| Notes |
- Died at his seat at Fairwater
Was the Eldest son (Bristol Cathedral Register Trasncripts 1669 - 1837 SOG GL/R 31)
ARMS: Gules, an eagle displayed between three trefoils, two in chief and one in base, Or.
CREST: An eagle's head couped.
MOTTO of Abraham Cumberbatch - Ne Tentes Aut Perfice [Attempt Not, or Accomplish - Pine L.G. A Dictionary of Mottoes Routledge & Kegan Paul: London 1983 pp 146 AND Urdang L. & Dame Robbins C. Mottoes 1st Edition Gale Research Company USA: 1986 pp 44]. Authority for the Arms were his book-plate. I have also found these listed in West Indian Bookplates SOG/WI 37 pp 21 by Vere Langford: as above but also with : 179. "ABRAHAM CUMBERBATCH" (F., 7545.) Arm. spade shield...There were three generations of these names. The first died 1753, the second 1785, and the third 1786 (ANTE, II., 84). (source: Caribbeana Volume III pp21)
The Honourable Abraham Cumberbatch one of his Majesty's Council for Barbadoes, 1768; died 16 June 1796, buried Bristol Cathedral - Marshall G.W. - Collections for a Genealogical Account of the Family of Comberbatch.
Transcription of Will:
The Hon[oura]ble Abraham Cumberbatch
Barbados Ent. Augst 5th 1796
In The Name of God Amen
I Abraham Cumberbatch of the Parish of St. Andrew and Island abovesaid being of sound disposing mind and memory but being about to depart this Island so make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in my own handwriting and in manner and form following ffirst (sic) I direct that all my just debt and ffuneral (sic) expenses shall be fully paid and satisfied.
I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Mary Cumberbatch ^ Cumberbatch the sum of one hundred and eighty pounds per Annum to be paid her Annually out of the crops of my said Estate in addition to the sum of three thousand pounds which was settled upon her for her Marriage Portion (by Lease @ Release of Clelands & the Farm Plantations) and which was in lieu of dower.
I also give her the living up out of my Plantations with as much Sugar Rum & Plantation provisions as may be necessary for her house use as long as she remains my widow. If she should marry again then the above mentioned yearly sum one hundred and eighty pounds with a living if? upon & the supplies from my said Estate to be null void and of no longer effect.
I give & bequeath to my dear Brothers Lawrence Trent Cumberbatch Edward Carlton Cumberbatch & John Trent Cumberbatch the sum of one thousand pounds each to be paid them as soon as convenient out of the profits arising from my Estate.
I give to me dear Sister Mrs. Ann Sandiford widow of William Sandiford the sum of ffive (sic) hundred pounds to be paid in life manner as my Brothers but least the difference I have made between my Brothers & Sister might be supposed to proved from my not bearing her the same natural love and affection which I have for them may perhaps make it necessary for me too add that my only reason for this difference was in consequence of her having derived many advantages from the Estates during my Father's life which they were not benefited by.
I give an bequeath to my Nephew Abraham Cumberbatch Sandiford Son of Mrs Ann Sandiford the sum of ffifty (sic) pounds.
All the Rest residue & Remainder of my Estate both Real & Personal of what nature and find so ever both here and elsewhere I give and bequeath to my beloved son Abraham Parry Cumberbatch & to his Heirs for ever but if my said son Abraham Parry Cumberbatch should die before he attains the Age of twenty one years in order to comply with the last wish of my Great Grand Father Abraham Cumberbatch from whom the Estates have been handed down & who soernid? to desire that they might be kept in the Family and Name I do direct and desire that my Brother Lawrence Trent Cumberbatch take possession of my said Estates and that the work necessary for the Plantations might be kept up and the Profits arising from the crops be equally divided between the said Lawrence Trent Cumberbatch Edward Carlton Cumberbatch & John Trent Cumberbatch allowing my sister Mrs Ann Sandiford Fifty pounds per Annum during her natural life out should my abovesaid Brother Lawrence Trent Cumberbatch die then my Brother Edward Carlton Cumberbatch to take possession of the said Estates following the within directions of keeping up the Estates & the Profits to be equally divided between the said Edward Carlton Cumberbatch & John Trent Cumberbatch and should the said Edward Carlton Cumberbatch die then my Brother John Trent Cumberbatch to take possssion of my said Estates to himself & his Heirs for ever. But should he die before either of my abovementioned Brothers my Estates to go in life manner to my last surviving Brother & to his Heirs for ever.
I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint Mary Cumberbatch Cumberbatch Lawrence Trent Cumberbatch Edward Carlton Cumberbatch & John Trent Cumberbatch to be Guardians of the Body of my son Abraham Parry Cumberbatch and also the said Mary Cumberbatch (as long as she remains my widow) to be Executrix and my said brother Lawrence Trent Cumberbatch ^ Edward Carlton Cumberbatch & John Trent Cumberbatch to be Executors of this my last Will & Testament hereby revoking and making void all former Wills by me before made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the whole being in my own handwriting as aforementioned this seventh day of May one thousand seven hundred and ninety five [7th May 1795]. A. Cumberbatch {seal} signed sealed & delivered in the presence of us and each of us in the Presence of the above & declared to be the last Will & Testament of A. Cumberbatch Benj. Sandiford - Thos Sandiford.
Barbados - By His Excellency [Thomas Sandiford Governor of the Island of Barbados]
Thomas Sandiford one of the subscribing witnesses to the within written Will this day personally appeared before me and made oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that he was present and did see the Hon'ble Abraham Cumberbatch the Testator herein named (since deceased) sign seal publish and declare the same as and for his last Will & Testament & that he was at the Executing thereof of a sound and disposing mind and memory to the best of his this deponents Judgment (sic) & Relief given at Pilgrim this 5th day of August 1796 G.P. Ricketts.
A true copy from the Secretary's Office attested this 17th day of Augst 1796 Robert Wimberly.
Appeared Personally Mary Cumberbatch Cumberbatch of Baker Street in the Parish of Saint Marylebone in the County of Middlesex London and made Oath that she knows and is well acquainted with Robert Wimberley Esquire Secretary to his Excellency Governor of the Island of Barbados & also with his manner and character of handwriting & subscription having frequently seen him write & also write and subscribe his name and having now carefully viewed the name Robert Wimberley now appearing set and subscribed __ the paper writing hereto annexed purporting to be and contain a true & authentic copy of the last Will and Testament of the Honorable Abraham Cumberbatch late of the said Island of Barbadoes (sic) Esquire deceased she said that she both verify and in her conscience believe the said name so subscribed to be of the proper handwriting and subscription of the said Robert Wimberley Secretary as aforesaid of the Governor of the said Island of Barbados Mary Cumberbatch Cumberbatch 22 Novr 1796. The said Mary Cumberbatch Cumberbatch was duly sworn to tell the truth of this affadavit before me J ffisher Surr. Pr. J. Bush
This Will was proved at London the twenty third day of November [23rd November] in the Year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety six [1796] before the Worshipful John Fisher doctor of laws and surrogate of the Right Honorable Sir William Wymie Knight also doctor os laws and Master Keeper or Commifsary (sic) of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of Mary Cumberbatch Cumberbatch widow the Relick (sic) of the deceased and one of the Executors named in the said Will during her widowhood to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased having been first sworn duly to administer power reserved of making the life Grant to Lawrence Trent Cumberbatch Edward Carlton Cumberbatch and John Cumberbatch the Brothers of the said deceased and other Executors named in the said Will when they or either of them shall apply for the same.
Source: PCC Wills Index 1750-1800: 1796 CUMBERBATCH Abrahm Foreign Parts Nov 545: PROB11/1281
Monumental Inscription at Bristol Cathedral : North choir aisle, north wall:-
To the Memory of The Honble. Abraham Cumberbatch Esqr. One of His Majesty's Members of Council of the Island of Barbado (sic) Who died of a Malignant Fever, at his Seat at Fairwater, near Taunton, June 16th 1796, In the 42nd Year of his age.
Above the tablet is an urn surmounted by a shield bearing : Gules, and eagle displayed between three trefoils Or. (The crest used is : An eagle's head couped. Motto- Ne Tentes Aut Perfice]. 1796, June 21. Abraham Cumberbatch (Cathedral Burial Register) (source: Caribbeana Volume II page 84).
North transept, floor marbles over vault:; ABRAHAM CUMBERBATCH Esqr 1785 | The Honble Abraham Cumberbatch Esqr Eldest son of the above, died June 16th 1796.
(source: Caribbeana Volume II Page 84)
Monument in Bristol Cathedral
To the Memory
of
The Honble Abraham Cumberbatch Esqr
One of His Majesty's
Members of Council, late of the Island of Barbado (sic),
Who died of a Malignant Fever, at His seat at Fairwater,
near Taunton, June 16th 1796,
In the 42nd Year of His Age,
This Monument is erected by His affectionate Widow;
Beloved and respected when living,
and lamented when dead,
by all who knew him.
In Manhoods Prime, here found a hasty End,
The tender Father, Husband, Brother, Friend:
Tho' blest (sic) with Wealth, no headstrong Passion reign'd,
No spot of Vice, his polish'd Manners stain'd.
Ye sorrowing Friends, who silent, now draw near,
To wash his Marble, with the falling Tear;
Mourn not his Recompence, thus early given,
Submit with Rev'rence to the Will of Heaven;
Go, tread the upright Path he ever trod;
By Men Rever'd, and Welcom'd by his GOD. (source: photo of monument)
Above the tablet is an urn surmounted by a shield bearing: Gules, an eagle displayed between three trefoils Or. (The crest used is: An eagle's head couped. Motto - NE TENTES AUT PERFICE) (Source: Caribbeana Vol II p. 84)
The title "Honourable" was granted as he was a member of His Majesty's Council of Barbados - roughly similar to England's House of Lords. Abraham Parry's grandfather was also a Senior Member of His Majesty's Council of Barbados. Members of the Barbados legaslative Assembly were entitled to be called "Esquire".
"The local importance of these titles is indicated by the fact that members of the Assembly and judges by custom might use four horses to their coaches while members of the Council drove a team of six." (Genealogists Magazine March 1974, Vol.17 No. 9 p.494).
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1754 - 1796 (42 years)