The Whitchurch family of Frome, Somerset was quite a litigious family. Here is a list of relevant records that I could find regarding not only Nunney Castle, but legal disputes within the family itself. Litigations appear to be between family members, executors, and a mixture thereof, possibly some creditors as well. This is not an all inclusive list – this only covers the years about 1723-1770, and there may be more documents and records that I have missed.
Most of these still need to be ordered, transcribed and researched.
Please note: Unless otherwise expressed, any accompanying commentaries in this list are from archives and transcriptionists, not the creator of this website, and may be the result of interpretation and/or transcriptions. You are encouraged to view original documents for a full understanding of the circumstances surrounding these events.
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10442479 Reference: C 11/356/33 Short title: Whitchurch v Culliford. Document type: Bill and two answers. Plaintiffs: William Whitchurch, esq of Nunney Castle, Somerset. Defendants: William Whitchurch, esq of Keyford, Somerset (uncle), John Culliford and Elizabeth Culliford his wife, John Phelps and Mary Phelps his wife, Roger Leversedge, John Whitchurch, Samuel Whitchurch, James Whitchurch and Peter Walter. Date of bill (or first document): 1723 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10427965 Reference: C 11/314/39 Short title: Whitchurch v Phelps. Document type: Bill and answer. Plaintiffs: Elizabeth Whitchurch, widow of Nunney Castle, Somerset and Thomas Ward, bookseller of Inner Temple, London. Defendants: William Whitchurch, John Culliford and Elizabeth Culliford his wife, John Phelps, William Parry, John Whitchurch, Samuel Whitchurch, James Whitchurch, Peter Walter, William Phelps and Edmund Phelps. Date of bill (or first document): 1725 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10428089 Reference: C 11/318/16 Short title: Whitchurch v Champneys. Document type: Bill and answer. Plaintiffs: Elizabeth Whitchurch, widow late of Nunney Castle, Somerset but now of New Sarum [Salisbury], Wiltshire and Thomas Ward, bookseller of Inner Temple, London (executors of William Ward, esq deceased late of Nunney Castle). Defendants: Richard Champneys, esq, Robert Smith, esq, Robert Whitchurch, clothier and John Whitchurch an infant aged 19 years (by said Robert Whitchurch) and Samuel Whitchurch. Date of bill (or first document): 1726 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10469729 Reference: C 11/1356/30 Short title: Whitchurch v Whitchurch. Document type: Depositions. Plaintiffs: Robert Whitchurch and John Whitchurch, infant (by said Robert Whitchurch, his brother). Defendants: William Whitchurch and others. Depositions taken at Shaftsbury, Dorset. Date of bill (or first document): 1727 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10482329 Reference: C 11/2604/22 Short title: Whitchurch v Whitchurch. Document type: Bill and answer. Plaintiffs: Robert Whitchurch, gent, John Whitchurch, gent, an infant aged 20 years (by said Robert Whitchurch, his brother), (two sons of William Whitchurch, esq deceased late of Little Keyford, Somerset). Defendants: William Whitchurch, gent and Dorothy Whitchurch, widow, Elizabeth Whitchurch, spinster, Mary Whitchurch, Rebecca Whitchurch, Dorothy Whitchurch and Anne Whitchurch, William Phelps and Edmund Phelps, infants (by said William Whitchurch), Richard Champneys, esq and Robert Smith. Date of bill (or first document): 1727 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10510162 Reference: C 11/1500/20 Short title: Smith v Ward. Document type: Bill and two answers. Plaintiffs: John Smith gent of Frome Selwood, Somerset. Defendants: Thomas Ward, John Whitchurch, gent and Elizabeth Whitechurch his wife. Date of bill (or first document): 1732 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10407352 Reference: C 11/2290/100 Short title: Ward v Whitchurch. Document type: Bill only. Plaintiffs: Thomas Ward, bookseller of Inner Temple, London, John Whitchurch, gent of Symonds Inn, Middlesex and Elizabeth Whitchurch his wife. Defendants: Thomas Baynard and William Whitchurch. Date of bill (or first document): 1732 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10485335 Reference: C 11/1875/16 Short title: Ward v Whitechurch. Document type: Answer only. Plaintiffs: Thomas Ward (one executor of William Whitchurch, deceased). Defendants: John Whitchurch, gent and Elizabeth Whitchurch his wife. Date of bill (or first document): 1733 Transcription |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10420714 Reference: C 11/108/27 Short title: Ward v Field. Document type: answer only. Plaintiffs: Thomas Ward, John Whitchurch and Elizabeth Whitchurch his wife. Defendants: William Field gent and others. Date of bill (or first document): 1734. Date of last document: 1734 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10440840 Reference: C 11/948/23 Short title: Ward v Wichchurch. Document type: Depositions. Plaintiffs: Thomas Ward (an executor of William Whitchurch, esq deceased late of Nunney Castle, Somerset). Defendants: John Whitchurch and Elizabeth Whitchurch his wife, John Fisher, esq, William Whitchurch, an infant (by John Rolfe, esq) and Martha Bennet. Depositions taken at Nunney, Somerset. Date of bill (or first document): 1734 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10486433 Reference: C 11/1887/28 Short title: Bevan v Stanley. Document type: Bill only. Plaintiffs: William Bevan, gent of Kington, Herefordshire and Rebecca Bevan his wife. Defendants: Edward Stanley, John Whitchurch, William Whitchurch, Robert Smith and Richard Chamless. Date of bill (or first document): 1734 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10408627 Reference: C 11/2317/28 Short title: Ward v Phelps. Document type: Depositions. Plaintiffs: Thomas Ward, John Whitchurch and Elizabeth Whitchurch his wife. Defendants: Samuel Whitchurch, Richard Champneys, Robert Smith, John Phelps, Peter Walter and William Field. Depositions taken at Nunny, Somerset. Date of bill (or first document): 1735 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10407315 Reference: C 11/2290/64 Short title: Stanley v Whitchurch. Document type: Bill only. Plaintiffs: Edward Stanley, gent of Inner Temple, London. Defendants: John Whitchurch and Elizabeth Whitchurch his wife, John Phelps, William Whitchurch, Joseph Jesser, Richard Champnies, Robert Smith and Thomas Ward. Date of bill (or first document): 1735 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10496924 Reference: C 11/2065/11 Short title: Culverhouse v Whitchurch. Document type: Bill and two answers. Plaintiffs: William Culverhouse, clothier of Frome Selwood, Somerset and Mary Culverhouse his wife (a daughter of William Whitchurch junior, gent deceased, late of Little Keyford, Frome Selwood, the youngest son of William Whitchurch senior, esq deceased, late of Frome Selwood). Defendants: William Whitchurch (eldest son and heir at law of said William Whitchurch junior deceased), John Whitchurch, Edward Stanley, Joseph Jesser and John Phelps. Date of bill (or first document): 1735 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10485330 Reference: C 11/1875/11 Short title: Ward v A’Court. Document type: Bill and answer. Plaintiffs: Thomas Ward, bookseller of Middle Temple, London, John Whitchurch, gent of Nunney Castle, Somerset and Elizabeth Whitchurch his wife (widow and co-executor with said Thomas Ward of William Whitchurch, esq deceased, late of Nunney Castle, her former husband). Defendants: Richard A’Court, gent, William Councell, William Murray, Joan Tucker and Elizabeth Tucker. Date of bill (or first document): 1735 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10486599 Reference: C 11/1891/19 Short title: Singer v Champneys. Document type: Bill only. Plaintiffs: James Singer, yeoman of Felton, Frome, Somerset and Dorothy Singer his wife (a granddaughter of William Whitchurch, esq deceased formerly of Frome and daughter of William Whitchurch, esq deceased late of Keyford, Somerset). Defendants: Richard Champneys, Robert Smith, Joseph Jesser, John Phelps, Dorothy Whitchurch, William Bull and Elizabeth Bull his wife, William Phelps, William Whitchurch, John Bevan and Rebecca Bevan his wife, John Whitchurch, William Culverhouse and Mary Culverhouse his wife, Ann Whitchurch and Edmund Phelps. Date of bill (or first document): 1735 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10414593 Reference: C 11/2453/11 Short title: Champneys v Stanley. Document type: Two bills and four answers. Plaintiffs: Richard Champneys, esq of Orchardley, Somerset and Robert Smith, esq of Combe Hay, Somerset (executors and trustees of William Whitchurch, esq deceased late of Little Heyford, Somerset). Defendants: Edward Stanley esq, John Whitchurch, Joseph Jesser, John Phelps and William Whitchurch. Date of bill (or first document): 1736 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10485341 Reference: C 11/1875/22 Short title: Ward v Whitchurch. Document type: Answer only. Plaintiffs: Thomas Ward, John Whitchurch and Elizabeth Whitchurch his wife. Defendants: William Whitchurch, gent and others. Date of bill (or first document): 1736 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10496971 Reference: C 11/2065/58 Short title: Ward v Whitchurch. Document type: Bill and answer. Plaintiffs: Thomas Ward, bookseller of Inner Temple, London and John Whitchurch, gent of Symonds Inn, Middlesex and Elizabeth Whitchurch his wife. Defendants: William Whitchurch, gent. Date of bill (or first document): 1736 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10511726 Reference: C 11/1533/20 Short title: Singer v Whitchurch. Document type: Answer only. Plaintiffs: James Singer and Dorothy Singer his wife. Defendants: John Whitchurch and others. Date of bill (or first document): 1736 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10858596 Reference: C 101/500 Short title: Ward v Whitchurch. Plaintiffs: Thomas Ward. Defendants: John Whitchurch and Elizabeth Whitchurch his wife and others. Subject: estate of William Whitchurch, deceased, Nunny, Somerset. Details: list of tenants and rents, receipts, disbursements. Receiver: John Cooke. Chancery Master: William Kynaston Date: 1733-1737 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10493414 Reference: C 11/2184/14 Short title: Jesser v Whitchurch. Document type: Bill only. Plaintiffs: John Jesser, clothier of Frome Selwood, Somerset and John Phelps, gent of Frome Selwood (administrators with will of Robert Whitchuch, deceased). Defendants: John Whitchurch, Michael Acton, George Acton, John Parker, John Clavey and William Vaughan. Date of bill (or first document): 1737 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10497365 Reference: C 11/2073/46 Short title: Ward v Whitchurch. Document type: Answer only. Plaintiffs: Thomas Ward, John Whitchurch and Elizabeth Whitchurch his wife. Defendants: William Whitchurch, gent and others. Date of bill (or first document): 1737 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10516478 Reference: C 11/1836/33 Short title: Singer v Whitchurch. Document type: Answer only. Plaintiffs: James Singer and Dorothy Singer his wife. Defendants: John Whitchurch. Date of bill (or first document): 1737 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7579723 Reference: C 104/218 CHAMPNEYS v WHITCHURCH: Affidavit of John Whitchurch, defendant, with schedule of the following. Date: 1723-1738 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10512659 Reference: C 11/1553/45 Short title: Whitchurch v Whitchurch. Document type: Bill and answer. Plaintiffs: William Whitchurch, gent of Frome, Somerset (eldest son and heir at law of William Whitchurch, deceased). Defendants: John Whitchurch and Elizabeth Whitchurch his wife (late Elizabeth Whitchurch widow of said William Whitchurch, deceased and formerly Elizabeth Musgrove), William Musgrove alias William Whitchurch, Jane Barton, Mabella Gould, Thomas Ward, John Morgan, John Fisher, Charles Hill and Elizabeth Culliford. Date of bill (or first document): 1739 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10405702 Reference: C 11/2265/28 Short title: Whitchurch v Whitchurch. Document type: Two answers. Plaintiffs: John Whitchurch, gent, John Phelps and Joseph Jesser. Defendants: Richard Champneys esq, Robert Smith, esq and William Whitchurch, gent. Date of bill (or first document): 1740 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10450741 Reference: C 11/550/28 Short title: Jesser v Whitchurch. Document type: Bill and two answers. Plaintiffs: Joseph Jesser, clothier (administrator with will annexed of Robert Whitchurch, clothier deceased) both of Frome, Somerset. Defendants: John Whitchurch, William Whitchurch and John Phelps. Date of bill (or first document): 1742 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10501815 Reference: C 11/1578/9 Short title: Bull v Whitchurch. Document type: Bill and answer. Plaintiffs: William Bull, gent of Frome, Somerset and Elizabeth Bull his wife and others (creditors and legatees of Robert Whitchurch, deceased of Frome). Defendants: John Whitchurch, Joseph Jesser, John Phelps and John Smith. Date of bill (or first document): 1742 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10408727 Reference: C 11/2321/13 Short title: Singer v Whitchurch. Document type: Depositions. Plaintiffs: James Singer and Dorothy Singer his wife. Defendants: Joseph Jesser, John Phelps and John Whitchurch (said Joseph Jesser and John Phelps are administrators of Robert Whitchurch, the brother of the said John Whitchurch). Depositions taken at Frome, Somerset. Date of bill (or first document): 1743 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/269d5481-c6ef-4a72-b2c8-b43051f61d66 Reference: DD\BR\MS/4 Title: WHITCHURCH FAMILY Statement of case of William Whitchurch of Frome, 1729, concerning the manor of Nunney Castle, the capital messuage, moiety of advowson, capital messuage called Great Queenfield in tithing of Woodrow, etc., which he claimed on the grounds of the insanity of his cousin William (d. 1725) the latter’s ‘pretended’ marriage to Elizabeth Musgrave; petition and decree settling above case in favour of Elizabeth, now wife of John Whitchurch, 1743, assignment of £8,838-13-2 South Sea annuities to Henry Hele in trust for Elizabeth Whitchurch by the will of her son William (d. 1742); legal papers concerning the dispute between John Whitchurch of Sharpshaw and his wife Elizabeth including evidence of Mr Whitchurch’s treatment of his wife, a letter from her refusing to return to him, list of debts owed by Whitchurch, 2 copies of the will of Elizabeth Whitchurch 1748 pr. 1749. Date: 1744, c1749 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10485376 Reference: C 11/1876/29 Short title: Whitchurch v Theobald. Document type: Bill and answer. Plaintiffs: John Whitchurch, esq of Sharpstaw, Nunney, Somerset. Defendants: James Theobald, esq and Henry Hele. Date of bill (or first document): 1750 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/4b63b2c5-c173-4c1f-803b-d4ec555dec72 Reference: 828/25 Description: Faculty to appropriate a pew in Nunney (Som.) parish church to John Whitchurch, esq., and future owners and occupiers of Sharpshaw house in Nunney. Date: 1768 |
| https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/be02b05f-657e-4aca-baf6-559c162fa086 Reference: DD\WM/1/302 Title: Answer Of defendant, Wm.Bull, to Bill in Chancery of John Whitchurch arising out of will of latter’s father [Bull having married his widow, Mary, in 1766] Date: 1770 (Site creator’s note: This may be regarding John Whitchurch of Sharpshaw’s son and widow, Mary Clement Whitchurch.) |
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