Mid Devon

Home of the Mortimers

Evidence suggests the Mortimers first settled near Sandford, Crediton upon arriving in the county, before expanding to surrounding parishes. This may have been as late as the mid 15th century. This interpretation is supported by the 1524 Devon lay subsidy, when most of the Mortimers lived in Mid Devon in a group of parishes surrounding Crediton, where at least five Mortimers were recorded. Perhaps all Mortimers in Devon ultimately originate here. Mortimers continued to live in the area for hundreds of years and are presumably still resident there today.

A John Mortimer lived in Stockleigh, West Budleigh hundred in 1455, and a John Mortimer was recorded in Woolfardisworthy in 1502/1503, who may have been his son. The founder of the line of Mortimers in Sandford near Crediton was presumably called John, and was perhaps born around 1455.

Five Mortimer family members were living in Sandford or Crediton in 1524, all with different names, who were presumably all closely related. They may have been siblings. James Mortimer of Sandford c. 1490-1558 was the wealthiest Mortimer in Devon in the 1524 subsidy. His mother was called Alice, and she died a widow, though no further information about her is known. A Joan Mortimer, widow, lived in Sandford in 1524, who was presumably either the daughter in law or sister in law of Alice. Later Mortimers moved from Sandford to Morchard Bishop, Down St Mary, Ashcombe, Exeter and Plymouth.

Related families

A possible relationship between the Mortimers of Sandford and neighbouring Tedburn St Mary can be surmised by geographical proximity. John Mortimer of Priorton in Sandford made a will dated 1605, in which he mentions a Thomas French and James Mortimer. Thomas French was the son of John French and Thomasin Mortimer who married in 1594, Tedburn St Mary.

The Most illustrious branch of Mortimers descended from Mid Devon included the Mortimers of Hatfield Peverel, Essex, descended from Mark Mortimer b. 1633 Bow/ Nymet Tracey. Among them was John Mortimer, famous agriculturalist and his descendants, many of whom lived in Devon such as George Mortimer Esquire of Drewsteignton. Another Mortimer family originating in Bow were the Mortimers of Hemyock, Halberton and Uplowman.