The Minor Family of Somerset

May of 1632 will, "I commit," he says, "my soul into the hand
s of my lovingCreator, trusting and assuredly believing, by th
e death and obedience of Christ Jesus, my Saviour, to have ful
l and free remission of all my sins, and life everlasting." In r
egard to his worldy goods, the testator devises to ThomasLister
, his son, all the several terms of years, i.e., leases, his ass
ignsafter his decease, as well as of and in such lands and tene
ments in Southowram and Hipperholme as he had conveyed to the sa
id Thomas, and also of and insuch lands and tenements in Southo
wram as he had conveyed to John, "my son,"and also such coal-mi
nes, and such interest and leases as the testator had inlands a
nd grounds called "The Haines," "Ramesclough," or in either of t
hem. He also devised all the title, interest etc., that he ha
d in one messuageand lands in "Skircote," heretofore in the occ
upation of one Thomas Gill. His residuary estate, goods and cha
ttles he leaves to his son, Thomas, whome heappoints sole execu
tor of his will.
The will was sealed and signed in the presence of John Whitley
, and
Humphrey Drake. On the seal is a squirrel, withS & L on eithe
r side of it which appears on all other documents, I think, sign
ed by Samuel Lister.
son John wrote "My father departed this life upon ThursDay night
, about sunne-settinge, beinge the 27th of September, 1632 and w
as buryed upon SaturDay followinge, beinge Michaellmess Day." H
e died a fewDays short of 56 years of age. The Day after Samue
l's death a granddaughterof his, the daughter of his son Thomas
, had a sad end, which is thus recordedby John Lister of Overbr
ea:-
"Upon the 28th Day of September, 1632, my bro.Tho: Daughter, be
inge betwixt 5 and 6 years of age, was playinge att our house wi
th our children, and was stifled with a lead Bullet, and was bur
yed the same Day, and in the same grave with my Father." In th
e entry recording the bruial of Samuel Lister at Halifax Church
, are added these words of encomium:- "Vir prudens,justus et piu
s.
Samuel was baptised at Halifax, 10th Sept,1570, and married Sus
an, daughter of William Drake, of The Lee, in Northowram, at Hal
ifax 5th Sept 1598. He took prominent part in the local affair
s of his time, and carried on, as his father had done before him
, the business of a "clothier," i.e., a manufacturer and deale
r in the cloth trade. (Historyof Shibden Hall By J. Lister, M.A
.
Samuel Lister was fined $20 for not appearing at King charles'
s Coronation and refusing the honour of Knight-Hood. This was t
he king's method of raising money, and the fine was less than th
e fees for accepting the honour.
Thomas Lister died early in 1677, and was succeeded by his son S
amuel, who was then fifty-four years old. He had married theda
ughter of Isaac Oates of Northowram, and had expected by that t
o add sumerially to the Listers' acres. But hear the rev. Olive
r Heywood on the case.Heywood, like all good pastors, knew mos
t of the gossip of the neighbourHood, for he was a good visitor
, and interested in all the affairs of his flock.
"James Oates, of LandHead, had many children...but they were al
l dead whenI first came, only the eldest had left one daughter
, Esther Oates, whom Samuel Lister of Shibden Hall, had newly ma
rried, and because they (ie James Oatesand his wife) were ancie
nt they (ie Samuel and Esther Lister) made account who must hav
e all; so bargained not for portion. But in process of time, Mr
. Oates' old wife died, and he married his servant maid, one Pho
ebe Dickinson, by whom he had a son and a daughter, James and Ph
oebe - then he died. Mr.Lister sued the widow for a portion. S
he answered suit, but at last married Joseph Furnace of Ovende
n (Hall). He composed the business- gave her above a thousand po
unds" The Court of Chancery decree gave 700 pounds to Samuel Li
ster.