Assessment of the Lands of Thomas Benson (1753)

National Archives ref: T 1/354/25 

Transcribed by David Carter 2018

[Implied letters in brackets have been added by the transcriber. Spelling remains verbatim]

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Catalogue entry:
Memorial of Thomas Benson of Northam, co. Devon, proposing a method of paying the money he owes on tobacco bonds.
Date: 17th October 1753
(National Archives ref: T 1/354/25)


N.B. Refer also to the Witness statements in the Benson and Stafford Court case (1758), which also includes list of all Benson family land holdings. (National Archives reference E 134/32Geo2/Mich9)

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The Memorial of Thomas Benson of Northam in the County of Devon, esq.
17 October 1753
Together with the rental of the said Thomas Bensons Estate hereunto annexed.
To the Right Hon[oura]ble the Lords Commissioners of his Majestys Treasury. To the Commissioners of the Customs.

Humbly sheweth
That Whereas he stands indebted to his Ma[jes]tie in sev[era]l sums of money due on sundry Tobacco Bonds now in the hands of the Solicitor of the Customs w[hi]ich have been put in Execution & for w[hi]ch the estates of the said Thomas Benson are now in pos[es]sion of the Crown by an Extent, and the said Thomas Benson being desirous of paying & securing the same, Humbly presents to your Lordships the following proposals, Viz:

That the whole estate contained in a schedule hereunto annexed be conveyed in Trust to two gentlemen of indisuputable good character for raising the sum of £2000 and to pay the same into the hands of the officers of the Crown on or before the 25th day of March next and that the said Trustees do also pay on or before the 26th day of March then next following the further sum of £1000 and so to continue every 25th day of March following the payment of £1000 until the whole debt from the said Thomas Benson to the Crown be paid off and discharged.

That the trustees to be named may be those that the Crown can repose due trust and confidence in for the just performance of their Trust, and as such the said Thomas Benson names William Barbor of Lary in the County of Devon af[oresai]d Doctor of physick and William Melhuish of

Satterly in the said County Barrister at Law and the Rev[eren]d Thomas Melhuish of Witheridge in the County af[oresai]d clerke or any two of them as to your Honours shall seem meet.
That the said Thomas Benson will oblige himself by such deed of trust to execute every thing in his power to enable the trustees to raise money by mort[ga]ge sale or otherwise of the said estates and the money ariseing thereby shall go to and be applied for & towards the payment of the said debt due to the Crown as afores[ai]d and to no other use intent or purpose w[hat]soever and to w[hi]ch the said Trustees will oblige themselves in like manner.

That the officers of the Crown do remain in full possession of the said Estates by virtue of the extent only to join w[i]th the Trustees in w[hic]h is necessary for raising the money or any part thereof by mort[ga]ge sale or otherwise as af[oresai]d And in case these several sums are not paid on or before the respective times mentioned then the officers of the Crown to sell the estates or any part thereof and pay and apply the money arising thereby in discharge of the said debt.

That the said Thomas Benson having an Honest desire of paying his just due to the Crown on the sev[era]l Tobacco Bonds, Humbly and heartily makes these his proposals to your Lordships wise considerations and w[i]th great condescension submits himself to your Lordships will and pleasure, thereby hoping to find such relief from your Lordships usual levity and goodness towards himself and family (who must otherwise be totally ruined and undone unless timely aided and assisted herein) as to your Lordships shall seem meeet, And your petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray etc.

Who are your Lordships m[os]t h[onoura]ble & m[os]t ob[edian]t serv[an]t.
Signed: Thomas Benson

Whitehall Treasury Chambers 18th October 1753.
The Right Hon[our]able the Lords Comm[issione]rs of his Ma[jesty]s treasury are pleased to refer this memorial to the comm[issioner]s of his Ma[jesty]s customs who are directed to consider the proposal and on their part to make such a proposal to their Lordships as may best promote the interest of the Crown.

Signed: N Hardinge.

Thomas Benson ref'd to Commissioners Customs.

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Survey of lands lately belonging to John Benson esq who devised the same to his son Peter Benson esq in fee who by his Will limited the same subject to several considerable legacies to his brother Thomas Benson esq for 99 years with divers remainders over to his nephew in like manner & their heirs in Tail Male etc:..

The said John Benson's lands on lease:..

A survey of lands purchased by late Peter Benson esq & by him devised to his brother Thomas Benson subject to several considerable legacies:..

East Commons in Northam divided as follows (to wit):..

Peter Benson's purchased lands continued:..

Lands purchased by the said Thomas Benson:..

The said Thomas Bensons purchased lands out on lease:..

Leasehold estates determinable with lives belonging to the said Thomas Benson as representative of his brother Peter who was executor of his father:..

The legacies to Mr Robert Stafford's family which become due and payable after their respective ages of twenty one years or marriages and not before, two of whom are of age and five not of age ammounts in all to the sum of two thousand five hundred pounds which the lands and other effects of the said John and Peter Benson stand charged And the two thousand five hundred pounds due for principal and interest are(?) mentioned in the schedule out of the lands purchased by said Thomas Benson and due [torn] Mr James Hillow.

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