Hatchment to Revd Seymour Leeke in St Mary's church, Yaxley.
Died March 2nd 1786
Aged 43 Years
The Reverend Seymour Leeke (1743 – 1786) can be seen in this painting (Visit Link)
From a (dated) piece on Yaxley Hall
(His grandmother had been the mistress of Lord Scarsdale, who purchased Yaxley Hall for her.)
" (Page 150) Seymour Leeke was born in London, as before stated, in 1743, and though under age when his father died in 1760, he had the certain prospect of being a fairly wealthy man, for the trustees under the Act of Parliament had carried out to the best of their ability the wishes of Lord Scarsdale, and so as the only legitimate issue of his father, Nicholas Leeke, he would inherit whatever remained of Lord Scarsdale’s personality, and then according to the trust created by the wil1 of his grandmother, Madame Seymour, he would have succeeded to the Yaxley Hall estate. He was probably at school when his father died, but a little later on at the university. I had always been told by the family that he was a fellow-commoner of St. John's College, Cambridge, however, I find, in a deed dated 1764, being a grant of annuity to his mother who is styled " Christran Leeke of Knightsbridge, in the county of Middlesex, widow," that he calls him self " Seymour Leeke, of St. Peter's College, in the University of Cambridge, Esqre." He was painted some time during his academical career, standing at full length, the hair dark, and the face clean shaven, in a blue coat, with a white satin and flowered waistcoat beneath, wearing canary coloured breeches, with white stockings and thereon stripes. Over all he (page 151) wears a gown, which is certainly that of a fellow-commoner, and in his left hand holds a college cap with a gold tassel, and lying at his feet is a greyhound. The picture is signed "J. Sanders fecit." He certainly entered Holy Orders, for I find records in his diary of his taking clerical duty, but nowhere can I find any mention of a curacy or rectory to which he had been appointed or instituted.
In 1772,when a resident in Yaxley Hall, he married Miss Mary Rant, the daughter of Humphrey Rant,
of Dickleburgh, in Norfolk, whose mother was Mary, a daughter of Nathaniel Life. The marriage settlement fills seven huge sheets of parchment, and is dated December 31st, 1772. There is a tradition in the family that his married life lasted but one month, and that then with his coach and horses, she was sent back to Dickleburgh ; and, indeed, on June 7th, 1774, an equally lengthy legal document is drawn up, which is endorsed, " Deed of separation between Rev. Mr. Leeke and his wife." I find in it a reason given " that for some time past divers unhappy disputes and differences have arisen between them," so probably the change was not quite so rapid as that handed down by tradition. From a perusal of these bulky documents I gather that Miss Rant was well endowed with landed property, and so a large sum was named, and a trust formed to provide for her sufficient maintenance while life should last. I know no more about her, save that she outlived her husband, who very kindly in one of his wills, bequeaths to her " £5 for mourning."
In 1773,less than one year certainly after the day of his marriage, he had quitted Yaxley Hall for a long tour on the continent, and he has left in MS an account of where he went and what he saw in France, more (page 152) especially in Paris, and the date of it being just twenty years before the great revolution it is really valuable as well as interesting. It is written with a strict sense of accuracy, even to the minutest details. He also visited Belgium, but his account of that portion of the tour is now 'missing ; however, he certainly visited the Abbey of Orval, where, resided a good artist, Jean Henri Gilson by name, but generally known as " Frere Abraham d'Orval." This artist, says Bryan in his " Dictionary of Painters," filled the refectory, halls, and the church with his pictures, which were sometimes purchased by visitors to the monastery, and no doubt Rev. Seymour Leeke was one of them..
….
(page 154) On the day after Christmas in this year, 1785, the Rev. Seymour Leeke quits Yaxley Hall for the last time. Places are booked in the London coach for a party of five passengers at 22/- each, with their servant " to ride inside," costing 19/-. the other expenses of the journey being £1. Of course Francis Leeke and Miss Nelson are of the party, but who the others were I cannot say. They took up their abode in a Great Queen Street, where a great fire is recorded as having taken place on January 5th, 1786, and not being at all well he was much upset. This I gather from various letters in my possession, written to him
(page 155) at this time. At any rate, on the next day he records the purchase of a rope ladder costing £1 1ls. 6d., which he never had the opportunity to use, for the last record of him occurs soon after in the handwriting of his half-brother, Francis Leeke. It is dated March 2nd, 1786, ." Seymour Leeke departed this life at past 2 o'clock in the morning, without a groan. He was taken ill on Monday, the 20th February in the morning, and continued in a very poor way till 2 or 3 o'clock on Monday, the 27th, when he was seized with the most excruciating torment within him, which abated a good deal during the next day, and he seemed much easier ; however, on this day he went off to the great sorrow of Mrs.Nelson and myself,who while life lasts will ever have occasion to lament him." And on the 9th of the same month he adds, " Seymour Leeke was buried in a vault under St. Giles' Church, London, by his father, according to his own desire. Nicholas Leeke, his father, had lain there about 26 years, notwithstanding which the coffin was as fresh as if it had not been placed in the, vault above a week. There is likewise three children of Nicholas and Christian Leeke, and brothers to the above Seymour Leeke, who died in their infant state, and are buried in wood coffins which are now sound, one of them by the plate appears to have been buried 49 years." Mr. Francis Leeke and Miss Nelson returned at once to take up their residence at Yaxley Hall.
We must now have a look at a very important document connected with the history of Yaxley Hall.
It is the last will and testament of Rev. Seymour Leeke, made during his fatal illness, and dated January 30th,1786; and. proved in London, March 6th, 1786. It is by far the shortest one he ever made. He commences by granting to " Henrietta Nelson, now residing with me at Yaxley Hall an annuity of £100 for the term (page 155) of her natural life." and then follows the bequest of all his property to " Francis Gilbert Yaxley Leeke,now residing with Me at Yaxley Hall, for and during the term of his natural life." The property is then left in trust for 99 years to Elborough and Thomas Woodcock, his executors, 'With the following line of succession. Should Francis Leeke die without heirs Miss Nelson was to enjoy the same for life, and after her decease first of all to the use of Elizabeth Chrisitan Leeke, spinster, the elder daughter of Henry Sebastian Leeke, and her heirs, and then in default, Sarah Leeke, his other daughter and her heirs, and then furthermore in default " to the use,of Sir John Odingsells Leeke, of the city of Norwich, co. Norfolk, Baronet, his heirs and assigns for ever.
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The four main devices (symbols) in the Leek blazon are the saltire, annulet, lion and fleur-de-lis. The two main tinctures (colors) are sable and argent. (Visit Link)