley, Architect, of Exeter as a joiner. Three years later and still subject to the bond of apprenticeship, he ran away and,unknown to his master joined a vessel hound to Madras from Plymouth as shipwright.
Apprenticeship in? those days was a form of servitude, little better than slavery; an apprentice breaking his bond was liable to suffer severe punishment. His joining a ship was a desperate decision. Privateers of many nationalities, masquerading under the Spanish flag, were attacking shipping. Britain, after much provocation, had declared war on Spain. Nevertheless James had tried and succeeded in reaching India where he applied his knowledge of building to good account. He eventually obtained a contract to construct some docks at Madras.
In a printed book of Madras Record Office extracts to be found in the Society of Genealogists Library, there is evidence that he was engaged in transactions, legalised by the Madras Mint, in connection with exchanging old and new Mexican silver. In view of James' age, it seems likely that this was the main basis of his later fortune rather than the building of docks.
Returning to England, James lived and worked in London, for we discover his children being regularly baptised at Rotherhithe between 1748 and 1764.
Aged 25, James had risen from employee to a partnership with Henry Line and Thomas Parlby and by this time was a man of great reputation and probity. With his partners he was engaged to complete unfinished Government works at Madras and at Plymouth, and to undertake on contract other projects of a similar kind.
One must wonder how James Templer managed to supervise work at Plymouth while raising a family in London. Did he use the rough uneven roads between London and Plymouth? Or had he means to go by sea from the Thames to the Tamar? Or did he just leave the supervisory work to his partners, contenting himself with the design work in which no doubt he had a good grounding during his apprenticeship in John Bickley's office? Rotherhithe itself was of course a Dockland area possessing three docks for shipbuilding in 1756. It was not so urban as we see it today,and in that year there was a corn mill worked by the Thames water which belonged to the king. Opportunity existed there for James Templer to make use of his talents as shipwright. England was at war (The 7 years War) between 1756 and 1763 and had been earlier when he returned from India. She needed ships; ships needed docks for refitting and repair; James Templer had had experience already in providing them.
In 1745 James had married Mary Parlby, his partner?s sister, of a family probably coming from Chatham, Kent. Before he was 30 he had amassed a fortune. He was now able to present his old master, James Bickley, with £500, as some recompense, presumably, for desertion while still an apprentice.
We have a record of eight of James? children, seven boys and a girl, all baptised at Rotherhithe. Details of these (other than Henry Line Templer) are given in Part II.
James and Henry Line frequently visited Heightor (Hay Tor), the source of granite for their contracts at Plymouth. Nearby, at Teign Buer (Teigngrace) he found a vast, long neglected estate of boggy land, infertile and with a decrepit Manor House called Stofford Lodge, in a most unhealthy situation. The greater part of this estate was inundated from six to eight months in every year. James bought this estate in 1765 from a branch of the Courtenay family.
James Templer had had great vision and confidence for, at this time, the Industrial Revolution had begun. James Watt had invented a practical steam engine; Arkwright had improved Wyatt's spinning jenny; primitive agricultural machinery and improved husbandry were born. 'The Canal Mania' had gripped the imagination; Wedgewood and Spode were taking trade from France and the Netherland trade with India and America was doubling each year. James may have bought a bog, some infertile land and a useless manor house, but the estate was loaded with granite, china clay, iron ore and lignite. In those days 'Big Business' was transacted at country seats, and James? country seat was less than one mile from the crossroads where the Plymouth - London Dock Mail and main road coaches met the crossroads coaches from Bristol, Bath and Gloucester to Newton Bushel (Newton Abbot) Totnes and Plymouth, and the post-chaises from Tavistock to Newton, Okehampton to Totnes, Teignmouth to Okehampton. His communications were perfect.
He pulled down the remains of the old moated manor of Stofford Lodge;the raised earthworks and foundations, now overgrown, may still be seen about half a mile north of the Terrace, where an old solitary tree barely survives. Stover House he built of granite on higher ground adjoining 'Weofred's Mound'. This mound is a little to the north-east of the Terrace and to the north of the pleasure garden and grotto. It is supposed that Weolfred, a Danish Captain, and his men were buried hereafter a battle with King Alfred the Great. There is a pathetic legend about Weolfred and his love for Elga, an Anglo-Saxon girl who was murdered by his own men in the frenzy of their defeat. But that is another story
By 178o James had built Stover House, carried out extensive drainage,and, in the low area north of the Terrace just beyond the site of Stofford Lodge, he made a lake with an island in the centre. This lake, then covered the area between Stover Bridge (on the Newton Abbot to Bovey Tracey Road), and the bridge carrying the main drive from the gates on Exeter Road to the House,
To the east of this Bridge he cleared an old drainage canal connecting with Ventiford Brook. He planted 200,000 trees, built a chapel, built roads, an elevated causeway called 'the Long Bridge' at Teignbridge, and a Gothic Arch. The stables and the pleasure garden were not completed in his lifetime.
The Architect of Stover House is unknown. The most likely candidate is Robert Taylor but the interior decorations are clearly in the style of Robert Adam. The former partner, Henry Line died in 1777 and was buried at Teigngrace. It will be seen later that he had a considerable influence on the Templer family fortunes.
James Templer was said to be a man of robust health, but he regularly took the medicinal waters at a spring at Bellamarsh, then part of his estate which, in those days, extended beyond Gappah, including what is now Ugbrooke Park. This spring still flows, about half a mile north of Clapperland Lodge in the woods a little to the east of the Lower Pond in Ugbrooke Park. He took too freely of this spring and died peacefully at Bellamarsh on 4 March 1782 at the age of 60.
His wife, Mary, died two years later, on 21 June 1784, of a heart attack. She was returning from Bradly Hall when the horses drawing her carriage jibbed. She was carried into the Globe Inn, Newton Abbot, where she died within the hour.
Ron Lewin - 1983
The Will of James Templer
In the name of God, Amen
I, James Templer of Stover in the county of Devon
Esquire, being sick and weak in body but of sound
mind, memory and understanding, thanks be to God for
the same, do hereby witness, publish and declare this to
be my last will and testament in manner and
form following, that is to say first I give, devise and
bequeath unto James Templer my eldest son and
his assigns all those my manors messuages, lands
tenements, hereditaments and premises with the rights
_____ privileges and appurtenances thereunto being
situate lying and being in the parish of Teigngrace
and elsewhere in the County of Devon.. except as
hereinafter is excepted and also the reversion of or
________ on the death of Lady Betty Archer of
those my manors, messuages, lands, tenements,
hereditaments and premises which I purchased of Lord
Archer, to hold the same thereafter as aforesaid unto
My said son James Templer and his assigns for and
During the term of his natural life and after his demise
I give and bequeath the same with the appurtenances unto
Francis Buller of Churston Court in the said County, Esquire,
Thomas Lane of Coffleet in the said County, Esquire, Thomas
Parlby of Stonehouse in the said County, Esquire, Gabriel
Stewart and Francis Stewart both of Weymouth in the
County of Dorset Esquire and John Slade, Commissioner of
His Majesty?s Victualling Office and their heirs and assigns
To hold the same unto them the said trustees their heirs
And assigns for ever forthwith to support and preserve
The continuous remainders and estates hereinafter limited
From being defeated or destroyed but nevertheless to permit
And suffer the said James Templer and his assigns to
Receive the rents issues and profits thereof and of every
Part thereof for and during the term of his natural life
And from and after his decease then I give and devise
The same except as aforesaid to my grandson George
Templer and to the heirs male of his body to
Be begotten and in default of such issue then to the second
Third fourth fifth and all and every the son and sons of the
Said son James Templer lawfully begotten or to be begotten and to the
Heirs male of their body and bodies lawfully issuing
And in default of such issue I give and devise the same
Except as aforesaid to the Reverend John Templer my son
And his assigns for and during the term of his natural
Life and from and after his decease then to the heirs male
Of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and in
Default of such issue I give and devise the same
Except as aforesaid to my son George Templer and
His assigns for and during the term of his natural life and
From and after his decease then to the heirs male of
His body to be begotten and in default of such
Issue I give and devise the same except as aforesaid
To my son Henry Line Templer and his assigns for
And during the term of his natural life and from and
After his decease then to the heirs male of
His body lawfully to be begotten and in default of such
Issue I give and devise the same except as aforesaid
Unto my son Charles Beckford Templer and his assigns
For and during the term of his natural life and from
And after his decease to the heirs male of his body
Lawfully to be begotten and in default of such issue I give
And devise the same except as aforesaid unto my
Daughter Ann Pole wife of Sir John William Pole
Baronet and her assigns for and during the term of
Her natural life and from and after her decease to the
Heirs male of her body lawfully issuing her and they
Taking and bearing the name of Templer and in default
Of such issue I give and devise the same to my own
Right heirs for ever. Also I give devise and bequeath
Unto my dear wife all those my messuages lands
And tenements with their rights ________ and
Appertenances situate and being in the parish of
Bishopsteignton in the said County of Devon to hold the same
Unto my said wife and her assigns for and during the
Term of her natural life and from and after her decease
I give and devise and bequeath the same unto my said son
John Templer and his issues for and during the term
Of his natural life and from and after the death of the
Survivor of them, my said wife and my said son John
Templer I give and devise and bequeath the same with the
Appertenances unto my said trustees, their heirs and
Assigns to hold the same unto them, the said trustees, their
Heirs and assigns for ever in first to support and ________
The contingent remainder and estates hereinafter limited
From being defeated or destroyed but _______ to
Permit and suffer the said wife and her assigns to
Receive the rents issues profits thereof and of
Every part thereof for and during the term of her
Natural life and from and after her decease ________ as
My said son John Templer shall direct them to permit
And _______ ____ said son John Templer and his assigns to
Receive the rents issues and profits thereof and every part
Thereof for and during the term of his natural life but
From and after his decease then I give an devise the same
To the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten or to be
Begotten and in default of such issue I give and devise the
Same unto my son George Templer and his assigns
For and during the term of his natural life and from and
After his demise to the heirs male of his body lawfully
To be begotten and in default of such issue I give and
Devise the same unto my son Charles Beckford Templer
And his assigns for and during the term of his natural
Life and from and after his demise to the heirs male
Of his body lawfully to be begotten and in default of such
Issue I give and devise the same unto my son James
Templer and his assigns for and during the term of his
Natural life and from and after his decease to the heirs
Male of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and
In default of such issue I give and devise the same unto
My said daughter Ann Pole and her assigns for and
During the term of her natural life and from and after her
Decease to the heirs male of her body lawfully issuing
And in default of such issue to my own right heirs for
Ever. I also give and devise and bequeath unto my said son
John Templer all those my messuages lands and
Tenements with their rights ______ and appurtenances
Situate, lying and being in the parish of Tunbridge and
Elsewhere in the county of Kent to hold the same unto
My said son John Templer and his assign for anf
During the term of his natural life and from and after
His decease I give devise and bequeath the same with the
Appurtenances unto my said trustees their heirs and assign
To hold the same unto them, the said trustees, their heirs
And assigns for ever in trust to support and preserve
The contingent remainders and estate hereinafter limited
From being defeated or destroyed but _____ to permit
And suffer the said John Templer and his assigns to receive
The rents, issues and profits thereof for and during the
Term of his natural life and from and after his decease
Then I give and devise the same to the heirs male
Of the body of my said son John Templer lawfully
Begotten or to be begotten and in default of such issue
I give and devise the same to my said son James Templer
And his assigns for and during the term of his natural
Life and from and after his decease then I give and devise
the same unto my grandson George Templer and to the
heirs male of his body lawfully to be begotten and in
default of such issue
then to the second third fourth fifth and all and every other
the heir and sons of my said son James Templer lawfully
begotten and to the heirs male of their body and bodies lawfully
issuing and in default of such issue then I give and devise
the same unto my said son George Templer and his heirs and
assigns for and during the term of his natural life
and from and after his decease then to the heirs male
of his body lawfully to be begotten and in default of
such issue I give and devise the same unto my said
son Charles Beckford Templer and his heirs and assigns for and
during the term of his natural life and from and
after his decease to the heirs male of his body lawfully
to be begotten and in default of such issue I give and
devise the same unto my daughter Ann Pole and
her assigns for and during the term of her natural
life and from and after her decease to the heirs male
of her body lawfully issuing and in default of such
issue to my own right heirs for ever. And I also give
devise and bequeath unto my said trustees all my
messuages lands and tenements with the appurtenances
situate lying and being in the County of Middlesex to
hold the same unto them my said trustees, their heirs
and assigns for ever upon trust to sell and dispose of
the same and every part thereof as soon as conveniently
may be after my decease and the money to be raised
by such sale or sales, pay and apply the same to and
amongst my said sons John, George, Henry Line and
Charles Beckford and my said daughter Ann Pole to
Be equally divided between them share and share alike
To be paid them respectively as they shall attain the
Age or ages of twenty one years or their day of
Marriage which shall first happen. Also I give devise
And bequeath unto my said son John Templer and his
Assigns all those my next presentation to the _______
Or parsonages of the several parishes of Paignton and
Teigngrace and Stoke Gabriel in the said County of Devon
To hold unto him, his executors administrators and assigns
For and during the term of his natural life or the life
Of any person or persons to whom the said John Templer
Shall present the same. Also I give devise and bequeath
Unto my said son Henry Line Templer all those my ____
Parts in five of all that estate called _____land with
Brick Field near the same in the county of Hants to
hold to him the said Henry Line Templer and his
assigns for and during the term of his natural life and
from and after his decease to his heirs and assigns for ever
and I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other
wills by me at any time herebefore made in writing.
Hereof I have to this my last will and testament
Contained in five sheets of paper set my hand and
Seal to wit my hand to the first four sheets and my
Hand and seal to the last sheet thereof this second
Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand
Seven hundred and eighty two Jas Templer. Signed
Sealed published and delivered by the said James Templer
______ as and for his last will and testament in the
presence thereof of us who have hereunto subscribed our
manes in witness in the presence of the said testator
and in the presence of each other. Richard Bowood (?) _______ ______ Esq
______ ________
I James Templer of Stover in the
County of Devon Esq do make and publish this my
Codicil to my last will and testament in manner
Following, that is to say, I give devise and bequeath
Unto Francis Buller Esq of Churston Court in the said
County, Thomas Lane of Coffleet in the same County, Esquire
Thomas Parlby of Stone Hall in the said County, Esquire
Gabriel Stewart and Francis Stewart both of Weymouth in
The County of Dorset, Esquires, and John Slade, Commissioner
Of His Majesty?s Victualling Office, their heirs executors
Administrators and assigns upon Trust ____ thereof one moiety or
half share of all my nominal bank stock and all my interest therein to
hold (the same) for my said trustees their executors
administrators and assigns for their only use and benefit and to pay and apply the income
Profits and produce of the same unto my dear wife
Mary Parlby and her assigns for and during the term
Of her natural life upon trust; also to permit and suffer
My said wife at any time after my decease to give
And dispose of one full third part of the said moiety
Of my said nominal Bank Stock to all and or either of my
Said sons James, John, George, Henry Line and Charles
Beckford Templer or my daughter Ann Pole wife of Sir
John William Pole such monies and fifth parts and
Proportions as she my said wife shall think proper
And upon trust as soon as convenient or as may be after
The death of my said wife to sell out the other two
full third parts of my said moiety of the said monies and
Bank Stock and to pay and apply the monies arising
Therefrom to all my said children at their respective
Attaining their ages of twenty one years or days of marriage
Which shall first happen; Also, all that my other moiety of
All my nominal Bank Stock I give and bequeath unto my
Said trustees their heirs executors administrators and assigns
Upon Trust nevertheless and to and for the use benefits and
Advantage of and to sell out and pay and apply the same
And the interest and produce thereof to my said sons George
Templer, Henry Line Templer and Charles Beckford Templer to be equally
Divided between them on their attaining their respective ages of
Twenty one years. Also I give devise and bequeath to my said
Son John Templer his heirs executors administrators and assigns all
My rights, tithe entitlements, shares and property of and in the
Tunbridge navigable canal leading from Tunbridge to Maidstone in the County
Of Kent to hold to him, his executors administrators and assigns
For ever. Also I give and bequeath unto my grandson George
Templer and to my grand daughters Mary and Ann Templer
Son and daughters of my said son James Templer
the sum of six thousand pounds to be equally divided between
them when and as soon as they shall attain their several
ages of twenty one years but in case either of them
shall happen to die before they shall have attained that
age then their share of his or them so dying shall go and
be paid to the survivors or survivor of them, his heir or
their executors administrators or assigns. Also I give and
bequeath all my plate, household goods and furniture
that shall be at the time of my decease in and at my
seat at or called Acton in the County of Middlesex together
with all my plate that shall also be at the time of my
decease in my capital house called Stover in the said
County of Devon unto my said wife and to be by her sold
And disposed of as she shall think proper. Also I give
And bequeath all my household goods and furniture of
Every and whatsoever _____ as aforesaid unto my said
Son James Templer his executors administrators and
Assigns and which shall be at my said dwelling house
Called Stover at the time of my decease and to be by him
Or them disposed of as he or they shall think proper.
Also I give and bequeath to my said trustees the sum
of fifty pounds each to be paid within twelve months
Next after my decease and all my mortgages in _____ and
For terms of years and all monies due and to be due thereon
And all my legal and equitable estate or estates thereon
And all my bonds, notes, bills, book debts and securities
Or money and all monies due thereon and all other my
Goods chattels, stock of any kind, ready money and securities
Or money personal and testimentory estate whatsoever
And wheresoever not herein before by me given or bequeathed
After payment of my just debts, legacies and funerial
Charges and subject thereto I give and bequeath unto
My said trustees their heirs executors administrators and
Assigns upon trust nevertheless to and for the benefit and
Advantage of and to pay and apply the interests, profits
And produce of the same and every part and parts thereof
Unto my said children James, John, George, Henry Line and
And Charles Beckford Templer and Ann Pole to be equally
Divided between them share and share alike to be paid
Them respectively when and as soon as they shall attain
Their several ages of twenty one years and if either of
Them shall happen to die before that age then the share
Of him so dying shall be paid to and be equally divided
Amongst the survivors or survivor of them and I do hereby
Nominate and appoint the said Francis Buller, Thomas
Lane, Thomas Parlby, Gabriel Stewart, Francis Stewart and
John Slade to be Executors in trust of this my codicil and
Also of my last will and testament to which this codicil is intended
To be annexed and I do hereby confirm and ratify the devises and
Bequests in my said will and I do order and direct the said
Trustees shall be paid and ____ all reasonable costs and ____
And for all ____ labour and expenses in the execution of
The trusts hereby and by my said will in them reposed and
That they shall not be answerable for any accidental loss nor the
One for the other of them nor for any acts, deeds, receipts or
Disbursements of the other of them but each only for his own acts,
Goods, receipts and disbursements and lastly it is my desire and
I do hereby order and direct that this present codicil be
Annexed to and made part of my last will and testament
To all intents and purposes whatsoever in there sheets of
Paper set my hand and seal / to wit / my hand to the two
first sheets and my said hand and seal to this last sheet thereof
this second day of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty two. Jas Templer
signed sealed published and declared by the said James Templer
of Stover as a codicil to the annex of his will in the
presence of us who have hereunder subscribed our names and
witnesses hereto in the presence of him and of each
other after interlining the words Henry Line Templer between the
seventh and eighth lines from the bottom of
the first sheet of this codicil.
A Birdwood Nicks Tripe ______ _____-
This will was proved at London with a codicil
The third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand
Seven hundred and eighty two before the worshipful Andrew
Coltoo ______ doctor of Laws and surrogate of the Right
Worshipful Peter Calvert Doctor of Laws Master Keeper
Or Commissioner of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
Lawfully constituted by the oaths of the Honourable
Francis Buller one of the Justices of His Majesty?s Court
Of Kings Bench and Thomas Parlby, two of the executors
Named in the said codicil to whom administration was
Granted of all and singular the goods chattels and ______
Of the deceased having been first sworn duly to
Administer powers of making the like grant to
Thomas Lane, Gabriel Stewart, Francis Stewart and John Slade the other
Executors named in the said codicil when they or either of them
Shall apply for the same.
James was born in Exeter 17 April 1722. He was the youngest child of Thomas and Grace Templer. Thomas was a craftsman known as a "brazier", ie he worked in brass. James was baptised in St Mary Major, Exeter on 30 April.
1728
James' father died in 1728 at the age of 49 when James was only 6. His father was buried in St Mary Major on 01 September, and he left his business to eldest son and former apprentice, Thomas, who was himself only 17 years of age at the time. Thomas therefore found himself having to provide for the whole family which at the time consisted of four other surviving children as well as his mother Grace.
Date Unknown.
We don't know when, but or why, but Thomas decided to transfer the business to Totnes, and that may have been a significant factor in the decision to place James in the 'Blue Coat' School in Exeter. Family tradition says that Thomas could not afford to keep James who was 6 years younger than the next youngest brother, and therefore probably not able to make much of a contribution to the family income. It is not clear whether Grace, James' mother also went to Totnes, but she probably didn't, because she appears to have later remarried to a man living north of Exeter.
Date Unknown.
We don't know the date when James was admitted as a "Blue Coat" boy into St James' Hospital, Exeter, but one of its purposes was to give him a basic education. 'Blue Coat' was a school for orphans, and it must have come as a shock to James to be classified in this category. He might well have felt a sense of betrayal and resentment, because there is some indication that in later years that he made little effort to resumed contact with his family.
1736
In August 1736, then aged 14, James was apprenticed to John Bickley,a carpenter of Exeter, (sometimes described as an Architect). JB was paid a £10 premium to take James in, £4 came from elder brother Thomas, and £6 from the Governors of the Hospital.
Date Unknown.
After some years as an apprentice, but probably when he was 16 or 17,James ran away, and here the stories tend to conflict. One version is that he made his way to Plymouth and took ship to India working as a shipwright. Another version is that he made his way to London, repairing the roof of one of the Glastonbury Churches en route, but whilst there is no evidence to support the Glastonbury version, there is some evidence, albeit tenuous, that he went to India.
What he did in India is also confused. The official version put out by the family in the late 19th century implied that he was in some way in the service the Honorable East India Company, but his name appears in none of the ship's musters of the time, either as an employee, a passenger or a member of the crew, so if he went to India at all, he will almost certainly have travelled on some sort of privateer in breach of the HEIC's monopoly. The official family history also credits him with (in partnership with John Line and Thomas Parlby) building the Madras docks, but we now know that the docks were actually built many years after James and his partners had left India. [The docks were build long after James could have been involved - This is likely to be a story added to sound better than living and working in Rotherhithe, with the Parlby's)
We will probably never know the whole story, but there are two tantalizing snippets with which to excite our imaginations. The first is the reference in the log of one of the EIC ships which was carrying silver bullion (the EIC had to pay for Indian goods in silver because England's main exportable commodity - wool - was of no interest to the Indians) that on arrival in Madras the bullion was handed over to a small group consisting of, amongst others, Line and Templer. Another snippet derived from a remote family source is that James Templer and his partners were actually trading in Mexican silver dollars, but why and how they came by the dollars is not explained. However, there are two other possibly completely irrelevant facts worth noting. The first is that 'Indian' i.e. adulterated silver became a problem in India, and secondly that James's father and elder brother were both 'braziers', i.e. brass craftsmen, so James would have had some knowledge of foundries and metallurgy. [This part of the story has no actual fact and should be dismissed]
1745
Whatever the truth, James was able to return from India [Rotherhithe] at the age of 22 or 23 still a very young but, by now, very wealthy man. The official family version is that he and his partners had made their money in India from their contracting work, and this may have been true at least in part, but the time scales are so short, the corroborative evidence so absent, and the sums so large, that this is unlikely to be the whole story.
What is known is that James was back in England by 1745, and in conjunction with partners John Line and Thomas Parlby, contracted for some dockyard construction in Chatham, Kent. The trio had settled in Rotherhithe in Kent, probably because it was close to the home town of Thomas Parlby, but the fact that James had absconded from his master in Devon no doubt influenced matters as well. 'Breaking apprenticeship indentures' was a serious matter in the 18th century, representing as it did a significant financial loss to the Master, and in some circumstances it could even lead to the imprisonment of the absconder. James probably therefore decided to avoid Devon.
At Greenwich on 04 September, James married his partner Thomas' sister Mary, daughter of John Parlby of Chatham. His wife was 6 years his junior, having been born on 17 August 1728 in Chatham.
In the same year, 1745, the records tell us that one Grace Templer, who was probably James' mother, married a Richard Galsworthy on 15 April 1745 at Morchard Bishop, north of Exeter.
1748
James' eldest son, James II, born and baptised in Rotherhithe, Kent.
1751
James' second son, John, born and baptised in Rotherhithe, Kent.
Date Unknown.
James' third son, William, born and baptised in Rotherhithe, Kent.
1755
James' fourth son, George, born and baptised in Rotherhithe, Kent.
1758
James' only daughter, Anne, born and baptised in Rotherhithe, Kent.
1760 approximately.
With his partners, Thomas Parlby and John Line, James was awarded a contract to build a new dockyard in Plymouth. This necessitated a return to Devon and the need to resolve the issue of his earlier breaking of his apprenticeship 'indentures'. By now aged 38, he did this by 'buying off' his old master, John Bickley, and the settlement cost him £500, which 1998 prices is the rough equivalent of £50,000, or about 4 or 5 years labour for a trainee
The construction of the new dockyard necessitated a supply of large, hard wearing, stone blocks, and the nearest source was Dartmoor granite. However, the blocks were likely to be so heavy that a long overland journey over poor roads would be difficult if not impossible, so a quarry was sought that was as near to the sea as possible. A glance at the map shows that the Teign estuary is the nearest point that Dartmoor gets to the sea, so James therefore either bought or rented Stofford Lodge, near Newton Abbot, whilst a quarry was being sought or developed. The quarry that was identified as fulfilling their needs was the now famous Haytor quarry, which was eventually connected to the sea by canal and the granite railway constructed by James's eldest son and grandson. However, in the early days, the stone was transported down to the estuary by cart.
1763
Whilst resident at Stofford Lodge, James applied for and was granted a Coat of Arms on 03 May 1763 by the Heralds of the College of Arms.
1765 approximately.
About this time, James completed the purchase of Stofford Lodge and Manor of Teigngrace, which he had presumably been occupying as a tenant. He must have also have continued to live part of the time at Rotherhithe, as his 6th child, Henry Line, was born and baptised there in 1765. The Godfather to the child was his partner, John Line.
They were now gaining many building contracts and this put pressure on the supply of stone with its difficult journey down from the moor. However, James was obviously determined to stay in South Devon - tradition has it that he loved the area - so he pulled down the damp old Lodge in the valley close to the marshes along the banks of the river Teign, (it had been a hunting lodge) and build a mansion on higher ground which he call Stover House. This was completed in approx. 1780.
In the meantime, James' partner Thomas, bought a property at Stonehouse, near Plymouth, no doubt to enable him to supervise the work on the dockyard, whilst his other partner, John Line, bought, also in 1765, Lindridge House near Ideford, also probably because of its proximity to the quarry, but perhaps also to help locate supplies of timber. It is known that James Templer planted trees extensively on his new estate, which indicates that there was a shortage of timber in the area. As far a John Line was concerned, Lindridge had another attraction in that it was conveniently near to the Templer home which would have been an advantage as John Line and James Templer were very great friends as well as partners.
1768
The links with Kent were not totally broken, however, because either James or his eldest son James II (by now aged 20), bought in 1768 part of the Demesne of Somerhill Park at Tunbridge in Kent. This 'James' is recorded as being resident in Westminster, so it was probably the son James II who was educated at Westminster and at the time would have been studying law in preparation for a distinguished legal career.
1770
James I continued to have a residence in Rotherhithe because in 1770 his 7th child, a son, Charles Bickford is born and baptised there.
1776
In 1776, James eldest son, James, married Mary Buller (see his records for details)
1777
in 1777 John Line, James' partner and friend died suddenly at Lindridge, and is buried at Teigngrace.
1778
In 1778 James' 3rd son, William died in Portsmouth of a "decline". He was probably aged about 25 and was buried 08 January at Teigngrace.
James' 2nd son John, then aged 27 and training for Holy Orders, married John Line's widow Jane, also aged about 27, and he moved into Lindridge.
James' first grandchild, Mary, daughter of his eldest son James and Mary (Buller) was born.
1780
In 1780 Stover House was completed. James I and his family now appear to be living there almost permanently, because there are no other references in the records to Kent.
1781
In 1781, James' 4th son George, who had joined the HEIC, married Jane Paul in India. She was the daughter of another HEIC 'Nabob.'
James' first grandson, George, was born in the same year to his eldest son James and his wife Mary (Buller).
Also in 1781, James' only daughter Anne married Sir John de la Pole, Bart. of Shute in Devon.
1782
In 1782, James I contracted a fever after drinking "mineral" water at nearby Bellamarsh (Devon), and died on 04 March aged nearly 60. He was buried in Teigngrace church.
In the same year, another grandson, George Henry, the eldest child of his 4th son George, is born in India.
1784
On 21 June 1784, James' widow, Mary (Parlby), is frightened by jibbing carriage horses on returning from a visit to Bradley Hall. She faints, and is carried into the Globe Inn at Newton Abbot, and dies within an hour. She was also buried in Teigngrace.
1787
In 1787, James' sons, the brothers James II, George, and John, pull down and rebuild the old church at Teigngrace as a memorial to their parents. The new church includes a vault where many Templers were subsequently buried.
Updated 17 January 1998
Templer, James, 1722-82
British businessman
Templer was born to a poor family in Exeter. He was orphaned at the age of six and placed in St. John's Hospital, a school for destitute young children. He was apprenticed at 14 to a joiner or architect but after three years of the seven to which he was bonded he ran away to sea as a shipwright. He jumped ship in Madras, India, where he put his skills to use in the construction of docks and other buildings, soon making a very large fortune. Returning to England, still in his 20s, he became even wealthier through building docks at Rotherhithe and Plymouth. In 1765 he bought a large derelict estate near Newton Abbot, Devon,called Stofford Manor and Teign Buer and built Stover House, which is now a private girls' school. [Last updated: 9 June 1999]
References:
1. Ewans, Michael Christopher. The Haytor Granite Tramway and Stover Canal. (Dawlish: David & Charles, 1964)
2. "The Story of Stover," compiled by Stover School
Justin Templer
James Templer was an apprentice in Exeter in 1736 but ran away and joined a vessel at Plymouth bound for Madras, India. He returned to Devon a few years later, having made a considerable fortune, and joined a partnership with Henry Line and Thomas Palby to build docks for the Government at Plymouth. He married Mary Palby, daughter of Thomas Palby, in 1747. In 1765 he bought the 80,000 acre Stover estate near Newton Abbot (parish of Teigngrace), demolished the previous building, Stover Lodge, and between 1776 and 1781 built Stover House where he lived until his death in 1790. (His wife also died there, in 1784.) His eldest son, James, inherited the estate, along with granite mining rights on nearby Dartmoor.
[Research by Stephen Coombes of Chudleigh, Devon, 2002] Swete Family Tree
James Templer was born in Exeter in 1722, the sixth and youngest son of Thomas Templer. As an orphan he attended school at St. Johns Hospital known as the 'Blue School', to which many 'Devonshire Worthies' owe their early training. In 1736, when 14 years old, he was apprenticed to John Bickley, Architect, of Exeter as a joiner. Three years later and still subject to the bond of apprenticeship, he ran away and,unknown to his master joined a vessel hound to Madras from Plymouth as shipwright.
Apprenticeship in? those days was a form of servitude, little better than slavery; an apprentice breaking his bond was liable to suffer severe punishment. His joining a ship was a desperate decision. Privateers of many nationalities, masquerading under the Spanish flag, were attacking shipping. Britain, after much provocation, had declared war on Spain. Nevertheless James had tried and succeeded in reaching India where he applied his knowledge of building to good account. He eventually obtained a contract to construct some docks at Madras.
In a printed book of Madras Record Office extracts to be found in the Society of Genealogists Library, there is evidence that he was engaged in transactions, legalised by the Madras Mint, in connection with exchanging old and new Mexican silver. In view of James' age, it seems likely that this was the main basis of his later fortune rather than the building of docks.
Returning to England, James lived and worked in London, for we discover his children being regularly baptised at Rotherhithe between 1748 and 1764.
Aged 25, James had risen from employee to a partnership with Henry Line and Thomas Parlby and by this time was a man of great reputation and probity. With his partners he was engaged to complete unfinished Government works at Madras and at Plymouth, and to undertake on contract other projects of a similar kind.
One must wonder how James Templer managed to supervise work at Plymouth while raising a family in London. Did he use the rough uneven roads between London and Plymouth? Or had he means to go by sea from the Thames to the Tamar? Or did he just leave the supervisory work to his partners, contenting himself with the design work in which no doubt he had a good grounding during his apprenticeship in John Bickley's office? Rotherhithe itself was of course a Dockland area possessing three docks for shipbuilding in 1756. It was not so urban as we see it today,and in that year there was a corn mill worked by the Thames water which belonged to the king. Opportunity existed there for James Templer to make use of his talents as shipwright. England was at war (The 7 years War) between 1756 and 1763 and had been earlier when he returned from India. She needed ships; ships needed docks for refitting and repair; James Templer had had experience already in providing them.
In 1745 James had married Mary Parlby, his partner?s sister, of a family probably coming from Chatham, Kent. Before he was 30 he had amassed a fortune. He was now able to present his old master, James Bickley, with £500, as some recompense, presumably, for desertion while still an apprentice.
We have a record of eight of James? children, seven boys and a girl, all baptised at Rotherhithe. Details of these (other than Henry Line Templer) are given in Part II.
James and Henry Line frequently visited Heightor (Hay Tor), the source of granite for their contracts at Plymouth. Nearby, at Teign Buer (Teigngrace) he found a vast, long neglected estate of boggy land, infertile and with a decrepit Manor House called Stofford Lodge, in a most unhealthy situation. The greater part of this estate was inundated from six to eight months in every year. James bought this estate in 1765 from a branch of the Courtenay family.
James Templer had had great vision and confidence for, at this time, the Industrial Revolution had begun. James Watt had invented a practical steam engine; Arkwright had improved Wyatt's spinning jenny; primitive agricultural machinery and improved husbandry were born. 'The Canal Mania' had gripped the imagination; Wedgewood and Spode were taking trade from France and the Netherland trade with India and America was doubling each year. James may have bought a bog, some infertile land and a useless manor house, but the estate was loaded with granite, china clay, iron ore and lignite. In those days 'Big Business' was transacted at country seats, and James? country seat was less than one mile from the crossroads where the Plymouth - London Dock Mail and main road coaches met the crossroads coaches from Bristol, Bath and Gloucester to Newton Bushel (Newton Abbot) Totnes and Plymouth, and the post-chaises from Tavistock to Newton, Okehampton to Totnes, Teignmouth to Okehampton. His communications were perfect.
He pulled down the remains of the old moated manor of Stofford Lodge;the raised earthworks and foundations, now overgrown, may still be seen about half a mile north of the Terrace, where an old solitary tree barely survives. Stover House he built of granite on higher ground adjoining 'Weofred's Mound'. This mound is a little to the north-east of the Terrace and to the north of the pleasure garden and grotto. It is supposed that Weolfred, a Danish Captain, and his men were buried hereafter a battle with King Alfred the Great. There is a pathetic legend about Weolfred and his love for Elga, an Anglo-Saxon girl who was murdered by his own men in the frenzy of their defeat. But that is another story
By 178o James had built Stover House, carried out extensive drainage,and, in the low area north of the Terrace just beyond the site of Stofford Lodge, he made a lake with an island in the centre. This lake, then covered the area between Stover Bridge (on the Newton Abbot to Bovey Tracey Road), and the bridge carrying the main drive from the gates on Exeter Road to the House,
To the east of this Bridge he cleared an old drainage canal connecting with Ventiford Brook. He planted 200,000 trees, built a chapel, built roads, an elevated causeway called 'the Long Bridge' at Teignbridge, and a Gothic Arch. The stables and the pleasure garden were not completed in his lifetime.
The Architect of Stover House is unknown. The most likely candidate is Robert Taylor but the interior decorations are clearly in the style of Robert Adam. The former partner, Henry Line died in 1777 and was buried at Teigngrace. It will be seen later that he had a considerable influence on the Templer family fortunes.
James Templer was said to be a man of robust health, but he regularly took the medicinal waters at a spring at Bellamarsh, then part of his estate which, in those days, extended beyond Gappah, including what is now Ugbrooke Park. This spring still flows, about half a mile north of Clapperland Lodge in the woods a little to the east of the Lower Pond in Ugbrooke Park. He took too freely of this spring and died peacefully at Bellamarsh on 4 March 1782 at the age of 60.
His wife, Mary, died two years later, on 21 June 1784, of a heart attack. She was returning from Bradly Hall when the horses drawing her carriage jibbed. She was carried into the Globe Inn, Newton Abbot, where she died within the hour.
Ron Lewin - 1983
The Will of James Templer
In the name of God, Amen
I, James Templer of Stover in the county of Devon
Esquire, being sick and weak in body but of sound
mind, memory and understanding, thanks be to God for
the same, do hereby witness, publish and declare this to
be my last will and testament in manner and
form following, that is to say first I give, devise and
bequeath unto James Templer my eldest son and
his assigns all those my manors messuages, lands
tenements, hereditaments and premises with the rights
_____ privileges and appurtenances thereunto being
situate lying and being in the parish of Teigngrace
and elsewhere in the County of Devon.. except as
hereinafter is excepted and also the reversion of or
________ on the death of Lady Betty Archer of
those my manors, messuages, lands, tenements,
hereditaments and premises which I purchased of Lord
Archer, to hold the same thereafter as aforesaid unto
My said son James Templer and his assigns for and
During the term of his natural life and after his demise
I give and bequeath the same with the appurtenances unto
Francis Buller of Churston Court in the said County, Esquire,
Thomas Lane of Coffleet in the said County, Esquire, Thomas
Parlby of Stonehouse in the said County, Esquire, Gabriel
Stewart and Francis Stewart both of Weymouth in the
County of Dorset Esquire and John Slade, Commissioner of
His Majesty?s Victualling Office and their heirs and assigns
To hold the same unto them the said trustees their heirs
And assigns for ever forthwith to support and preserve
The continuous remainders and estates hereinafter limited
From being defeated or destroyed but nevertheless to permit
And suffer the said James Templer and his assigns to
Receive the rents issues and profits thereof and of every
Part thereof for and during the term of his natural life
And from and after his decease then I give and devise
The same except as aforesaid to my grandson George
Templer and to the heirs male of his body to
Be begotten and in default of such issue then to the second
Third fourth fifth and all and every the son and sons of the
Said son James Templer lawfully begotten or to be begotten and to the
Heirs male of their body and bodies lawfully issuing
And in default of such issue I give and devise the same
Except as aforesaid to the Reverend John Templer my son
And his assigns for and during the term of his natural
Life and from and after his decease then to the heirs male
Of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and in
Default of such issue I give and devise the same
Except as aforesaid to my son George Templer and
His assigns for and during the term of his natural life and
From and after his decease then to the heirs male of
His body to be begotten and in default of such
Issue I give and devise the same except as aforesaid
To my son Henry Line Templer and his assigns for
And during the term of his natural life and from and
After his decease then to the heirs male of
His body lawfully to be begotten and in default of such
Issue I give and devise the same except as aforesaid
Unto my son Charles Beckford Templer and his assigns
For and during the term of his natural life and from
And after his decease to the heirs male of his body
Lawfully to be begotten and in default of such issue I give
And devise the same except as aforesaid unto my
Daughter Ann Pole wife of Sir John William Pole
Baronet and her assigns for and during the term of
Her natural life and from and after her decease to the
Heirs male of her body lawfully issuing her and they
Taking and bearing the name of Templer and in default
Of such issue I give and devise the same to my own
Right heirs for ever. Also I give devise and bequeath
Unto my dear wife all those my messuages lands
And tenements with their rights ________ and
Appertenances situate and being in the parish of
Bishopsteignton in the said County of Devon to hold the same
Unto my said wife and her assigns for and during the
Term of her natural life and from and after her decease
I give and devise and bequeath the same unto my said son
John Templer and his issues for and during the term
Of his natural life and from and after the death of the
Survivor of them, my said wife and my said son John
Templer I give and devise and bequeath the same with the
Appertenances unto my said trustees, their heirs and
Assigns to hold the same unto them, the said trustees, their
Heirs and assigns for ever in first to support and ________
The contingent remainder and estates hereinafter limited
From being defeated or destroyed but _______ to
Permit and suffer the said wife and her assigns to
Receive the rents issues profits thereof and of
Every part thereof for and during the term of her
Natural life and from and after her decease ________ as
My said son John Templer shall direct them to permit
And _______ ____ said son John Templer and his assigns to
Receive the rents issues and profits thereof and every part
Thereof for and during the term of his natural life but
From and after his decease then I give an devise the same
To the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten or to be
Begotten and in default of such issue I give and devise the
Same unto my son George Templer and his assigns
For and during the term of his natural life and from and
After his demise to the heirs male of his body lawfully
To be begotten and in default of such issue I give and
Devise the same unto my son Charles Beckford Templer
And his assigns for and during the term of his natural
Life and from and after his demise to the heirs male
Of his body lawfully to be begotten and in default of such
Issue I give and devise the same unto my son James
Templer and his assigns for and during the term of his
Natural life and from and after his decease to the heirs
Male of his body lawfully begotten or to be begotten and
In default of such issue I give and devise the same unto
My said daughter Ann Pole and her assigns for and
During the term of her natural life and from and after her
Decease to the heirs male of her body lawfully issuing
And in default of such issue to my own right heirs for
Ever. I also give and devise and bequeath unto my said son
John Templer all those my messuages lands and
Tenements with their rights ______ and appurtenances
Situate, lying and being in the parish of Tunbridge and
Elsewhere in the county of Kent to hold the same unto
My said son John Templer and his assign for anf
During the term of his natural life and from and after
His decease I give devise and bequeath the same with the
Appurtenances unto my said trustees their heirs and assign
To hold the same unto them, the said trustees, their heirs
And assigns for ever in trust to support and preserve
The contingent remainders and estate hereinafter limited
From being defeated or destroyed but _____ to permit
And suffer the said John Templer and his assigns to receive
The rents, issues and profits thereof for and during the
Term of his natural life and from and after his decease
Then I give and devise the same to the heirs male
Of the body of my said son John Templer lawfully
Begotten or to be begotten and in default of such issue
I give and devise the same to my said son James Templer
And his assigns for and during the term of his natural
Life and from and after his decease then I give and devise
the same unto my grandson George Templer and to the
heirs male of his body lawfully to be begotten and in
default of such issue
then to the second third fourth fifth and all and every other
the heir and sons of my said son James Templer lawfully
begotten and to the heirs male of their body and bodies lawfully
issuing and in default of such issue then I give and devise
the same unto my said son George Templer and his heirs and
assigns for and during the term of his natural life
and from and after his decease then to the heirs male
of his body lawfully to be begotten and in default of
such issue I give and devise the same unto my said
son Charles Beckford Templer and his heirs and assigns for and
during the term of his natural life and from and
after his decease to the heirs male of his body lawfully
to be begotten and in default of such issue I give and
devise the same unto my daughter Ann Pole and
her assigns for and during the term of her natural
life and from and after her decease to the heirs male
of her body lawfully issuing and in default of such
issue to my own right heirs for ever. And I also give
devise and bequeath unto my said trustees all my
messuages lands and tenements with the appurtenances
situate lying and being in the County of Middlesex to
hold the same unto them my said trustees, their heirs
and assigns for ever upon trust to sell and dispose of
the same and every part thereof as soon as conveniently
may be after my decease and the money to be raised
by such sale or sales, pay and apply the same to and
amongst my said sons John, George, Henry Line and
Charles Beckford and my said daughter Ann Pole to
Be equally divided between them share and share alike
To be paid them respectively as they shall attain the
Age or ages of twenty one years or their day of
Marriage which shall first happen. Also I give devise
And bequeath unto my said son John Templer and his
Assigns all those my next presentation to the _______
Or parsonages of the several parishes of Paignton and
Teigngrace and Stoke Gabriel in the said County of Devon
To hold unto him, his executors administrators and assigns
For and during the term of his natural life or the life
Of any person or persons to whom the said John Templer
Shall present the same. Also I give devise and bequeath
Unto my said son Henry Line Templer all those my ____
Parts in five of all that estate called _____land with
Brick Field near the same in the county of Hants to
hold to him the said Henry Line Templer and his
assigns for and during the term of his natural life and
from and after his decease to his heirs and assigns for ever
and I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other
wills by me at any time herebefore made in writing.
Hereof I have to this my last will and testament
Contained in five sheets of paper set my hand and
Seal to wit my hand to the first four sheets and my
Hand and seal to the last sheet thereof this second
Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand
Seven hundred and eighty two Jas Templer. Signed
Sealed published and delivered by the said James Templer
______ as and for his last will and testament in the
presence thereof of us who have hereunto subscribed our
manes in witness in the presence of the said testator
and in the presence of each other. Richard Bowood (?) _______ ______ Esq
______ ________
I James Templer of Stover in the
County of Devon Esq do make and publish this my
Codicil to my last will and testament in manner
Following, that is to say, I give devise and bequeath
Unto Francis Buller Esq of Churston Court in the said
County, Thomas Lane of Coffleet in the same County, Esquire
Thomas Parlby of Stone Hall in the said County, Esquire
Gabriel Stewart and Francis Stewart both of Weymouth in
The County of Dorset, Esquires, and John Slade, Commissioner
Of His Majesty?s Victualling Office, their heirs executors
Administrators and assigns upon Trust ____ thereof one moiety or
half share of all my nominal bank stock and all my interest therein to
hold (the same) for my said trustees their executors
administrators and assigns for their only use and benefit and to pay and apply the income
Profits and produce of the same unto my dear wife
Mary Parlby and her assigns for and during the term
Of her natural life upon trust; also to permit and suffer
My said wife at any time after my decease to give
And dispose of one full third part of the said moiety
Of my said nominal Bank Stock to all and or either of my
Said sons James, John, George, Henry Line and Charles
Beckford Templer or my daughter Ann Pole wife of Sir
John William Pole such monies and fifth parts and
Proportions as she my said wife shall think proper
And upon trust as soon as convenient or as may be after
The death of my said wife to sell out the other two
full third parts of my said moiety of the said monies and
Bank Stock and to pay and apply the monies arising
Therefrom to all my said children at their respective
Attaining their ages of twenty one years or days of marriage
Which shall first happen; Also, all that my other moiety of
All my nominal Bank Stock I give and bequeath unto my
Said trustees their heirs executors administrators and assigns
Upon Trust nevertheless and to and for the use benefits and
Advantage of and to sell out and pay and apply the same
And the interest and produce thereof to my said sons George
Templer, Henry Line Templer and Charles Beckford Templer to be equally
Divided between them on their attaining their respective ages of
Twenty one years. Also I give devise and bequeath to my said
Son John Templer his heirs executors administrators and assigns all
My rights, tithe entitlements, shares and property of and in the
Tunbridge navigable canal leading from Tunbridge to Maidstone in the County
Of Kent to hold to him, his executors administrators and assigns
For ever. Also I give and bequeath unto my grandson George
Templer and to my grand daughters Mary and Ann Templer
Son and daughters of my said son James Templer
the sum of six thousand pounds to be equally divided between
them when and as soon as they shall attain their several
ages of twenty one years but in case either of them
shall happen to die before they shall have attained that
age then their share of his or them so dying shall go and
be paid to the survivors or survivor of them, his heir or
their executors administrators or assigns. Also I give and
bequeath all my plate, household goods and furniture
that shall be at the time of my decease in and at my
seat at or called Acton in the County of Middlesex together
with all my plate that shall also be at the time of my
decease in my capital house called Stover in the said
County of Devon unto my said wife and to be by her sold
And disposed of as she shall think proper. Also I give
And bequeath all my household goods and furniture of
Every and whatsoever _____ as aforesaid unto my said
Son James Templer his executors administrators and
Assigns and which shall be at my said dwelling house
Called Stover at the time of my decease and to be by him
Or them disposed of as he or they shall think proper.
Also I give and bequeath to my said trustees the sum
of fifty pounds each to be paid within twelve months
Next after my decease and all my mortgages in _____ and
For terms of years and all monies due and to be due thereon
And all my legal and equitable estate or estates thereon
And all my bonds, notes, bills, book debts and securities
Or money and all monies due thereon and all other my
Goods chattels, stock of any kind, ready money and securities
Or money personal and testimentory estate whatsoever
And wheresoever not herein before by me given or bequeathed
After payment of my just debts, legacies and funerial
Charges and subject thereto I give and bequeath unto
My said trustees their heirs executors administrators and
Assigns upon trust nevertheless to and for the benefit and
Advantage of and to pay and apply the interests, profits
And produce of the same and every part and parts thereof
Unto my said children James, John, George, Henry Line and
And Charles Beckford Templer and Ann Pole to be equally
Divided between them share and share alike to be paid
Them respectively when and as soon as they shall attain
Their several ages of twenty one years and if either of
Them shall happen to die before that age then the share
Of him so dying shall be paid to and be equally divided
Amongst the survivors or survivor of them and I do hereby
Nominate and appoint the said Francis Buller, Thomas
Lane, Thomas Parlby, Gabriel Stewart, Francis Stewart and
John Slade to be Executors in trust of this my codicil and
Also of my last will and testament to which this codicil is intended
To be annexed and I do hereby confirm and ratify the devises and
Bequests in my said will and I do order and direct the said
Trustees shall be paid and ____ all reasonable costs and ____
And for all ____ labour and expenses in the execution of
The trusts hereby and by my said will in them reposed and
That they shall not be answerable for any accidental loss nor the
One for the other of them nor for any acts, deeds, receipts or
Disbursements of the other of them but each only for his own acts,
Goods, receipts and disbursements and lastly it is my desire and
I do hereby order and direct that this present codicil be
Annexed to and made part of my last will and testament
To all intents and purposes whatsoever in there sheets of
Paper set my hand and seal / to wit / my hand to the two
first sheets and my said hand and seal to this last sheet thereof
this second day of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty two. Jas Templer
signed sealed published and declared by the said James Templer
of Stover as a codicil to the annex of his will in the
presence of us who have hereunder subscribed our names and
witnesses hereto in the presence of him and of each
other after interlining the words Henry Line Templer between the
seventh and eighth lines from the bottom of
the first sheet of this codicil.
A Birdwood Nicks Tripe ______ _____-
This will was proved at London with a codicil
The third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand
Seven hundred and eighty two before the worshipful Andrew
Coltoo ______ doctor of Laws and surrogate of the Right
Worshipful Peter Calvert Doctor of Laws Master Keeper
Or Commissioner of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
Lawfully constituted by the oaths of the Honourable
Francis Buller one of the Justices of His Majesty?s Court
Of Kings Bench and Thomas Parlby, two of the executors
Named in the said codicil to whom administration was
Granted of all and singular the goods chattels and ______
Of the deceased having been first sworn duly to
Administer powers of making the like grant to
Thomas Lane, Gabriel Stewart, Francis Stewart and John Slade the other
Executors named in the said codicil when they or either of them
Shall apply for the same.
Events
| Birth | 17 Apr 1722 | Exeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Christen | 30 Apr 1722 | St. Mary Major, Exeter, Devon, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Marriage | 4 Sep 1745 | St Alphege, Greenwich, Kent, England, United Kingdom - Mary Parlby | |||
| Death | 4 Mar 1782 | Stover House, Newton Abbot, Devon, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Burial | 14 Mar 1782 | Teigngrace, Devon, England, United Kingdom | |||
| Educated | St James' Hospital, Exeter, Devon UK | ||||
| Occupation | James I of Stover |
Families
| Spouse | Mary Parlby (1728 - 1784) |
| Child | James Templer (1748 - 1813) |
| Child | Rev John Templer (1750 - 1832) |
| Child | William Templer (1752 - 1777) |
| Child | George Templer HEIC (1755 - 1819) |
| Child | Anne Templer (1757 - 1832) |
| Child | Susanna Templer (1760 - 1761) |
| Child | Henry Templer (1760 - 1761) |
| Child | Edward Templer (1762 - 1764) |
| Child | Lt Col Henry Line Templer (1763 - 1818) |
| Child | Sophia Sarah Templer (1765 - 1769) |
| Child | Charles Beckford Templer (1770 - 1786) |
| Father | Thomas Winter Templer (1679 - ) |
| Mother | Grace Hinds (1677 - 1728) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Templer (1710 - 1710) |
| Sibling | Thomas Templer (1711 - ) |
| Sibling | John Templer (1713 - ) |
| Sibling | Richard Templer (1715 - ) |
| Sibling | Mary Templer (1717 - ) |
| Sibling | Elizabeth Templer (1720 - 1724) |