Origins
Morchard Bishop is a large parish directly north west of Sandford, Devon. This Mortimer family was presumably related to the Mortimers of Sandford.
Thomas Mortimer of Morchard Bishop (c.1590-aft.1671)
The Mortimers of Morchard Bishop begin with Thomas Mortimer, who was recorded in Morchard Bishop 1620. He was probably related to an earlier John Mortimer who contributed to repairs of Morchard Bishop parish church in 1600, and may have been born in neighbouring Sandford. He was a contemporary of Thomas Mortimer of Crediton (1579-1624), who was occupied as a weaver.
Thomas Mortimer married Mary, whose maiden name is unknown, and they had a son, Simon. On Christmas Day 1620, John Tuckfield leased property in Oldabuurrowe, Morchard Bishop for a term of 99 years to Thomas Mortimer, carpenter, Mary his wife and his son Simon, with consideration of 10s. and a rent of 16d.
Thomas was presumably still living in 1642 at the time of the Protestation Oath, when both Thomas and Simon Mortimer signed the oath in Morchard Bishop.
In the 1671 Hearth Tax, a Thomas Mortimer lived in Morchard Bishop, when he was described as a maimed soldier formerly of Colonel Cooke’s regiment. He could have been a son of Thomas Mortimer fl.1620. This may have been the same Thomas Mortimer who lived in 1642, and he presumably participated in the English Civil War.
In the 1674 Hearth tax, there were two Thomas Mortimers living in the parish, both described as poor with only one hearth, so were exempted from paying the tax.
The Morchard Bishop parish records do not begin until the 1660s, while the Bishop’s Transcripts date back earlier but with many gaps. It will be necessary to examine the original bishop’s transcripts at Devon Record Office for a further insight into the family.
Simon Mortimer of Morchard Bishop (c. 1615-aft. 1662)
Simon was born before 1620, perhaps around 1615, and was presumably the eldest son and heir of Thomas Mortimer. He lived in Morchard Bishop, and featured in the 1642 Protestation Oath in the parish. His daughter Mary was baptised in 1662. Since he reached adulthood before 1642, he presumably had elder children in the parish who were all born before the start of the parish register. Either Simon or a younger Thomas Mortimer may have been father of the following:
- Thomas Mortimer c. 1644-aft.1674
- Roger Mortimer c. 1647
- Benjamin Mortimer c. 1650-1686, whose family remains unknown. He was a contemporary of Benjamin Mortimer II of Sandford c.1647-
- Elizabeth c.1653
- Ann c. 1654
- Francis Mortimer c.1656-1705/6 of Down St Mary
- Joan c. 1659
