Sommerwill -a Devon Family: Appendix 2

 

Appendix 2: Thelbridge: Miscellaneous Sources

Notes by Kathryn J. Summerwill

Carlehow, J.A.S., 'Cruwys Morchard and neighbouring parishes during the Civil War', Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries 19:5 (1937), pp 229-231

About the Rector, Robert Ven MA, tried for delinquency in front of Lewis Stucley and two others, but saved by friendship of Sir Thos Stucley Kt (Lewis's half-brother).

Terrier

At the end of the 1632-1695 Thelbridge Parish Register a terrier, dated April 4th 1695, is appended. It assigns to each of the land holdings in the parish a stretch of churchyard boundary to be 'repaired maintained and kept'. It includes the following:

"Lower Summerwell is to repaire next to Woodhouse in length Twenty three foot. Over Summerwell is to repaire next to lower Summerwell in length forty foot. Woodford with ye occupiers are to repaire next to Over Summerwell in length Thirty six foot. Chapmore is to repaire next to Woodford in length Twenty foot."

Nothing found in search at Exeter for 'Stucley' in books or periodicals. Nothing for 'Thelbridge'.

Royal Commission on Historic Manuscripts (HMC)

Stucley family, baronets, of Affeton Castle and Hartland Abbey, Devon.

1) NRA 242 Stucley
Papers held at Hartland Abbey

No detailed listing - records still in private hands. List made in the 50s.

1st Box:

No 7 'Manor Court Books covering courts held at various N Devon manors between 1692-3 and 1696'

No 9 'Schedules of Manor of Stoke and other N Devon and Cornish Manors'

In a wooden chest numbered '3': 'mostly deeds'

Large iron-bound chest:
'some deeds and late manorial material'; maps and plans


2) NRA 42809 Stucley
Papers deposited at North Devon Record Office, Barnstaple:
Leases and deeds re land in Bideford, deposited 1990


I checked the National Register of Archives indexes for the Partridge family - possible identification as members of the Partridge family of Nymet Rowland, Devon? - papers listed for this family are not of any use to us. There is no mention of a Devon Partridge family in the 1937 edition of Burke's Landed Gentry. The Partridges owning land in Thelbridge may well have been very small-scale as their only big property was the house at Thelbridge Barton. Being lord of the manor may have come along with that property but not meant much by the mid 19th century. The manor court may have fallen into abeyance as properties were sold freehold, which would explain why no records seem to have survived.

According to Debretts the Stucley family have owned Affeton Castle in Worlington near Crediton for over 600 years. They originally came from Great Stukely in Huntingdonshire - some were sheriffs there in the time of King John. Created Baronet 1859. Sir George, 1st Bt, was MP for Barnstaple 1855-9 and 1865-8. He had changed his name to Stucley from something else.

White's 1850 Devon Trade Directory

Thelbridge
Manor successively held by the Charteray, Annelegh, Binley, Stewkly, Shortridge, and Pearse families. Now belongs to John Partridge Esq.
Farmers
- Geo. Bennett, Lower Summerville (owner)
- Robert Leach, Higher Summerville (tenant)

Kelly's Directory 1930-1931
Tarr, Francis John, farmer & landowner, Higher and Lower Somerville (over 150 acres)

Slip Index
Land at Thelbridge, Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries XVI.
In author index:
Newspaper cutting, West M. News 11 Aug 1938, p6.

THELBRIDGE FARM OFFER
Messrs Cockram, Dobbs and Stagg, at the Palmerston Hotel, Tiverton, on Tuesday, submitted to public auction the estate Higher and Lower Somerwell and Brown's Wood, Thelbridge, Devon, comprising pasture, arable, orchard, and woodlands, with residence, farm buildings and two cottages, extending to about 273 acres, for many years past owned and occupied by Mr. F.J. Tarr. The property was withdrawn at £4,350. The auctioneers are now open to negotiate by private treaty.

National Farm Survey 1941, farm records for the parish of Thelbridge (PRO reference MAF32/698/341):

Farm - variously referred to as Summer and Summerwell
Tenant: John Ernest Cole
Owner: trustees of the late F J Tarr

Details of crops and livestock on the farm and other information:

16 and a quarter acres of wheat
34 and a quarter acres of oats
7 acres of mixed corn
Rape, potatoes, clover (for fodder), grass for grazing
2 male workers over 21, and 1 male under 21
52 cattle and calves
230 sheep and lambs
10 pigs
424 poultry
6 horses

2 cottages within farm area
Water supply to farmhouse and farm buildings is by well
No electricity supply
Condition of land = good

Devon Register of Electors 1964
Thelbridge
Cole family at Somers Farm