Died 1675 | ||
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John Arscott (1613-1675), of Tetcott, Devon, was Sheriff of Devon in 1675.
Contents
Origins
W. G. Hoskins described the Arscotts as one of the ancient families of freeholders that rose to the ranks of the squirearchy over a period of 300 years or so by the steady accumulation of property, mostly through marriage. Originating at Arscott (now known as South Arscott, north of the town of Holsworthy), a junior branch of the family moved to Tetcott in about 1550.
John Arscott was the eldest son and heir of Edmund Arscott (1588-1656), of Tetcott, by his wife Mary Walrond (d.1652), daughter of William Walrond (d.1627) of Bradfield, Uffculme. Arthur Arscott (1554-1618), the sheriff's grandfather (son of John Arscott of Tetcott (d.1558), fourth son of John Arscott (1469-1541) of Arscott) built a new manor house at Tetcott in 1603.
Marriage
He married Gertrude Calmady (1622-1699), a daughter (by his 2nd marriage) of Sir Shilston Calmady (1585-1645) of Langdon, Wembury, who was killed during the Civil War during the siege of Ford Abbey and was buried in the nearby church at Membury where exists his monument. In 1638 John's sister Mary Arscott had married Gertrude's half-brother John Calmady (b.1614, died pre-1645) in Ashwater parish. John Arscott died without progeny.
Death & succession
John Arscott was buried 25 September 1675 at Tetcott. As he was childless his heir was his nephew John Arscott (d.1708) of Tetcott, (son of his younger brother William Arscott (born 1617, living in 1675) by unknown wife) who married as his 2nd wife Prudence, of unrecorded family. John the younger's 3rd son was Dennis Arscott (1685-1721) of Ethy, Cornwall, Sheriff of Cornwall and his daughter was Jane Arscott (born 1678) who married in 1699 Sir John Molesworth, 3rd Baronet (1668–1723), whose later descendants inherited Tetcott in 1788.
Monument
A mural monument to John Arscott (1613–1675) of Tetcott exists in the Arscott Chapel of Holy Cross Church, Tetcott, inscribed as follows:
"Here lyeth the body of John Arscotte Esq. who married the daughter of Sr. Shilston Calmady. He dyed while sheriffe of the county the 25th day of September 1675 aetatis suae 63. Here also lyeth the body of Gertrude wife of the above said John Arscott Esq. who dyed the 18th of October 1699 aged 77"