Mortimer of Hemyock

The Mortimers of Uplowman

An account of the Mortimers of Uplowman, Hemyock and nearby

Origins

The descent of the Mortimers of Hemyock can be traced with confidence back to Hugh Mortimer of Uplowman (c.1600-1685), but before this, the picture is unclear.

The family may trace back to Bow aka Nymet Tracey. Edmund Mortimer was recorded in Bow in the 1543 lay subsidy, assessed on good worth £3. He was presumably the son of William Mortimer of Bow, fl.1524. This was perhaps the same Edmund who moved to Halberton. He married Joan, and both were possibly mentioned in the will of Nicholas Mortimer of Sandford, who gave a bequest to Edward and Joan Mortimer. The names Edward and Edmund might have been seen as interchangeable during the the time period. In 1558, Edmund made his will, dividing his goods between his wife Joan, and children James, William, Mary and Margaret, who were all under the age of sixteen. James was possibly the older son, supporting a link with James Mortimer of Sandford. Though William’s son attained his majority and lived in Halberton, he died in 1588, leaving a will that was listed in the catalogue. It is not clear whether he had issue. It is possible his brother James predeceased him, as he did not feature in 1581 lay subsidy either in Halberton or elsewhere. In the 1570s or later, William, a younger son of John Mortimer of Priorton (c.1518-1559), moved from Sandford to Tiverton. He was perhaps apprenticed there in his early teens, as was the norm with yeoman families. He married Elizabeth, and they had several children including daughters Julian, Mary and a son Edward, who was probably born between 1585-1591. William’s “children”, unnamed, were mentioned in the will of his brother John Mortimer of Priorton in 1605. William’s wife Elizabeth died in 1602, and was buried in Tiverton. Following the death of his brother John, William moved back to Sandford, taking possession of the farm at Priorton before moving to Blackmanscombe. His son, Edward, died in 1612, Uplowman, but was buried in Tiverton, perhaps as he desired to be laid to rest near his mother. It seems likely from the above connections that William Mortimer also had a younger son, Hugh who went on to live at Uplowman. 

Hugh Mortimer (c.1601-1685) of Uplowman

Though it has been previously considered that Hugh was a son of Edward Mortimer of Uplowman d.1612 (le. will, Devon wills catalogue), Edward’s burial at Tiverton in 1612, stated he was a son of William, meaning that Edward’s father was still alive in 1612, and that Edward was probably unmarried. Hugh might instead have been a brother of Edward, both being sons of William Mortimer of Tiverton, then Sandford. Hugh lived in Uplowman before 1626, at which point he married Joan Pring, 8 Feb 1625/6 at Halberton. Hugh and Joan had at least three children. In 1655, he witnessed the marriage of his son Hugh Mortimer to Christian Oatway in Tiverton. He died in 1685 Uplowman, and was obviously of an advanced age by this point. 

  1. Catherine b. Apr 1626
  2. James Mortimer of Uplowman 
  3. Hugh Mortimer II (c.1633-1702), who was probably b. in the early 1630s. He married Christian Oatway (1633-1687), 7 May 1655 Tiverton, in the marriage record it states Hugh son of Hugh Mortimer of Uplowman and servant of Michael Osmond of Tiverton, married Christian, daughter of Joan Oatway, widow, of Tiverton, by banns. Witnesses were Hugh Mortimer (the father) and Henry King. Hugh Mortimer II was a contemporary of another Hugh Mortimer of Tiverton, hotpresser, (c.1648-1688), who was son of Humphrey Mortimer of Exeter. Hugh was bur. 17 Feb 1701/2 Tiverton, Hugh Mortimer and Christian had the following children. Hugh senior afterwards married Edith Chilcott, (1641-1707). 

i. George 1656-1660
ii. Joan 1658-1664
iii. James Mortimer, of Tiverton 1661-1713, who married and had daughters in Tiverton: Christian 1687 and Rebecca 1689-1690
iv. Humphrey Mortimer 1663
v. Mary 1665
vi. Elizabeth 1666-1668
vii. Hugh Mortimer III 1669-1724, who married Ann Henley (1670-1730), 6 Dec 1695 Tiverton. They had an only daughter Ann, 1701-1711. Hugh III died and was bur. 15 Feb 1723/4 Tiverton. 
viii. John Mortimer 1671-1691, who was bur. 13 Dec 1691 Tiverton. 
ix. Agnes 1674

James Mortimer (c.1631-1715) of Uplowman

James was presumably the elder son of Hugh Mortimer of Uplowman, as he stayed in Uplowman as a farmer, while Hugh moved to Tiverton, presumably as an apprentice. He married firstly Susanna Courtenay (c.1641-1679), 28 Oct 1663, who was presumably distantly descended from the Courtenays of Tiverton. She was bur. in 1679 Uplowman. He married secondly, 29 Sep 1679, Thamsin Quaint, (1640-1690). By his first wife they had children: 

  1. James 1663-1664
  2. James Mortimer II 1665-1715
  3. John Mortimer 
  4. Hugh 1668-1675
  5. Elizabeth? c.1670, whose baptism record is missing, but was presumably related to the family. 
  6. Susanna 1673
  7. Joan 1675

John Mortimer of Uplowman (1667-1729)

John was presumably the eldest surviving son of James Mortimer, and inherited the farm at Uplowman. He married Joan Waddams, 2 Jul 1688 Silverton, but was unrelated to the other Mortimers of Silverton. They had the following children: 

  1. Richard Mortimer 1688-1713
  2. Susan 1690-1714, presumably named after her grandmother Susanna nee Courtenay. 
  3. Joan? c.1691, whose bapt. record is missing. 
  4. Mary 1694
  5. James Mortimer, of Branscombe (1697-1791), married Ann Caswell 20 Apr 1731 Branscombe. His burial record is detailed, and is worth copying out in full: James Mortimer, a husbandman, aged 97, son of John & Joan Mortimer of Uplowman, was bur. His age is remarkably accurate given he was nearly a century old. It was not unknown for people to exaggerate their ages slightly as they got older. 
  6. John Mortimer 1700-1732, who married Thomasin, and had a son Richard 1729-1730, who died in infancy. Both were bur. in Uplowman. 
  7. Hugh Mortimer
  8. Joan 1707
Hugh Mortimer of Hemyock (1702- )

Hugh was bapt. 17 Jul 1702, Hemyock. He married Grace Daley, 12 Jun 1737 Tiverton. They had twin sons, both baptised 6 Mar 1737/8 Hemyock: 

  1. Hugh Mortimer of Hemyock II 1738-1818, who married Mary Holway, and had two children: 

i. Mary 1768, married Robert Drake

ii. James Mortimer (1774-c.1820) of Sampford Peverell (the residence of Katherine Mortimer c.1544/51). He was bapt. 29 May 1774 Hemyock, and married Jane Osbourne (1771-1847), 16 Feb 1800 Churchstanton, Devon/ Somerset. His burial record is missing, and he presumably died between 1804-1841. James and Jane had the following children: 

      1. John Mortimer (1800-1867) of Churchstanton, farmer.
      2. Hugh Mortimer 1802-1845
      3. James Mortimer II 1804-1883

2. John Mortimer of Hemyock 1738-1831, who married Jane (1739-1831), and had two children: 

i. Betty 1771

ii. Hugh Mortimer 1773-1852, who was bapt. 3 Dec 1773 Hemyock, and named after both his grandfather and uncle. He married Ann Carter 24 Apr 1810 Hemyock. In 1851 he was a farmer of 70 acres employing 3 labourers. He made a will dated 1852 and died that year. A copy of his will survives in the Inland revenue wills collection. 

Explore the genealogies of other related Mortimer families: 

 

 

 

 

 

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