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The Manor of Molland was a medieval manor in North Devon, England. It was largely co-terminous with the existing parish of Molland, in which is situated the village of Molland. More accurately it consisted from the earliest times of two separate manors, held from separate overlords, later known as Molland-Bottreaux and Molland-Champson.

Descent of the manor

The Exeter Domesday Book of 1086 records three entries for manors called "Molland", two in South Molton hundred and one in North Molton hundred. The latter does not relate to today's village and estate of Molland, but to a separate ancient small manor later called "Molland-Sarazen", about 7 miles to the NW, in today's parish of Morth Molton, and now memorialized by the name of Higher Molland Farm and Molland Cross nearby it. This manor in North Molton hundred was held by Tetbald, son of Berner, who was the father-in-law of Odo. The two entries for Molland in South Molton hundred relate to a former ancient division of the present unified manor into two parts: One larger part listed under the demesne of the king, the other much smaller part under the lands of Geoffrey de Montbray (died 1093), Bishop of Coutances, both in the county of "Devenesira" or "Devrescira". These two divisions of Molland later became known respectively as "Molland Bottreaux" after the Botreaux family and "Molland Champeaux" now memorialized by Champson Farm, between Molland Church and West Molland Barton.

The royal manor was granted before 1194 by the king to the Botreaux family as his tenants-in-chief whilst the smaller manor became a part of the feudal barony of Barnstaple and was granted, probably by the de Tracy feudal barons of Barnstaple, with several other manors, to one of their knights, a member of the de Champeaux family (Latinised to de Champellis/Campellis), probably from Champeaux on the coast of Normandy between Avranches and Granville. From the latter place probably originated the ancient family of Grenville, lords of the manor of Bideford.

Molland-Bottreaux

Domesday Book, Molland-Bottreaux

The text of Exeter Domesday Book of 1086, relating to the manor later known as Molland-Bottreaux, under the heading "The King's Demesne belonging to the kingdom in Devenesscira" is as follows:

Mollande in the time of king Edward paid geld for four hides and one ferling. There is land for forty ploughs. In demesne are three ploughs, and ten serfs, and thirty villeins, and twenty bordars, with sixteen ploughs. There are twelve acres of meadow, and fifteen acres of wood. Pasture three leugas in length and breadth. It renders twenty-four pounds by weight.

To this manor has been annexed Blachepole. Elward held it in the time of king Edward as a manor, and it paid geld for half a hide. There is land for two ploughs. There are five villeins with one serf. It is worth twenty shillings by weight and assay. To the same manor has been unjustly annexed Nimete, and it is worth fifteen shillings. To the same manor pertains the third penny of the hundreds of Nortmoltone and Badentone and Brantone, and the third animal of the pasture of the moors.

De Botreaux

The larger manor was granted away sometime before 1189 by the king to a Norman knight surnamed De Botreaux (pronounced today in Molland as "butt'ry", as in Bottreaux Mill, a hamlet and former corn-mill within the parish), probably from Les Bottereaux, Upper Normandy, 40 km SW of Evreux, in the modern departement of Eure, who had built a castle at Forrabury on the North Cornish coast, which place is now called Boscastle after his family. The manor which then became known as "Molland-Bottreaux" (the spelling has been modernised to double-T) included the adjacent manor of Knowstone and before 1189 either the original recipient of Molland or his descendant, a certain "William de Botreaux" gave the advowsons of the churches of Forrabury, Molland and Knowstone to the newly founded Hartland Abbey, on the coast about half-way between Forrabury and Molland. These grants, which clearly had been made in an earlier reign, were confirmed by King Richard I (1189–1199) soon after he became king, in a charter dated 8 November 1189. The advowsons of all three churches continued to be held by Hartland until the Dissolution of the Monasteries. The earliest member of the family who can be firmly identified is Reynold (died 1273), father of William (died 1302), father of William (died 1342), father of Reynold (died 1346), father of William (died 1349) who was the father of William de Botreaux, 1st Baron Botreaux (1337–1391). The Botreaux landholdings expanded greatly when William de Botreaux (died 1349) married Isabel de Moels, daughter and co-heiress of her father John de Moels, 4th Baron Moels (died 1337) whose family had held since the time of Nicholas de Moels(died. c. 1270) a moiety of the feudal barony of North Cadbury, Somerset. Isabel's co-heiress was her sister Muriel, wife of Sir Thomas Courtenay (died 1356), younger son of Hugh Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon (died 1340)), which marriage had probably arisen due to the sisters' uncle Nicholas de Moels, 2nd Baron Moels (died 1316) having been the husband of Margaret Courtenay (died 1349), the 1st Earl's sister. William and Isabel's descendants thenceforth appear to have been resident at North Cadbury Court, the caput of the feudal barony, although John de Botreaux the 3rd son of the 1st Baron is said to have lived at Molland. The first baron's son was William de Botreaux, 2nd Baron Botreaux (1367–1395) and his son was William de Botreaux, 3rd Baron Botreaux (1389–1462), who was the last of the male line, and was buried in North Cadbury Church, where his effigy with that of his wife Elizabeth Beaumont survives today. In 1435 he was appointed by Richard, Duke of York (died 1460), father of the future King Edward IV (1461–1483), as forester of the royal forests of Exmoor and of Neroche, Somerset, as is recorded in a French surviving in the British Library summarised in Harleian Charter 43 E 47.

Hungerford

On the death of the 3rd Baron Botreaux without male heir his sole heiress to his large estates including Molland was his daughter Margaret de Botreaux (died 1477) who married Robert Hungerford, 2nd Baron Hungerford (died 1459), to whom the lands passed jure uxoris. When Lord Hungerford's sister Elizabeth married Sir Philip II Courtenay (1404–1463) of Powderham, he appears to have given her the manor of Molland-Bottreaux for her marriage portion. Sir Philip II was the grandson of the Sir Philip I Courtenay, KG, (1340–1406) of Powderham, the 4th son of Hugh Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon (1303–1377) by his wife Margaret de Bohun, daughter of Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford (died 1322). He had been bequeathed the Bohun manor of Powderham by the will of his mother dated 1390, so that as a younger son he could establish his own seat, the estates of his father having all descended to his eldest brother Hugh Courtenay, K.G. (1326–1349) and his descendants, Earls of Devon.

Courtenay of Molland

Sir Philip I Courtenay of Molland (died 1488)

The first Courtenay to have been seated at Molland was Sir Philip I Courtenay of Molland, Sheriff of Devon in 1470/1. He was the second son of Sir Philip II Courtenay of Powderham by his wife Elizabeth Hungerford. and was given the manor of Molland as his marriage portion and established there his own branch of the family. He married Elizabeth, the widow of William Hyndeston of Wonwall. Elizabeth had a son from her first marriage named Robert Hyndeston, aged 30 at her death.

Rogers described as "seemingly portions of a raised tomb" fragments of sculpted stone decorated with gothic quatrefoils and heraldic shields, which stand in Molland Church. These form a small box-like object now situated railed-off on the floor against the east wall of the north aisle under the mural monument to John Courtenay (died 1732). This object was referred to by W.G. Hoskins as "a curious double heart-stone...a receptacle for the hearts of a Courtenay and his wife". The escutcheons show the arms of Courtenay alone and quartering a bend. One escutcheon of Courtenay is supported by two dolphins.

Sir Philip I Courtenay had the following progeny:

• John I Courtenay (1466–1510), of Molland, eldest son and heir (see below)
• Philip Courtenay, 2nd son, who married Jane Fowell, daughter of Richard Fowell of Fowelscombe, Ugborough. He was the heir of his brother William of Loughtor and Loughtor descended to his sole daughter and heiress Elizabeth Courtenay, who married William Strode of Newnham, Plympton St Mary, in whose possession Loughtor remained for many centuries and on which site they built their new Georgian seat of New Newnham House, today known as Newnham Park, the site of a clay-pigeon shooting school.
• William Courtenay (3rd son), of Loughtor, Plympton St Mary, Devon, in the church of which exists his probable effigy. The Courtenays, before they had become Earls of Devon, had been feudal barons of Okehampton and of Plympton.
• Elizabeth Courtenay (d. pre-1509) married Sir Edward Courtenay (died 1509) who was created Earl of Devon by King Henry VII following the extinction of the ancient line of his cousins the Courtenay Earls of Devon in 1471, after the three Courtenay brothers, each successively Earl of Devon, were killed or executed during the Wars of the Roses: Thomas Courtenay, 6th Earl of Devon (died 1461), Henry (died 1466), deemed by many sources to have inherited the earldom de jure, and John Courtenay, 15th Earl of Devon (died 1471), killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury.
• Margaret Courtenay, married Sir John Champernoun of Dartington.

John I Courtenay (1466–27 March 1510)

John I Courtenay (1466–27 March 1510) (eldest son), married Joan Brett, the sister of Robert Brett (died 1540), lord of the manor of Pilland in the parish of Pilton and the last steward of Pilton Priory who in 1536 following its dissolution purchased the Prior's House (now called "Bull House") next to Pilton Church. Joan married secondly (after 1510), as his second wife, Sir John Chichester (died 1537) of Raleigh in the parish of Pilton, and from her were descended the cadet branch of the Chichester family of Arlington. The Brett family was from Whitestaunton in Somerset and had married the heiress of Pilland late in the 15th. century. The family is today represented by Viscount Esher. The arms of Brett are: Or, a lion rampant between six crosses crosslet fitchy gules. John Courtenay is stated by John Stowe to have fought for King Edward IV at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. John's uncle was Peter Courtenay (1440–1492) Bishop of Exeter subsequently Bishop of Winchester. No Courtenay monuments survive at Molland from the time of John's tomb-stone of 1510 until the mural monument of John Courtenay (died 1660), 5th. in descent from him. His second son by Joan Brett was John Courtenay who married Elizabeth Chichester, a daughter of James Chichester (died 1548) of Hall, Bishop's Tawton, and who founded a cadet Courtenay line which continued to live at Molland, in residence unknown, until the 18th. century, and intermarried with the senior line of Courtenay of Molland descended from his elder brother Phillip II.

Philip II Courtenay (died 1548)

Philip II Courtenay (died 1548) of Molland, (eldest son) married Alice Matthew of Dodbrook. One of his daughters, Dorothy, married Anthony Culme "of Tiverton", probably of the Culme family of Molland-Champson which acquired Canonsleigh Abbey near Tiverton after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

Robert Courtenay (died 1583)

Robert Courtenay (died 1583), (eldest son and heir), married thrice, firstly to Dorothy Pollard (died 1560), daughter of Sir Hugh Pollard of King's Nympton. He married secondly Joan Coles and thirdly in 1583 to Joan Fortescue, daughter of Lewis Fortescue of Fallapit.

Philip III Courtenay (1547–1611)

Philip III Courtenay (1547–1611) (son by first wife Dorothy Pollard), married Joane Boyes (died 1586), daughter of John Boyes of Kent. One of their daughters, Lydia, married Richard Culme in Molland Church. Their daughter Elizabeth Courtenay (died 1624) married in 1600 to the Hollander Peter Muden, a doctor of medicine, of Butterleigh, three miles south-east of Tiverton. Shortly before 1600 Muden had enlarged the parish church and later erected the existing mural monument to his wife which contains a female effigy between two children with verse.

Humphrey Courtenay (1568–1634)

Humphrey Courtenay (1568–1634), (eldest son), married Jane Mohun, daughter of Sir William Mohun of Hall. The marriage was without progeny. She survived her husband and remarried Sir John Specot of Thornbury.

Charles Courtenay (died 1612)

Charles Courtenay (died 1612) (brother), married in 1601 to Ann Coles, daughter of John Coles of Barken.

John II Courtenay (d.1660/1)

John II Courtenay (d.1660/1) (son), married Margaret Wyndham, daughter of Sir Sir John Wyndham (1558–1645) of Orchard Wyndham in Somerset. His monument is situated in Molland Church on the north wall of the north aisle and is inscribed thus:

To the memory of ye Right Worshipfull John Courtenay of West Molland, Esq'r (He married Margarite the daughter of Sir John Windham of Orchard Windham in the county of Somerset, Knight, by whom he had two sonnes and fouer daughters, viz John, James, Katherine, Elizabeth, Margarite & Grace) He departed this life the 26th day of February Anno Dom(ini) 1660. To the memory also of the Right Worshipfull John Courtenay Esq'r sonn of the above named John Courtenay. He departed this life the 24th day of April Anno Dom(ini) 1684".

On a roundel under:

To the memory of Margarite ye wife of ye above named John Courtenay & daughter of Sir John Windham of Orchard Windham by the Lady Johan his wife who was daughter of Sir Henry Portman of Orchard Portman in ye county of Somerset, Knight. Shee departed this life the first day of October 1684

. His second son James died at his residence in Meshaw in 1683, in which parish church there exists a mural monument to his memory in the style of the Molland monuments. He was however buried in Molland Church in the grave of his first wife Susanna Sandford, whose slate tombstone is in the floor of the north aisle. In this same grave is also buried James's second wife Elizabeth Lynn (died 1700), who married James as her second husband and who erected the Meshaw monument. She married thirdly Philip Shapland of Swimbridge, as her slate mural monument on the east wall of the north aisle of Molland Church attests.

John III Courtenay (died 1684)

John Courtenay (1630–1684), (eldest son) married Mary Stucley, daughter of John Stucley of Affeton Castle, Devon, by his wife Elizabeth Coode.

John IV Courtenay (died 1724)

John Courtenay (died 1724), (eldest surviving son and heir of John Courtenay (died 1684)), married Amy Clifford, third daughter of Thomas Clifford, 1st Baron Clifford of Chudleigh, (died 1673) of Ugbrooke Park, Chudleigh, Lord Treasurer of England. His first two sons died as minors, John the eldest died as an infant in 1682, and the second, James, died unmarried in 1703 aged 19. In 1703 he purchased the manor of Molland-Champson from Sir Edward Hungerford (died 1711), husband of Jane Culme (1637–1674), sister and heiress of Richard II Culme (1635–1658/9). His heir was his 3rd son John Courtenay (1687–1732). His monument in Molland Church is inscribed as follows:

Here lyeth the body of John Courtenay of West Molland Esq.r. who died the 14th of Sep.ber 1724 aged 65; married Amy the 3d. daughter of the Right Hon.ble Thomas Lord Clifford Lord Treasu.r. of England in the time of King Charles ye second; she died An. Dom. 1693 aged 33 by whom he had issue six sons and three daughters; four of them are deceased; John the first born, James, Hugh and Charles who are all buryed here. Tis the request of John Courtenay Esq.r. who erected this monument ye neither his heirs or excequetors disturb the ashes of his honour'd father & mother.

On a roundel below:

Underneath lieth interr'd the body of George Courtenay, Gent. the second surviving son of the abovesaid Courtenay Esq. who dep.d. this life June 17, 1731 aged 30.

George married Mary Chichester, 3rd daughter of Sir Arthur Chichester, Baronet, of Youlston Park.

John V Courtenay (died 1732)

John V Courtenay (1687–1732) (3rd and eldest surviving son), married Margaret Giffard (died 1743), daughter and sole heiress of John Giffard (1667/8-1704) of Brightley in the parish of Chittlehampton and lord of the manor of Chittlehampton. The marriage was without progeny, and thus John V was the last male of the Courtenays of Molland. His heir was his sister Mary Courtenay (1687-1747), the first wife of William Paston (1701–1769) of Horton Court in Gloucestershire, who married secondly in 1751 Mary Chichester, his widow's sister's sister-in-law. On the east wall to the north of the chancel is situated a mural monument to John V Courtenay (died 1732), inscribed as follows:

Underneath lyes interr'd the body of the Honourable John Courtenay Esq. who departed this life on the eleventh day of December 1732 aged 44. This monument was erected at the appointment of the Honourable Margaret Courtenay, relict of the said John Courtenay Esq. daughter and sole heiress to John Giffard late of Brightley in this county, Esq. "As good, as great, but living amongst sinners was translated" Wisdom 4th chap'r. Underneath and on the left hand of the abovesaid Jn. Courtenay Esq. are reposited the remains of Margaret (his late wife & widow) who departed this life August the 30th 1743.

The other surviving sister of John Courtenay (died 1732) was Elizabeth Courtenay (1693–1763), who married, as his first wife, John Chichester (1707–1783) of Arlington Court. The marriage was without progeny and he married again after her death. She inherited (possibly for her life only in default of progeny) a moiety of her brother's estate, which appears promptly to have been mortgaged to provide funds for her marriage settlement. The summary of the mortgage deed gives an indication of the extent of her inheritance.

Two days later the same lands were the subject of a marriage settlement of lease and release.

Courtenay arms at West Molland

A heraldic achievement is sculpted on the north facade of West Molland Barton, above the front door. On a scroll below an escutcheon couché bearing three roundels a label of three points in chief each point charged with three roundels is the following legend in Roman capitals: “This is the armes of Hugh Courtny sometimes Earle of Devon who was grandfather unto Sr. Phillip Courtny of Mol.nd., knight”. The legend is inaccurate as Sir Philip Courtenay of Molland (born 1445) (2nd son of Sir Philip Courtenay (1404–1463) of Powderham by Elizabeth Hungerford) was the great-great-grandson of Sir Hugh Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon (1303–1377). The tomb and effigies of the Earl and his wife Margaret Bohun, heiress of Powderham, can be seen in Exeter Cathedral. Shown as supporters are: dexter, the Bohun swan, sinister the boar of Courtenay. The crest of Courtenay is generally given as: out of a ducal coronet or, a plume of seven ostrich feathers four and three argent, which may be more generally described as a panache. The crest at West Molland shows 10 feathers, three, four, three. The second crest of the Courtenay Earls of Devon is: A dolphin embowed proper, which may be seen here behind the escutcheon. The spelling of "Courtny" is not used in any of the church monuments dating from 1660, which all use the form "Courtenay". The earliest gravestone in the church is that of John Courtenay (died 1510) in gothic script, which spells the name "Courtenay". It is likely to have been erected before 1531 when occurred the first Heraldic Visitation of Devon, at which county gentry were required to report their lineage as proof of their entitlement to bear arms.

Paston

Mary Courtenay (bapt.1/2/1687, died 1747), married in 1725 William Paston (died 1769) of Horton Court near Chipping Sodbury, Gloucestershire. Mary Courtenay was said by the Antiquary Thomas Hearne (died 1735) to have been "a lady of great understanding and virtue". There is a monument to William Paston (died 1769) in Horton Church, where both he and his wife Mary Courtenay were buried. Their daughter Anne Maria Paston (born at Horton 22 January 1728), who was also a co-heiress of Thomas Arundell, 4th Baron Arundell of Wardour (1633–1712), married Sir George Throckmorton (1721–1767), only son of Sir Robert Throckmorton, 4th baronet (died 1791), whom he predeceased. Molland manor thus passed into the Throckmorton family.

Throckmorton

Sir George Throckmorton (1721–1767), who did not live long enough to inherit the baronetcy from his own father, was the father of three Throckmorton baronets, none of whom produced surviving male progeny: Sir John Courtenay Throckmorton, 5th Baronet (1754–1819), Sir George Courtenay Throckmorton, 6th Baronet (1754–1826) and Sir Charles Throckmorton, 7th Baronet (1757–1840). Their youngest brother William Throckmorton (1762–1819) was the father of Sir Robert George Throckmorton, 8th Baronet (1800–1862).

Molland-Champson

Domesday Book, Molland-Champson

The text of the Exeter Domesday Book of 1086, under the heading: "Land of the Bishop of Coutances (i.e. Geoffrey de Montbray) in Devrescira" is as follows (English translation):

The bishop has a manor called "Mollanda" which Ulwena held TRE and it paid geld for ½ hide. This 4 ploughs can till. Drogo holds it of the bishop. Thereof Drogo has 1 virgate and 1 plough in demesne and the villeins 1 virgate and 1 plough. There Drogo has 3 villeins, 4 bordars, 2 serfs, 8 beasts, 10 swine, 40 sheep, 30 acres of woodland and 1 ½ acres of meadow. Worth 25s. And it was worth the same when the bishop received it.

de Champeaus

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"Robert de Chaumpians" was a witness to a donation made in the Devon County Court on 23 November 1192 by Martin Oisun to Martin de Fissacre. Many of the other witnesses are North Devon names, such as De Punchardon, Peverel (see Whitechapel Manor), Coffin, and it appears to relate to North Devon affairs.

In the deed dated 28 January 1196 which solved the dispute between the de Tracy and Braose families, both heirs to the feudal barony of Barnstaple, the subsidiary manors of the barony were split between the two, and listed. One of the manors which went to Oliver de Tracy, the son of Henry de Tracy, was "Loxbeare", which was then described as held by William de Champels for the service of one knight's fee.

In 1202 a law-suit is recorded in the Devon Feet of Fines in which Oliver de Tracy, feudal baron of Barnstaple, demanded feudal service of seven knights from William de Champeaus in respect of the following manors held by him from the barony:

• Bonlege (Bondleigh)
• Stodleg (Stoodleigh, perhaps memorialised today by "Chample's Farm")
• Modland (Molland-Champson)
• Aiwis (Huish Beaupel, Instow)
• Hamtoneford (Handsford, Ashreigney)
• Bettenden (Bittadon)
• Anestinges (Anstey Money in West Anstey)
• Lockesbere (Loxbeare)
• Pedehill (Peadhill, Tiverton)

William replied that under the terms of his feudal tenure he owed his overlord de Tracy the service of only four knights.

A further legal suit heard before the Justices Itinerant of King Henry III at Exeter on 24 April 1219 is recorded between John Malherbe and Sibilla his wife, and widow of Nicholas de Champellis, against William de Champellis, presumably her son or step-son and Nicholas' heir. She claimed as part of her customary dower (comprising 1/3 of her husband's lands) the township of "Harewde" (West Horwood) and "Moulande". William paid her 4 marks of silver to settle her claim and retained possession of the lands.

A later legal case is recorded, heard before the Justices Itinerant at Reading on 5 July 1248. Robert de Champeaus had granted by gift a moiety of the manor of "Stodlegh" (East Stoodleigh) to Robert FitzPain under the tenure of grand sergeanty comprising the payment of one pair of white gloves or 1 penny due annually on the feast of St Michael, and also of performing the overseas military service which was due by the holder of the manor to the king. The dispute was settled by payment of 100 shillings sterling by FitzPain to de Champeaus.

The 1285 landholdings of Geoffrey de Camville (died 1308), jure uxoris feudal baron of Barnstaple included under the heading "hundred of South Molton: "Champeleston, 1/2 a knight's fee in capite. The name of his tenant was not given. Robert de Champeaux (died 1325), possibly descended from this family, was Abbot of Tavistock.

de Whiteby

In 1326 it was held as one knight's fee from the feudal barony of Barnstaple, the lord of which was William II FitzMartin, who died sine prole in 1326. His inquisition post mortem lists all his land-holdings including under the section "Fees pertaining to the barony of Barnstaple": "Mollond Champens: 1 fee held by John de Whiteby".

Culme

The small manor of Molland-Champson was acquired at some time before 1514 by the Culme family (or "Columb", "Culem", "Colyn", "Culine" etc.), of Winkleigh, but in 1703 was acquired from their heir by the Courtenays of Molland-Bottreaux, who thus unified the manor. The family may have derived its name from some ancient landholding in the area of the River Culm, perhaps at Uffculme or Collumpton. The family acquired Canonsleigh Abbey in Burlescombe parish, Devon, after the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century, and also then acquired the advowson of Molland and Knowstone churches from Hartland Abbey, which had received the same by the gift of de Botreaux in the 12th century. Canons Leigh Barton (or "Canonsleigh") was in the 16th. and 17th. centuries a residence of the family as well as Great Champson (or "Chamston"), the manor house of Molland-Champson manor. The family is generally said to have died out in the male line on the death of Richard II Culme (1635–1658/9) in 1658, although the Rev. John Culme (died 1691), vicar of the united parishes of Knowstone-cum-Molland, of which the Culme family held the advowson, died later in 1691, to whom a mural monument exists in Knowstone church in the chancel to the south of the altar, and the text of whose funeral sermon has survived in records. The Heralds' Visitations of Devon give the descent as follows:

• Hugh I Culme, MP for Barnstaple in 1478 and Escheator of Devon in 1505. He is recorded on the Pardon Roll of King Henry VIII during the years 1509–1514 as "Hugh Culme of South Molton and Molland Champiaux". He was the son of John II Culme of Winkleigh who was himself the son of John I Culme of Winkleigh, Sergeant-at-Law.
• John III Culme (died 1526) (son), MP for Barnstaple in 1512, married Alice Walter, the daughter and heiress of John Walter of Combe Walter in the parish of Abbotsham, near Bideford.

• Hugh II Culme (died 1545) (son) was a minor at the death of his father and in 1526 was awarded in wardship to George Rolle of Stevenstone. As patron he presented an incumbent to Molland Church in 1532. He married Agnes Frye, daughter of William Frye of Yarty in the parish of Membury. She survived him and remarried to John Willoughby (1509–1558) of Efford in the parish of Shobrooke, near Crediton, which family also became influential in the parish of Molland. Hugh II's daughter Agnes Culme married Richard Willoughby, her step-father's son. Their son was John Willoughby (died 1658) whose daughter Anne married Amias Bampfield, the 4th son of Sir Amyas Bampfylde (died 1626) of North Molton, whose effigy exists in North Molton Church. John Willoughby (died 1658) married secondly his daughter's young niece Elizabeth Bampfield, sister of Sir John Bampfylde, 1st Baronet (c. 1610 – 1650). One of his younger sons, Nicholas Culme, had a daughter Anne Culme who was the third wife of the highly influential Sir John Doddridge (1555–1628), Justice of the King's Bench and Member of Parliament.
• Hugh III Culme (died 1618) (son). In 1547 he was patron of Molland cum Knowstone Church and appointed John Husband as rector. He presented next also in 1554, appointing Walter Mugg. In 1564 he was granted arms by William Harvey, Clarenceux King of Arms: Azure, a chevron ermine between 3 pelicans vulning their breast or, with a canting crest: On a wreath a lion leaning to a column argent (given alternatively as: A lion sejant proper supporting a corinthian column). He married in 1568 Mary Fortescue (died 1623), a daughter of Richard Fortescue (c. 1517 – 1570) of Filleigh, head of one of the leading gentry families of Devon. In 1597 he enfeoffed Philip Courtenay of Molland with certain lands unknown, probably representing the family's sale of some of its Molland lands and the removal of its primary residence to Canonsleigh. In 1610 he received letters patent, for purposes unknown, from King James I. His younger son was Benjamin Culme (died 1657), BA (1602) St Alban's Hall, Oxford, Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland, who died at Lydiard St John's, Wiltshire in 1657 aged 76, having escaped from political disturbances in Ireland. His daughter Elizabeth Culme married John Morton (c. 1628 – 1699), MP.
• Richard I Culme (1569–1649) (eldest son), admitted to the Inner Temple in 1591. Sheriff of Devon in 1642. He married in 1596 Lydia Courtenay, daughter of Philip Courtenay of Molland. As patron of the living he made a presentation to the rectory of Molland and Knowstone in 1626. In 1634 "Richard Culme of Cannonleigh" leased to Andrew Wood of Uplowman, Devon, yeoman, a messuage and land in "Wood" in Molland (-Champson), which farm exists today.
• Hugh IV Culme (1601–1643/4) (son), admitted for his legal education to the Inner Temple in London in 1621. He married firstly Amy Ayshford (d.1630/1) daughter of his neighbour Henry Ayshford of Ayshford in the parish of Burlescombe, and secondly "Susanna" (died 1639).
• Richard II Culme (1635–1658/9) (son), died without progeny, the last of the senior line of Culme. His heir was his sister Jane Culme (1637–1674), who married at Burlescombe in 1666 the profligate Sir Edward Hungerford (died 1711), MP. His second sister Amy Culme (1638/9-1658) died in 1658. Hungerford was thus patron of Molland cum Knowstone church in 1672 when he appointed a certain John Culme (died 1691) as rector. John Culme was probably a cousin, and is not listed in the pedigree in the heraldic visitation. His mural monument exists in Knowstone Church, on the south wall of the chancel.

Courtenay

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In 1703 Sir Edward Hungerford sold the Culme estates inherited from his wife to John IV Courtenay (died 1724) of Molland. It was thus an extraordinary coincidence that the Courtenay family acquired both the Domesday Book manors of Molland from members of the Hungerford family. It is generally said of Hungerford that his own extravagance was his downfall, but it was claimed by others that his huge debts were inherited from his own father Anthony Hungerford and from his father-in-law Sir John Hele of Wembury, who had incurred them during the Civil War supporting the Royalist cause. Indeed an Act of Parliament mentioning these reasons was obtained by Hungerford in 1675/6 specifically allowing him to sell the manors inherited from Hele. The acquisition of Molland Champson was initially as a year's lease then as a sale, as the following catalogued deed dated 8 March 1702/3 relates:

Lease for a year from John Pollexfen of Wembury, Devon, esq., Sir Edward Hungerford, knt. and others to John Courtenay of West Molland esq. of 2 messuages called Great and Little Champson in Molland, messuages called South Lishwell, East Gatcombe, Whiteleigh, North Lishwell, and Middle Champson, 3 messuages called Wood, Catts and Pipers and 2 water mills called Wade Mills, all in Molland; cottages called Vicars Cott, and messuages called Harpson and West Hole in Knowstone; a messuage called Swincombe and chief rent from a messuage called Ditchett in Rose Ash; 3 messuages in South Molton; perpetual advowson of Molland and Knowstone, and the manor of Molland Champson alias Champeaux. The great tithes of Molland and Knowstone and certain messuages (listed) excepted.

The manor of Wembury had been inherited from Hungerford's previous wife Jane Hele, sole daughter and heiress of Sir John Hele, and had been sold by Hungerford in 1686 to John Pollexfen, merchant. A draft conveyance for the same properties dated 9 March 1702/3 also exists in the Throckmorton archives. Following his purchase John Courtenay "of West Molland" immediately let out Great Champson on a 99 year lease, in September 1703, to James Quartley of Exton, Somerset, who developed there his famous breed of red Devon Cattle. After the death of John Courtenay the Quartleys eventually obtained a lease of West Molland itself, where they expanded their cattle business. John Courtenay at the same time let out on a 99 year lease "the messuage and lands" of Little Champson to John Newton of Molland, tanner, and the messuage and lands of Middle Champson he let out for 99 years to Richard Moore of Molland, yeoman.

Archives

• Throckmorton Archives. Archive historical documents relating to Molland covering dates c. 1230 – 1880 are held by Warwickshire Archives ("Shakespeare Centre Library and Archive"), under ref DR5. The collection was deposited in instalments by Sir Robert Throckmorton between 1936 and 1960 having been accepted by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in lieu of inheritance tax in 1997.
• Archives of Crosse and Wyatt, solicitors, South Molton, held at North Devon Record Office

References

1. Victoria County History, Devon, vol. 1, pp. 409, 425, 508
2. Devonshire Domesday, Exeter and Exchequer Books. Extensions and Translations. The Devonshire Domesday and Geld Inquest: Extensions, Translations and Indices. Published by the Devonshire Association for the Advancement of Science, Literature and Art. Volume 1, Plymouth 1884-92. Pages 59 and 61.
3. The pronunciation in 1903 was "Botter's Mill" as reported by the former curate of Molland & Knowstone Arthur Lancefield, in Devon Notes & Queries, Vol.2, 1902/3, p.105
4. Lower's "Family Names", quoted by GEC Complete Peerage
5. Chope, R. Pearse, The Book of Hartland, Torquay, 1940, p.57
6. GEC Complete Peerage, Vol.2, pp.241-244, note (d), p.241
7. Rogers, W.H. Hamilton, The Antient Sepulchral Effigies and Monumental and Memorial Sculpture of Devon, Exeter, 1877, p.388
8. published as charter no.243, Sir Christopher Hatton's Book of Seals, Oxford, 1950, p.177. Facsimile on display in Molland Church
9. Vivian, Heralds' Visitation of Devon, 1895, p.244
10. The roundels on the label are stated by some sources to be "plates" (with tincture argent (white)) but in others to be "bezants" (with tincture or (gold)). The painted arms in Molland church show both versions and are likely to have been repainted perhaps more than once since their original colours faded, and therefore fail to provide definitive evidence.
11. He is the first "Courtenay of Molland" listed by Vivian, p.246, with his descendants listed on pp.251-2 under the heading "Courtenay of Molland"
12. Pole, William, Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon. p. 98; Risdon, 1811 edition. Appendix "The Sheriffs of Devon since the Conquest", p.11, date of tenure given as 11 Edward IV (i.e. 1470/1)
13. Vivian, p.246
14. Rogers, W.H. Hamilton, The Antient Sepulchral Effigies and Monumental and Memorial Sculpture of Devon, Exeter, 1877, p.385
15. He is the first "Courtenay of Molland" listed by Vivian, p.246, with his descendants listed on pp.251-2 under the heading "Courtenay of Molland"
16. Vivian, p.246. Other authors (Risdon, Rogers) give differing details.
17. Vivian, p.246
18. Rogers, p.384
19. Hoskins, W.G., A New Survey of England: Devon, London, 1959, p.437
20. Rogers: "apparently a bend charged with three mullets", p.384
21. Rogers, p.384
22. Vivian, p.251-2
23. Vivian, p369, pedigree of Fowell. The ruins of a large Tudor mansion, with extensions c.1800, exist on the site today
24. Vivian, p.251, shows Elizabeth as wife of William Strode, as daughter of Philip and as neice of "William Courtenay of Loughton (sic)"; Pevsner, 2004, p.685, re Plympton St Mary Church: "effigy probably to William Courtenay of Loughtor"; Risdon, Survey of Devon, 1810 ed., p.395: "Loughtor, which was united to Newnham in the reign of Elizabeth by the marriage of William Strode with the heiress of Courtenay"
26. Pevsner, 2004, p.685, re Plympton St Mary Church: "effigy probably to William Courtenay of Loughtor"
27. Sanders, I.J. English Baronies, a Study of their Origin and Descent 1086-1327, Oxford, 1960, pp.70, 138
28. Rogers, W.H. Hamilton, The Antient Sepulchral Effigies and Monumental and Memorial Sculpture of Devon, Exeter, 1877, pp.384-386, Courtenay, Molland-Bottreaux
29. Date of death as inscribed on his gravestone in Molland Church, Visitation of Devon states 27 March 1509
30. Lord of Manor per Dean Milles' Questionnaire, 1745, (quoted by Reed, Margaret, Pilton, its Past and its People, Barnstaple, 1985, p.3)
31. Reed, p.152
32. Reed, p.175
33. Reed, Margaret, Pilton, its Past and its People, Barnstaple 1985 (first published 1977), p.32
34. Reed, p.243
35. Robert Courtenay (died 1630) of the cadet line married in 1591 Dorothy Courtenay (died 1642), a daughter of Philip III Courtenay (died 1611) of Molland (Vivian, p.251)
36. Vivian, p.251
37. Visitation of Devon, Vivian
38. Vivian, p.251
39. Polwhele, vol.2, p.256
40. Arms of Courtenay of Molland are the arms of Courtenay of Powderham differenced by a label of 3 points azure each charged with 3 plates; Courtenay of Powderham has 3 mullets argent on each point of the label. See Tristram Risdon's Notebook 1608-1628, p.15: "COURTENAY, of Molland : "Or, three roundels gules (three torteaux would be preferable), a label of three points azure, each charged with as many roundels argent (plates would be preferable)". COURTENAY, of Powderham : "Or, three roundels gules (three torteaux would be preferable), a label of three points azure, each charged with as many mullets argent". This is the most accurate recording of the arms seen at Molland. Other sources give the charges on the label as torteaux or even bezants (i.e. roundels coloured red and gold respectively)
41. Robson, Thomas, The British Herald, gives Lynn with tinctures reversed: Gules, a demi-lion rampant or
42. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p.353, Courtenay Earls of Devon
43. Weare Giffard is 1 mile N-W of Great Torrington
44. Lysons, Daniel & Samuel, Magna Britannia, vol.6: Devonshire (1822), Families removed or extinct by 1620, pp. CLXI-CLXXII, Giffard of Wear Giffard
45. Wisdom, 4:10, Placens Deo factus est dilectus et vivens inter peccatores translatus est. This book appears only in Roman Catholic Bibles.
46. North Devon Record Office 50/11/27/5 16 May 1748 21 George II
47. North Devon Record Office 50/11/27/6 17,18 May 1748 21 George II
48. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, Earl of Devon, p.353 & Burke's General Armory, 1884, p.235
49. The Visitation of the County of Devon in the Years 1531, 1564 & 1620
50. Mary Courtenay was buried at Horton Church 31/10/1747
51. William Paston was buried at Horton Church on 14/1/1769, aged 68. Source, Glos. Notes & Queries, vol.3, 1887
52. Bliss, Philip, (Ed.), Reliquiae Hearniance, vol.2, 1857, p.618, quoted in Glos. Notes & Queries
53. Glos. Notes & Queries, vol.3, 1887
54. thePeerage.com
55. Victoria County History, Devon, vol.1, 1906, p.425
56. Risdon, Tristram, Tristram Risdon's Notebook, c. 1630, p.16
57. Quoted by Watkin, p.1044-5, source: Walrond Papers, fo.30
58. Devon Feet of Fines, Vol.1, ed. Oswald Reichel, Exeter, 1912, no.1
59. Devon Feet of Fines, no.76
60. Devon Feet of Fines, no.460
61. Transactions of Devon Assoc., vol. 28, fo. 369, quoted in Watkin, Hugh R., The History of Totnes Priory & Medieval Town, Vol. 2, Torquay, 1917, p.1120
62. Inq.p.m. 19 Edward II, no.710, quoted in Watkin, Hugh R., The History of Totnes Priory & Medieval Town, Vol. 2, Torquay, 1917, p.1069
63. Vivian, Visitation of Devon, Culme, pp.262-3
64. 10 June. Hugh Culme, Columb, Cullum or Cullam, of Southmolton and Molland Champiaux, Devon, gent., (Pardon Roll 'Henry VIII: Pardon Roll, Part 3', Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 1: 1509–1514 (1920), pp. 234-256.
65. Westcote, Thomas, A View of Devonshire in MDCXXX (1630) with a Pedigree of Most of its Gentry, pp.515-6, Culme
66. Lysons, Daniel and Samuel, Magna Britannia, Vol.6, 1822, pp.173-225, "Families removed since 1620"
67. History of Parliament biography, which names his father as John Culme, whilst the Visitations of Devon gives his father as Hugh
68. See also Walter family monument in Ashbury Church near Black Torrington. Henry Walter d.s.p. 1686, his only sister married Stucley & after Wollcombe
69. History of Parliament biography of John Culme (d.1512/26)
70. Framed list of Patrons & rectors, Knowstone Church
71. Calendar of charters and rolls preserved in the ... www.ebooksread.com/.../page-8-calendar-of-charters-and-rolls-prese...Cached Grant of arms to Hugh Culme of Molland, co. Devon, by William Hervy, Clarencieux. Dated at London, 12 Sept., 1564
72. Throckmorton Archives, Deed DR5/820
73. Throckmorton Archives, Estate Papers DR5/1862
74. Athenae Oxonienses
75. Mason, William Monck, History and Antiquities of the Collegiate and Cathedral Church of St Patrick
76. History of Parliament biography
77. Visit of Devon
78. DEVON--NORTH TAWTON, SOUTH MOLTON, AND WITHERIDGE HUNDREDS. Letter from John Chichester to Richard Culme, High Sheriff of Devon, enclosing the returns for these hundreds. Returns by the justices of the peace for the above hundreds.(Protestation Returns Devon E HL/PO/JO/10/1/87 1642. These documents are held at Parliamentary Archives)
79. Wolffe, Mary: Gentry leaders in peace and war: the gentry governors of Devon, 1997
80. Throckmorton Archives, Warwick, Deed DR5/647 20 September 1634
81. Framed list of rectors in Knowstone Church
82. Vivian, 1895, pp.262-3
83. Risdon, Survey of Devon, 1810 Additions, p.397
84. Throckmorton Archives, Deed DR5/467 8 March 1702/3, Parchment - 2 m. 30 × 27, 28 × 11 in.
85. Risdon, Survey of Devon, 1810 Additions, p.397
86. Deed DR5/468
87. Throckmorton Archives, Deed DR5/470 29 September 1703, Parchment 29¼ x 22 in. Counterpart of lease for 99 years from John Courtenay of West Molland esq. to James Quartley of Exton, Somerset, yeoman of the barton and farm of Great Champson alias Champeaux (described) in Molland.
88. Deed DR5/473, 22 March 1703/4, Parchment 30 × 19¼ in.
89. Deed DR5/478 4 May 1703, Parchment 28¼ x 13 ¼ in.
90. Throckmorton Molland Archives

Sources

• Vivian, J.L., Lt.-Col., The Visitations of the County of Devon comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895
• Rogers, W.H. Hamilton, The Antient Sepulchral Effigies and Monumental and Memorial Sculpture of Devon, Exeter, 1877, pp. 384–386, Courtenay, Molland-Bottreaux. Contains transcripts of several of the inscriptions on the Courtenay monuments in Molland Church.

External links

• Throckmorton Molland Archives

• Articles that may contain original research from July 2103
• History of Devon