General history: Families removed since 1620

Magna Britannia: Volume 6, Devonshire. Originally published by T Cadell and W Davies, London, 1822.

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'General history: Families removed since 1620', in Magna Britannia: Volume 6, Devonshire, (London, 1822) pp. clxxiii-ccxxv. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/magna-britannia/vol6/clxxiii-ccxxv [accessed 24 March 2024]

In this section

Ancient Families, of which the principal Branch is extinct, or removed, since 1620, yet some of the Descendants remain in the County.

Sir William Pole has a list of this description, which he entitles, "Such auncient Gentlemen which are yeat remainynge in the County of Devon, but have departed with their auncient Lands, and dwell in other Places." In the following list will be found some families which remain only in a reduced state, and others who, although in the rank of gentry, have perhaps no landed property or residence in the county, but such as is connected with their profession.

Beavis, of Clist. — This family is traced in Devonshire to the reign of Henry IV. The present male representative of the elder branch is Mr. James Beavis, of Bradford, in Wiltshire. Colonel Henry Beavis, the representative of a younger branch, resides at Barnstaple. The heiresses of Forward and Coade married into this family.

Arms: — Az., 3 close helmets, Argent, garnished, Or.

Crest: — A pheon, Argent.

Berry, of Berry Narbor, East Leigh, Lobb, Winscot, &c. &c. — It is probable from the similarity of arms, that these families are from the same common origin. Ralph de Bury possessed Bury Narbor in the reign of Henry III. The name of the family and of the place was soon afterwards spelt Berry, and at a later period Berrie. The heiress of the elder branch, which continued at Berry Narbor till the death of Thomas Berrie in 1708, married Francis Kirkham, Esq., who died in 1737. Co-heiresses of Penrise and Giffard, and the heiress of Bowden, married into this family.

The Berrys of East Leigh were descended from the second son of Berry of Berry Narbor, by the co-heiress of Giffard. On the death of the last of the elder line of this branch (fn. n1), which, by Sir William Pole, is called Barry. East Leigh devolved to Thomas Berry, Esq., (younger brother of George Berry of Lobb,) which Thomas died in 1802: his sister and heiress married Boatfield, whose only child married Tuplin, and the co-heiresses of Tuplin the Rev. John Torr and Francis Southerton, M. D.

A younger branch of Berry, descended from the third son of the coheiress of Giffard, settled at Chittlehampton, and seems to have become extinct soon after the visitation of 1620.

A younger branch of Berry, of East Leigh, settled at Lobb, in Braunton. The younger brother of George Berry, of Lobb, Gent., who died in 1723, without issue, became possessed of East Leigh, and removed thither.

Daniel Berry, a younger son of Berry, of Berry Narbor, was vicar of Molland, as was his grandson of the same name. Sir John Berry, the eminent naval officer in the reign of William III., whose monument is at Stepney, in Middlesex, was son of the latter. Thomas Berry, Esq., of Crediton, attorney-at-law, is descended from this branch.

John Berry, another younger son of the Berry-Narbor family, died rector of Georgeham in 1649. His descendant, Mr. John Berry of Clovelly, died in 1788. Sir Thomas Berry, Knt., of Northam, who died in 1698, without issue, was of a younger branch of this family. I have not been able to learn that there are any male descendants now in the county, except Mr. Berry of Crediton, above mentioned.

Arms: — G., 3 bars, Or.

Carwithen, of Paunston, in the parish of St. Giles-in-the-Heath. — An ancient and respectable, but now reduced family, into which the heiress of Paunston and Bawdon, and a co-heiress of Meo, or Mee, had married. The present representative is Mr. William Carwithen, of Fairtown, in the parish of Buckland Monachorum.

Arms: — Argent, a fleur-de-lis, G., a border engrailed of the second.

Copleston, or as the name is written in some pedigrees and other records, Coplestone. — This ancient family, which had the rank of White Spur (fn. n2), was originally of Copleston, in the parish of Colebrook. I believe it does not exist in the county in the rank of gentry, except in the person of the Rev. J. B. Copleston, rector of St. Thomas, (father of the provost of Oriel College,) descended from a younger branch which had settled in Dorsetshire. The family is traced in the pedigrees to the reign of Edward II. John, the third in descent, married a co-heiress of Graas, of Teign Graas; his son, of the same name, married the rich heiress of Hawley, who had married the heiress of Tresilian, by the heiress of Hiwis. The last-mentioned John had three sons, Philip, ancestor of the Coplestons of Copleston and Warleigh; John, ancestor of those of Exeter (fn. n3); and Walter, ancestor of those of Bowden (fn. n4), in Yealmton.

Philip Copleston, the head of the family in the reign of Edward IV., married the heiress of Bonville of Shute, by the heiress of Wibbery. The elder line of Copleston failed in three or four descents after the lastmentioned marriage: the co-heiresses married Elford of Sheepstor and Bampfylde (fn. n5) : the elder of these left four daughters co-heiresses, one of whom died unmarried, and the other three were married into the Fortescue family: from one of these Hugh, Earl Fortescue, is the fourth in descent.

Edward, younger son of Philip Copleston, by the heiress of Bonville, settled at Bow, alias Nymet Tracey, and was ancestor of the Coplestons of Instow, and those of Wyke in Little Torrington. The Instow branch ended in females after two descents. Anthony Copleston, of Wyke or Week, married the heiress of Larder, of Upton Pynes, and removed thither. This branch appears to have removed to London, and most probably is extinct. Sir John Copleston, of Westminster, Knt., had a son and heir, Disborough: they were both living in 1675.

Ralph Copleston, of Warlegh and Copleston, son of Philip above mentioned, had two younger sons; one of whom, Nicholas, was ancestor of the Coplestons of Dorsetshire, before mentioned; and the other of the Cornish Coplestons, of Otterham and Morwinstow, long since extinct. A younger son of John Copleston, Esq., of Copleston, (son of Ralph,) was ancestor of the Coplestons of Woodland in Little Torrington, long since extinct.

Besides those already mentioned, there was a branch of the Coplestons settled at Knighteston in Ottery (fn. n6), and another at Fullingcote, not extinct in 1630.

Arms: — Arg., a chevron engrailed between 3 leopards' faces, Azure.

Crest: — A fox passant, Azure.

Cory, of Cory. — John, the first mentioned in the visitation of 1620, married a co-heiress of Sheviock of Cornwall. The representative of this family is Mr. Samuel Cory of Holsworthy.

Arms: — Argent a saltier, S., on a chief, Az., 3 cinquefoils, Or.

Dennis, formerly of Orleigh and Holcombe Burnell. — This ancient family derives its descent from Jellanus Dacus, the Dane, or Le Deneis, who was lord of Pancras Week in the reign of Henry II. Sir Robert le Deneis, the fifth in descent from Jellanus, died without male issue; his sisters and co-heirs married Ferrers and Kirkham. William, a younger son of Ralph Dacus, or Le Deneis, was common ancestor of the Dennis's of Orleigh, in the parish of Buckland Brewer, Bradford, Holcombe Burnell, Bicton, &c.

Sir Alan Dennis, of Holdsworthy, descended probably from a younger son or brother of the above-mentioned William, appears to have married the heiress of Manworthy, and was ancestor of the Dennis's of Manworthy and Gidecot, whose heiress, after a few descents, married Butterford. (fn. n7)

The Dennis's of Orleigh married heiresses or co-heiresses of Bolhay, alias Boway, Esse, Thorn, and Giffard (fn. n8) of Theoborough. This branch became extinct about the year 1700; the co-heiresses married Sir Thomas Hamson, Bart., and Glynn, of Glynn. John Dennis, a younger son of the Orleigh branch, in the reign of Edward I., married the heiress of Dabernon, of Bradford Dabernon, and was ancestor of the Dennis's of Bradford and of Holcombe Burnell. The heiress of the Bradford branch, after seven descents, married Giffard of Yeo. This branch had married the heiresses of Bokerell (fn. n9), and Christenstow, of Wycroft.

The Dennis's of Holcombe Burnell were descended from Thomas Dennis, Esq., of Bradford, by a second wife. After a continuance of five descents at Holcombe, the co-heiresses of Sir Thomas Dennis, who married a daughter of the Marquis of Winchester, married Sir Henry Rolle and Sir Arthur Mainwaring. Sir Thomas Dennis, grandfather of the last Sir Thomas Dennis of Holcombe, was sheriff of the county seven, or, according to Sir William Pole, nine times. The heiress of Don, or Dune, and a co-heiress of Godolphin, married into this branch. A younger branch of the Dennis's of Holcombe, was some time of Creed and Menheniot in Cornwall: another branch was settled, for several generations, at Whimple; the Rev. Jonas Dennis, one of the prebendaries of Exeter castle, is representative of the latter.

The editor of "Prince's Worthies" mentions a branch of the Dennis family (descended from a younger son of the Orleigh branch) settled at Windey Cross, near Torrington, of which was Abraham Dennis, contemporary with the last of the Orleigh line: his great grandson, Abraham, married the heiress of Northleigh; and the grandson of that marriage, Abraham Freeman Dennis, of Tavistock, is said to have been the last of the branch. (fn. n10) This may probably have been the same branch as Dennis of Malcot, descended from Henry, the fifth son of John Dennis of Orleigh, by the heiress of Giffard: this Henry married the heiress of Viell of Malcot; his son Henry, who was of Malcot, a co-heiress of Merifield. William, the fourth in descent from Henry, was of Malcot, in 1620, and had male issue. Mr. Nicholas Dennis, now of Teignmouth, is descended from a branch of this family, long settled at Barnstaple.

Arms of Dennis of Orleigh: — Az. 3 Danish battle-axes, erect, Or. Dennis of Holcombe bore, Erm., 3 battle-axes, Gules.

Crest: — A tiger's head erased, Ermine.

Gay, of Goldworthy. — The heiress of Curtoys of Goldworthy, and a co-heiress of Gamond, or Gambon, married into this ancient family, which came from Hampton Gay in Oxfordshire, and appears to have settled here about 1420. John Gay, the poet, was of this family; the heir male of which appears to be Mr. Lawrence Gay, now of South Molton.

Arms: — Or, on a fesse, Sab., between 3 escallops, Az., 6 lozenges conjoined, Argent.

Gidley, of Gidley. — Bartholomew Gidley, of this family, was an officer in the service of King Charles II. (fn. n11); the present representative is Courtenay Gidley, Esq., of Honiton.

Arms, as exemplified by Edward Byshe, Clarencieux in 1671: — Or, a castle, Sable, a border of the second bezanty.

Crest: — An eagle issuing, Or, the wings, S., bezanty.

Hill, formerly of Shilston, descended from Sir Robert Hill (fn. n12), one of the justices of the Common Pleas in the reign of Henry VI. The Rev. Charles Hill, rector of Instow, recently deceased, was the representative of this family. One of his ancestors married a co-heiress of Budockside, or Butshed: his father married the heiress of Kingswell.

Arms: — Arg., a chevron between 3 water-bougets, Sable.

Honeychurch, of Honeychurch and Aveton Giffard. — This family was settled at Honeychurch as early as the reign of Henry III. Mr. John Honeychurch, yeoman, who, jointly with his brother Samuel, possesses some lands in North Lew, is the present representative of this family.

There was a younger branch settled at Aveton Giffard: Henry Honeychurch, Esq., of this branch, died in 1662.

Arms: — Argent, a dragon's head erased, between 2 mullets in bend, sinister, G.

Isaac, or Izacke, of Buriatt in Atherington. — This ancient family was settled at Buriatt as early as the reign of Henry III. The estate has been long ago alienated, but the family, I am informed, still exists, the representative living at Newton Tracey, and a younger branch at Newport, near Barnstaple. There was a branch of this family settled for several generations at Exeter and Heavitree, one of whom wrote a history of Exeter. Colonel Sebastian Isaac, who died in 1688, and Sebastian Isaac, M. D., who died in 1693, were of this branch.

Arms: — Sable, a bend, Or; on a canton, A., a leopard's face, Gules.

Loveis, of Hennock, now a reduced family, into which the heiress of Upcott had married. Six descents are described in the visitation of 1620. The representative of this family is said to be Mr. Joseph Loveis, yeoman, of Bowden in Christow.

Arms: — Or, a chevron engrailed, G., between 3 ducks, Proper.

Crest: — A bear seiant, S., chained and muzzled, Or.

Milford, of Wickington, in South Tawton. — This family had been settled there some generations before the Visitation in 1620. Risdon observes that they were said to have been descended from a judge of that name: but this seems to have been a mistake; there is no record of a judge of the name of Milford. No arms are assigned to this family in the Visitation; but Risdon says, they bore Argent, 3 oak-leaves in pale, Proper. Samuel Frederick Milford, Esq., is supposed to be the representative of this family, afterwards settled some time at Thorverton. Mr. Milford bears G., an inescutcheon, Az., within a border, Argent.

Crest: — A griffin seiant, the wings elevated.

Newcombe, of Stanton Drew, afterwards of Exeter. — Three descents of this family are given in the Visitation of 1620. John Newcombe, Esq., of Star Cross, is the representative of this family.

Arms: — Arg., a fesse embattled on the upper side between 2 escallops, Sable.

Crest: — On a mural crown, Or, a falcon rising, Proper.

Parminter, of Watermouth. — This ancient family had been settled at Tockington in Gloucestershire, as early as the reign of Henry III. They removed to Watermouth in the reign of Hen. VII., in consequence of a marriage with one of the co-heiresses of Reed. (fn. n13) Branches of this family continued for several descents at Watermouth. Mr. John Parminter, who, if living, is the representative of the family, is supposed to be leading a wandering life on the continent. Mrs. Mary Parminter, a cousin, is the female representative of the family; an aunt married Mr. Hurlock, an apothecary, in London, who left male issue. There was another branch, of Whitfield in Marwood, supposed also to be extinct. William Parminter, Esq., of this branch, died in South America, in 1737; his brother settled in London. It is not known that there is any male descendant of this branch. The sister married George Ley, Esq., of Prixford, in Marwood, ancestor of George Ley, Esq., now of Ley. There are several male descendants of younger branches, but not in the rank of gentry.

Arms: — A. a saltier between 4 mascles, G., on a chief Vert, a demieagle displayed, with two heads, Or.

Passmere, of Passmere Hayes and of Exeter. — Six descents are described in the Visitation of 1620, when there was male issue. William Passmere, the then representative, had a son and grandson. A younger branch married the heiress of Seyman, of Swetton in Halberton, settled there, and was afterwards of Exeter, where there were male descendants in 1620.

Arms: — Or, a fesse G., between 3 escutcheons of the second, each charged with a bend Vaire, between 2 cinquefoils of the field; all within a border, Azure, bezanty.

Crest: — A demi-leopard, Azure.

Peard, a mercantile family. — Oliver Peard, mayor of Barnstaple in 1565, was afterwards a merchant at Tiverton, where the family continued for several descents. The heiress married Dickinson.

Arms: — Or, 2 wolves passant, Sable, their mouths bloody, Proper.

Crest: — A tiger's head, Or, pierced through the neck with a demilance rompu, the point, Argent.

Prust, originally of Gorven. — Fifteen descents of this ancient family are traced in the Visitation of 1620. John Prust, the eighth in descent, married the heiress of Holman, of Gorven; his great-grandson, of the same name, a co-heiress of Drue; and Hugh, grandson of the last-mentioned John, a co-heiress of Anderdon, of Cornwall. The elder branch removed to Notticott in Hartland, and became extinct more than a century ago. There are still some male descendants of this family at Hartland, but not of the rank of gentry. A co-heiress of Davie married into a younger branch of this family, which was settled at Woolfardisworthy, near Hartland. Captain Bartholomew Prust, the last heir male of this branch, died in 1752. The Rev. Joseph Prust Prust, son and heir of Joseph Prust Prust, formerly Prust Hamlyn, had a grant from the Heralds' College, in 1808, to bear the name and arms of Prust.

Arms: — G., on a chief, A., 2 etoiles, Sable.

Rowe, of Lamerton. — Three generations of this family are described in the Visitation of 1620. The first mentioned in the pedigree married the heiress of Hill; the second, a co-heiress of Fitz, of Tavistock. The elder branch became extinct by the death of the only son of Nicholas Rowe, the poet. The heiress married Lock, and afterwards Pyle, by both of whom she had issue. The Rev. John Rowe, rector of Alverdiscott, is supposed to be descended from a younger branch, settled at Tavistock; the son of his elder brother resides in Jamaica.

Arms: — Gules, 3 holy lambs with standards, Argent. In the new edition of Prince's Worthies, these arms are erroneously appropriated to Rowe of Kingston.

Southcote, or Southcott, originally of Southcote in Winkleigh. — This ancient family was of Southcote in the reign of Henry III. The elder branch, into which the heiresses of Keynes and Pury, and a coheiress of Bosum, had married, became extinct in the sixteenth century. The heiress married Callard. John Southcote, appointed one of the justices of the King's Bench in 1562, was son of a younger brother of the last Southcote of this place. (fn. n14) The Southcotes of Indiho, in Bovey Tracey, and of Mohun's Ottery (fn. n15), were descended from a second son. Mohun's Ottery was sold by Thomas Southcote, then the representative of this branch, in 1678. At Collumpton is a monument without date, said to be for the last heir male of the Southcote family; the last probably of this branch.

Sir George Southcote, of Shillingford, eldest son of Thomas Southcote, of Indiho, by his third wife, married a co-heiress of Cole, of Buckland Touissaints, and was ancestor of the late John Henry Southcote, Esq., who sold Buckland, and died in 1820.

Another branch of this family, descended from a younger son of Southcote of Indiho, was of Calverleigh, which was sold before 1700 to Sir Henry Fane: a co-heiress of Robins married into this branch. A younger branch of the Southcotes of Calverleigh settled at Dulcis, in Kilmington, in consequence of a marriage with the heiress of Frye. The heiress of the elder son of this branch brought Dulcis to the Hallets: a younger son settled at Colwell, in Offwell, having married the heiress of Collins. The late Michael Southcote, of this line, married the heiress of Popkin, of Wales: his elder son, erroneously supposing himself descended from the Southcotes of Bliborough, in Lincolnshire, assumed the title of baronet; he died without issue, and his younger brothers, Henry and Philip, are supposed to be the only male descendants of the family.

Arms: — Arg., a chevron, G., between 3 coots, Proper.

Wise, of Sydenham. — Five descents are described in the Visitation of 1620: the heiress, as before mentioned, married Tremayne. Younger branches still remain in the male line. Ayshford Wise, Esq., now residing at Ford near Newton Abbot, is the representative of a branch which has been settled for many generations at Totnes.

Arms: — S. 3 chevrons, Erm.

Crest: — A demi-lion rampant, G., guttee, Argent, holding in his dexter paw a mace, Or.

Woolston, of Tor Newton. — John Woolston, Esq., the representative of this family, which has been settled here for many generations, resides abroad.

Arms: — S. a bend between 6 pouches, Argent.

Wollacombe, originally of Wollacombe, in Roborough, or Wollacombe, in Morthoe (fn. n16), from nearly the time of the Conquest. — The last heir male of this family (into which the heiresses of Barry, alias Atcomb, and Michaelstow, and a co-heiress of Elford, had married) died in 1707. The heiress married Stafford (fn. n17), whose two sons successively took the name of Wollacombe. Roger left a daughter, married to Langford, whose heiress married Hammet. Thomas was father of Thomas Wollacombe, Esq., who married a co-heiress of Hierne, and was father of the Rev. John Wollacombe, rector of Stowford, the present representative of the family.

Arms: — Argent, 3 bars, Gules.

Crest: — A spur, Or, the rowels, G.

Families known, or supposed, to be extinct since 1620, or removed out of the County.

Abbot, of Hartland. — The ancestor of this family was grantee of the abbey, in 1545. William Abbot, Esq., the last heir male, who married a co-heiress of Milliton, died in 1609. One of the co-heiresses married Luttrell.

Arms: — S. a cross voided between four eagles displayed, Or.

Addington, of High Bickington. — The last of this family, which came from London in the reign of Henry VIII., was Thomas Addington, Esq., who died in 1668. His sisters and co-heiresses married Incledon, Docton, and Williams, of Cornwall. The heiress of Cliffe married into this family.

Arms: — Per pale Ermine and Ermines; between 3 fleur-de-lis, a chevron charged with 4 lozenges, all counter-changed.

Crest: — A leopard seiant, Argent, pelletee.

Arscott, of Tetcott. — The Arscotts were originally of Holsworthy. In the reign of Henry VI., they settled at Dunsland, in Bradford, in consequence of a marriage with the heiress of Batten. This elder branch became extinct in 1664: the heiress married Bickford. A younger branch settled at Tetcott by purchase, in the reign of Henry VIII. John Arscott, Esq., the last of this branch, died in 1788: Sir Arscott Ourry Molesworth, Bart., is its representative, in consequence of a marriage of his great-grandfather, Sir John Molesworth, Bart., who died in 1724. Another younger branch of Arscott settled at Tidwell, in East Budleigh, having married the heiress of St. Clere. The estate was sold, and the family removed about 1730.

Arms: — Per chevron, Az. and Erm., 2 stags' heads, caboshed, Or.

Ash, of Sowton. — This family was settled here as early as the reign of Edward III., most probably a branch of Esse, or Ash, of Ralph Ash. Henry Ash, Esq., the last heir male, died in 1763. Miss Salter was adjudged by the House of Lords, to be heir-at-law, in 1775.

Arms: — the same as Esse. (fn. n18)

Crest: — A cockatrice, Or, legged and beaked, G.

Ashford, or Ayshford, of Ashford, in Burlescomb. — The heiress of Wadham, and a co-heiress of Whiting, of Wood, married into this family. John Ayshford, Esq., the last heir male, died in 1688: the heiress married Sandford, ancestor of William Ayshford Sandford, Esq., of Ninehead, in Somersetshire. A branch of this family settled at Wonwell, in Kingston, in consequence of a marriage with a co-heiress of Hingeston. John Ayshford, Esq., the last of this branch, died in 1732: the heiress married Wise, now represented by Ayshford Wise, Esq.

Arms: — Argent, 3 Ash-crops, Vert, between 2 chevronels, S.

Crest: — Issuing out of a wreath of leaves, Proper, a man's head side-faced.

Atwell, from an early period at Exeter. — Dr. Atwell, some time rector of Exeter College, in Oxford, was of this family.

Arms: — Argent, a chevron, S., a pile in point, counter-changed.

Atwood, or Wood, of Ashridge, in North Tawton. — This family was not extinct in Sir William Pole's time, when they were called Wood: they had possessed Ashridge from the reign of Edward III. A daughter of Christopher Wood, Esq., who probably was the last of the family, married Gregory, and died in 1719.

Arms: — S. semee of acorns, Or, a lion rampant, Argent.

Balle, of Mamhead, originally of Balle-Hayes, in Axminster, married the heiress of Torriton and Bridges: extinct, 1749.

Arms: — Argent, a chevron between 3 fire-balls, G.

Crest: — An arm holding a fire-ball, Proper.

Barkleigh, of Kingsbridge and Oakenbury. — Four descents are described in the visitation of 1620: not extinct in 1675.

Arms: — S. a fesse Erm., between 3 cinquefoils, Argent.

Barnefield, of Mambury, in East Putford, married the heiress of Mambury: extinct in 1759: the heiress married Philips.

Barry, of Winscot. — The ancestor of this family married the heiress of Winscot, in the reign of Richard II., and from the arms it appears likely that he was of the Berry Narbor family. Michael Barry, the last heir male of the elder branch, died in the reign of Charles I.: the heiress married Tripcony, who died without issue. A younger brother of this family married a co-heiress of Wike, of Bindon: his grandson was of Buckfastleigh, in 1620, and had male issue.

Arms: — Barry of six, A. and G. A crescent on a crescent for difference.

Crest: — A wolf's head, Sable.

Batishall, of East Week, in South Tawton, seven generations before 1620: not extinct in 1675. The heiress of Wood, of Bridestowe, married into this family.

Arms: — Az., a cross-crosslet saltier-ways, between 4 owls, Argent.

Bickford, of Dunsland. — The Bickfords were, at an early period, of Bickford, in Plympton St. Mary. William Bickford, Esq., who died in 1659, married the heiress of Arscott, of Dunsland. Arscott Bickford, Esq., the last heir male of this ancient family, died in 1817. One of his sisters and co-heiresses married Philip Furse, Esq., by whom she had no issue; the other, the Rev. William Holland Coham.

Arms: — Argent, a chevron engrailed between 3 martlets.

Bidgood, of Rockbeare. — Chapple says, that the name of this family appears in deeds of 1453. Dr. John Bidgood, as appears by Prince's Worthies, made his fortune as a physician, and died in 1690: his descendant, the late Charles Bidgood, Esq., who died in 1813, was the last of the the family: his widow now possesses the estate. His sister married Drewe.

Arms: — Argent, on a chief engrailed, Az., a tortoise, Proper.

Bidlake, of Bidlake, in Bridestowe. — This family had been settled here as early as the year 1454. William Bidlake, the representative of the family, died an infant in 1718; two of his sisters and co-heirs married Herring and Hiern: Phillippa, the third, died unmarried in 1792. It is probable, that the late Dr. Bidlake, of Plymouth, was of a younger branch of this family.

Arms: — Gules, a fesse between 3 pigeons, Argent.

Blagdon, of Blagdon, in Clawton, married the heiress of Downe, or Downing, and a co-heiress of Browne. There was male issue at the time of the visitation, in 1620. In 1685, John Blagdon, Esq., who married the heiress of Crossing, (being probably of the same family,) was of Northcote, in Honiton. The namesake and representative of the last-mentioned Blagdon resides in Gloucestershire. There are no arms assigned to Blagdon in the visitation of 1620. Edmondson gives the arms of Blagdon, of Devonshire, thus, Az., 3 trefoils slipped, Argent, on a chief indented, Or, 2 annulets, Gules.

Bodley, of Dunscombe, in Crediton, six generations before 1620. — The place was sold and the family removed before 1700. The heiresses of Tremell, or Trenvill, and Hurst, married Bodley. Sir Thomas Bodley, founder of the Bodleian Library, at Oxford, was of a younger branch of this family.

Arms: — Argent, 5 martlets in saltier, S. on a chief, Az., 3 crowns, Or.

Bremridge, or Bremebrig, in Sandford, in the time of King John. — John Bremridge, the representative of this ancient family, died without issue: his sister married the father of Richard Melhuish, Esq., now of Bremridge. There were younger branches of this family at Kenne, and at Exeter.

Broughton, of Warbrightesley, in Stoodleigh. — John Broughton, in the reign of Henry VI., married a co-heiress of Crukerne, of this place. Hugh, the fifth in descent from John, married a co-heiress of Estcott. Mr. Arthur Broughton, the last of this family, died in 1734.

Arms: — Argent, a chevron between 3 mullets, G.

Burgoyne, of South Tawton. — A younger branch of the Bedfordshire family of that name, continued here for several generations, having married the heiresses of Sheldon, Stoning, and Courtenay. The heiress of the Burgoynes married Jackson, of Exeter. William Courtenay Burgoyne, Esq., died in 1750.

Arms: — Az., a talbot passant, Argent, on a mullet, Or, a crescent S., for difference.

Burnaby, of Burnaby, in Bratton Clovelly, seven generations before 1620; not extinct in 1630. — There are no traces of them in the parishregister after 1603. It is probable, that the descendant who possessed the estates in Sir William Pole's time, sold it and removed out of the county.

Arms: — Az., two bars embattled, Ermine.

Cabell, of Buckfastleigh. — About six descents; not extinct in 1675.

Arms: — S. a horse upright, Argent, bridled, Or.

Callard, of Callard, in Burrington. — Seven descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620. In the preceding century, the heiress of Southcote had married into this family. It is probable, that the estate was sold not long after the time above mentioned. There were younger branches at Tavistock and Winkley.

There was a family of this name at Ford, near Axminster. Amos Callard, Esq., of Ford, who died in 1747, had a nephew of the name of John. This family is supposed also to be extinct.

Arms: — Gyronny of 6, Or, and S., 3 Moors' heads side-faced, Proper, filleted, Argent.

Crest: — a demi-lion rampant, S., holding a scaling ladder, Or.

Calwoodley, of Calwoodley, now Calverley, traced to the time of King John. — The elder branch became extinct in the reign of Henry VIII.: the heiress married Arundell. There was a younger branch at Up-loman, the last heir male of which died about the year 1750. A younger branch was settled at Padstow, whence they removed to London.

Arms: — Az., a pair of wings, Argent, over all a fesse, G., charged with 3 bezants.

Crest: — A falcon's claw, Az., with a bell, Or, surmounted by a wing, Argent.

Champneys, of Yarnscombe. — About six descents; extinct in 1681. The heiress married Cottle.

Arms: — Arg., a lion rampant, Gules, within a border engrailed, Sable.

Charles, of Tavistock. — Five descents to the time of Queen Elizabeth, married the heiress of Forde.

Arms: — Erm., on a chief wavy, G., an eagle displayed, Or.

Clevland, of Tapley. — The family of Clevland were settled at Tapley, in Westleigh, early in the last century. The sisters and co-heirs of the late John Clevland, Esq., M. P. for Barnstaple, who died in 1817, married Ibbetson and Saltren.

Arms: — Az., a hare salient, Or, to the collar a bugle-horn pendent, Sable.

Crest: — A cubit arm erect, vested, Az., cuffed, Argent, holding in the hand, Proper, a dagger, Or.

Cloberry, of Bradstone. — This ancient family had resided at Bradstone for eleven descents in 1620. The heiress, in the year 1711, married Robert Glynn, Esq., father of Stephen Glynn, M. D., of King's College, Cambridge, who died without issue in 1800. An heiress of Rous married into this family.

Arms: — Argent, a chevron between 3 bats, Sable.

Crest: — An antelope's head erased, Argent, attired, Or.

Clotworthy, of Clotworthy. — This ancient family had been settled here as early as the reign of King Edward I. Mr. Simon Clotworthy, the representative, died in 1755; and Robert Clotworthy, who seems to have been the last male of the family, in 1756. The heiresses of Clement and Rashleigh married into this family. Sir Henry Clotworthy, a younger son of this family, was knighted by King James, in Ireland, in 1618, and left a son, John; the same perhaps who, in 1660, was created Viscount Massareene, with remainder to his son-in-law, Sir John Skeffington, ancestor of the late Earl of Massareene, who died in 1816, leaving an only daughter, now Viscountess Massareene in her own right.

Arms: — Az., a chevron, Erm., between 3 garlands, Or, leaves, Vert.

Crest: — A stag's head erased, Argent, transfixed with an arrow headed and fleched of the first.

Cockeram, of Hillersdon in Collumpton. — Four descents are described in the visitation of 1620. There is a monument of this family at Collumpton, with the date of 1666.

Arms: — Argent on a bend, S., 3 leopards' faces, Or.

Cocke, of Plymouth. — Four descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620, when Edmund Cocke, the representative, had a son and heir, aged two years. Captain William Cocke, a native of Plymouth, was the only Englishman of note killed in the memorable engagement with the Spanish Armada. If not extinct, this family is reduced: there are some tradesmen of the name at Plymouth and Dock.

Arms: — A. a chevron engrailed between 3 griffins' heads, erased, G., on a canton, Az., an anchor, Or. It is probable that this was an augmentation, granted to the family for the services of Captain Cocke.

Code, or Coade, of Gidley Castle, married the heiress of Damarell of Gidley, and were representatives, through that of Mules, of the elder branch of the family of Prous. This family removed to Morvall, in Cornwall, having married the heiress of Glynn, of that place: the heiress of the elder branch married Buller. Edward Coade, Esq., now of St. Austell, is the representative of a younger branch.

Arms: — Argent, a chevron, G., between 3 Cornish choughs.

Cole, of Slade, — settled there in the reign of Henry IV., and became extinct, in the elder branch at least, in the reign of Charles I. The heiresses of Walcot and Hill, and a co-heiress of Luce, married into this family. Richard Cole, Esq., bequeathed the estate to — Cole, of London.

Arms: — Argent, a bull passant, Sab., within a border of the second, bezanty.

A family of the same name, bearing an ass passant, were lords of Bokeish, in Woolfardisworthy. The Rev. Potter Cole, the last of this family, was rector of Hawksbury in Gloucestershire, where he died, in 1802, at the advanced age of 96, having been rector of that parish above seventy years: he bequeathed Bokeish to his nephew, the Rev. William Loggin, who took the name of Cole, and was father of the Rev. William Loggin, the present owner of Bokeish. This family of Cole were some time resident at Enstone, in Oxfordshire.

Colman, originally of Gornhay in Tiverton, afterwards of Hillersdon in Collumpton. — A co-heiress of Searle married into this family, eight generations of which are to be traced in Devonshire. Francis Colman, Esq., the representative and last heir male of this family, died in 1820. (fn. n19)

Arms: — Per fesse, Arg. and Sab., a cross flory between 4 mullets, all counterchanged.

Columb, or Culme, of Molland Saracen. — Sir William Culme lived in the reign of Edward I. The heiress of Walter married into this family, which became extinct, in the elder branch, by the death of Hugh Culme, or Columb, Esq., in 1658. A younger branch became extinct by the death of John Culme, Esq., of Tothill, in 1804: his son, who died in his father's lifetime, left two daughters, co-heiresses. Sir Thomas Gery Cullum, Bart., of Hawsted, in Suffolk, is said to have been descended from this family; but the late Sir John Cullum, in his history of Hawsted, seems to doubt it. They were settled in Suffolk previously to 1454. They bear however the same arms.

Arms: — Az., a chevron, Erm., between 3 pelicans, wings expanded, Or.

Crest: — A lion seiant, Proper, supporting a Corinthian column.

Cooke, of Thorne, in the parish of Ottery, married the heiress of Thorne, and continued for several descents. John Cooke, Esq., the last of this family, died in 1632: the heiress married Misson.

Arms: — Erm., on a bend cottised, G., 3 cat-a-mountains, Argent.

Crest: — A demi-leopard gardant, Or, supporting a branch of oak, fructed, Or.

Cottle, of Sampford Peverell, by marriage with a co-heiress of Peverell. The heiresses of Cahurta, Godfrey, Bodigood, and Browne, married into this family, of which there was male issue in 1620: a younger branch, settled at North Tawton, was not extinct in 1720; but none of the family now remain.

Arms: — Or, a bend, G.

Crest: — A tiger seiant, on a ducal crown.

Courtenay, of Molland Bottreaux. — Descended from Sir Philip Courtenay, a younger son of Sir Philip Courtenay, of Powderham, who settled at this place in consequence of a marriage with the daughter of Lord Hungerford. John Courtenay, Esq., the last heir male of this branch, died in 1732: the co-heiresses married Chichester and Paston: a daughter of the latter married Throckmorton. George Throckmorton, Esq., brother of the late Sir John Throckmorton, Bart., took the name of Courtenay; but upon succeeding to his brother's title, resumed that of Throckmorton; and in 1819 his younger brother, Charles Throckmorton, took the name of Courtenay.

Arms: — The same as Lord Courtenay, with due difference.

Courtenay, of Walreddon. — Descended from James, fifth son of Sir William Courtenay, (the sixth of that name,) by Margaret, daughter of Sir William Wallis. The ancestor of William Courtenay, Esq., now of Walreddon, settled at this place about 1694: extinct by the death of William Courtenay, Esq., in 1787.

Arms: — The same as Lord Courtenay, with due difference.

Croker, or Crocker, of Lyneham, in Yealmton. — The ancestor of this family, who settled at Lyneham before the year 1400, was son of John Crocker, Esq., of Hele. Courtenay Crocker, Esq., the last heir male of this family, died in 1740; one of his co-heiresses married Bulteel of Fleet. The heiress of Corim of Hemerdon had married into this family.

A younger branch was of Windsor in Yealmton, and afterwards of Bovey Tracey. There was a younger branch of this family at St. Agnes, in Cornwall.

Arms: — Argent, a chevron engrailed, G., between 3 crows, Proper.

Cruwys, of Morchard Cruwys. — This ancient family was settled at Morchard and Netherex nearly from the time of the Conquest. The Netherex branch became extinct in or about the reign of Edward I., when five co-heiresses married Lucy, St. Clere, Lucombe, Reis, and Whifield. The co-heiresses of a younger branch, settled at Anstey Cruwys, married Norton and Pollard, in the fourteenth century. The Morchard Cruwys, which I believe was the elder line, became extinct by the death of the late Dr. Henry Shortridge Cruwys, in 1804: his daughters and co-heiresses married Sharland and Melhuish. Prince observes that no heiress had married into this family.

Arms: — Az., a bend, per bend dauncettee, A. and G., between 6 escallops, Or.

Crest: — On a mount, Vert, a stork, Proper, holding in the dexter foot an escallop, Or.

Crymes, of Buckland Monachorum. — The late Amos Crymes, vicar of Buckland Monachorum, and of Lovicombe House, in that parish, was representative of the family of Crymes, who were the original grantees of the abbey after the dissolution: he married the heiress of Andrews, of Thornton House, in South Wales, where his eldest son, Amos Crymes, M. A., of the University of Oxford, at present resides.

Arms: — Or, 3 bars, G., charged with 2 martlets on the upper, and 1 on the lower bar, Argent, a chief nebulée, A. and S.

Crest: — A martlet, Vert.

Cudmore, of Loxbear. — Four descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620. Daniel Cudmore, Esq., the last heir male, died in 1723.

Arms: — Argent, a fesse nebulée, G., between 3 spread eagles, Sable.

Culme. — See Columb.

Dillon, of Chimwell, in Bratton Fleming, and of Wroughton and Hart, in Heanton Punchardon. — Thomas Dillon settled in this county in consequence of having married a co-heiress of Fleming. Chimwell was sold in the reign of Charles I. Sir William Dillon, of the Heanton branch, married an heiress of Chichester. The Dillons of Chimwell removed about the middle of the seventeenth century to Farthingoe, in Northamptonshire.

Arms: — Argent, a lion rampant between 4 crescents surmounted by as many etoiles, G., over all a fesse, Azure.

Crest: — A demi-lion issuing and holding a crescent, surmounted by an etoile, as in the arms.

Dinham, of Wortham. — The ancestor of this branch of the ancient and baronial family of Dinham, or Dynham, married the heiress of Wortham, of Wortham, in the parish of Lifton, in the reign of Richard II. The heiress of Westmanton, and a co-heiress of Westlake, married into this branch. One of the co-heiresses of John Dynham, Esq., who died in 1641, married Hicks, whose heiress married Harris. George Dynham, Esq., probably of a younger branch, died in 1773. I cannot find that any of the male line now remain.

Arms: — G. 4 lozenges conjoined in fesse, Erm., a border of the last.

Crest: — An arm couped, Or, the hand, Argent, holding a lock of hay, Sable.

Docton, of Docton in Hartland. — Philip Docton, Esq., the last of this ancient family, died in 1742. William Waddon Martyn, Esq., is the representative. The heiress of a branch of this family, which had been settled in Cornwall, and was afterwards of Whitleigh, in St. Budeaux, married Gennys. Sir Richard Docton, of this family, who died in 1623, was one of the justices of the King's Bench.

Arms: — Argent, a crescent, S., on a chief, G., 2 crescents, Or.

Crest: — A fleur-de-lis, Sable.

Downe, of East Downe, Tutshill, Barnstaple, &c. — The heiress of the elder branch of this ancient family married the ancestor of the Rev. John Pine Coffin, in the reign of Edward III. A younger branch was of Tutshill in Pilton: the heiress of this branch married Ley, of Comb Martin. One of the ancestors of another branch, which was of Barnstaple and Holdsworthy, married a sister of Bishop Jewell; his son, who was rector of Instow, died in 1631; his grandson, Henry Downe, M. D., was settled at Barnstaple. The grandson of Dr. Downe, who was of Borough, in Northam, married the heiress of Phillips of Cornwall. Henry Downe, Esq., the last of this family, died in 1805. His daughter married Robert Barton, Esq., Vice-Admiral of the Blue, now of Borough.

Arms: — Gules, a buck's head caboshed, Erm., attired, Or.

Dowrish, of Dowrish, in Sandford. — Henry Dowrish, Esq., the last heir male of this ancient family, which had been settled at Dowrish at least as early as the reign of Henry III. died in 1717.

Arms: — Argent, a bend cottised, Sab., a border engrailed of the second.

Duck, of Heavitree and Mount Radford. — Nicholas Duck, Esq., of this family, was recorder of Exeter in the reign of James I. Richard Duck, Esq., the last heir male, died in 1755. The co-heiresses of this family married Byrdall and Roach; the former died without issue. Jerom Roach, Esq., captain in the South Devon militia, is representative of the latter.

Arms: — Or, on a fesse wavy, S., 3 fusils of the first.

Duke, of Otterton. — William Duke, the ancestor of this family, who was a citizen of Exeter, married a co-heiress of Poer, of Poers Hayes, in the reign of Richard II.: one of the co-heiresses of Cossington, of Kent, appears to have married into this family also at an early period, and in later times a co-heiress of Reynell, of Creedy Wiger. Robert Duke, Esq., the last heir male of this family, died in 1755 (fn. n20); his sisters married Doidge, Yonge, and Taylor, the former died without issue; the Rev. Duke Yonge, of Cornwood, is the present representative of the family.

Arms: — Per fesse, Arg. and Az., 3 chaplets counterchanged.

Dyer, of Yard, in Malborough. — Four descents of this family are described in the Visitation of 1620. The heiress of Martin of Malborough married into this family, which became extinct about 1700. The heiress married Savery.

Arms: — Or, a chief indented, Gules.

English, of Stockley English. — The heiress of the elder branch married Champernowne at an early period. A younger branch was of Bradninch, in 1620, and had male issue.

Arms: — Sab., 3 lioncels rampant, Argent.

Erle, of Bindon, in Axmouth. — Walter Erle, Esq., descended from an ancient Somersetshire family, settled at Bindon, having acquired that estate and Charborough, the seat of the family in Dorsetshire, by a marriage with a co-heiress of Wikes; his grandson, Sir Walter, who was an officer in the parliamentary army, married the heiress of Dymock. General Thomas Drax, who died in 1720, was the last heir male of the family. The heiress of Erle having married Ernley; the heiress of Ernley, Drax; and the heiress of Drax, Grosvenor; Richard Edward Erle Drax Grosvenor, Esq., M.P., is the present representative of this family.

Arms: — G. 3 escallops, Argent, a border engrailed of the second.

Eveleigh, of Eveleigh, in Broad Clist. — Sir William Pole speaks of the Eveleighs as having been of good antiquity at this place: four descents are described in Glover's visitation, made in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. They are not mentioned in the visitation of 1620. I do not find that there are any of the name now in the county. Dr. Eveleigh, the late provost of Oriel College, was of this family.

Arms: — Per pale, Or and S., a chevron between 3 griffins, passant, counterchanged.

Floier, or Floyer, of Floier Hayes, in the parish of St. Thomas, near Exeter, removed into Dorsetshire in the seventeenth century. The heiresses of Dunstanville, Clive, Basse, Kirke, and co-heiresses of Crooke, Martyn, and Wadham, married into this family. The Rev. William Floyer, vicar of Stinsford, in Dorsetshire, is the present representative.

Arms: — S. a chevron between 3 arrows, Argent.

Ford, of Chagford, &c. — Eight descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620. Prince supposes them to have been descended from the Fords, of Fordmore, in Moreton Hampsted, settled there as early as the 12th century; the heiress of that family married Charles, of Tavistock. The Fords, of Chagford, settled there in consequence of a marriage with the heiress of Hill. John, the fourth in descent, who was of Ashburton, married the heiress of Holwell, by whom he had a daughter and heiress married to St. Clere. The son of a second marriage continued the family. John Ford, of Bagtor, married the heiress of Drake, of Spratshays, in Littleham, and was father of Sir Henry Ford, of Nutwell, who was chief secretary for Ireland, under Arthur Capel, Earl of Essex, and was buried at Woodbury, in 1684: he left a son Charles, supposed to have died in his minority, and three daughters, married to Drake, (ancestor of George Drake, Esq., of Ipplepen,) Holwill, and Egerton. John, second son of John Ford above mentioned, continued the line at Ashburton; Mr. John Ford, who died in 1677, is supposed to have been the last of the branch: there was another younger branch at Totnes.

Arms: — Party per fesse, A. and S., in chief, a greyhound current; in base, an owl within a border engrailed, all counterchanged.

Crest: — A demi-greyhound, charged with a bend, Argent, collar'd, Or, between 2 apple branches fructed of the second.

Forde, of Fordmore, in the parish of Plymtree. — George Forde, the last heir male of this ancient family, which had been settled at Fordemore as early as the reign of Edward I., died in 1702. The co-heiresses married Jope and Chave.

Arms as described by Sir William Pole. — A castle Argent, in the port a cross formee; over all a ducal crown, Or.

Fountaine, of Bawcomb, in Ugborough. — It is probable that the ancestor of this family, which resided for several generations at Bawcomb, and possessed a moiety of the estate, married a co-heiress of Bawcomb.

Arms: — A. 3 bars gemelles, G. on a canton, Az., a lion passant, Or.

Fraunceis, of Fraunceis Court, in Broad Clist, settled at this place in or about the reign of Edward II., married the heiress of Hele. They removed to Combe Flory, in Somersetshire: one of the co-heiresses married Prideaux; the descendants bore the name of Fraunceis, and were ancestors of John Fraunceis Gwynn, Esq., now of Forde Abbey.

Arms: — Argent, a chevron engrailed, between 3 mullets, Gules.

Frye, of Yartye, settled at Yartye, in the reign of Henry IV., in consequence of a marriage with the heiress of Yartye. Robert Frye, Esq., the last of the elder branch, died in 1726: the heiress married a collateral ancestor of Lord King. There were younger branches of this family at Deer Park, Wood, and Dulcis. Henry Frye, Esq., the last of the Deer Park branch, died in 1772. The heiress of the Dulcis branch, which had been extinct a considerable time before, married Southcote.

Arms: — G. 3 horses current, Argent.

Fursland, of Bickington, near Ashburton. — Seven descents of this family, which had married the heiress of Whitchurch, are described in the visitation of 1620. One of the co-heiresses of this family, which was soon afterwards extinct in the male line, married Wood.

Arms: — Or, a lion rampant, S., between 3 crosses formee fitcheé, Gules.

Garland, originally of Garland, in Chulmleigh; afterwards, in consequence of a marriage with the co-heiress of Whitfield, of Whitfield, in Marwood. — John Garland, Esq., the last of this ancient family, died in 1710; the estate had been previously sold, and his only daughter died unmarried, in a state of poverty.

Arms: — Or, 3 pales, G., a chief per pale, G. and Az.; on the dexter side, a garland; on the sinister, a demi-lion rampant, Or.

Giffard, of Halesbury and Brightleigh. — This ancient family is described as maternally descended from the Giffards, Earls of Buckinghamshire, whose name was assumed by Robert, the common ancestor of the Devonshire Giffards, in the reign of Henry II. Sir Walter Giffard was of Aveton Giffard, and of Weare Giffard, in the reign of Henry III. The heiress of the elder branch married Trewen. Bartholomew Giffard, a younger son of this family, settled at Halesbury in the reign of Edward I. This branch, into which the heiress of Smith, of Totnes, had married, became extinct about the middle of the seventeenth century, by the death of John Giffard, Esq., who left Halesbury to the Giffards, of Brightleigh, descended from Sir Roger Giffard, a younger son of the Halesbury family, who had settled at Brightleigh in consequence of a marriage with the heiress of Cobleigh, in the early part of the sixteenth century. Hardinge Giffard, Esq., the immediate descendant and representative of this branch, is now Chief Justice of Ceylon. A younger brother of Mr. Giffard's father resided some years ago at Atherington, and left male issue, but I cannot learn that any of the family are now living in Devonshire. There was a younger branch settled at Instow; one of the co-heiresses of which married Berry; and another younger branch, of Tiverton Castle. The grandson of Roger Giffard, Esq., who died in 1603, was the last of this branch; his daughter and heiress married Burgoyne. Another branch was of Milton Damarell and Tapelegh in 1620. Tapelegh was sold by the Giffards about the beginning of the last century.

Arms of Giffard: — Sab., 3 lozenges conjoined in fesse, Ermine.

Crest: — A cock's head erased, Or, holding in the beak a sprig of 3 leaves, Vert.

Gilbert, of Tackbeare, in Bridgerule, and of North Petherwin. — This family, which, as residents of Tackbeare, should have been inserted among the Cornish families, was descended from a younger son of the family of Gilbert, otherwise Kniveton, of Derbyshire. They had been settled at Tackbeare for five descents in 1620. John Gilbert, grandson of William, who came out of Derbyshire, married an heiress of Pomeroy. The heiress of this family married Amy. (fn. n21) A younger branch was of North Petherwin, in this county, in 1620.

The Arms ascribed to this family, in the visitation of that year, (a fesse between 3 crescents,) are those of Rossington, of Derbyshire, whose heiress married Gilbert. The Arms of Gilbert, alias Kniveton, as described in the visitation of Derbyshire, are Gules, a bend Vaire, A. and S.

Crest: — A griffin's head, Gules, beaked, Or, issuing out of a ducal coronet of the second.

Giles, of Bowden, in Ashsprington. — Four descents of this family, into which the heiress of Tuckerman, and a co-heiress of Drewe, of Hayne, had married, are described in the visitation of 1620. The heiress of John Giles, Esq., who died in 1676, married Sir Richard Gipps. There was a family of the same name settled at Dean Prior, soon after the Reformation. Sir Edward Giles, who died in 1642, and has a monument in Dean Prior church, seems to have been the last of this family.

Arms: — Per chevron, Argent and Az., a lion rampant, counter-changed.

Crest: — A hand erased, Or, holding a bough of apples, fructed of the second.

Glanville, of Halwell, in Whitchurch, of Tavistock, and of Kilworthy, in Tavistock. — This ancient family settled at Halwell about the year 1400. Nicholas Glanville, its representative, was of Tavistock, and aged 23, in 1620: a second branch was then of Launceston, in Cornwall. Halwell, their original residence, was sold by the family in the last century. John Glanville, the representative of the elder branch, is in the service of Arthur Kelly, Esq., of Kelly. John Glanville, of this family, one of the justices of the King's Bench, in the reign of Elizabeth, settled at Kilworthy, and died in 1600. The grand-daughter of his elder son (being heiress to her brother) married Kelly, whose heiress married Manaton. Julius, youngest son of Sir John Glanville, second son of the Judge, was ancestor of the Glanvilles of Catchfrench, in Cornwall. The three elder sons of Sir John died without issue.

Arms: — Az., 3 saltiers, Or.

Crest: — On a mount Vert, a stag trippant, Proper.

Hache, of Hache, and North Aller, or Awre, in South Molton. — It does not appear when these families branched off; it is most probable, that Hache, of Hache, was the elder: the heiresses of Leigh, Murdach, and Dirwyn, married into this branch. John Hache, Esq., who died in 1731, had a grandson Thomas, who died unmarried, leaving a sister. The ancestor of Hache, of North Aller, married the heiress of Aller in the reign of Edward III. The heiress of Horton also married into this branch, which appears to have become extinct about the year 1750.

Arms: — G. 2 demi-lions passant, couped, Or.

Hals, or Halse, of Kenedon and Efford. — This was originally a Cornish family. They settled at Kenedon in the reign of Edward III. The heiresses of Mewy, Sutcliffe, and Lapflode; and co-heiresses of Hidon, Esse, Latimer, Whitlegh, and Speccot, married into this family. Matthew Hals, Esq., who lived at Efford in the reign of Charles II., left two daughters co-heiresses, married to Elford and Trelawney.

Arms: — Argent, a fesse between 3 griffins' heads erased, Sable.

Harlewin, of Ascerton, in Sidmouth, from the time of Henry VI. — This family was not extinct in the middle of the seventeenth century. (fn. n22)

Arms: — Az., 3 apples, Argent, a file in chief, G.

Haydon, of Boughwood, in Harpford; Ebford, in Woodbury; and Cadhay, in Ottery. — This family is traced in the pedigrees to the reign of Edward IV. They had married the heiresses of Weeks, of Honeychurch, and Tiderleigh, of Tiderleigh. In consequence of a marriage with the heiress of Cadhay, the Haydons settled at Cadhay in the sixteenth century. This family has been many years removed from Devonshire: the present representative is William Haydon, Esq., of Crewkerne, in Somersetshire, a lieutenant in the navy.

Arms: — Argent, 3 bars gemelles, Az., on a chief, G., a bar dauncettée, Or.

Crest: — A lion preying on a bull.

Hayne, of Fuge, in Blackauton, settled there for several generations: extinct in the male line by the death of Charles Hayne, Esq., in 1821. His devisee, a grandson of John Seale, Esq., of Mount Boone, who married his sister, is to take the name when of age.

Heywood, of Maristow, married the heiress of Modyford; James Modyford Heywood, Esq., the last of this family, died in 1798. His daughters and co-heiresses married Musters, of Nottinghamshire, Bertie, Montolieu, and Orby Hunter.

Arms: — Argent, 3 torteauxes in bend between 2 cottises, G., within a border of the second.

Crest: — A falcon on a stump, Proper.

Hillersdon, originally of Hillersdon, in Collumpton. — This ancient family was settled at Membland, in Holbeton, as early as the reign of Henry VI., and continued there till 1630, or later. Heiresses of Grimston, Edgecumbe, and Snape, and a co-heiress of Clisdon, had married into this family.

Arms: — Argent, on a chevron Sable, 3 bulls' heads caboshed of the first.

Crest: — A squirrel cracking a nut.

Hody, of Netheway, in Brixham. — Sir John Hody, of Stowel, in Somersetshire, acquired this place in marriage with the heiress of Cole, who had a residence also at Pillesdon, in Dorsetshire; his son, Sir John Hody, Chief Justice of the King's Bench, married the heiress of Jewe, of Whitfield, and Beerhall, in Devon; the posterity of his elder son continued at Netheway for several descents. John Hody, Esq., sold Netheway in 1696, and left Devon. Edmund Hody, M. D., of this branch, was of London in 1750. Hugh and Arthur, two younger sons of Christopher Hody, Esq., of Netheway, who wrote their name Huddy, were of Brixham in 1620: the co-heiresses of Hugh married Burland, of Dorsetshire, and Hody, of Northover, in Somersetshire. Sir William Hody, second son of the Lord Chief Justice, was Chief Baron of the Exchequer, and ancestor of the Hody's of Pillesdon, in Dorsetshire, and Crewkerne, in Somersetshire. Robert Hody, Esq., who was of Crewkerne in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, had two sons; John, the elder, who was of Beer-hall, (Thorncombe,) in Devon, left an only daughter married to Bowditch; the next son was ancestor of the Hodys, of Northover, in Somersetshire; of which branch was the learned Dr. Humphry Hody, archdeacon of Oxford, who died in 1706.

Arms of Hody: — Argent, a fesse party, per fesse indented, V. and S. between two cottises counterchanged.

Crest: A bull passant, Argent.

Hext, of Kingston. — Removed into Cornwall.

Holcombe, of Hole. — Seven descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620. Thomas Holcombe, the representative, was then a comedian at one of the theatres in London.

Arms: — Az., a chevron, Argent, between 3 men's heads, Or, filleted of the second.

Holland, of Weare, in Topsham, Shipwash, and Black Torrington. — Descended from John, fourth son of Robert Lord Holland, who died in or about 1328, and brother of Thomas Holland, ancestor of the Earls and Duke of Exeter of that family. This John married the heiress of Sir Andrew Metsted, who was lord of Shipwash in 1314, and had married the heiress of Bathe, of Weare. The heiresses of Holsworthy, Appledore, and Thorne of Upcott, married also into this family. John Holland, Esq., great grandson of the last-mentioned marriage, and the last heir male, died in 1703; his sisters and co-heiresses married Coham, of Coham, and Coham, of Bovacot. The Rev. William Holland Coham, descended from the elder, is the representative of this ancient family.

Arms: — Az., a lion between 3 fleur-de-lis, Or.

Holway, of Watton, in Stoke Gabriel. — James Holway, Esq., the last of this family, which had married the heiress of Fishacre, by the heiress of Watton, died in 1696. The co-heiresses married Blackmore and Windsor.

Arms: — Sable, 2 swords in saltier, Argent, the points downwards.

Huckmore, or Hockmore, of Bokeyt, in Little Hempston; and Buckland Baron, in Comb-in-Teignhead. — The ancestor of this family married the heiress of Bokeyt, about the latter end of the fourteenth century. The third in descent married the heiress of Folkeray, of Buckland Baron. Sir Gregory Hockmore, who appears to have been the last heir male of this family, died in 1678; his heiress married the father, or grandfather, of the late Mr. Justice Gould, whose co-heiresses married Luttrell, and Richard, Earl of Cavan.

Arms: — Per chevron, Or, and S.; in chief, 2 pair of sickles conjoined, Argent, handles, Or; in base a moor-cock, bill and wattles, G.

Crest: — A falcon, Proper, seizing on a moor-cock, as in the arms.

Hunt, of Exeter and Chudleigh, traced to about the year 1500 in the Heralds' visitation of 1620, — appears not to have been extinct before the year 1730, when the last burial of that name occurs in the Chudleigh register.

Arms: — Az., on a bend, between 2 water bougets, Or, 3 leopards' faces, Gules.

Crest: — On a mount, V., a hound seiant, Or, collared, G., chained to a pikestaff, S., the head per pale, Or, and Argent.

Kelland, of Painsford, in Ashprington, — married the heiress of Somaster. John Kelland, Esq. the last of this family, died in 1712: his coheiresses married Stafford, Coffin, and Courtenay.

Arms: — Sab., a fesse Argent, in chief, 3 fleur-de-lis of the last.

Crest: — A demi-tiger salient, Or, maned, Argent.

Kirkham, originally of Ashcomb, (temp. Henry III.) afterwards, (by marriage with the heiress of Dennis, temp. Edward I.) of Blagdon, in Paignton. — The heiress of this family, into which the heiresses of Scobhull and Ferrers had married, brought Blagdon, in the seventeenth century, to Sir George Blount, Bart, of Oxfordshire. There was a younger branch of this family at Pinhoe, descended from a younger son of Sir John Kirkham, who lived in the reign of Henry VII. William Kirkham, Esq., of Pinhoe, died in 1659. I have not been able to trace them lower, but it is probable, that Thomas Kirkham, Esq., who sold the manor of Ringmore in 1759, was of this branch.

Arms: — Argent, 3 lions rampant, G., a border engrailed, Sable.

Crest: — A lion's head erased, Argt.

Knapman, of Throwleigh, — had been settled there for five generations in 1620: the heiress married Northmore. There were two younger branches of this family settled at Chagford, and Drewe's Teignton. The Chagford branch had married a co-heiress of Newcombe; the other a coheiress of Cove, of St. Thomas.

Arms: — Or, on a cross, A., between 4 Cornish choughs, 5 blocks of tin marked with the letter W.

Leach, of Crediton and Cadleigh. — This family, originally of an humble origin, flourished for a few generations, and became extinct by the death of Sir Simon Leach, K. B., in 1708.

Arms: — Erm., on a chief indented, G., 3 ducal coronets, Or.

Leigh, of Borough, in Northam. — Descended from the Leighs of High Leigh, in Cheshire; married the heiress of Borough, and a co-heiress of Butler, of Stone in Parkham; extinct before the middle of the seventeenth century. The co-heiresses married Basset and Berry.

Arms: — Argent, a lion rampant, G., on a sinister canton of the second, an escallop, Or.

Crest: — A demi-lion rampant, Erminois, holding an escallop, Argent.

Leigh, of Ridge, in Bishop's Morchard, married the heiress of Ridge. Ten descents are described in the visitation of 1620, when there was male issue.

Arms: — Argent, 2 bars, Az., a bend compony, O. and G.

Leigh, of Leigh, near Tiverton and of East Allington. — The heiress of the elder branch, which became extinct in the reign of Edward III., married Hache. Four descents are described in the visitation of 1620 as of East Allington. John Leigh, the elder son of the family, settled in London.

Arms: — Vert, a saltier between 4 eagles displayed, Or.

Lippincott, or Luppincott, of Wibbery, in Alverdiscot, originally Luffencot, of Luffencot. (fn. n23) — This family had married the heiress of Wibbery, and co-heiresses of Gough and Elford. Harry Luppincot, Esq., the last heir male (fn. n24) of the elder branch of this family, died in 1779.

Sir Henry Lippincot, Bart., of Stoke in Gloucestershire, is descended from a younger son of the Lippincots of Wibbery, whose descendants were originally settled at Pynhill, in Sidbury, and afterwards for some generations at Culmstock.

Arms: — Per fesse counterembattled, G. and S., 3 talbots statant, gardant, Argent, two and one.

Lowman, of Whitstone. — Five descents are described in the visitation of 1620, when there was male issue.

Arms: — Argent, 3 escutcheons, S., charged with as many gauntlets, Or.

Lutton, of Mowlish and Cofford, in Kenton, from the time of Henry V. — There was male issue in 1620, but the family is supposed to have been many years extinct.

Arms: — Vert, a spread eagle within an orle of trefoils, Or.

Luttrell, of Hartland. — A branch of the Luttrells of Somersetshire settled at Hartland in consequence of having married a co-heiress of Abbot, who died in 1609. A co-heiress of this branch of Luttrell married Orchard. Some of the Luttrell family resided for some time at Santon in Braunton. The heiress of the Luttrells of Somersetshire married, in 1746, Henry Fownes, Esq., of Netheway, in this county, who took the name of Luttrell.

Arms: — Or, a bend between 6 martlets, S.

Crest: — A boar, Argent, bristled, Or, charged with a rose of the second.

Mapowder, of Holsworthy and Pyeworthy. — Five descents are described in the visitation of 1620. Roger Mapowder, of this family, was buried at Pyeworthy in 1722.

Arms: — Barruly G. and A., on a chief of the second a greyhound current, Sable.

Martyn, of Exeter. — Descended from a younger branch of the baronial family of Martyn, or Martin, of Dartington, which had been settled at Athelhampston, in Dorsetshire. (fn. n25) William Martin, grandson of Richard, second son of Sir William Martin, of Athelhampston, was recorder of Exeter. This branch had settled at Oxton before 1620. William Clifford Martin, Esq., the last heir male, died in 1769: the heiress married the father of the late Rev. John Swete, (formerly Tripe,) of Oxton.

Arms: — The same as the baronial family of Martin, with due difference.

Crest: — On the trunk of a tree, A., a bear seiant, Proper, chained of the first, holding a mirror, Or.

Martin, of Plymouth, descended from Kent. — Captain John Martin, of this family, went round the world with Sir Francis Drake in 1577; his father was of Bridgetown, near Totnes: there was male issue of this family in 1620.

Arms: — G., on a chevron, Or, 3 talbots passant, Sable.

Crest: — On a globe, Or, a falcon rising, Argent, gorged with a ducal coronet.

Marwood, of West Marwood, near Barnstaple, from the time of Henry III. till the reign of Elizabeth, when two of the co-heiresses married Chichester and Wichalse. — About the beginning of the last century, James Marwood, Esq., (but whether descended from a younger branch of the Marwoods above mentioned I have not ascertained) purchased Sutton in Widworthy. J. T. B. Marwood, Esq., the last of this family, (which had removed into Somersetshire) died in 1811: his sisters and co-heiresses married Stevens (fn. n26), Wolcot, and Elton.

Arms of Marwood, of Marwood: — G., a chevron, Argent, between 3 goats' heads erased, Erm., attired, Or.

Crest: — A goat's head erased, Argent, attired, Or, charged with a chevron, G.

Maynard, of Sherford, in Brixton, and of Milton. — Six descents of this family, into which a co-heiress of Heliar had married, are described in the visitation of 1620, when there was male issue from both branches. Alexander Maynard, Esq., a younger son of this family, resided at Tavistock, and was father of Sir John Maynard, sergeant-at-law. One of the co-heiresses of the sergeant's son married Sir Henry Hobart, Bart., ancestor of the Earl of Buckinghamshire; the other the Earl of Stamford.

Arms: — Argent, 3 sinister hands, Gules.

Michell, of Salcombe Regis, and of Sea-side House, in Branscombe. — Thomas Michell, Esq., the last heir male of this ancient family, which had married the heiress of Rowe, died in 1785. Sir Isaac Heard, Garter King of Arms, is the representative. (fn. n27)

Arms: — Per chevron, G. and S., a chevron Argent, between 3 swans.

Molford, of Cadbury. — Roger Molford married the heiress of Cadbury: his grandson was living in 1620.

Arms: — S. a fesse, Erm., between 3 swans, Proper.

Crest: — A swan issuing out of a ducal coronet, the wings elevated.

Moore, of Moorehayes, in Collumpton, from the time of Henry III. — Married heiresses of Treslake, Furneaux, and Botour, by the heiress of Stawell; and co-heiresses of Clivedon and Bonville. George Moore, Esq., the last heir male of this ancient family, died in 1711; the heiress married Blackmore.

Arms: — Erm., on a chevron, Az., 3 cinquefoils, Or.

Crest: — A cubit arm couped, holding a sword.

More, alias Moring, or Mooringe, of Moretown, in Whitchurch. — This family, which continued here for many descents, appears to have become extinct, or to have removed about the year 1640.

Arms: — Argent, 6 martlets, 3, 2, and 1.

Moulton, of Plympton. — Four descents of this family, which had married heiresses of Quicke and Thomas, are described in the visitation of 1620. The last of the name whom I find in the parish register is Edward Moulton, buried in 1674.

Arms: — Per pale, Arg. and Erm., 3 bars, Gules.

Newcourt, of Pickwell, in Georgeham. — This family, which is traced to the reign of Edward III., was originally of Halesworthy. A co-heiress of Merrifield, and an heiress of Floyer, married into it. The heiress of Newcombe, of Pickwell, married Chichester about the middle of the seventeenth century. There was male issue, of younger branches, in 1620.

Arms: — Sable, a bend, Erm., between 2 eagles displayed, with 2 heads, Or.

Crest: — A demi-griffin issuant, Gules, guttée, Or, beaked of the second.

Newte, of Tiverton, traced to the time of Queen Elizabeth. — Thomas Newte, Esq., captain of an East Indiaman, who died in 1806, was the last heir male. His aunts married Holwell and Pitman.

Arms: — G., a chevron, Argent, between 3 human hearts, transfixed with so many swords.

Northleigh, of Northleigh, in Inwardleigh. — Eleven descents of this ancient family are described in the visitation of 1620. The heiress of Chapman married into this family. A younger branch, which afterwards married a co-heiress of Tothill, of Peamore, had settled at Matford, in Alphington, in the early part of the seventeenth century. Stephen Northleigh, Esq., the last of this branch, married a co-heiress of Davie, and died in 1713. The heiress of Northleigh married Hippisley Coxe, of Stone Easton.

Arms: — Argent, a chevron, S., between 3 roses.

Nutcombe, of Nutcombe. — This family, which married a co-heiress of Foster, is traced to the reign of Richard II. Richard Nutcombe, Esq., the last heir male, died in 1736. The Rev. Nutcombe Quicke, late chancellor of the diocese, took the name of Nutcombe by act of parliament in 1792, and died in 1809, without male issue.

Orchard, of Hartland-abbey, married a co-heiress of Luttrell. — The sisters and co-heiresses of the late Paul Orchard, Esq., who died in 1812, married Morrison and Buck.

Arms of Orchard: — Az., a fesse, Argent, between 3 pears, Or.

Crest: — A dexter arm couped at the elbow issuing from a mural crown, habited, Az., adorned with 3 fleur-de-lis, Or, 1 and 2, the cuff turned up, Erm., holding in the hand, Proper, a pear as in the field.

Oxenham, of Oxenham, in South Tawton, from a very early period. — Wlliam Long Oxenham, Esq., the last heir male of this family, died in 1814: the heiress married Arthur Acland, Esq., father of Sir John Palmer Acland, Bart.

Arms: — G., a fesse between 3 crescents, Or.

Peter, of Bowhay, in Exminster. — This family was descended from William, the younger son of John Petre (fn. n28), of Tor Newton, who was father of Sir William Petre, ancestor of the lords Petre. John Peter, the only son of the said William, who had issue, was M. P. for Exeter in the reign of Philip and Mary. His elder son died without issue. Otho, the second, was ancestor of the Peters of Bowhay. Thomas, the third, settled in Cornwall, and was ancestor of Henry Peter, Esq., now of Harlyn. John Peter, the last of the Bowhay branch, died in 1643: his only daughter and heir married Sir Allen Apsley, ancestor of Earl Bathurst.

Arms: — The same as those of Lord Petre, with due difference.

Pincombe, or Pyncomb, of South Molton, and of Welsbear. — Pyncomb of Welsbear became extinct in 1672; one of the co-heiresses married Tucker. Mrs. Gertrude Pyncombe, the last of this branch, who died unmarried about 1730, left a considerable estate for the augmentation of poor benefices, the endowment of schools, and other charitable purposes. Mr. William Pyncombe, the last of the South Molton branch, died in 1691.

Arms: — Per Pale, G. and Az., three helmets, Argent.

Crest: — A cubit arm issuing, vested, V., trimmed and gloved, Or, holding a spear, Proper, the head, Argent.

Pointington, or Poyntingdon, of Pennicot, in Shobrooke, from the reign of Edward III. till after the middle of the seventeenth century. — Mr. T. Poyntingdon, who seems to have been the last of this family, died in 1665. The co-heiresses of Hengscott, Haye, and Prust, married into this family.

Arms, borne by Pointington in 1620: — Argent, a bend, G., between 6 fleur-de-lis, Vert.

Pollexfen, of Kitley. — Four descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620. The heiress of Strechley, of Madcombe, married into this family. Edmund Pollexfen, Esq., the last heir male, died in 1710. The heiress married Bastard.

Arms: — Quarterly, Argent and Az., in the first and fourth quarter, a lion rampant, Gules.

Preston, of Up-Ottery. — This family came from Lancashire: there was male issue in 1620.

Arms: — Argent, 2 bars, G., on a canton of the second, a cinquefoil of the first.

There was another family of the same name, (with male issue,) described in the visitation as of Up-Ottery also, that came from Somersetshire. Amias Preston, brother of John, then the representative, is called an egregious navigator. Westcote, speaking of these Prestons, calls them "the generous family of Preston, of whom was, not long since, Captain Preston." The arms of this family are not described.

Prestwood, of Boterford, in North Huish, — purchased in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. I have not been able to ascertain whether this family is extinct, or removed. Thomas Prestwood, Esq., was buried at North Huish, in 1735; the estate was sold about the year 1740, and has since passed through several hands.

Arms: — Sab., a lion rampant between 2 flaunches, Or.

Crest: — A demi-griffin issuing, Sab., beak Argent, wings, Or, charged with ogresses.

Prous, — an ancient, numerous, and widely-spreading family; originally of Gidley Castle, as early as the reign of Henry II. The heiress of the elder branch married Mules, in the reign of Edward II. or III. A younger branch, into which the heiresses of Wadecot, Crewse, Norton, and Orchard, of Comb Martin, had married, was of Way, in Chagford, for many generations. John Prowz, Esq., (so the name is spelt on his monument,) the last of this branch, died in 1664.

There were younger branches also at Withecomb, Barnstaple, Tiverton, and Exeter, all of which are supposed to be extinct. The heiress of White, and a co-heiress of Staplehill, married into the Tiverton branch. It is probable, that the Prowzes, of Crediton, were of this branch; we find memorials in that church for Francis Prowze, Esq., 1696; and Mrs. Honor Prowze, "the last of a numerous family," 1773.

Arms: — Sable, 3 lions rampant, Argent. The Prowzes, of Exeter, bore the field Ermines.

Prye, of Horwell, in Colebrook. — Five descents of this family, now supposed to be extinct, are described in the visitation of 1620.

Arms: — Erm., a chevron, S., a chief Azure, fretty, Or.

Radford, of Cheinstone, in Chawleigh. — Ambrose Radford, the last of this family, which had been settled here for many generations, died in 1703.

Arms: — Sable, 3 Lampagoes, or mantigers, passant in pale, Argent.

Randall, of Kentisbury, — came out of Berkshire; married the coheiress of Wolfe, of Kentisbury. The heiress of this family married Jones, and died in 1711.

Arms: — Sable, 3 demi-lions rampant, erased, without tails, Argent.

Crest: — On a wreath, a staff couped and raguly, lying fesse ways, Vert, thereon a wolf passant, Az., collared, Or.

Reede, of Wembury. — Four descents are described in the visitation of 1620, when there was male issue.

Arms: — G., on a bend nebuleé. Arg., 3 shovelers, Sab., membered of the field.

Reynell, of Malston, in Sherford, and of East Ogwell. — This ancient family settled at Trumpington, in Cambridgeshire, in the reign of Edw. I. Walter Reynell, having married the heiress of Trumpington. His grandson of the same name, married the heiress of Stighull, of Malston, by one of the co-heiresses of Malston. Walter, son of this marriage, married the heiress of Francis, of Cambridgeshire. Walter, the third in descent from the heiress of Francis, left two sons: Robert, the elder, had an only son, John, who died without issue in 1478; Walter, the second son, had two sons, John, the elder, ancestor of the Reynells, of East Ogwell; and Thomas, ancestor of the Reynells, of Malston. Richard Reynell, son of John, had five sons, four of whom were knights. Richard Reynell, Esq., the great grandson of Sir Thomas Reynell, the elder of these sons, died without issue, in 1735, and by his death the elder branch became extinct: his half sisters married Whitrow, Copleston, and Morice; and the heiress of Whitrow married Joseph Taylor, Esq., ancestor of Pierce Joseph Taylor, Esq., of East Ogwell.

Sir Richard Reynell, Knight, the next brother of Sir Thomas Reynell, who lived in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, was of Ford, near Newton Abbot; he left an only daughter and heir, who married Sir William Waller, the parliamentary general, whose heiress married Sir William Courtenay. Thomas, the second son of Sir Thomas Reynell, married the heiress of Spiller, of Sheperton, Middlesex, was afterwards knighted, and took the name of Spiller, which his descendants some time bore: the present representative of this branch is Thomas Reynell, Esq., of Leatherhead.

Richard Reynell, elder son of Sir Thomas, had a younger son, Richard, who was in the law, and became Chief Justice of the King's Bench, in Ireland. He was created a baronet of the kingdom of Ireland, and was ancestor of Sir Richard Reynell, Bart., now residing in America.

Thomas, to whom Malston was given, as before mentioned, married the heiress of Matthewes, by the heiress of Rous: his posterity continued in the male line at Malston, till the early part of the last century. Mr. Giles Reynell, who died in 1735, a few years after the sale of Malston, is supposed to have been the last of this branch of the family. A younger branch of the Malston Reynells was some time of Creedy Wiger, in Upton Helion, in consequence of a marriage with a co-heiress of Periam. The heiress of these Reynells married into the elder branch.

Arms: — Argent, masonry and a chief indented, Sable.

Crest: — A fox passant, Sable. The family appear also to have borne, formerly, two foxes as supporters.

Risdon, of Bableigh in Parkham, and of Winscot.— This family was originally from Risdon in Gloucestershire: they settled at Bableigh in the reign of Edward I. The heiresses of Bremell and Bromescombe, and a co-heiress of Viell, married into this family. In consequence of the lastmentioned marriage, a younger branch settled at Vielston, in Buckland Brewer, married a co-heiress of Abbot of Hartland, and was not extinct in 1630. Giles Risdon, Esq., of Bableigh, had a son, baptized at Parkham, in 1732. The family do not appear to have been buried at Parkham after 1697. The last Risdon of Bableigh had a brother, a tanner at Torrington, whose son, if living, would be the representative of the family, but he is supposed to have died some years ago in the West Indies: a daughter of the last Giles Risdon married the father of Mr. Samuel Turner, now of Bideford.

Tristram Risdon, the antiquary, settled at Winscot, in the parish of St. Giles, which he possessed by bequest. William Risdon, Esq., the last of this branch, died in 1701; the heiress married Hearle, and Sir Stafford Northcote, Bart., is now its representative.

Arms: — Argent, 3 bird-bolts, Sable.

Crest: — An elephant's head erased, Erminois.

Rogers, of Pilton. — This family, which had been settled at Pilton about seven generations, became extinct, in the male line, in 1791. The co-heiresses married Griffiths and Studdy. A co-heiress of Warren married into this family.

Arms: — Arg., a chevron between 3 stags current, G., (as on monuments at Pilton).

Roope, of Horsewell, in South Milton. — The last of this family, of whom three descents are described in the visitation of 1620, was William Roope, Esq., buried at South Milton in 1760: the heiress married Ilbert. A co-heiress of Irish, and the heiress of Ford, married into this family.

Arms: — Argent, a lion rampant, G., within an orle of pheons, Azure.

Rous, of Modbury. — Sir Ralph Rous resided at Little Modbury in the reign of Henry III.; the heiress of this branch, after five descents, married Dymock. A younger branch settled at Edmerston in Modbury, in consequence of a marriage with the heiress of Edmerston: after residing there for several descents, this branch removed to Halton in Cornwall, where Francis Rous, provost of Eton, and one of Cromwell's lords, was born. The Rev. Richard Rous, late rector of St. George's Clist, who died in 1810, was representative of the provost's brother: his daughter and heiress married Ellicombe. The Rev. William Rous Ellicombe is the representative of this branch.

Arms of Rous: — Or, an eagle displayed, Azure.

Rowe, of Kingston in Staverton, afterwards of Bearton, in Broad Hempston, said to have been descended from a Kentish family.—Sir William Pole mentions William Rowe, Esq., among "the persons of very good rank formerly residing in Totnes." His son John, who was sergeant-at-law in the reign of Henry VIII., married the heiress of Barnhouse of Kingston: the descendant of the sergeant, the late John Rowe, Esq., took the name of Hussey, on succeeding to the estates of Hussey of Marnhull, in Dorsetshire. Bearton is now a farm-house belonging to his widow. Kingston has passed into other hands. His son of the same name is the representative of the family.

Arms: — Argent, a chevron, Az., between 3 trefoils, Gules.

Crest: — A stag's head issuant, Gules, attired, Or.

Rowsewell, of Ford Abbey, of a Somersetshire family. — Sir Henry Rowsewell sold it to Prideaux about the middle of the seventeenth century.

Arms: — Per pale, G. and Az., a lion rampant, Argent.

Crest: — A lion's head erased, Argent.

Sainthill, of Bradninch. — Four descents only of this family are described in the visitation of 1620, but it appears that they were of considerable antiquity. Sir Walter de Sweynthill, or St. Hill, was one of the knights of the shire in 1327, and in several ensuing parliaments. A coheiress of Browne (fn. n29), and the heiress of Parker, of Zeal Monachorum, married into this family. Samuel Sainthill, Esq., the last heir male, died in 1708. His only sister married Thomas Yard, Esq., of Treasurer's Bere, whose son took the name of Sainthill, by act of parliament. The name became again extinct by the death of Samuel Sainthill, Esq., (great grandson of the heiress,) in 1798: his sister, and now only surviving heiress, married Rear Admiral Thomas Pearse, who resides occasionally at Bradninch house. There was a family of this name branched off, probably at an early period, from the Bradninch Sainthills, who resided for several generations at Topsham. Richard Sainthill, Esq., now residing in Ireland, near Cork, is the representative of this family.

Arms: — Or, on a fesse engrailed, Az., between 3 leopards' faces, G., as many bezants, each charged with a fleur-de-lis of the second; in chief on a pile, Az., 3 fleur-de-lis of the first.

Crest: — Within a ducal coronet 2 dragons' heads erased combatant, Vert.

Arms of Pearse: — G., a bend embattled, between 2 unicorns' heads erased, Or.

Crest: — A wyvern, G., the wings displayed, Argent.

St. Albyn, of Paracombe. — This was, in the reign of Edward I., and for many generations, a seat of the St. Albyn family, and from hence they removed to Allfoxton, in Somersetshire, now the seat of their representative, Lawrence St. Albyn, Esq., who still possesses Paracombe, but it has not been for many generations a residence of the family.

Arms: — Erm., on a bend, Sable, 3 bezants.

Crest: — A wolf seiant, Erm., collared, lined, and ringed, Or.

Saint Leger, of Annery, and of Canonleigh, in Burlescombe. — James St. Leger, the ancestor of this family, married a co-heiress of Thomas Boteler, Earl of Ormond: his descendant, Sir John St. Leger, sold Annery before 1600 to his son-in-law, Arscott; John St. Leger, and Dudley, the two sons of Sir John, died without issue: the elder of the coheiresses married Grenville; the second Stucley, of Afton, and the youngest Tremayne, and afterwards Arscott.

Arms: — Az., fretty, A., a canton, Or.

Crest: — A falcon issuing from a plume of ostrich feathers, Argent.

John St. Leger, Esq., ancestor of Viscount Doneraile, became possessed of Eggesford, in this county, by marrying a daughter of Chichester, Earl of Donegal.

Salusbury, of Barnstaple. — Five descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620. Mr. Richard Salusbury, who appears to have been the last heir male, died in 1701.

Arms: — G., a lion rampant, Or, between 3 crescents, Argent.

Sampford, or Sandford, of Collumpton, Halberton, and Exeter. — There was male issue of this family in 1620.

Arms: — A., a chevron between 3 martlets, Sable.

Secomb. — See Thorne.

Shapcott, of Shapcott, in the parish of Knoweston. — The heiress of Windegate married into this family, of which ten descents are described in the visitation of 1620. The ancient seat of the family was sold soon after 1700 by Mr. Shapcott, a barrister at law, who afterwards resided at Exeter.

Arms: — Sable, a chevron, Or, between 3 dove-cotes, Argent.

Crest: — A goat's head erased.

Shapleigh, of Newcourt in Topsham, before of Dartmouth. — Four descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620. The late John Shapleigh, Esq., barrister-at-law, of the Temple, was representative of this family, and left male issue.

Arms: — V., a chevron, A., between 3 escallops, Or.

Crest: — A sinister cubit arm couped, Proper, vested, G., cuffed, Arg., the hand holding a chaplet, Gules.

Sherman, of Knighteston in Ottery,— purchased in the reign of Henry VIII.: the heiress, after a few descents, married Copleston.

Arms: — Or, A lion rampant, Sab., between 3 holly-leaves, Proper.

Shortridge, of Shortridge, in Tiverton, married the heiress of Bowden of Witheridge. — Richard Shortridge, Esq., the last heir male of this family, being then resident at Thelbridge, died in 1763. The co-heiresses (fn. n30) married Perryman, Treby, Pearce, and Martyn. I find no arms ascribed to this family.

Skerit, of Buckland Monachorum, afterwards of Peter Tavy. — There was male issue from two branches in 1620.

Arms: — Or, on a chief indented, S., 3 plates, each charged with a cross-crosslet, G.

Skinner, of Cowley in Brampford Speke. — Four descents are described in the visitation of 1620, when there was male issue. The heiresses of Cornish and Maurice married into this family.

Arms: — Argent, a chief, Az., semée de lis, Or.

Crest: — Out of a ducal coronet a demi-talbot issuing, Argent, collar and leash, G.

Sloly, of Sloly, in Fremington, married the heiress of Fremington. — The heiress of the representative of this ancient family, who died in 1666, married Hawkins. It is probable that there were younger branches. John Sloly, who died in 1703, was a benefactor to the parish of High Bray: the name still remains among the yeomanry in the neighbourhood of Barnstaple.

Arms: — G., a chevron between 3 bats, Or.

Snelling, of Chaddlewood, in Plympton St. Mary, married an heiress of Elford. — The last heir male of this family died in 1653: the heiress married Martyn, one of whose co-heiresses married Sparke of Plymouth.

Arms: — G., 3 griffins' heads erased, A., a chief indented, Ermine.

Somaster, of Widecombe in Stokenham. Eight descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620. The co-heiresses of the elder branch married Trefry and Kent. A younger brother, who was Archdeacon of Cornwall, continued the male line. This branch married a coheiress of Arundell of Trerice, and was of Painsford in Ashsprington, (which had been in the family from the time of Henry VII.) in 1620. John Somaster, Esq., the last of this branch, died in 1681: the heiress married Kelland. The Rev. John Somaster, descended from a younger son, died in 1769.

Arms: — Argent, a castle triple-towered within an orle of fleur-de-lis, Sable.

Crest: — A portcullis, Argent.

Sparke, of Plymouth, descended from a Cheshire family, married the heiress of Cock. — The father of the late Elford Sparke, Esq., married one of the co-heiresses of Martyn of Chaddlewood. Elford Sparke, Esq., by whose death the male line became extinct, in 1789, left three sisters, coheiresses, married to Eveleigh, Langworthy, and Cookesley.

Arms: — Checky, Or and V., a bend, Ermine.

Crest: — Out of a ducal coronet, Or, a demi-panther rampant gardant, Argent, spotted with various colours; out of his mouth and ears fire issuing, Proper.

Speccot, of Merton. — The antient family of Fitz-Bernard, settling at Speccot, took that name in the reign of Henry II. Co-heiresses of Belston, Furneaux, and Scobhull, and the heiress of Boys, married into this family. Charles Speccot, Esq., the last heir male, died about the latter part of the reign of Charles II.; his sisters and co-heiresses married Hals, Hele, and Reynell.

In 1620, there were younger branches of this family at Clawton and Thorverton.

Arms: — Or, on a bend, G., 3 milrinds, Argent.

Speke, or Espeke. — This ancient family was of Brampford Speke from nearly the time of the Conquest. Heywood, in Wemworthy, was also a seat of the Spekes, who removed into Somersetshire about the middle of the fifteenth century, in consequence of a marriage with the heiress of Beauchamp of White Lackington. The heiresses of Gervais, Keynes, and Winard, married also into this family. Frederick Lord North, afterwards Earl of Guildford, married the heiress of Speke.

Arms: — Argent, 2 bars, Az., over all an eagle displayed with two heads, Or.

Spicer, of Weare, in Topsham. — An ancestor of this ancient family was mayor of Exeter in 1273: John Spicer, probably the grandson, was several times mayor in the reign of Edward III. This spirited citizen, with great alertness, fitted out three ships for the French expedition in 1358, and the next year had the honour, whilst mayor, of entertaining the Black Prince, and his prisoner, John King of France. (fn. n31) William Francis Spicer, the representative of this family, sold Weare in or about 1804, and removed out of Devonshire.

Arms: — Sable, a chevron, Erminois, between 3 castles triple-towered, Or. The ancient arms of the family were per pale G. and S., 3 castles, A., in bend, cottised, Erm., a border engrailed of the last.

Crest: — Out of a mural coronet a dexter cubit arm, the hand in a gauntlet holding a bomb, fired, Proper.

Stucley, or Stuckley, of Affeton, or Afton, in West Worlington, married the heiress of Affeton and the heiress of Wood. William Dennis Stucley, Esq., the representative of this family, died in 1755. Thomas Stucley, a younger brother, in 1758. The heiress of Stucley married Buck.

Arms: — Az., 3 pears pendant, Or.

Crest: — A demi-lion rampant, holding a battle-axe.

Sture, of Marridge, in Ugborough. — Five descents are described in the visitation of 1620 as of Huish. Edward Sture, Esq., sold Marridge in 1696.

Arms of Sture of Devonshire, as given by Sir William Pole: — Or, a mullet, Sable, as given by Edmondson, A., a bend, Sab., over all a label of 3 points, G. These are given as the arms of Sture of Huish. The arms are not described in the visitation of 1620.

Taylor, of Marridge. — After the death of Edward Taylor, Esq., of Bath, representative of this family, which resided for a few descents at Marridge, that estate devolved to the daughter of the late Mr. George Taylor, of Totnes, now the heiress of the family.

Arms borne by Taylor of Marridge: — Or, a chevron, S., between 2 lions passant in chief, and an annulet in base of the second. (fn. n32)

Crest: — An unicorn's head erased, Or, ducally crowned, gorged, and armed, Azure.

Thorne, of Thorne in Holsworthy, and of Upcot in Shipwash. — This family, which is traced to the time of King John, married the heiress of Upcot. The heiress of the elder branch married Holland of Weare in the reign of James I. There were several younger sons at the time of the visitation in 1620. The heiress of a younger branch which was of Buckland Filleigh, married Risdon of Shipwash.

Arms: — Argent, a fesse, G., between 3 lions rampant, Sable.

Crest: — A lion rampant. Sable.

There was another younger branch of Thore, which married the heiress of Secomb (fn. n33), and was called Secomb, alias Thorne. The heiresses of Hearle, Husband, and Launce, married also into this branch, which was some time of North Petherwin. The representative of this branch, in 1788, was the Rev. Charles Secomb, then residing at Calcutta.

This branch bore the same arms, with a border engrailed.

Tothill, of Exeter and Peamore, married the heiress of Sparke of Sowton; the co-heiresses married Northleigh and a younger branch of Tothill.

Arms: — Az., on a bend, Argent, cottised, Or, a lion passant gardant, S., langued and armed, G., in chief a label of 3 points, with a crescent for difference.

Crest: — On a mount, V., a Cornish chough, Proper, in its beak a branch of olive, fructed, Or.

Trelawney, of Ham near Plymouth. — A younger branch of the Trelawneys of Cornwall resided here for nearly two centuries: Samuel Pollexfen Trelawney, Esq., the last of this branch, died in 1771: his heiress married George Collins, Esq., now of Ham.

Arms: — The same as Trelawney, baronet, with due difference.

Trepe. — Five descents of this family are described, in the visitation of 1620, as having lived in the parish of Crediton since the reign of Edward IV. Richard Trepe, then living, had no male issue; his daughters and co-heiresses were married to Symonds and Ridge of Ridge. The co-heiresses of Highayne and Gutton, and the heiress of Willes, had married into this family. The arms are not described.

Trist, of Bowden. — The Rev. Browse Trist, the representative of this family, died in 1791: his co-heiresses married Haussollier, who, in 1799, took the name of Trist, but has no residence in the county, and Stackhouse. A younger son of the Trist family went to Virginia, and had male issue in 1799.

Arms: — Az., a quatrefoil pierced within an orle of etoiles, Or.

Crest: — On a mount, Vert, an osprey, Proper, in the beak a fish, Argent.

Tristram, of Duvall, purchased in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. John Tristram, Esq., the last of this family, died in 1722. Stucley Tristram Lucas, Esq., is the present representative. John Tristram, Esq., of Bampton, who had married a sister and co-heiress of Ley, Earl of Marlborough, left an only daughter and heir, who married Dr. Palmer, warden of All Souls, and afterwards Dr. Bathurst, President of Trinity College, Oxford. This lady, who died in 1690, had an only daughter, married to George Baynard, Esq.

Arms: — Per chevron embattled, S. and A., 3 bucks' heads caboshed counterchanged.

Crest: — A buck's head issuing, Proper, attired, Arg., in the mouth a trefoil, A., leaved, V.

Upton, of Postlinch, or Puslinch, in Newton Ferrers. — John Upton (fn. n34), who settled at Postlinch, married the heiress of Mohun (fn. n35) of Pustlinch. William Upton, Esq., the last of this branch, died in 1709. The heiress married Yonge.

A younger branch settled at Lupton in Brixham, in consequence of a marriage with the heiress of Penniles, in the reign of Henry VI. John Upton, Esq., the representative of this branch, was of Ingmore-hall, in the county of York, about the middle of the last century.

Arms: — Sable, a cross sarcely, Argent.

Crest: — On a ducal coronet a horse, Sable, caparisoned, Or.

Velley, of Hartland. — Thomas Velley, Esq., the last heir male of this family, died in 1780: the co-heiresses married Hamlyn and Ley.

Arms, as in Hartland church: — Az., a chevron between 3 castles, Or.

Venner, of Hundescot, in Chittlehampton, and of Knolle. — Four descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620; the last heir male appears to have been Peregrine Venner, Esq., who died in 1698. The heiress of William Venner, Esq., who died in 1690, married Lovering.

Arms: — G., 3 bendlets, Or, a chief per fesse, Erm. and Argent.

Vowell, alias Hoker, of Exeter, married the heiress of Drewell: not extinct in 1675.

Arms: — Or, a fesse, Vaire, between 2 lions passant gardant, S.

Crest: — A hind, Or, in his mouth a flower, Argent, leaves, Or.

Wadham, originally of Wadham, in the parish of Knoweston, afterwards removed (temp. Edw. III.) to Edge, in the parish of Branscombe, where they resided for eight descents before they removed into Somersetshire. This family, which had married the co-heiresses of Chiseldon, Popham, and Tregarthen, became extinct by the death of Nicholas Wadham, Esq., the founder of Wadham College, in 1609. The co-heiresses of Wadham married Strangways; Martin, one of whose co-heiresses married Latton; and Wyndham. (fn. n36)

A branch of this family settled at Catherston, in Dorsetshire, having married the heiress of Payne, of that place: the son married a co-heiress of Tyll, of Tylhouse, in Devon. It appears that there were several male descendants of this branch, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

Arms: — G. a chevron between 3 roses, Argent.

Crest: — A stag's head erased, Or, on each side a rose-branch, Proper, the roses, A, and G.

Wakeman, of Exeter, descended from a brother of the last abbot and first bishop of Gloucester: not extinct in 1620.

Arms: — A., on a cross, Sab., a cloud, Proper, surrounded by the rays of the sun, on the centre of the cloud a coronet, Or.

Crest: — A cock, Or, combed, G., legged, Az., out of his mouth a label on which evigila qui dormis.

Walker, of Exeter, from about the middle of the sixteenth century; married a co-heiress of Tothill: the Rev. Robert Walker, vicar of St. Winnow, in Cornwall, is the representative of this family.

Arms: — Az., a griffin segreant, A., a border engrailed, Ermine.

Walker, of Ashbury, descended from Cambridgeshire. The heiress of Fenne married into this family, whose heiress was married, in 1685, to the ancestor of John Morth Woolcombe, Esq., of Ashbury.

Arms: — Argent, guttée de sang; 2 swords in saltier, G., the points upwards; over all a lion rampant, Sable.

Waltham, of Brenton in Exminster, married a co-heiress of Bowhay, and the heiress of Stephens, of Exminster. John Waltham, the representative of this family in 1620, had two daughters: his brother had several sons. Richard Waltham, Esq., recorder of Exeter, was of this family.

Arms: — Sab., a chevron engrailed between 3 suns, Argent.

Weare, or Were, of Halberton and Honiton Clist.— The only daughter of Colonel Were, the parliamentary officer, married Rose of Wotton Fitzpaine. Mr. Thomas Weare, of Honiton Clist, who left sundry benefactions for charitable uses, died in 1691. J. Were Clark, Esq., of Bridwell, is descended from the Weres of Halberton.

Arms: — Arg., on a bend, Vert., between 6 cross-crosslets fitchée, G., 3 crosiers, Or.

Welsh, of Barnstaple and Alverdiscott. — Five descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620. It appears to have been extinct about the middle of that century.

Arms: — Az., 6 mullets, 3, 2, and 1, Or.

Westcote, originally of Westcote in Marwood. — Thomas Westcote, the representative of this family, married the heiress of Lyttelton, of Frankley, in Worcestershire, and removed into that county: he was father of the celebrated Judge Littleton, or Lyttelton, ancestor of the noble family of Lyttelton. A younger branch, of which was Thomas Westcote, the antiquary, settled at Raddon, in Shobrooke, in the reign of Henry VIII. The co-heiresses of Walter, of Combe, and Roberts, of Comb Martin, married into this branch. Philip Westcote, Esq., of Raddon, died in 1647. Thomas, his son, dissipated his fortune. I have not been able to ascertain any thing farther of this branch.

Arms: — Argent, a chevron between 3 escallops, S.

Whiddon, of Chagford. — Eight descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620. One of the ancestors married the heiress of Wray. Sir John Whiddon, the Judge, married a co-heiress of Shilston, by a co-heiress of Upcott. John Whiddon, Gent., who appears to have been the last of this family, was buried at Chagford in 1761.

Arms: — A chevron between 3 spears' heads, G.

Crest: — On a ducal coronet, Or, a swan seiant, S., beaked, Or.

Wichalse, or Witchalse, of Chudleigh, Barnstaple, Lincombe, in Ilfracombe, and of Linton. — This family continued about six or seven descents in Devonshire. A co-heiress of Cottwell, and the heiress of Welsh, of Pilton, married into this family: their estates were sold about the beginning of the last century.

Arms: — Per fesse, A. and S., 6 crescents in pale, counter-changed.

Crest: — An antelope's head, erased, party per pale, A. and S., the neck charged with 2 crescents in fesse counter-changed; in the mouth a branch of laurel, Proper.

Williams, of Stowford, or Stofford, in Harford, married the heiresses of Drewe, of Drewe's Cliffe, and Prideaux, of Ashburton. Thomas Williams, Speaker of the House of Commons, who was of Stofford, married a coheiress of Crues, of Chimley; his grandson the heiress of Edgecumbe, of Calstock. The estate was sold by the Speaker's grandson, before the year 1630.

Arms: — Party per fesse Vaire, A. and G., 3 curlews' heads erased, counter-changed. The Speaker bore, Sable, 3 curlews' heads erased, Argent.

Crest: — A curlew, Argent, beaked and legged, Or.

Willoughby, of Leyhill, in Pehembury, settled here before 1600; the heiress married the grandfather of Sir John Trevelyan, Bart.

No arms are assigned to this family in the visitation of 1620.

Wolcott, of Wolcott, in Thurleston, Chagford, Lustleigh, Boterstow, in Hemiock, Moreston, in Halberton, &c. &c. — Walter, the first-mentioned in the pedigree, married the heiress of Skerrett, of Chagford. A co-heiress of Bozon, of Bozon's Hele, married also into this family. The last of a branch of this family settled at Sidbury, was Captain James Wolcott, of the navy, who distinguished himself at the taking of Berbice. He died in 1811, leaving a daughter and only child, married to Yateman. The name remains at Sidbury among the yeomanry.

Arms: — Per pale, Az. and G., on a cross patonce, Arg., five martlets, on a chief, Or, a fleur-de-lis, between 2 annulets, purpure.

Crest: — An eagle's head issuant, guttée de sang, in the beak a fleur-delis, Az., charged with a bezant.

Wood, alias Atwood, of Harston, in Plymstock, and of Brixton.— There had been five descents of the Woods, of Harston, in 1630. The heiress of Carslake married into this family, which became extinct by the death of John Wood, Esq., in 1743. One of his sisters died unmarried in 1786; the other married Winter. Matthew Wood, Esq., alderman of London, is said to have been descended from a branch of this family.

Arms: — Quarterly 1. and 4., Argent, on a mount V., an oak-tree fructed, Proper, 2. and 3. A., a bull's head erased, Sable.

Crest: — A demi-savage man, wreathed about the temples, Proper, in his left hand a club guttée de sang, in his right hand an oak tree, eradicated, fructed, Proper. Confirmed in 1533.

Wood, or Atwood, of Ashridge, in North Tawton. See Atwood.

Wood, of Lew Trenchard, married a co-heiress of Trelawney. Five descents of this family are described in the visitation of 1620. The heiress married Mr. Joseph Pearce, whose daughter and only child, died unmarried since the year 1800.

Arms: — Sable, semée of cross-crosslets, 3 lions' heads, Or.

Wotton, of Ingleborne, in the parish of Harberton. — Purchased in the reign of Henry VIII. A co-heiress of Gibbes, of Venton, married into this family; the last heir male of which, Samuel Wotton, Esq., died about the year 1795: the heiress married Estcourt Cresswell (fn. n37), Esq., now of Pinkney, in the county of Wilts.

Arms: — Argent a saltier engrailed between 4 mullets, Sable.

Wyke, Wykes, or Weeks, of North Wyke, in South Tawton. — Originally Wray— took the name of Wyke, on settling at North Wyke, in the reign of Richard II. The co-heiresses of Burnell, Avenell, and Chichester, married into this family. Francis Weeks, the last heir male of this family, died in 1711. Two of his sisters and co-heiresses married Hunt, and Hole. A branch of this family, who wrote the name Weeks, was of Honeychurch, and afterwards of Broadwood Kelly, of which manor Francis Weeks was lord, in the reign of Charles I.

Arms: — Erm., 3 battle-axes, Sable.

Yeo, of Heanton-Sachville, Hatherleigh, Huish, North Petherwin, &c.; said to have been originally of Tre Yeo, in the parish of Launcelles, Cornwall; but, with Mr. Prince, I think it more probable that they were descended from a younger branch of the Yeos, of Yeo, in Alwington, whose heiress, at an early period, married Giffard. This family settled at Heanton, in consequence of a marriage with the heiress of Sachville, in the fourteenth century. The heiresses of Esse, Pyne, Brightley, and a coheiress of Jewe, married also into this family. The heiress of the elder branch, married Henry Rolle, Esq., who died in or about 1620. Lord Clinton, is the representative of this branch. Younger branches were for some generations of Reed, and Fishley, in Hatherleigh; the former appears to have become extinct in 1662; the latter in 1678. The Yeos, of North Petherwin, were also of a younger branch of the Yeos, of Hatherleigh. Leonard Yeo, Esq., the last of this branch, died in 1741: the heiress married Herring, whose heiress married Kingdon. The heiress of Stapledon, of Nottinghamshire, married into this branch.

A younger branch of Yeo, of Heanton, was, for many generations, of Huish. Edward Rooe Yeo, Esq., the representative of this branch, died in 1782, being then one of the members for Coventry. The Rev. Beaple Yeo was, after his death, the heir male of the family, and its present male representative appears to be his grandson, William Arundell Yeo, Esq., of Trevelver, in Cornwall. This branch of the Yeos, possessed Hawkridge, in Chittlehampton. There was another branch of the Yeos at Plymouth, of which was John Yeo, Esq., a superannuated admiral, who died in 1756; his grandson, William Yeo, Esq., was living in 1774. The late brave Sir James Yeo, was of this family.

Arms: — Argent, a chevron between 3 mallards (fn. n38), Azure.

Footnotes

  • n1. A co-heiress of Salle and the heiress of Lane married into this branch.
  • n2. The esquires of the White Spur were so called in the west of England: when so created by the King, they were vested with a silver spur: it was hereditary to the elder son. See Spelman and Weever.
  • n3. In the church of St. Mary Arches is a monument for Thomas Copleston, Esq., alderman of Exeter, who died in 1754.
  • n4. The ancestor of this branch, which continued for many generations, married Stone of Bowden. Thomas Copleston, Esq., the last of this branch, sold Bowden in 1753.
  • n5. Ancestor of Sir Copleston Warwick Bampfylde, Bart.
  • n6. They married the heiress of Sherman of Knighteston; the last of this branch, John Copleston, Esq., died in 1759; the heiress married Hawtrey.
  • n7. The heiress of Butterford married Mey; and the heiress of Mey married Gibbes: hence the family of Gibbes bear the Danish battle-axes in their arms.
  • n8. Giffard married the heiress of Uggesworthy, by the heiress of Esse of Theoborough.
  • n9. By the heiress of Hockway, who married the heiress of Goldesly, by the heiress of Chidersley.
  • n10. Mr. Dennis, an apothecary, of Tavistock, claims descent from this family.
  • n11. By an expression in the inscription, on a large silver medallion, (nearly three inches in diameter) now in the possession of his descendant, it seems that he was in arms for the King previously to the Restoration. "M. S. Mnemosynon et vel ære perennius Bartholomæi Gidley, Armigeri, Comitatus Devoniæ, quem non avita magis illustrant insignia quam se sua virtus illustrior insignivit; quem Regi suo constantem agnovere res Anglorum versatiles, et extrema fidelitatis tentamina, pax et bellum. Pro exule Carolo in bello Præfectum, pro reduce ad Pacem Justitiarum utroque munere fidelissimum, annos agit 72 Salutis anno 1683, non ætate non munere gravatus, nec adhuc dici voluit emeritus." On the reverse are the arms of Gidley.
  • n12. Sir Robert Hill is supposed by Prince to have been descended from the Hills of Hill in Kilmington.
  • n13. The other co-heiresses married Adams and Snow.
  • n14. The Southcotes of Bliborough, in Lincolnshire, were descended from Sir George Southcote, Knt., who died in 1639, which Sir George was son, or grandson, of the Judge. Sir George Southcote, grandson of Sir George above mentioned, was created a baronet in 1661; the title became extinct in 1689, on the death of his only son, Sir George, who was born after his father's death. Sir George, the son, left two infant daughters, afterwards married to Smith and Fitzherbert.
  • n15. Mohun's Ottery was acquired by a marriage with a daughter of Carew, who eventually became heiress of that family.
  • n16. See the account of Roborough, p. 427.
  • n17. The Staffords, originally Stowfords, are descended from a branch of the ancient family of Kaleway, which settling at Stowford (in the parish of Dolton) took the name of De Stowford. The heiress of Menwenick, of Cornwall, married into this family; and the heiress of its elder branch married Sir Thomas Wise, K. B. Younger branches were remaining in 1620 at Dowland and Ottery St. Mary, and had male issue. The Staffords, or Stowfords, bore the arms of Kaleway. See p. clxvii.
  • n18. See p. clxv.
  • n19. Mr. Colman's mother was sister of Edward, the eighth duke of Somerset: his daughters and co-heiresses married, 1. Collins, and afterwards Shiell; 2. Pettiward, of Finborough-hall, Suffolk; 3. Trafford, of Trafford, in Lancashire.
  • n20. Upon the death of Robert Duke, Esq., most of his estates passed under the will of Richard Duke, who died in 1741, to John Heath, Esq., nephew of the said Richard, who took the name of Duke, but died without issue; when the estates passed to the sisters and co-hiresses of Robert Duke, as right heirs of Richard above mentioned.
  • n21. See the History of Cornwall.
  • n22. John Harlewin, Esq., of Sidmouth, who died in 1658, left two sons.
  • n23. So it appears from Sir William Pole; but a pedigree in the collection of Sir Isaac Heard derives the name from a place called Lippincot, in the parish of Sidbury.
  • n24. He was one of thirteen children, but his brothers and sisters all died without surviving issue.
  • n25. The Martins of Seaborough in Somersetshire, who married the heiress of Gould, and those of Suffolk, of whom Sir Roger Martin was created a baronet in 1639, were also of this branch. The elder line of the Athelhampston branch became extinct in 1595: the co-heiresses married Brune, Titchbourne, White, and Floyer.
  • n26. And afterwards Fortescue of Buckland Filleigh. Mrs. Fortescue is recently deceased.
  • n27. His father, John Heard, of Bridgewater, Gent., married a daughter of Benjamin Michell, Esq., who married the heiress of Rowe.
  • n28. The name is spelt both ways, but, by Lord Petre's family, it has always been spelt Petre.
  • n29. There was no issue by this marriage.
  • n30. Aunts of Richard.
  • n31. Account of the Spicer family annexed to the edition of Risdon's Survey, 1714.
  • n32. These are the arms (with the difference of the field) described by Edmondson, as those of Taylor of Cambridgeshire.
  • n33. Secomb, in the parish of German's Week, gave name to a family of yeomanry, still existing.
  • n34. He was third son of Thomas Upton of Trelask, in Cornwall, by the heiress of Trelawney: the father of Thomas married a co-heiress of Mules, and the grandfather the heiress of Carnother.
  • n35. By the heiress of Blerick, who married the heiress of Fleming.
  • n36. And afterwards Farringdon.
  • n37. His daughter and only child, by the heiress of Wotton, married the Rev. Mr. Frye, and died without issue.
  • n38. The birds are sometimes described as drakes, sometimes shovelers, sometimes turkeycocks, &c. &c.