Summerwill Property in Widden

Research by Kathryn J. Summerwill

Thomas Summerwill (1725-1804), churchwarden of Marwood, left to his son Thomas "All that his Leasehold Messuage and Tenement called Whidden in Marwood To hold to him during the Term of his natural Life & after his decease he gave the same to his Grandson John Sommerwill and his assigns during his right and Interest therein". He also left to his daughter Jane his dwelling house, orchard and garden in Marwood. (The other grandsons, George, Thomas and Samuel were unborn when Thomas Snr died.)

Thomas Jnr farmed the land at Widden until 1832. In 1841 he was living with his son John at Ilfracombe, where John was an innkeeper. The tithe apportionment of 1844 shows that a little less than half of Thomas' land was being farmed by his second son, George, and the rest was let to six tenants.By 1851 Thomas was dead; George was farming 10 acres at Kinnacott, Marwood, and John was a beer shop keeper in London. It would seem that when John inherited the Widden land according to his grandfather's will he sold it and used the money to start his business in London.

There is no way of identifying the house in Marwood which Thomas Snr left to Jane. The Widden house is probably one of those adjoining Mow Plot or Backside Meadow in the plan below (in which Widden is called 'Weeding'). The plan is based on the Marwood Tithe Apportionment (PRO reference IR29/9/274) and Tithe Plan (PRO reference IR30/9/274), awarded 31 December 1844. The portions of land which Thomas owned were somewhat scattered. Those at Widden Copse and Milltown are not shown on this plan.

The plan seems to show three or four farmsteads around a central yard or green at Widden, all made up of houses and barns around their own courtyards. The house occupied by George does not appear on the 1905 six-inth map: it appears to have been demolished. There are no buildings left on that side of the green.

George Summerwill was also tenant of no 598, Western Piece (5a 0r 16p) under John, Alfred and Edwin Nicholetta.

There were no other references to any Summerwills in the parish of Marwood.

Checked W.E. Tate, A Domesday of English Enclosure Acts and Awards (Reading, 1978) for enclosures around Marwood and Thelbridge. Devon, as a hill county without much open-field system, did not undergo much enclosure by Act of Parliament. One enclosure is listed for 'Churchill Down in East Down and Marwood' - private Act of Parliament dated 1811 and award dated 1824. A copy is probably held in Devon Record Office. The Public Record Office does not have a copy. It would only show the area enclosed but for that area would list owners whose common rights would be transferred into enclosed pieces of land.

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