Beaumont

The Beaumonts family  were an established and relatively noble family in Ston Easton. They may not have been resident in Chewton Mendip but there are records for the Beaumonts paying poor law  to Chewton Mendip in the 18th century in both the churchwarden accounts and poor book. It is possible that the references to  ‘Bechamps’  may be a corruption of the Beaumont name but it is more likley that the Beauchamp family is the source of that name. logically, the Beaumont  estate should have been in the East End tithing but Bechamps was in the West End. However, logic does not always provide the answer in determing the source of names of places or people.

The Ston Easton branch of the Beaumont family was probably a junior line descended from Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester. There were four Robert de Beaumont who were all Earls of Leicester. The last one died in 1204 so the male line died and the title passed to Simon de Montfort, the 5th Earl of Leicester. His son, also called Simon de Montfort, became the 6th Earl of Leicester and played a significant part in English history.

The local Beaumonts were in a strong enough social position to retain their Catholic faith. were John and Constance Beaumont of Ston Easton were reported by the churchwarden as Papists in 1657.

A John Beaumont was listed as Mr Beaumont owning 67 acres in Ston Easton in 1779 which was taxed at £3 3s in 1781. The address was given as Upper Hay Street Farm, Ston Easton. A John Beaumont is referred to later.Mr Beaumont sold land in 1823/4 to the Mr Hippisley Coxe.

A Widow Beaumont was paying poor rates to Chewton Mendip in West End in the middle of the 18th century. A W? Beaumont had an estate in Chewton Mendip in 1757. He might have been John Beaumont or the record could refer to Widow Beaumont. James Dudden was presenting accounts in the Churchwarden’s records for the estate so he may have been a tenant of the Beaumonts.