Manor of Raleigh, Pilton

Doomsday Book

Under the heading Terra(e) Ep(iscop)i Constantiensis ("Lands of the Bishop of Coutances" (Geoffrey de Montbray (died 1093)) and under the sub heading Infra scriptas t(er)ras tenet Drogo de Ep(iscop)o ("The undermentioned lands Drogo holds from the Bishop"), is the following entry for Raleigh, 28th of 99 Devon holding of the Bishop (translated into English): "Raleigh. Brictric held it before 1066. It paid tax for 1/2 hide. Land for 4 ploughs. In lordship 1 plough; 4 slaves; 1 virgate, 4 villagers and 4 smallholders with 1 plough and 1 virgate; meadow 2 acres; pasture 5 acres; woodland 30 acres; 2 cattle; 30 sheep; 16 goats. Value formerly and now 30 shillings". Drogo was probably "Drogo son of Mauger" mentioned in another nearby entry and was one of the Bishop's knights and his largest tenant in Devon, and held about 70 manors from him. On the death of Geoffrey de Mowbray in 1093 his heir was his nephew Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumbria (died 1125), who rebelled unsuccessfully against King William II in 1095 and forfeited his lands to the crown. King William II then re-granted most of the de Mowbray lands to Juhel de Totnes (died 1123/30), the first feudal baron of Barnstaple. The manor thus became a constituent part of the Feudal barony of Barnstaple and the barons remained the feudal overlords for many centuries. In the Book of Fees Raleigh was in the same ownership as Challacombe, which was also a Domesday manor held by Drogo from the Bishop of Coutances. In the 19th century Challacombe was sold by the Chichesters to the Fortescues of Filleigh.

de Raleigh

The early ancestry of the de Raleigh family of Devon, in its various forms, which is referred to by certain authorities by the Latinized term Raleghana, has been studied in much depth, largely as a result of enquiries into the origins of the famous Elizabethan adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh, but no clear early pedigree has emerged. Isolated surviving references to members of the de Raleigh family may be connected to the Pilton family with near certainty. Sir Hugh de Raleigh, knight, was Sheriff of Devon 1160-1167 and held three knight's fees of the Feudal barony of Barnstaple, and held half a knight's fee of Robert, Duke of Normandy. In 1167 he was granted by King Henry II the manor of Nettlecombe in Somerset.

The Lay Subsidy Return of 1332 records John de Raleigh assessed 12 pence. The left-most (western-most) of a pair of early 14th-century stone effigies of cross-legged knights, which posture is commonly supposed to represent a crusader, exists in the south ambulatory of Exeter Cathedral, often said to represent a certain Sir Henry de Raleigh who died in 1301. The antiquarian John Leland visited the Cathedral in 1542 and recorded the knight as a Chichester, probably on the basis of the checquy arms which were then visible on his shield, and which were also noted by Sir George Carew (later Earl of Totnes) in his Carew's Scroll of Arms 1588, Collected from Churches in Devonshire etc. Sir William Pole (1561–1635) recorded the arms on the knight's shield as: "Checque or and geules, a chief verry", and identified them as "of Ralegh of Ralygh". No trace remains of the painted arms in 2013. The arms blazoned for "Henri de Ralle" on the following mediaeval rolls of arms: Dering Roll (185), St George's Roll (E406), Heralds' Roll (HE317), Charles' Roll (F207) are Gules crusilly or, a bend vair, which are the arms shown as the second quartering of ten on an escutcheon on top of the monument to Sir John Chichester (died 1569) in Pilton Church, and also shown as impaled by Chichester painted on a stone escutcheon in a strapwork surround on the base of the monument. The family history by Sir Alexander Chichester, Bart., however states the arms of Raleigh to have been inherited by the Chichesters: Chequy or and gules a chief vair, which replaced their ancient arms of Ermine, a canton sable This assertion seems to be validated by the form of the arms on the seal in black wax of Sir John de Raleigh attached to the deed dated 1362 now in the North Devon Record Office, the catalogue entry for which is quoted below. The de Raleigh family also held the manor of "Auvrington" (Arlington, Devon), as recorded in the Book of Fees, held from the overlord Philip de Culumbars (died 1342), of Nether Stowey, 2nd husband of Eleanor FitzMartin, sister and one of two co-heiresses of William FitzMartin (died 1326), feudal baron of Barnstaple. Arlington was thus also inherited by the Chichesters from de Raleigh. The pedigree given in Vivian's Visitation of Devon is as follows:

Most of these priests would have been appointed to their benefices by John de Raleigh himself or his ancestor, as most were incumbents of de Raleigh manors (Loxhore, Arlington and Challacombe). The chaplain may have served the private family chapel within the manor house of Raleigh. Effigies of Sir John de Sully (1282–1388), KG, and his wife Isobel exist in Crediton Parish Church. Sully was lord of the manor of Iddesleigh, but was said by Westcote (d.circa 1637) to have had his seat at "Rookesford, lately the land of Chichester and alienated to Davye", i.e. Ruxford, in the parish of Sandford about 1/2 mile north-west of Crediton.

Chichester

A pedigree of the Chichester family was compiled in 1871 by Sir Alexander Palmer Bruce Chichester, 2nd Baronet of Arlington Court (1842–1881), ("History of the Family of Chichester"), and gives six generations of the family prior to their inheritance of the manor of Raleigh, all of which differ from the names of the eight generations listed in the official Heralds' Visitations. Vivian published his 1895 edition of the Visitations in parallel with Sir Alexander's pedigree on the same page for comparison. Both versions however are largely in agreement on the descent of the family after John Chichester who married Thomasine de Raleigh:

John Chichester (fl.1365)

John Chichester (fl.1365) married in about 1365 Thomasine de Raleigh (died 1402), daughter and heiress of Sir John De Raleigh. He was lord of the manors of Treverbin in Cornwall and of Beggerskewish and Donwer in Somerset. According to Sir Alexander Chichester, Bart., he was the son of Sir Roger Chichester, who was knighted in 1346 at the Siege of Calais and later fought at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356. According to the Heralds' Visitation of Devon his father was John Chichester, 7th in descent from Walleran de Cirencester alias Chichester, himself descended from a brother of Robert of Chichester, Bishop of Exeter in 1155-1160. According to the Ledger Book of Tor Abbey, in 1237 Walleran did homage to William de Raleigh for the manor of South Pool.

Sir John Chichester (1385–1437)

Sir John Chichester (1385–1437) (son), who fought in the Battle of Agincourt (1415) in the retinue of the Sieur de Harrington. He married Alice Wotton, daughter and co-heiress of John Wotton of Widworthy. He survived his wife and died 14 December 1437.

Richard Chichester (1423–1496)

Richard Chichester (1423–1496), (son), was a minor aged 14 on his father's death. He served as Sheriff of Devon in 1469 and 1475. He married firstly Margaret Keynes, daughter of Nicholas Keynes of Winkleigh; secondly Elizabeth Sapcott (died 1502), who survived him, daughter of Sir John Sapcott. He died 25 December 1496 and his Inquisition post mortem was taken in 1498. His tomb slab exists set into the floor of the chancel aisle of Pilton Church. Their second son Richard Chichester married Thomasine de Hall (died 1502), the heiress of Hall, in the parish of Bishops Tawton, and founded that line of the family, whose descendants (in a female line) still own the estate in 2012. His heir was his grandson John Chichester (died 1537/8). He was predeceased by both his sons:

Sir John Chichester (c. 1474 – 1537)

Sir John Chichester (c. 1474 – 1537) (son and heir of Nicholas Chichester (d.pre-1496) and heir to his grandfather), married firstly in about 1490, Margaret Beaumont (died 1507), daughter and co-heiress of Hugh Beaumont of Shirwell by his wife Thomasine Wise. Secondly Joan Brett, sister of Robert Brett (died 1540), lord of the manor of Pilland in the parish of Pilton, and the last steward of Pilton Priory before its dissolution and widow of John Courtenay (died 1510) of Molland; she survived her husband and remarried Henry Fortescue. His will was witnessed by his brother-in-law Robert Brett (died 1540). The manorial account book for Raleigh of the year 1506/7 survives. His eldest son by his second wife Joan Brett was Amyas Chichester (1527–1577), to whom he granted his manor of Arlington, and who established that line of the family, created Chichester Baronets of Arlington Court in 1840.

Sir John Chichester (c.1516/22-1569)

Sir John Chichester (c. 1516/22-1569), (grandson), MP, Sheriff of Devon 1552 and 1557. He was the son of Edward Chichester (c. 1496 – 1522) (second and eldest surviving son of Sir John Chichester (c. 1474 – 1537), whom he predeceased) by his wife Lady Elizabeth Bourchier (d.24 August 1548), a daughter of John Bourchier, 1st Earl of Bath (1470–1539). Lady Elizabeth's monumental brass, depicting a small kneeling figure with separate inscription, exists in St Brannock's Church, Braunton, Devon. Sir John Chichester's elaborate monument (without effigy) exists in Pilton Church. He married Gertrude Courtenay, a daughter of Sir William Courtenay (1477–1535) of Powderham. He obtained from the crown (after having been leased to Richard Duke (died 1572), of Otterton) the rectory, parsonage, glebe, tithes oblations and advowson of the former Pilton Priory, after the Dissolution of the Monasteries. He bequeathed these to his son and heir in his will. These rights had passed under another lease to George Turrell by 1591.

Sir John Chichester (1549–1586)

Sir John Chichester (1549–1586) (eldest son), of Raleigh, Sheriff of Devon in 1576/7. He married Anne Denys, daughter of Sir Robert Dennis (died 1592) of Holcombe Burnell, MP. He died of gaol fever contracted whilst acting as a magistrate at the Lent Black Assizes of Exeter in 1586.

Sir Robert Chichester (1578–1627)

Sir Robert Chichester (1578–1627) (son). His monument with kneeling effigies of himself and his two wives exists in Pilton Church. He married firstly Frances Harrington (died 1615), who received a stately funeral in Pilton church attended by many eminent persons. She was the daughter of John Harington, 1st Baron Harington of Exton (1539–1613) and a co-heiress of her brother John Harington, 2nd Baron Harington of Exton (1592–1614). By her he had a daughter Anne Chichester who married Thomas Bruce, 1st Earl of Elgin (1599–1663). Secondly he married Ursula Hill, daughter of Robert Hill of Shilston. In 1599 he purchased from Robert Dillon Esq., of Chumhill, Bratton Fleming, the husband of his aunt Grace Chichester, for £9,900 the manors of "Bratton Flemyng, Benton, and Haxton, the capital mansion, barton and demesnes of Chumhill, Haxton, Chelfham, and Shirrledon and all the lands called Chumhill, Benton, Haxton, Chelfham, and Shirrldon, in the parishes of Bratton Flemyng, Loxhore, Stoke Rivers, and Kentisbury, and £5 of rent (called Flemyng's rent) out of lands in South Molton and elsewhere in Devon".

Sir John Chichester, 1st Baronet (1623–1667)

Sir John Chichester, 1st Baronet (1623–1667) (son by 2nd wife Ursula Hill)

Sir John Chichester, 2nd Baronet (c. 1658 – 1680)

Sir John Chichester, 2nd Baronet (c. 1658 – 1680) (son), died without children.

Sir Arthur Chichester, 3rd Baronet (c. 1662 – 1718)

Sir Arthur Chichester, 3rd Baronet (c. 1662 – 1718) (brother). In 1689 he moved permanently to Youlston Park in the parish of Shirwell, long owned by the family and used as a second seat, inherited by Sir John Chichester (c. 1474 – 1537) from his first wife Margaret Beaumont (died 1507), and sold the manor of Raleigh to Arthur Champneys, MP for Barnstaple in 1701 (1695 – c. 1715) and a Barnstaple merchant. On 2 November 1715 however he was back at Pilton where together with Henry Incledon, Esq., he received the oaths, declarations against trans-substantiation and administered the sacramental tests respecting 36 local gentlemen.

Champneys

Arthur Champneys sold Raleigh in 1703 to Sir Nicholas Hooper (1654–1731), his fellow MP for Barnstaple in 1701.

Hooper

Sir Nicholas Hooper (1654–1731), MP for Barnstaple 1695-1715. In the return to the Dean Milles' Questionnaire of about 1745, the manor house of Raleigh was described as "Rawleigh in Ruins" (in response to the question "Are there any gentlemen's seats and remarkable improvements in the parish?"). His son Nicholas Hooper rebuilt Raleigh House on an adjacent site slightly higher up the hill, which building survives today. Nicholas Hooper married Mary Davie (1688–1762), eldest daughter and co-heiress of Sir William Davie, 4th Baronet (1662–1707) of Creedy in the parish of Sandford, near Crediton in Devon, by his first wife Mary Steadman (died 1690/1), daughter and heiress of ..... Steadman of Downside, Midsomer Norton, Somerset. The marriage was childless. Mary Davie (Mrs Hooper) was the heiress of her mother's estate at Downside, which she settled on John Hippisley-Coxe (1715–1769), the builder of Ston Easton House in Somerset, the husband of her half-niece Mary Northleigh (daughter and heiress of Stephen Northleigh (c.1692-?1731) of Peamore, Exminster, MP for Totnes (1713–1722), by his wife Margaret Davie, half-sister of Mary Davie (Mrs Hooper)). John Hippisley-Coxe erected the surviving mural monument to Mary Davie in Sandford Church, inscribed as follows:

Nicholas Hooper's heir was his sister Elizabeth Hooper (died 1726), who married John Bassett (1683–1721), of Heanton Punchardon, MP for Barnstaple 1718-1721.

Courtenay

Peregrine Courtenay (1720–1785) was described as "of Raleigh" by Vivian (1895). He was the 3rd son of Sir William Courtenay, 2nd Baronet (1675–1735) of Powderham and was the husband of Lucy Incledon (born 1724), 2nd daughter of Robert Incledon (1676–1758) of Pilton House, Pilton, which adjoins Raleigh to the south.

Bassett

In 1793 Francis Bassett, who never lived at Raleigh, sold some land in Raleigh to Robert Newton Incledon Incledon sold land in Raleigh in 1885, which was resold in 1894 and again in 1919. In the mid-18th century John Bassett Esq., was the last person to live in the Old Manor House, and appointed Rev. George Foss as chaplain to the private chapel.

Barbor

Jane Jeffreys (1779–1845), "Mrs Barbor", the widow of George Barbor (1756–1817) of Fremington House, about three miles (5 km) west of Barnstaple, was resident at "Rawleigh House" from at the latest 1830 until her death in 1845 as is recorded on her mural monument in Fremington Church, inscribed as follows:

The heir of the Barbor family, lords of the manor of Fremington, was William Arundell Yeo, who is later recorded as a landowner at Raleigh (see below).

Various

The 1843 tithe award showed manor of Raleigh held between three owners:

In 1862 Raleigh House was occupied by Murray William Mathews and his wife Matilda Jane Mathews, in which year they leased out land and a plantation.