Thomas Scard Mary
[1691?-1769] [died 1757]
(died Testate)
of Iwerne Minster, North Dorset
Issue: Thomas Scard [c.1715-1719] (died in childhood)
John Scard [1721-1743] (died unmarried & without issue)
James Scard [c.1727-1796] (died Testate)
Elizabeth Scard [c.1730-post1770] (Beale)
Abridged Version;
Settled at Pegg's Mill at Sutton Waldron, not far from his believed cradle at Sutton Waldron. He died testate in 1769 leaving a
modest Estate to his two surviving children James & Elizabeth with other legatees his three grandchildren, Ann & John by his
son James and William Beale by his daughter Elizabeth.
All Parish Entry images courtesy of Ancestry.com in partnership with the Dorset Record Office.
Unabridged Version
Thomas Scard is connected to an early Scard Family module at Sutton Waldron where the Parish records extend from late 17th Century 1600's and currently under Research 2012. Early stages
of this research implies the Scard Family in this region possibly preferred the Sutton Waldron venue until the death of their longstanding vicar of thirty-five years, the Reverend Nathaniel Napier
1680-1722. Thomas is tentatively assumed to be the son of Thomas Scard and his wife Mary baptised at Sutton Waldron on the 17th June 1691 who had several siblings baptised at the same venue
between 1682-1694. This would make Thomas aged 78yrs at his death.
The couple are believed in the possession Pegg's Mill for several years, situated at Iwerne Minster. The Mill was a local Icon so named after Robert le Pegg who was granted land, Messuage and
Mill at Iwerne Minster in 1516/7. The Mill itself is now listed as UK Hertiage recorded as a small two storey red brick mill enclosing a 12ft all iron watershot water wheel. It is assumed that the
Messuage was or was later rebuilt a small distance from the Mill House subsequently known as Pegg's Farm.
More information and Internal images of the Mill are available at the Mills Archive (online)
The first parish entry for the couple was recorded at adjacent Sutton Waldron, "Thomas Scard 'jnr' of Pegg's Mill' 2nd Feb 1719 (G=1720) assumed a child*
Two years later a baptism appears also at Sutton Waldron, and the last entry made by the aging Vicar for the family was;
"John son of Thomas Scard "of Pegg's Mill"and Mary his wife baptised, 24th August 1721" (at Sutton Waldron)
A family of Millers, it is known that Thomas had no namesake in his Will proved in 1770, however this child's baptism has not been found, possibly amongst the missing Parish Records for Iwerne
Minster prior to 1741. Likewise the baptisms of his son James and daughter Elizabeth who are estimated born around 1725-1735.
Note: An entry at the beginning of this Parish Book notes the Book for the period 20th Sept 1662-6th April 1742 went missing many years hence. Noted by Henry M Lay, Vicar "who came into residence 1829".
There is no note for the whereabouts of the previous book ending on the 19th Sept which is assumed to have existed at that time.
Thomas mentions "his dwelling" in his Will bequeathed to his son James. It is assume that this was the same leasehold comprising a cottage, with adjoining orchard one of two properties at
Iwerne Minster found in the possession of his son in later years. One was leased under Fitzsimans or Hinkman Esq. of Salisbury Wiltshire or another leased under [Major] Thomas Boyer or
Bower Esq. of Iwerne House in Hampshire. Both Tenements also comprised an Orchard and Garden.
The marriage for Thomas and his wife Mary Scard is still under research however Mary Scard was recorded buried at Iwerene Minster on the 8th October 1757 "wife of Thomas". Both their
surviving children married and had Issue during their lifetime. On the 23rd January 1769, Thomas approached local shopkeeper Steven Goulden to be wittness to his Will*.
Thomas Scard was buried at Iwerne Minster 27th July 1769 estimated aged around seventy-eight.
Will of Thomas Scard
 click on image to enlarge
Transcribed by J.S.Adams (descendant)
January 23 1769
I Thomas Scard of Iwerne Minster being of sound and perfect Memory do make out constitute This my last Will and Testament in Manner and Form following.
Imprimis, I give my dwelling House to my son James for his Life, and after his Decease to my Daughter Elizabeth for her Life. And I also give to my Daughter
Elizabeth my Clock and one Half of my Household Goods, which shall be equally divided betwixt her and her Brother, Share and Share alike. Item, I give to my
Grand Daughter Ann Scard the Sum of Five Pounds. Item, I give to my Grandson William Beal the Sum of Five Pounds. And it is my Will and Desire that he
shall be put on Apprentice with the Five Pounds and that it shall be lodged in the Hands of my Executor herein after named for that Use. Item; I give to my
Grandson John Scard the Sum of Five Pounds. And lastly, I give to my Son James the other half of my Household Goods, and all my other Effects; and I hereby
make him the whole and Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I have set my hand and Seal the Day of Date above written
Sign’d Seal’d and Deliver’d in the presence of Stephen Goulden. The Mark of ~ Thos Scard. The Mark x of Mary Marchant.
Probatum: 14th day of July 1770 [Original Copy not displayed]
The within written Will of Thomas Scard deceased was proved by the Oath of James Scard the natural and lawful Son of the said deceased & Sole Executor
within named to whom Administration of all & singular the Goods Chattels & Credits of the said deceased was granted he being first Sworne faithfully to
administer the same according to law; also to exhibit a [? ] & perfect Inventory thereof into the Registry of the Bishop of Bristol & to render a just Account
thereon when thereunto lawfully required. Sworn before me Jno Cooth [S…. illegible] (could be Surley)
Legatees: James Scard (son) - married1 Elizabeth Painter in 1752 by whom he had a daughter Ann. Elizabeth was buried at Iwerne Courtney 14th April 1759.
James married2 Elizabeth Brookes by whom at that time he had a son John born in 1763, an infant daughter Elizabeth born 1769
the latter was not included in the Will.
Elizabeth (daughter) - married Joel Beale 5th March 1753 at Langton Long, Dorset by whom she had one surviving son William Beale bapt 19th Feb 1756.
Elizabeth was widowed 17th Dec 1766 (Tarrant Crawford).
Ann Scard (granddaughter) - age sixteen years - daughter of testator's son James by his 1st marriage.
William Beale (grandson) - age thirteen years - son of testator's daughter Elizabeth by her spouse Joel Beal (since deceased)
John Scard (grandson) - age six years - son of testator's son James by his 2nd marriage.
Witnesses:
Stephen Goulden - Stephen Goulden has several documents relating to him searchable through the TNA (online) and died testate in 1798 for whom exhaustive research
- proved no connection to the Scard Family.
Mary Marchant - was considered perhaps to be the sister or close kin of the Testator however recent research reveals that banns between Mary Tyers of Iwerne Courtney
& John Marchant of Iwerne Minster in 1767. The marriage took place a Iwerne Courtney viz: John Marchant 'of this parish' married Mary "
otherwise Terier" of Iwerne Courney. She may have been a widow.
The Thomas "Junior" anomaly: Considering that this couple was ultimately survived (by inference) by a son James & daughter Elizabeth (1769 Will), the child John baptised 1721 is almost certainly
the same who was buried at Iwerne Minster on the 3th May 1748 (estimated aged 27yrs) and who appears died unmarried and without issue (no prodgeny mentioned for him in his father's 1769 Will).
It would be expected that the couple record a child Thomas but no such child is mentioned in the Will. The troubling anomaly in the recorded death of Thomas Scard "Jnr" in 1719 is the wording
of the entry. If Thomas (his father) was born in 1691 then mathamatically the eldest that the child could be could only be at most 5 years old. In this case the entry would be expected to be written
"son of" rather than 'Jnr' for someone so young, the latter term more appropriate late adolescence or a young adult. The child could not be older because as it stands Thomas (his father) is estimated
aged around seventy-eight and unrealistic to push it higher with a young adult son. Also in the term 'Junr' it would be expected that a Thomas Scard senior would have been buried subsequently,
perhaps another to claim paternity. However there is only one 'Thomas Scard' buried at any venue within a ten mile radius, and he of course is the one who died testate in 1769 at Iwerne Minster.
Epilogue
Thomas Scard: Son: (deseased) Thomas was probably baptised around 1714 at Iwerne Minster where sadly the records did not survive prior to 1741, buried at Sutton Waldron, at what
appears to be the Family's Ancestral Burial venue on the 2nd Feb 1719 estimated aged five years. The anomaly in the attached annotation is believed
to be the an affectionate term the result of the aging Vicar who had known the family since his appointment at Sutton Waldron in 1682.
John Scard: Son: (deceased) John was baptised at Sutton Waldron, the son of Thomas Scard "of Pegg's Mill"and Mary his wife, 24th August 1721, one of the last entries for the
aging vicar who died a few short months later in early 1722. John was buried at Iwerne Minster on the 3th May 1748 unmarried and without issue
estimated aged 27yrs. His brother James honoured him with his namesake, his first born son , John (1763). This would imply a close bond between
the two brothers in that this honour is normally given to the paternal grandfather whose namesake fell to James's next born son.
James Scard: Son: (by inference) James became a wealthy Miller and himself died Testate leaving cash of over 1,000 plus Estates. See Biography of James Scard [c.1731-1796]
Elizabeth: Daughter: (by inference) Elizabeth Scard married Joel Beal at Langton Long [4 miles ESE of Iwerne Minster] on 5th March 1753. The bride was recorded 'of Iwerne Minster'.
After the marriage Elizabeth and Joel moved 4 miles east to Tarrant Gunville where it is known that Joel had family. It was there that they recorded
a son baptised William Beal on the 19th Feb 1756. They recorded the burial of another son Joel Beal buried 9th January 1763/4
Her spouse was buried at Tarrant Crawford 19th Dec 1766. Elizabeth nor her son were mentioned in the Will of her brother in 1796.
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