Below is a copy of a lease (itself a copy made in 1779) that was given to me by the current owners of Evercreech Park Farm. I have made a transcription of the text as best I can (but will be grateful for corrections of any errors that I've made).



This Indenture made the four and twentieth day of August in the
seven and twentieth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles the Second
by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of
the Faith etc Anno Dmi 1675 Between Richard
Newman of Fifehead Magd in the County of Dorset Esq of the one part, and
The Hon. Sir Francis Hollis1 of Winterborne
St Martin in the County of Dorset Knt and Bart., the Hon. William Harbord2
of Perry Park in the County of Northampton Esq., Sir William Pargiler of Greelworth
in the County of Northampton Knt., and William Tate of De La Pre in the said
County of Northampton Esq. of the other part Witnesseth that the said
Richard Newman for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings of lawful
English money to him in hand paid by the said Sir Francis Hollis William Harbord
Sir William Pargiler and William Tate before the ensealing and delivery of these
presents the receipt whereof the said Richard Newman doth hereby acknowledge
hath bargained and sold by these presents doth bargain and sell unto them the
said Sir Francis Hollis William Harbord Sir William Pargiler and William Tate
their Executors Administrators and Assigns All that capital messuage
or mansion house commonly called or known by the name of Evercreech House and
all those grounds or closes thereunto belonging or therewithal usually enjoyed
called Evercreech Park situated lying and being in the parish of Evercreech
in the County of Somerset and all those grounds and closes adjoining thereto
called by the name of portions situated and lying in the Parish of East Pennard
in the said County of Somerset all of which said premises are now in '- -' the
tenure or possession of the said Richard Newman or his undertenants and do contain
in the whole two hundred and twenty acres more or less And also all those
messuages farms closes lands tenements and hereditaments of the said Richard
Newman which he lately purchased off Stanton Esq. situated lying and being in
the Parish of Glaston in the said County of Somerset now in the possession of
the said Richard Newman or his undertenants and also all those Closes Lands
Pastures and Tenements called Oxen Lease situated lying and being in the Parish
of Wincanton in the said County of Somerset now in the possession of Roger Greene
containing in the whole sixty acres more or less and also all that fee farm
rent of forty pounds per annum lately purchased by the said Richard Newman of
his now
. Commissioners and trustees for the sale of fee farm rents which
is offering(?) and payable out of the Manor of Ditcheat in the said County of
Somerset lately likewise purchased by the said Richard Newman of his said Ma???
Commissioners and Trustees for the sale of the fee farm rents and all other
the messuages farms closes lands tenements rents and hereditaments whatsoever
of him the said Richard Newman the Elder lying in and being on or to be had
to taken in Evercreech East Pennard Glaston Wincanton Ditcheat aforesaid or
any of them or elsewhere in the said County of Somerset whereof of wherein the
said Richard Newman now hath any manner of Estate of Inheritance or freehold
or otherwise in the possession revercon remainder or expectancy And also all
the messuages or farm called Cole Street Farm with the appurtenances And all
closed arable ground meadows pastures lands tenements commons and hereditaments
therewithal usually occupied or enjoyed situate lying and being in the parish
of Easlower in the said County of Dorset All which said messuages and
farm last mentioned contains three hundred acres more or less and is now in
the possession of William Rake And all that fee farm rent of twenty eight
pounds three shillings and seven pence and more or less issuing and payable
out of the manor of Stallridge in the said County of Dorset lately likewise
purchased by the said Richard Newman of his said Maties Commissioners and Trustees
for the sale of Fee Farm Rents aforesaid and all that the manor of Weslower
alias Lower Weslower with the Rights Members and appurtenances thereto belonging
situate and being in the said County of Dorset and also all that pasture
and Meadows Ground called Popes Ham and Salt Mead And also all that meadow
and pasture called Newmans Ham alias Ham Wood and the Meadow thereunto adjoining
And also all that pasture Ground called Hill Close and the parcel of
Meadow thereunto adjoining All which parcels of Meadow and pasture ground
last mentioned are situate and being in the Parish of Stallbridge in the said
County of Dorset and all other the mansions
...
or to be had and taken in the said parishes of Easlower Weslower and Stallbridge
or either of them with their and Either of their Rights Members and appurtenances
whereof or wherein the said Richard Newman now hath any manner of Estate
of Inheritance or freehold otherwise in possession revercon remainder or
Expectancy And all Messuages Farms cottages houses outhouses Edifices
buildings Yards Orchards Gardens Arable Lands Meadows pastures seedings
Commons and Common of pasture Enclosed Woods Underwoods Wastes Waste grounds
Courts Court Seals Court Barons liquifiles(?) and profits of Courts and
Seals Rents Rents Charges Rents Services Rent secke(?) Quit Rents and other
Rents waifs strays Heriots releases Escheats Royalties Liberties franchises
Rights Jurisdictions privileges immunities profits commodities advantages
Easements Hereditaments and appurtenances it......to the said Manor Messuages
Farms Parks Closes Lands Rents Hereditaments and Premises or any of them
respectively belonging or appertaining or therewithal usually left set demised
occupied or enjoyed or accepted reputed taken or known as part parcel of
or member thereof or as belonging thereunto and the revercon and Reversions
Remainder and Remainders thereof and all Rents and Services and profits
thereunto incident or belonging and all Rents and reservations reserved
and payable by or upon any Lease demise or grant Leases demises or Grants
had made or granted or mentioned to be granted of the said premises hereby
bargained sold or mentioned to be bargained and sold or of any of them or
of any part or parcel thereof. To have and to hold the said Manor
Messuages Farms
. Closes Lands Rents Heritaments and all and singular
other (than?) the said premises
before mentioned or intended to be
hereby bargained and sold with their and every of their appurtenances unto
the said Sir Francis Hollis William Harbord Sir William Pargiler and William
Tate their Executors Administrators and Assigns from the first day of this
Instant Month of August for and during and unto the full end and Term of
One Whole Year from thence next ensuing and fully to be complete and ended
yielding and paying therefore the rent of one pepper corn only at the feast
of St Michael of the Archangel if it shall be then lawfully demanded to
the intent and purpose that by virtue hereof and of the Statute for transferring
of uses into possession they the said Sir Francis Hollis William Harbord
Sir William Pargiler and William Tate may be said to be in the actual possession
of the said Manor Messuages farms Park Closes Lands Rents Hereditaments
and premises and be thereby enabled to take and accept a grant and release
of the Revercon and Inheritance thereof to them and their Heirs to uses
In Witness whereof the parties abovesaid to these ? indentures interchangeably
have set their Hands and Seals the day and year first above written R Newman
- Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us Mary Shuckburg Jasper Stampe
Sam Manning.
A true copy examined with the original deed March 17 1779 by L Benn Jas Boyles; Clerks to M&W Prichards, Wyche St, London.
Footnotes:
1: Col Richard Newman of Fifehead's youngest son was named Francis Holles Newman. I deduce that the name must have come from The Hon. Sir Francis Hollis of Winterborne St Martin.
2: Ann Harbord was the wife of Col Richard Newman of Fifehead. Her father was Sir Charles Harbord, Surveyor General to King Charles I and King Charles II. I would speculate that William Harbord was Ann's brother.