YEO, Leonard (by 1512-86), of Cheapside, London; Totnes, Devon; later of Exeter, Devon.

Born in Tavistock, Yeo was apprenticed to a London mercer, whose widow he married and whose business he took over. For some unascertained reason—possibly his stepson wished to continue the London firm—Yeo moved to Totnes, where he served as MP and mayor. In the last year or two of his life when he was, in his own words, ‘not only a man of extreme age, but also very weak and feeble of body and remembrance’ he had to defend a court of requests case brought by two children of his first wife, who alleged that he was detaining their property to the value of £800. Yeo argued that they ‘of long time have held themselves well content therewith until now of late’. By this time he had retired to Exeter, where he had evidently had some property since at least 1542 when one of his daughters was baptized there. In his will, made April 1586, he described himself as of Exeter, and instructed the sole executor, his son George, ‘upon my blessing to use my tenants well.’ He left 40s. to the poor of Tavistock. Yeo died 30 May 1586, worth over £1,000 and his will was proved that October.Trans. Dev. Assoc. xxxii. 438; Western Antiq. ix. 152; London Rep. 13(2), f. 354a; CPR, 1560-3, p. 389; CSP Dom. 1547-80, p. 638; Req. 2/124/59; Wards 7/21/183; PCC 51 Windsor.