The Mortimers of Dunsford

The surrounds of Dunsford

Dunsford is a scenic village 8 miles west of Exeter, situated on the north eastern edge of Dartmoor National Park. The village retains an air of idyllic charm, creating the impression of time that has stood still. Many Mortimers lived in Dunsford and the nearby village of Bridford from the late 16th century onwards.

Nathaniel Mortimer (1610-c.1688)

Nathaniel founded the branch of the Mortimer family who were millers in Dunsford, and who still live as farmers near the area today. He was presumably b.1610 Tedburn St Mary, the third son of Thomas Mortimer. As a younger son, he didn’t inherit property in Tedburn St Mary and presumably had to move to a different parish. He married, around 1642, Letitia (c.1619-1682) whose maiden name is unknown, as no marriage record survives. They had the following children:

1. John Mortimer of Dunsford (1644-1704) who in 1668 was a miller at Dunsford. He left a will dated 20 Apr 1702, leaving his leasehold in Dunsford to his wife, and legacies to his grandchildren, which will was proved 24 May 1704. He was buried 14 Mar 1703/4 Dunsford. He married firstly, Mary (d.1668) in around 1662 with whom he had the following children:

i. Mary 1664-1707, m. Robert Harris,

ii. Grace 1666-1671

iii. John Mortimer II (1668-1694) who may have predeceased his father, as he was not mentioned in his will.

He married secondly, Joan, who was living in 1704, when she proved her husbands will.

1. George Mortimer (c.1646-1695)

2. Wilmot 1653-1693

3. Henry Mortimer 1655-1686, who married firstly Rose Payne, 21 Jul 1681 in Dunsford. They had three children;

i. Nathaniel 1682-1695

ii. John 1684-1685

iii. Henry Mortimer II 1686-1711, who m. Mary Mortimer, 7 Sep 1708 in Dunsford. They had two daughters;

1. Wilmot 1708-1715

2. Mary 1711-1713

4. Simon Mortimer 1657-1698. His first wife is unknown. Simon m. secondly to Thomasin Seaward, 24 Jun 1696, Dunsford, and they had one daughter; Thomasin b.1697. The children of Simon and his first wife:

i. Simon 1687-1688

ii. Nathaniel Mortimer 1689-1762, of Whitestone. He m. firstly Elizabeth Hill (1689-1763) on 8 Jun 1724, Exeter St Thomas, and they had issue;

1. Nathaniel Mortimer II 1725-1804, tailor, of Exminster. He m. firstly Susanna Macey/ Massey, 2 Aug 1752, Exeter All Hallows’ Goldsmith St. He m. secondly, Rebecca Hore (c.1733-1788), 4 May 1773, Kenn. He was bur. in 1804, Kenton. Nathaniel and his first wife had the following children:

i. John Mortimer 1753-1782, bap. 11 Jun 1753 Shillingford St George, was a mariner who served aboard HMS Royal George, who made a will dated 2 May 1780, which made his father Nathaniel Mortimer of Exminster, Devon, tailor, sole beneficiary and executor. His will was proved in 1783. John Mortimer presumably died in the unfortunate loss of HMS Royal George on 29 Aug 1782, while undergoing hull repairs at Portsmouth.

HMS Royal George sailed under the command of John Bourmaster, and took part in the attack on the Caracas convoy on 8 Jan 1780, the Battle of Cape St. Vincent on 16 Jan 1780, and the successful relief of Gibraltar three days later. On 29 Aug 1782, HMS Royal George was undergoing routine repairs while anchored near Portsmouth, as part of the preparation to sail to Gibraltar. Most of the crew’s compliment were aboard the ship; crew leave had been cancelled so 200-300 relatives were also on board. The ship was intentionally rolled for hull maintenance, but the roll became unstable and out of control, and the ship took on water and sank. More than 800 lives were lost, making it one of the worst maritime disasters in British territorial waters.

ii. Mary 1756-1789, bap. 18 Jan 1756 Shillingford St George, who m. William Sandford (1755-1812) 22 Nov 1782 Kenton. She was bur. Jun 1789, Kenton.

iii. Elizabeth 1759, bap. 25 Mar 1759. She perhaps married James Conant, 24 Nov 1780, Exeter St Thomas.

iv. Nathaniel Mortimer 1762, bap. 5 Nov 1762, who married Marguerite Esther Ousqué, 19 Nov 1781, Jersey St Helier. At the time of the marriage Nathaniel Mortimer was described as sojourner, of St Thomas, Exeter, Devon. Marguerite his wife was bur. 1 Feb 1814, Nathaniel died in 1825 was bur. 14 Sep 1825, Jersey St Helier. They had the following children, all bapt. in Jersey St Helier:

1. John (Jean) Clement Mortimer 1784, bap. 28 Jan 1784 Jersey St Helier, presumably d. before 1790.

2. Mary (Marie) 1785, bap. 14 Dec 1785.

3. Nicholas Mortimer 1787, bap. 26 Dec 1787.

4. John (Jean) Mortimer 1790, bap. 18 Apr 1790, m. Elizabeth Hocquard 15 Jun 1811, Jersey St Helier. Elizabeth his wife was bur. 3 Aug 1825, Jersey St Helier. They had a daughter Elizabeth Marguerite Mortimer b. 1817, and bap. 30 Mar 1817, Jersey St Helier.

5. Frederick (Fredéric) 1793, bap. 20 Mar 1790, presumably d. before 1800

6. Joseph (Josué) Mortimer 1796-1877, bap. 26 Aug 1796, bur. 9 Jun 1877, Jersey St Helier.

7. Nathaniel Mortimer IV 1798-1846, bap. 20 Mar 1798, d. 31 Mar 1846, bur. 3 Apr, Jersey St Helier.

8. Frederick (Fredéric) Mortimer 1800-1839, bap. 23 Apr 1800. He m. Jane Romeril, 31 Dec 1831 Jersey St Helier. Joseph was bur. 9 Jan 1839 Jersey St Helier.

9. Elizabeth 1802, bap. 14 Apr 1802. She may have died unmarried in 1873, aged 70, and bur. 21 Jan 1873, Jersey St Helier.

2. Simon Mortimer 1732- , who m. Ann Herdon 3 Feb 1761, Exeter St Paul. They had the following children in Exeter;

i. Simon Mortimer II 1761

ii. John 1764

iii. William 1766

iv. Ann 1768-1768

v. Ann 1769

vi. Elizabeth 1772-1777

vii. Mary 1774

viii. Elizabeth 1779

ix. Parmena 1783-1783

iii. Andrew 1691-1695

iv. George 1695-1695

George Mortimer (c.1646-1695)

George was born during the parish register gap in the English civil war. He married firstly, Wilmot (1641-1670), the daughter of Simon Mortimer, 14 May 1667 Dunsford, indicating a long standing connection between the two families, by whom he had one son, George. George Mortimer senior died and was buried 27 Oct 1695, Dunsford.

1. George Mortimer 1668-1672, who died a child. In 1668 he was mentioned as a son in law in the will of Simon Mortimer. He married secondly, Elizabeth Langman (c.1644-1680) 4 Feb 1672/3 Dunsford, with whom he had the following children:

2. Elizabeth 1673-1689

3. George Mortimer II

4. Nathaniel 1680-1681

George Mortimer II (1675-1738)

George was a miller at Dunsford. He was baptised 6 Sep 1675. In 1723 he took the Loyalty Oath. He married Ann Soper (1677-1741) 20 Oct 1698 at Dunsford. They had the following children:

1. George 1699-1699, died an infant.

2. George 1700-1711, died in childhood.

3. John Mortimer (1702-1790) of Dunsford, who married firstly, Susanna Hutchings (1698-1754), 21 Jan 1728 Exeter St Mary Major, and secondly, Mary Ramsey (1711-1782). He died and was bur. 1 Sep 1790, Dunsford, aged 88.

4. Richard Mortimer

5. Henry 1707-1708

He left a will dated 14 Apr 1733, mentioning his sons, John and Richard, his wife Ann, and his grandchildren George and Elizabeth Mortimer, which will was proved 23 Oct 1738. He died and was buried 23 Sep 1738.

Richard Mortimer (1705-1774)

Richard Mortimer was also a miller. He married Ann Sircombe (1707-1778), 5 May 1731 Dunsford, with whom he had the following children:

1. Elizabeth (1731-1802)

2.George Mortimer

3. Ann (1735-1794)

4. Mary 1737, m. 24 Aug 1756 Dunsford to John Conant.

5. Susanna 1745-1762

He made a will 20 Nov 1768, in which he left his mills to his son George, with bequests to his daughters Elizabeth, Ann, Mary wife of John Conant. His wife Ann was sole executor, and the will was proved 20 Jul 1774. Richard died and was buried 14 Mar 1774.

George Mortimer (1733-1778)

George was baptised 26 Mar 1733, Dunsford. George Mortimer married Ann Berry (1745-1828), 6 May 1767 Dunsford, with whom he had the following children:

1. George Mortimer

2. John Mortimer, of Exeter (1770-1829), a dairyman, who m. Mary Sircombe (c.1771- ), 16 Jan 1794 Dunsford, but had no children. He died and was bur. 8 Feb 1829, Exeter St Thomas.

3. Elizabeth b.1772

4. Richard Mortimer (1775-1833), who appears in the 1821 census for Dunsford. He was bur. 30 Jan 1833, Dunsford, aged 58.

George Mortimer (1768-1851)

George was baptised 14 Feb 1768 Dunsford. In 1798 he held land in Dunsford as a freeholder. In 1829 George and his brother Richard were joint executors of their uncle John Mortimer’s will. In 1841, he lived in Ide, Devon, and was a farmer. He married Mary Tuckett (1770- ), 4 Jul 1793 Stockleigh Pomeroy. George died and was bur. 26 Jan 1851, aged 84. George and Mary had the following children:

1. John Mortimer 1794-1868

2. Elizabeth 1796-1799

3. Mary 1798

4. Elizabeth 1800

5. Richard 1810

John Mortimer (1794-1868) of Exmill

John was baptised 24 Apr 1794. He was a farmer and lived in Exmill, Powderham, in a farm house still occupied by Mortimers. He farmed approximately 350 acres. He married his cousin Mary Ann Tuckett (1797- ), 17 Dec 1818 Bridford, and they had the following children:

1. John Mortimer 1819-1906

2. Mary 1820

3. Harriet 1822

4. George 1824

5. Maria 1826

6. Richard 1828-1903

7. William 1830

8. Charlotte 1832

9. Thomas 1835

10. Samuel Mortimer 1837-1931

11. Nicholas 1840

12. James 1841