Robert Hayward was born in 1707 to Robert and Bridget Hayward who with their estates around Evercreech enjoyed a wealthy life style at their newly built House and no doubt gave their only son a good education and upbringing. He is 27 years of age when his father dies and in his fathers will is shown with his mother to be an heir to his properties. Two years later, in 1734, the parish records reveal him marrying Hannah, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Gibbs . They are a family who Robert would have known well as they took over the lease of the Mill from his father and would have lived at his former house alongside it. Another family who were to play a key part in the story of the Hayward`s were the Coopers whose memorials in St Mary's , Limpley Stoke and St. Peter's Freshford detail their rise to fortune. John Cooper is a Clothier whose family have prospered inWestwood, and in 1716 he marries Susana , daughter of George and Anne Dicke. The Dickes are a wealthy family who own estates in Winsley, Turleigh and Limpley Stoke. Within two years of the marriage his wife`s parents both die and she inherits their fortune. They have two sons Robert and George, but tragically their mother dies shortly after giving birth to George. Her husband is to marry again in 1723 Honor Still whose family own an estate in Shaston St. James, Dorset. In 1732 John moves to Freshford when he leases Porch House (The Old House) on the corner of Marvels lane form Thomas Methuen. Later his son George in 1770 is to buy the freehold of the house and its grounds from the Methuens. With the Haywards they represent the Gentry in the village and are referred to as Esquire in documents of the time. They refront the house in a similar Paladin style as Freshford House (Freshford Manor) and create a pleasure ground extending from the river to the Tyning and build a number of features within its walks. These included a Temple and two large gazebos. Grove House was probably originally part of the design with its thatched roof and rustic look. On the other side of Marvels Lane ( Station Road) the Haywards were to do the same , and again some of the features survive in the shape of a Gazebo , monuments and a massive stone table created out of one slab of Bath Stone. There was also a large building near the entrance, which could have been an Orangery , that disappeared in 1885. Robert Hayward was able to extend his grounds when he bought the adjacent Combe Bottom farm from the widow of John Dicke (1663-1711) in 1732. His land now went down to the river and up to Crowe Lane, where he created a long drive to his house and may have built the lodge that stands by the entrance. This farm until recently formed part of the grounds of the house and the land tax and poor rates survive from 1700 and show all the change of ownership of the Manor. His wealth came from estates around his family home at Evercreech, near Shepton mallet which gave a wealthy life style amongst a number of other families living in the neighbourhood. He also has inherited property at Middlezoy , South East of Bridgewater and the Manor of Westwood which they leased from Winchester Cathedral. An interesting Deed has survived which shows Robert leasing Shrubbs Down to John Allen in 1748. It also refers to Nathaniel Body and James Gastrell who are wealthy Clothiers living in Tetbury. The Manor of Westwood is passed down through the Tugwells and is bought by them in 1861 from the Dean & Chapter of Winchester. Robert is shown as a magistrate and his name appears frequently on the Quarter Session Records. He also became a Church warden at St. Peters Church and in 1740 he signs a petition with John Cooper and other members of the village for a gallery for the church to accommodate the increased congregation. He is well respected by his neighbours and his signature often appears on documents of the times. Sadly this idyllic life was to be shattered when his wife died in 1740. But he was to later re-marry a wealthy heiress- Elizabeth Bampton from Downton in Wiltshire and in 1746 their only child Betty was born. Though Betty was no doubt to have had a happy childhood it was to be tragically cut short when in 1754 her mother died and six years later her father also died and left her an orphan at the age of only 14. Robert`s will is to show him turning to John Cooper and his sons to be Guardians of his daughter. The families faithful servant Elizabeth Norman is also well provided for in his bequests. This w ill is interesting in that it shows that as well as Freshford he left Estates in Witham and Somerton. One of the Witnesses is Daniel Clutterbuck, a Solicitor from Bradford whose family is to later feature strongly in the rise of the family. An interesting chapter in the story of Robert is shown in the survival of a document dated 1756 relating to a court case in London in which he is disputing the Will of John Bampton. For his wife was to inherit a large estate in Downton from her Uncle- John, a Canon at Salisbury Cathedral, on the death of her Aunt. But with the death of his wife in 1754 he seems to lose the case and the properties go to Oxford University. The income from these lands was used to endow a series of Lectures known as the "Bampton Lectures" which survive today.

Events in the life of Robert Hayward,Junior
Year age
1707 B. Robert is born to Robert & Bridget Hayward of Freshford
1719 11 His father, Robert builds his new house ~ Freshford House (Manor)
1732 25 Robert`s father dies at the age of 60
1734 27 Hannah, daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth Gibbs marries Robert.
1740 33 Hannah Hayward dies
1745 38 Elizabeth Bampton, an heiress from Downton, nr Salisbury marries Robert
1746 39 Betty is born to Robert & Elizabeth Hayward in Freshford.
1749 42 Bridget, his mother dies.
1753 46 Robert contests the will of John Bampton, his wife`s uncle.
1754 47 Elizabeth Hayward dies
1760 53 Robert Hayward dies leaving his daughter Betty as his heiress at the age of 14