Origins
The Mortimers of Bow were presumably closely related to the Mortimers at Sandford or Tedburn St Mary.
The earliest member of this branch was Mark Mortimer of Bow (c.1550-1621), who married at Colebrooke, and who was presumably related to the earlier Mortimers at Colebrooke.
John Mortimer of Colebrooke (c.1500-1559)
John Mortimer first appeared in the 1524 Devon Lay Subsidy under Colebrooke, near Crediton, where his income was assessed at £7, in goods, suggesting he was a yeoman. He also appeared in the 1543 Lay Subsidy, with income dropping only £1, to £6, suggesting that the two entries for John are the same individual. John died in 1559, and was bur. 14 Feb 1558/9. John left a will, which abstract survives in the College of Arms, but is still to be examined. It is hoped that reading such a will could reveal his family connections. He presumably had a son, the following Thomas Mortimer, and other children. His wife may have been Christian Mortimer, bur. 1569 Colebrooke.
Thomas Mortimer of Colebrooke (c.1520-1573)
Thomas was presumably born before 1524, and first appears in the 1543 Devon Lay Subsidy for Colebrooke, with income of £4 in goods. His income at this time was less than his father, John Mortimer, though he presumably inherited his father’s goods after his death in 1559. Thomas died in 1573, and was bur. 13 Feb 1572/3. He left a will, which transcript survives in the College of Arms. Thomas perhaps married Joan Mortimer, who was bur. 1579. His children were perhaps the following:
1. John Mortimer, d.1588, who may have been the eldest son, so named after his paternal grandfather.
2. Mark Mortimer of Bow
3. Mary, m. 1575 Colebrooke to William Frost
Mark Mortimer of Colebrooke (c.1550-1621)
Mark Mortimer was b. around 1550. He married Elizabeth Westway, the 7 Feb 1573/4 at Colebrooke. Mark Mortimer and his family lived at Bow, otherwise called Nymet Tracey. In the 1581 Devon Lay Subsidy he paid tax on an income of £4 in goods. He married for a second time on 4 Jun 1603 Zeal Monachorum, to Ann Underwood. The parish records for Bow do not begin until the 17th century. He probably had the following children with his first wife Elizabeth.
1. Thomas Mortimer of Bow (c.1577/1621), who was presumably a son of Mark m. 1574, but whose life details remain unknown. He left a will dated 1621.
2. John Mortimer of Bow
3. Robert Mortimer of Bow (c.1583-c.1633), who m. Ann Ascott, 25 Oct 1611, Bow. They had a daughter Mary b. 1615, Bow, and possibly other children. He was absent from the 1642 Protestation Oath list for Bow, and presumably died before then.
4. William Mortimer of Bow (c.1586-c.1650), who featured in the 1642 Proteststion Oath for Bow. He had the following children by an unknown wife:
i. Catherine 1627
ii. Thomas 1629-1631
iii. William Mortimer II 1629
iv. Mary 1631
v. Wilmot 1637
5. Christopher Mortimer of Rewe (c.1590-c.1655), who m. Grace Shobrooke, 9 Jun 1624 Exeter St Sidwell. Christopher appeared in the 1642 Protestation Oath in Rewe, near Exeter. Christopher and Grace Mortimer had three daughters:
i. Sarah 1628
ii. Grace 1630
iii. Wilmot 1633
John Mortimer of Bow (c.1581-c.1655)
John Mortimer married Charity Discombe in 1620, at Bow. He appeared in the 1642 Protestation Oath at Bow. They had the following children:
1. Mark Mortimer of London and Chesham (c.1625-1686), father of John Mortimer of Toppinghoe Hall, Esq.
2. Christopher Mortimer of Exeter (1627-c.1680), presumably named after the earlier Christopher Mortimer c.1590-, who was probably a member of this family. He married and had the following children in Exeter. Christopher Mortimer might have died before 1685, and was not mentioned in his brother Mark Mortimer’s will.
i. Ann 1650
ii. Christopher Mortimer II 1659
iii. Joanna 1665
iv. Ann 1674, who was presumably the daughter by a second marriage.
3. Peter Mortimer of London (c.1630-aft.1685), who married Margaret Loringer in 1662. They had the following children in London:
i. Peter 1663-c.1665
ii. Mark 1664-1669
iii. Peter 1667
iv. John 1670-c.1675
v. Abigail 1672
vi. Margaret 1674
vii. Mark 1675
viii. John 1677
ix. Peter 1679-1681
x. Mary 1685-1689
4. John Mortimer b. 1633, of whom nothing further is known. He may have died young, or moved to Exeter or London.
