Principal Devon Mortimer family branches
Below can be found a complete list of the Devon Mortimer family branches currently available on Mortimer History.
Below can be found a complete list of the Devon Mortimer family branches currently available on Mortimer History.
Christow is a small parish situated on the eastern edge of Dartmoor. The Mortimers of Christow descend from Matthew Mortimer, who was born in Tedburn St Mary.
Matthew was born in 1607, the third surviving son of John Mortimer of Tedburn St Mary, and younger brother of Walter Mortimer and Nicholas Mortimer. He was baptised 24 Feb 1606/7, Tedburn St Mary. Matthew moved to Christow, where he married Isett Osborne, 12 May 1631. They had at least six children. Matthew was the first member of the Mortimer family to live in Christow, and was among the supporters of a Protestant parliament in the 1642 Protestation Return in Christow. He died in 1674 without leaving a will, and was bur. 28 Jan 1674, Christow. Administration was granted to his widow Isett 15 Nov 1674; Isett lived the rest of her life as a widow and was bur. 30 Jan 1682/3. They had the following children.
1. Richard Mortimer 1632-1705, bap. 5 Feb 1631/2, who married Mary (c.1635-1701) at an unknown date and time. They might have married later in life for they had no children. Mary his wife was bur. 2 Feb 1700/1, Christow. Richard died at the age of 73, and was bur. 14 Mar 1704/5.
2. Thomasin 1634, bap. 7 Dec 1634, who m. Robert Reynell (1635-1677), 7 May 1658, Christow. She may have died in 1716, Woodland.
3. Matthew Mortimer II 1637-1706, bap. 7 May 1637. He m. 1. Elizabeth, c.1660, who died in 1675, and m. 2. Elizabeth Geale (1644-1706) 1 Feb 1677/8. He died in his 70th year, without leaving a will, and was bur. 22 Jan 1705/6, Christow. His widow Elizabeth renounced her right to administer and so administration was instead granted to his brother Edward Mortimer. Elizabeth was bur. 27 Jul 1706, Christow. Matthew had the following children by his first wife Elizabeth who was bur. 23 Dec 1675. Their only son Matthew died in infancy.
i. Matthew Mortimer III 1663-1664, bap. 1 Mar, 1662/3 bur. 30 Mar 1663/4, Christow.
ii. Martha 1664, m. Robert Partridge 12 Jun 1682, Christow.
iii. Joan 1665, bap. 15 Jan 1664/5, m. Richard Wannel in 1712, Chagford.
iv. Mary? c.1666, presumably a daughter of Matthew Mortimer. She m. Philip Park, 25 Nov 1684, Christow.
v. Susanna 1667-1671, bap. 9 Jul 1667, bur. 17 Aug 1671, Christow.
vi. Elizabeth 1670, bap. 14 Feb 1669/70.
vii. Susanna 1672-1705, bap. 8 Oct 1672, bur. 1705, Christow.
viii. Agnes 1675, bap. 29 Nov 1675
4. William Mortimer 1640-1680, bap. 29 Nov 1640, who m. Joan Clampett, 17 Jun 1673, Christow, they had the following children. He was bur. 24 Feb 1679/80, Christow. His widow Joan was bur. 4 Sep 1681.
i. James Mortimer 1674-1704, bap. 29 Mar 1674, Christow, m. Jane Bombury 11 Apr 1703 Christow, bur. 9 Jun 1704 Christow. Jane his widow m. Matthew Potter, 14 Feb 1706/7 Christow. James and Jane had one son.
1. William Mortimer 1703-1711, named after his grandfather; bap. 6 Jan 1703/4, bur. 30 Jul 1711 Christow. His father died in 1704 and his mother Jane remarried in 1707.
ii. Matthew 1678-1679, bap. 10 Mar 1677/8 (his name obscured by a register tear). He was bur. 4 Dec 1679, which record stated Matthew was the son of William Mortimer and Joan his wife.
5. John c.1644-1654, bur. 5 Jun 1654, mentioned as son of Matthew Mortimer in the burial record. He was presumably born in the mid 1640s.
6. Edward Mortimer
Edward was presumably the youngest son of Matthew and Isett Mortimer, and was probably born in the late 1640s (given his parents married in 1631). He married firstly Susanna Feazant (Pheasant?) 18 Apr 1678 Christow, and they had the following children. Susanna his wife died in 1702 and was buried 21 Jun 1702, Christow.Β He administered the estate of his brother Matthew Mortimer in Mar 1705/6. He remarried to Edith Sircombe, widow (1682-1770) 15 May 1718, who was born in Sandford. He died 3 years later and was bur. 10 Oct 1721 (that Edward m. 1678 and m. 1718 were the same person is shown by there being only one burial record for Edward Mortimer in Christow, and no baptism record for a younger Edward Mortimer). His widow Edith married Samuel Wills, 8 Aug 1723, Christow, and she was bur. 16 Feb 1770, Christow. Edward and his first wife Susanna had the following children.
1. Samuel Mortimer 1680-1757, bap. 31 Mar 1680 Christow, who m. 1. Mary Berry (1682-1725), 23 Nov 1704, Christow, m. 2. Joan Newberry (1700-1771). In 1723 he made the oath of allegiance in Christow. His first wife Mary was bur. 22 Jan 1724/5 Ashcombe. He died in 1757, Ashton. His second wife Joan remarried after his death to John Widdicombe, 29 Nov 1759, Ashton. Samuel and his first wife Mary had the following children:
i. Samuel 1706-1706, bap. 10 Feb, bur. 20 Feb 1705/6 Christow.
ii. Susanna 1706-1706, bap. 11 Feb, bur. 18 Feb 1705/6.
iii. Susanna 1707, named after her grandmother, bap. Apr 1707 Christow. She m. John Madge.
iv. Mary 1709-1716, bap. 31 Mar 1709 Ashton.
Samuel and his second wife Joan had the following children:
v. William 1734-1740, bap. 15 Dec 1734 Trusham
vi. Richard Mortimer 1736-1797, bap. 16 May 1736, m. 1. Mary Wreford 4 Jul 1762 Chudleigh. They had one son, William Mortimer 1763-1765 (bap. 30 Jan 1763, bur. 26 Sep 1765, Chudleigh. Mary died in 1765, he m. 2. Sarah Beer, 30 Jul 1762 Trusham. Sarah his wife died in 1792. Richard was bur. in 1797, Chudleigh.
vii. Ann 1739, bap. 18 Feb 1738/9 Trusham
viii. William Mortimer of Ashton 1741-1801, bap. 3 Jan 1741/2 Ashton
2. Alice 1682, bap. 23 May 1682 Christow, m. William Potter 11 Sep 1710 Chudleigh
3. Elizabeth 1685, bap. 24 Mar 1684/5, m. William Pitt 2 Oct 1706, Christow.
4. Henry bap. 5 Nov 1689.
Edward and his second wife Edith had at least one son:
5.Β Edward MortimerΒ
6. Samuel Mortimer ? He may have been born c. 1721, Christow, and fit into the family tree here, perhaps named after Samuel Mortimer b. 1680. He may otherwise have been a son of the above Samuel. The younger Samuel Mortimer m. Mary Rolstone (1719-1782), 4 Jan 1741/2 Exeter St Mary Steps. He was bur. 26 Nov 1778 Bridford. They had the following children.
i. Joan 1741-1742
ii. Samuel 1744-1744
iii. Mary 1746
iv. Susanna 1748-1749
v. John Mortimer of Bridford 1754-1785, b. 4 Jul 1754, m. Elizabeth Caseley 9 Jun 1776. They had the following children in Bridford.
1. Charlotte 1777
2. Samuel 1780
3. John Mortimer II 1782
4. Betty 1782
vi. Elizabeth 1757
vii. Joanna 1760
Edward was bap. 30 Mar 1719, Christow, the youngest son of Edward Mortimer d. 1721. His father died when he was a child, and his mother Edith remarried in 1723 to Samuel Wills, they had one son Henry Wills b. 1725, Edwardβs half brother. Edward married Elizabeth Hawkins (1720-1787) 13 Apr 1743 Bridford and they had six children. He died in 1802 and was bur. 24 Dec 1802 Christow.
1. Samuel Mortimer
2. Ann 1745
3. Mary 1747
4. Betty 1754
5. Sarah 1757
6. Susanna 1762
Samuel was bap. 12 Jan 1743/4. He m. Elizabeth Soper (1752-1832) 12 Mar 1776, Bridford.
1. Mary 1776, m. Joseph Dymond (1772-1837) 12 Feb 1804 Bovey Tracey
2. Joanna 1778
3. Edward Mortimer
4. Betty 1782
5. Samuel 1785
6. John Woodley Mortimer 1791-1846, bap. 17 Apr 1791 Bridford, bur. 24 Aug 1846 Exeter Holy Trinity, aged 55.
Nicholas was born in Tedburn St Mary, the second surviving son of John Mortimer (1569-1641).Β He was bap. 27 Mar 1604, Tedburn St Mary. Nicholas m. Ann Wallen, 23 Apr 1632 Drewsteignton and they had the following children. He died at an unknown date after 1640, perhaps during the English Civil War. Ann his wife was bur. in 1677, Drewsteignton.
1. Joan 1633-1633, bap. 10 Feb, bur. 19 Feb 1632/3.
2. George Mortimer 1634-1705, bap. 16 Feb 1633/4. He m. Elizabeth c. 1660, and they had the following children. Elizabeth his wife was bur. 23 Apr 1704, Drewsteignton. George was bur. 27 Mar 1705.
i. Ann 1662-1694, bap. 15 Jun 1662, bur. 8 Nov 1694, Drewsteignton.
ii. Rose 1664-1732, bap. 25 Jan 1663/4, m. John Weeks 9 Aug 1693 Drewsteignton, bur. 1732 Drewsteignton.
iii. Elizabeth 1665-1666, bap. 27 Dec 1665, bur. 28 Jan 1665/6.
iv. Elizabeth 1667, bap. 10 Mar 1666/7 Drewsteignton.
v. Joseph 1669- ?, bap. 28 Mar 1669, who perhaps died young.
vi. John 1671-, bap. 28 May 1671, who may have been the same as John m. 1691 Moretonhampstead.
vii. George 1673-
viii. Mary 1676-1680, bur. 27 Mar 1676, bur. 5 Feb 1779/80.
ix. Thomas Mortimer of Drewsteignton (1679-1711), bap. 16 Mar 1678/9, m. Susanna Gove 14 Apr 1700 Drewsteignton, bur. 15 Nov 1711. Susanna his widow was bur. 27 Feb 1741/2, Drewsteignton. They had the following four children.
1. Ann, bap. 16 Jan 1700/1 Drewsteignton.
2. Elizabeth, bap. 23 May 1704.
3. George Mortimer 1707-1769, bap. 4 Dec 1707, m. Elizabeth Small 6 Nov 1737 Drewsteignton, bur. 23 Jul 1769. Elizabeth his wife was bur. 1767, Drewsteignton. They had one daughter.
i. Elizabeth 1739- , who either d. 1754 or m. 1767 Drewsteignton.
4. Thomas 1711-1711, bap. 10 Jun, bur. 13 Aug 1711.
3. Sampson Mortimer
4. William bef.1638-1638, bur. 9 Aug 1638 Drewsteignton, presumably a son of Nicholas and Ann.
5. James Mortimer c.1640-1687, who was presumably a son of Nicholas Mortimer. He m. 1. Ann Woodley (c.1644-1675), 28 Jun 1670, Drewsteignton, who was bur. 31 May 1675 Drewsteignton. James m. 2. Mary Dicker in 1683, Drewsteignton. He was bur. 8 Oct 1687, Drewsteignton. Mary his widow was bur. 11 Jun 1716. James and his first wife Ann had the following children.
i. William Mortimer, b. 11 Sep 1670 Drewsteignton. He was perhaps the same William Mortimer of Bovey Tracey, bur. 20 Mar 1694/5 Hennock, Will proved 1695.
ii. Joan 1672-1684, b. 18 Feb 1671/2, bur. 9 Jun 1684, Drewsteignton.
iii. Mary, b. 13 May 1674 Drewsteignton.
Sampson was born in Drewsteignton, the second son of Nicholas Mortimer and Ann Wallen. He was bap. 6 Nov 1636. Sampson married Elizabeth Paunsford (c.1644-1721), 13 Sep 1664 Drewsteignton, who was of an ancient family long situated at Drewsteignton. They had the following eleven children. Sampson Mortimer died in 1712, leaving a will dated 15 Mar 1711/2, mentioning his wife Elizabeth, sons John and Sampson, and daughters Elizabeth, Ann, Mary wife of Mark Cumbe, (and her daughter Sarah), Sarah, Susan, and Joan wife of William Seaward. Also the children of son John Mortimer; John, Sampson, James, Edward and Thomasin Mortimer. Also his grandson William Mortimer. Sampson died approximately 22 Mar and was bur. 24 Mar 1711/2. His will was proved 2 May 1712. Elizabeth his widow was bur. 30 Dec 1721, Drewsteignton.
1. Elizabeth 1665, bap. 2 Jul 1665 Drewsteignton.
2.Β John Mortimer
3. William 1669-1689, bap. 25 Sep 1669, bur. 18 Aug 1689, Drewsteignton.
4. Mary 1672, bap. 4 Feb 1671/2 Drewsteignton.
5. Sampson Mortimer II 1673-1745, bap. 16 Dec 1673 Drewsteignton, who m. Prudence Fawt, 23 Sep 1717 Drewsteignton. They had no issue. Sampson and Prudence his wife featured in the 1723 Oath Roll for Drewsteignton. Sampson died without leaving a will and was bur. 27 Nov 1745, Honeychurch. Prudence his widow was bur. 24 Oct 1748.
6. Joan 1676, bap. 2 Feb 1675/6, m. William Seaward 11 Dec 1705 Drewsteignton.
7. Ann 1678, bap. 30 Jan 1677/8, bur. 28 Dec 1730 Drewsteignton.
8. Mary 1679-1679, bur. 27 Dec 1679.
9. Mary 1680, bap. 25 Jan 1679/80, m. Mark Cumbe/ Combe?
10. Sarah 1681, bap. 21 Dec 1681.
11. Susanna 1684, bap. 5 Nov 1684 Drewsteignton, m. Thomas Langworthy 1710 Bridford.
John was bap. 17 Nov 1667, Drewsteignton, the eldest son of Sampson and Elizabeth Mortimer. He married Thomasin Hill, 27 Aug 1693, Drewsteignton and they had the following eight children. John left a will dated 30 Apr 1734, mentioning his sons William, John, Sampson, James and Edward Mortimer, and daughter Thomasin, giving them a bequest “in addition to the bequests made by their grandfather”- referencing the will of Sampson Mortimer, 1712. He also mentioned his grandson John son of John Mortimer with residue to wife Thomasin, sole executrix. He died two years later and was bur. 26 Aug 1736, Drewsteignton. His will was proved by Thomasin his wife who outlived him one year; she was bur. 4 May 1737.
1. William Mortimer 1694-1767, bap. 27 Mar 1694 Drewsteignton, m. Mary c.1714, who predeceased him; she presumably died in 1750. He made a will dated 18 Sep 1763, mentioning his daughters Mary Frost, widow, Joan Houdg [sic], Thomasin wife of John Buard and grandson John Buard. Residue went to his son William Mortimer, sole executor. He was bur. 19 Mar 1767 Drewsteignton and the will proved 30 Mar. William and Mary had the following children.
i. John Mortimer 1716-1725, named after his grandfather, bap. 24 Dec 1716, presumably bur. 14 Sep 1725, Drewsteignton, not mentioned in his father’s will.
ii. Mary, bap. 21 Mar 1721, m. William Frost 9 Jul 1753 Gidleigh, and fl. 1763.
iii. Joan, bap. 3 Feb 1724/5, m. John Hodge 9 Dec 1747 North Tawton, fl. 1763.
iv. Thomasin, named after her grandmother, bap. 20 Apr 1729, m. John Buard, perhaps prev. m. James Browning 15 Feb 1756, Drewsteignton.
v. William Mortimer 1734-1812?, only surviving son of William and Mary. He was mentioned as grandson in the will of John Mortimer, 1734. In 1763 he was appointed executor of his father’s will and proved the will in 1767. In 1776 he took William Loram on as an apprentice. He married Thomasin Mortimer his cousin, in 1781 Drewsteignton, though they had no issue. At the time of the marriage William was living in Dunsford. In 1798 he paid tax on land in Drewsteignton. He was bur. 18 Aug 1812, Drewsteignton. Thomasin his widow was bur. 23 Apr 1829, aged 87.
2. John Mortimer III
3. Mary 1699-1702, who died young; bap. 29 Jan 1698/9, bur. 29 Dec 1702, Drewsteignton.
4. Sampson Mortimer 1700-1776, bap. 18 Dec 1700 Drewsteignton, m. Joan Browning, 1 Dec 1724 Exeter, bur. 18 Aug 1776 Drewsteignton. He made a will dated 22 Jan 1776, mentioning his daughters Elizabeth and Thomasin; to her a silver spoon with initials S.M. (presumably a former possession of his grandfather Sampson Mortimer 1636-1712). His son James Mortimer was sole executor, who proved the will 5 Jan 1777. Sampson and Joan had the following children in Drewsteignton.
i. Elizabeth 1725, bap. 29 Mar 1725, Drewsteignton.
ii. James Mortimer of Dunsford (1729-1816), bap. 26 Jan 1728/9, m. 1. Mary Langworthy (1725-1770) 12 Apr 1748, Drewsteignton, who died in 1770 and was bur. 16 Apr 1770, Drewsteignton. James m. 2. Betty Cann 25 Apr 1780, Drewsteignton. In 1781 Edward Ponsford (Paunsford) was apprenticed to Mr James Mortimer, John Parr was also apprenticed in 1782. James lived at Dunsford as a farmer, and died intestate in 1816, aged (90). He was bur. 10 Nov 1816, in his home parish of Drewsteignton. James and his first wife Mary had the following children.
1. Thomasin, bap. 14 May 1749 Drewsteignton.
2. John Mortimer (of Ashton) 1750-1835, bap. 19 Aug 1750, Dunsford, who presumably died in 1835; bur. 1 May 1835 Ashton, aged (85).
3. Mary, bap. 23 Feb 1751/2 Dunsford.
4. Elizabeth, bap. 13 Oct 1754 Dunsford.
5. William Mortimer of South Tawton (1756-1822), a contemporary of William Mortimer of Drewsteignton (see below). He was bap. 18 Jan 1756, Dunsford, and m. Jane Arscott (1755-1822), 7 Mar 1784, South Tawton. The marriage witnesses were William Fervins and Richard Drew. William Mortimer and Jane both lived in South Tawton, where they both passed away in 1822. William died aged (67) and was bur. 14 Mar 1822 South Tawton, Jane his widow died aged (67) and was bur. 3 Jun 1822. William and Jane had the following six children.
i. Mary 1785, bap. 27 Feb 1785 South Tawton, who m. John Combe 3 Aug 1807 South Tawton.
ii. Thomas Mortimer 1786-aft.1841, bap. 31 Dec 1786, who m. Mary Way 31 Mar 1811 South Tawton. They had a son John. Mary remarried in 1858, South Tawton at the age of 68.
1. John Mortimer 1711- South Tawton.
iii. William 1788-1789, bap. 28 Dec 1788, bur. 22 Nov 1789 South Tawton.
iv. William Mortimer II 1790-1864, bap. 28 Nov 1790 South Tawton, m. Mary Wedlock (1792-1847) 8 Sep 1819 South Tawton. He worked as an ag lab. in South Tawton. Mary his wife died at the age of (55) and was bur. 21 Nov 1847, South Tawton. William died aged 73 and was bur. 11 Sep 1864 South Tawton. William and Mary had the following nine children in South Tawton.
1. Mary Ann 1820, bap. 27 Feb 1820 South Tawton, m. Silas Brimblecome 25 Jun 1845 South Tawton.
2. Elizabeth 1821-1846, bap. 6 Jan 1822, bur. 14 Jan 1846 South Tawton, aged 24.
3. Jane 1824, bap. 7 Mar 1824, who m. John Holman 6 Apr 1847 South Tawton.
4. Susanna 1826-1826, bap. 19 Mar 1826, bur. 25 Mar 1826 South Tawton, infant.
5. William Mortimer III 1828-1907, bap. 13 Jan 1828, m. Elizabeth Cooper 20 Mar 1856 South Tawton. William was bur. 12 Jun 1907 South Tawton, aged 79.
6. Susanna 1831, bap. 20 Feb 1831
7. Eliza 1833-1839, bap. 1 Sep 1833, bur. 30 Dec 1839 South Tawton, aged 6.
8. George Mortimer 1836, bap. 14 Dec 1836, bur. 8 Jan 1837 South Tawton, infant.
9. Harriet 1838-1901, bap. 11 Feb 1838, m. Joseph Millman 26 Oct 1862 South Tawton.
v. John 1793-1794, bap. 25 Aug 1793, bur. 23 Nov 1794 South Tawton.
vi. Elizabeth 1795, bap. 6 Sep 1795, m. John Wedlake 12 May 1819, South Tawton.
6. James 1760-1762, who died young; bap. 8 Jun 1760, bur. 11 Jun 1762, Dunsford.
iii. William Mortimer of Moretonhampstead (c.1737-1816), who presumably fits into the family here as an unrecorded son of Sampson Mortimer, presumably born in the gap between James b.1729 and Thomasin b.1742. William married Mary Soper (1736-1793), 2 Oct 1757, Lustleigh. The couple lived firstly in North Bovey where they had four children. Their eldest son presumably married Susanna Bremblecome in 1783, Drewsteignton, and William perhaps acted as a witness. Mary his wife was bur. 16 Jun 1793, Moretonhampstead. William died at the age of (77) and was bur. 18 Mar 1816.
1. William Mortimer of Drewsteignton (1758-1787), contemporary of William Mortimer of South Tawton d.1822 (see above). William was bap. 22 Jul 1758 North Bovey and he m. Susanna Bremblecome alias Clark (1759-1797) in 1783 Drewsteignton, by marriage licence. Witnesses to the marriage were William Mortimer (perhaps his father) and William Browning. Susanna was born in 1759, Cheriton Bishop. They lived in Bere Ferrers from 1786, where William died in 1787. He was bur. 27 Oct 1787, Bere Ferrers churchyard. It seems that William died in suspicious circumstances, for in 1788, Susanna his widow was accused of poisoning him. She was later acquitted of his murder. In a 1788 Poor Settlement record, it was noted that Susanna and her late husband were formerly of Drewsteignton but afterwards legally settled at Bere Ferrers. Susanna returned to Drewsteignton after her husband’s death, though she remarried to James Harris in 1790, Bere Ferrers. James Harris died in 1794, and Susanna outlived her husband by only three years, dying in Jun 1797. She was bur. 14 Jun 1797, Bere Ferrers churchyard. William and Susanna had two surviving children, who were orphaned in 1797.
i. William Mortimer 1784-1787, bap. 20 Jun 1784 Drewsteignton, bur. Aug 1787 Bere Ferrers.
ii. Mary Clark Mortimer 1786-1805, bap. 11 Sep 1786 Bere Ferrers. She was apprenticed to John Bremblecome in 1794, Beer Alston, and died in 1805. Mary was bur. in 1805, Bere Ferrers.
iii. William Mortimer II 1788-1845, posthumous son of William Mortimer, born five months after his father’s death. He was bap. 6 Apr 1788 Drewsteignton. He later settled at Bere Ferrers and m. Elizabeth Hutchins (1785-1862) in 1811. He lived the rest of his life in Bere Ferrers, where he worked as a husbandman and later as an ag lab. He died at the age of (59) and was bur. 30 Sep 1845 Bere Ferrers. Elizabeth his widow died in 1862. They had the following children in Bere Ferrers.
1. Mary Clark Mortimer 1812, bap. 3 Jan 1813 Bere Ferrers
2. William Mortimer III 1814, bap. 4 Sep 1814, who lived in Beer Ferris; he m. Mary and they had at least three daugters: Mary c.1844, Jane c.1847 and Ann c.1849.
3. Richard Mortimer 1817, bap. 26 Jan 1817
4. Jane 1821, bap. 24 Jun 1821
5. Ann 1826, b. 18 Sep, bap. 29 Sep 1826 Beer Ferris Independent Meeting Chapel, Beer Alston.
6. Sarah 1830, b. 21 Aug, bap. 17 Sep 1830, Beer Ferris Independent Meeting. Sarah m. Thomas Kessell 3 Oct 1850, Bere Ferrers.
6. Elizabeth 1832, b. 25 Dec 1832, bap. 8 Jan 1833, Beer Ferris Independent Meeting.
2. Elias Mortimer 1761-1832, bap. 13 Dec 1761, North Bovey. Elias was apprenticed to John Brimblecome of Drewsteignton, butcher on 10 Dec 1782 (perhaps the same John Bremblecome who m. Thomasin Mortimer b.1726 below, and possibly a relative of Susanna wife of William Mortimer d.1787 above). Elias m. Mary Southcott (1765-1853), 4 Jun 1790, South Tawton, and they had the following six children. Elias died aged (71) and was bur. 16 Sep 1832, Moretonhampstead.
i. Elizabeth 1791, bap. 13 Feb 1791 North Tawton.
ii. William Mortimer of Sydney (1793- ), born in Devon, who emigrated to Sydney, Australia. William was bap. 17 Mar 1793, North Tawton. He m. Joanna Blackall, and they had the following children. In 1841, the family lived in St Mary Magdalen, Sussex, and they sailed to Australia shortly thereafter, where they lived in Sydney. William and Joan had four daughters born in England, and two sons born in Sydney:
1. Matilda c.1830 Sussex
2. Eliza c.1832
3. Joanna c.1834
4. Mary c.1836
5. William b. 7 May 1843, bap. 9 Jul 1843, Sydney St Andrew, d.1843
6. Albert b. 30 Aug 1846, bap. 12 Oct 1846 Sydney St Andrew
iii. Mary 1796, bap. 31 Jan 1796 Moretonhampstead.
iv. John c.1798-1801, bur. 19 Apr 1801, Woodland.
v. Ann c.1800, m. _ Eggbeare.
vi. Elias Mortimer II 1807-aft.1836, bap. 11 Oct 1807 Woodland. He joined the army as a private and served in the 85th Regt of Foot until his discharge in 1836. He was thereafter a Chelsea out-pensioner. He married Jane in some foreign country, and they had the following children; at least three sons. The family lived in Hastings St Clement in 1841, where Elias was a police constable. He died at an unknown date after 1841. The family perhaps emigrated.
1. George Mortimer c.1836, born in Scotland or Ireland.
2. Elias William Mortimer 1837-1905, bap. 14 Jun 1837, Hastings St Clement, Sussex. He emigrated to Minnesota, US, in 1854. Elias died 6 Aug 1905. He fought in the Civil War on the Union Side, in a Minnesota Regt. After the Civil War he worked for a railroad co. He m. Altanice Helena Hayford, 20 Jan 1875, Minnesota, and they had issue.
3. Richard Mortimer c.1839 Hastings.
3. Mary 1763, bap. 14 Aug 1763, North Bovey.
4. Joanna 1768-1820, who was bap. 10 Apr 1768, North Bovey. She was perhaps the mother of William Mortimer b. 1787, Morchard Bishop. If William was her son he may have been the William Mortimer m. 1820, Moretonhampstead. Joanna married William Hawker, 4 May 1790 Moretonhampstead. They later lived in Modbury, and Joanna died at the age of 52. She was bur. 30 Apr 1820, Modbury churchyard. William her husband was bur. 1835, Modbury.
iv. Thomasin Mortimer, named after her grandmother, bap. 8 Jun 1742 Drewsteignton, who married her cousin William Mortimer II in 1781, Drewsteignton.
5. Edward Mortimer 1703-1707, bap. 6 Jan 1703/4, bur. 31 Aug 1707 Drewsteignton.
6. Thomasin Mortimer 1705-1755, named after her mother, bap. 17 Oct 1705 Drewsteignton.
7. James Mortimer 1707-aft.1734, bap. 17 Aug 1707 Drewsteignton, he was living at the time of his father’s will in 1734.
8. Edward Mortimer of Drewsteignton, 1711-1765, bap. 9 Oct 1711 Drewsteignton, m. Frances Pooke, 28 Feb 1741/2 Moretonhampstead. They had one son who died in infancy; John Mortimer 1742-1742; bap. 15 Jul, bur. 19 Jul 1742, Chagford. Frances his wife died in 1742; she was bur. 16 Sep 1742 Exeter Holy Trinity. Edward Mortimer was bur. 17 Mar 1765, Drewsteignton.
John was born in Drewsteignton, the second son of John Mortimer and Thomasin his wife. He was bap. 30 Nov 1696. John married Philippa, whose maiden name is unknown; she may have been Philippa Rewe, b. 5 Sep 1698 Drewsteignton. They married around 1819, and had nine children. Philippa died in 1760 and was bur. 21 Nov 1760, Drewsteignton. John Mortimer was bur. 19 Feb 1777. They had the following children.
1. John Mortimer III
2. William Mortimer 1724-1783, bap. 28 Apr 1724, m. Mary Baker 6 Jan 1750/1 Drewsteignton, bur. 1783 Drewsteignton. Mary his widow was bur. 31 Dec 1792, Drewsteignton. They had four children.
i. Mary 1753, bap. 9 Mar 1752/3, m. William Combe 23 Jul 1775 Drewsteignton.
ii. John Mortimer 1753-?, bap. 11 Nov 1753, contemporary of John Mortimer IV (below). Either individual was presumably the same as John Mortimer of Wells (1753-1813).
iii. Betty 1757-1759, bap. 30 Jan 1757, bur. 19 Feb 1759 Drewsteignton.
iv. Susanna 1760-1765, bap. 13 Jan 1760, bur. 21 May 1765 Drewsteignton.
3. Thomasin Mortimer 1726-1785, bap. 29 Nov 1726, m. John Bremblecome 6 Jun 1746. A Thomasin Clark witnessed the marriage of William Mortimer of Dunsford and Thomasin Mortimer in 1781, Drewsteignton, (see above), which individual can perhaps be identified as her. John and Thomasin had the following children in Drewsteigton; John Brimblecome 1747, Thomas Brimblecome 1749, Ann Brimblecome 1765. Thomasin died in 1785, Drewsteignton.
4. Mary 1729, bap. 29 Jul 1729 Drewsteignton.
5. Sampson 1732-1733, bap. 15 Feb 1731/2, bur. 1733, Drewsteignton.
6. Sampson Mortimer 1735-1775, bap. 26 Jan 1734/5, bur. 6 Feb 1775 Drewsteignton.
7. Joanna 1737, bap. 27 Nov 1737.
8. Elizabeth 1740, bap. 13 Aug 1740.
9. Susanna? who may instead have been a daughter of John and Susanna m. 1742 (see above). She was bap. 21 Nov 1742 Drewsteignton, and m. William Tapper 14 Aug 1774 Moretonhampstead.
John was the eldest son of John Mortimer of Drewsteignton and Philippa his wife, and was bap. 10 Jan 1720/1 Drewsteignton. He was mentioned in the will of his grandfather John Mortimer in 1734, as as John son of John Mortimer. He later lived in Moretonhampstead, where he married Ann Underhill, 28 Apr 1751. They had eight children in Moretonhampstead. John died without leaving a will and was bur. 16 Sep 1787, Moretonhampstead. Ann his widow was bur. 5 Oct 1794.
1. John Mortimer 1753-1813? contemporary of John son of William b.1753 (see above). Either individual was presumably the same as John Mortimer of Wells (1753-1813), since his brother Sampson was a paper maker in Bradninch and Wells, it seems more likely that John Mortimer of Wells belonged to this family. John Mortimer, paper maker, was the subject of a bastardy order in 1797, Bradninch. He later moved to Wells and married Anne Watch, 23 Oct 1803, Wells St Cuthbert. He was presumably working at the Wells St Cuthbert paper mill. John Mortimer was buried 5 Dec 1813 Wells St Cuthbert. John and Ann had two sons.
i. William Mortimer of Wells 1804-1858, paper maker and journeyman. William was b. 12 Nov and bap. 9 Dec 1804 Wells St Cuthbert, and lived with his uncle William Watch in 1851. He was bur. 11 Jul 1858, Bathford Somerset, aged 53.
ii. John Mortimer (V?) 1807-1868, emigrant to America. John was b. 28 Sep 1807 and bap. 17 Jan 1808, Wells St Cuthbert. He m. Elizabeth c.1830, and they had two children. John and Elizabeth lived in Bradninch, Devon in 1851, where he worked as a carter. At some point before 1861 the family emigrated to the US and settled in Massachussetts. He died 28 Jan 1868, Russell, Hampden, Massachussetts. Elizabeth his widow d. 30 Apr 1879 also at Russell. John and Elizabeth had the following two children.
1. Ann 1831-1903, b. 14 Jul 1831 Bradninch. She also went with her family to the US.
2. William J. Mortimer 1835-1913, b. 9 Apr 1835 Bradninch. He also emigrated with his family to Russell, Hampden where he married and had a family.
2. Elizabeth 1754-1783, bap. 12 May 1754, bur. 24 Dec 1783, Moretonhampstead.
3. William 1757-1757, bap. 15 May 1757 bur. 12 Jun 1757.
4. Ann 1760-1760, bap. 10 Jan, bur. 12 Jan 1760.
5. Ann 1761-1765, bap. 19 Jul 1761, bur. 4 Jul 1765, passed away the same time as her sister Mary
6. Mary 1764-1765, bap. 15 Jul 1764, bur. 4 Jul 1765, passed away the same time as her sister Ann.
7. Sampson Mortimer 1766-1818, bap. 14 Dec 1766 Moretonhampstead, m. Sarah Gwillym 7 Jul 1788, Woolaston, Glos. Sampson worked as a paper mill at Woolaston Mill. Sampson Mortimer had to travel widely across the country to find work, labouring at various locations over the next decade, including Cornwall 1791, Wells 1794, and Maidstone in 1796. He returned to his home parish of Moretonhampstead some time after with his wife Sarah, though none of their children can be definitively traced back to Devon. He died in 1818, aged (65), the parish register entry for his age is obviously inaccurate. Sampson was bur. 27 Apr 1818, Moretonhampstead. Sarah his widow was bur. 1 Apr 1823, aged (70). This age is also likely inaccurate, as she was presumably b. 18 Jul 1756, Awre, Glos. Sampson and Sarah had the following children.
i. Edward Mortimer 1788- ?, bap. 20 Sep 1788, Woolaston.
ii. Mary Ann Mortimer, bap. 31 Jul 1791 St Kenwyn, Cornwall.
iii. William Mortimer, bap. 1794 Wells St Cuthbert, perhaps m. Maria Hutchins (1800-1820), 16 Apr 1819 Moretonhampstead. Maria his wife did not survive long after their wedding for she was bur. _1820, Moretonhampstead. William was perhaps bur. _1850, South Tawton, aged (53).
iv. Elizabeth bap. 14 Feb 1796, Bearsted, Kent.
8. Edward Mortimer 1770-1838?, bap. 22 Apr 1770 Moretonhampstead, who fathered an illegitimate child with Susanna Rattenbury, 1797, Moretonhampstead. Edward’s occupation was as a mariner in 1797, and he perhaps died in Newark, New Jersey in 1838.
North Bovey is situated on the eastern edge of Dartmoor. The Mortimer family of North Bovey descend from Walter Mortimer, the eldest son of John Mortimer of Tedburn St Mary. Here the Mortimers lived as yeoman farmers, husbandmen and labourers.
Walter was born in 1601 and baptised 20 Jan 1600/1 in North Bovey, the eldest surviving son of John Mortimer. He had two younger brothers, Nicholas Mortimer and Matthew Mortimer, who both left Tedburn St Mary and lived in nearby parishes. In 1606 he was mentioned as “cousin Walter” in the will of his grandmother Elizabeth Mortimer. Cousin in that day was another term for a kinsman or relative, and was also used to refer to grandchildren. Grandparents would often stand as godparents to their grandchildren upon baptism and so it is possible in this instance that Walter was also Elizabeth’s godson. Godchildren would often be remembered in a will in such a way. Walter Mortimer married Richord Croot (c.1606-1679) 24 Oct 1631, North Bovey, and they had at least five children. He lived as a yeoman in North Bovey with his wife and family. He made a will dated 16 Apr 1672, mentioning his sons John, Thomas and Walter Mortimer, and daughter Richord Mortimer. His residue was left to his wife Richord who was sole executrix, who proved the will on 2 Apr 1672 at Exeter. He was bur. 28 Apr 1672, North Bovey. His widow Richord made her will 5 Nov 1678, mentioning her daughter Thomasin Langdon, son Thomas Mortimer and his son John, her son John Mortimer and his son John, her son Walter Mortimer, grandson William Mortimer, and her daughter Richord White. Her son Thomas was sole executor, who proved the will 26 Jul 1679 at Exeter. She died and was bur. 10 Jun 1679, North Bovey.
1. Thomas Mortimer of North Bovey (1633-1681), bap. 13 Jan 1632/3 North Bovey, who married Elizabeth Walling 31 Mar 1668, North Bovey. They had one son, John Mortimer c.1670. Thomas was the executor of his mother Richord’s will in 1678. He died in 1681 and was bur. 30 Mar 1681. His widow Elizabeth died in 1700 and was bur. 19 Sep, North Bovey.
i. John Mortimer c.1670-aft.1704?, mentioned in the will of his grandmother Richord in 1678. He was presumably still alive at the time of his fatherβs decease in 1681, at which point he would have been aged about 11. His mother Elizabeth died in Sep 1700. John can perhaps be identified as John Mortimer m. Elizabeth Hammett, 6 Sep 1691 Moretonhampstead. Elizabeth his wife was bur. 29 Mar 1704 Moretonhampstead, and John died sometime after that date. They had the following children in Moretonhampstead.
1. John c.1692-1692, bur. 25 Sep 1692 Moretonhampstead.
2. Katherine 1695, b. 24 Mar 1694/5.
3. Alice 1699, b. 26 Feb 1698/9.
4. Elizabeth 1702, m. Thomas Barter 4 Feb 1727/8 Manaton
2. Richord 1635-1700, bap. 29 Sep 1635, who married Henry White (c.1640-1711), 13 Aug 1677, Chagford. She was bur. 10 May 1700, Chagford. Her husband was bur. 18 Jun 1711, Chagford.
3. John Mortimer of North Bovey (1641-1679), who was bap. 27 Jun 1641, North Bovey. He married Isett Wills, 2 Aug 1670. He was bur. 12 Jun 1679, North Bovey, and administration was granted to his widow Isett later the same year. They had five children.
i. John b. 28 May 1671, bur. 14 Sep 1671 North Bovey.
ii. John Mortimer b. 25 Aug 1672, mentioned in the will of grandmother Richord Mortimer in 1678. He can perhaps be identified with John Mortimer of Bovey Tracey, who m. Mary Cook, 1 Nov 1696 Bovey Tracey. John was bur. 11 Apr 1716, Bovey Tracey. Mary his widow was bur. 8 Oct 1722. They had the following children.
1. Richard Mortimer of Bovey Tracey c.1697-c.1730. Johnβs son Robert was born in 1697, though this is possibly a mistake for Richard, who is later noted in Bovey Tracey. He m. Julian Spray, 6 Dec 1724, Bovey Tracey. They had issue, one daughter Mary. Richard died around the year 1730. Julian was bur. 13 Apr 1733, Bovey Tracey, and was presumably a widow then.
i. Mary 1725, bap. 1725 Bovey Tracey, possibly m. 1745 Chagford to Samuel Dicker.
2. Mary 1700
3. Ann 1703
4. Thomas 1707-1717
Otherwise, he may have been the John Mortimer of Crediton, who had daughters Elizabeth and Isett.
iii. Henry b. 28 Sep 1674, bur. 3 Apr 1676.
iv. Isett, b. 5 Sep 1676.
v. Henry Mortimer, posthumous son, bap. 6 Jul 1679, North Bovey, bur. 15 Aug 1711, Tedburn St Mary.
4. Thomasin 1643-1700, who was bap. 7 Jan 1643/4, and married an unknown Langdon. She presumably had a daughter Thomasin Langdon, m. John Northcott, 8 Mar 1697/8, who had a daughter Thomasin Northcott b. 1707.
5. Walter Mortimer II
Walter was bap. 26 Aug 1646, and married Wilmot Langman, 28 Apr 1670, North Bovey, they had the following children. In the 1674 hearth tax he was taxed on two hearths in North Bovey, where he presumably lived as a yeoman farmer. He died in 1703 without leaving a will, and was bur. 7 Feb 1702/3. His widow Wilmot was bur. beside him 14 Dec 1714, North Bovey churchyard.
1. Wilmot 1671-1704, who was b. 7 Mar 1670/1, m. Andrew Harvey (1670-1732), 8 Mar 1697/8 North Bovey, she was bur. 19 Jul 1704, Manaton.
2. William Mortimer of Moretonhampstead 1673-aft.1722, b. 27 Apr 1673, was the eldest son of Walter Mortimer. He m. firstly Elizabeth Brook, 21 Apr 1702, Moretonhampstead, she died in 1703. He m. secondly Ann Bridgman, 5 Feb 1705/6 Moretonhampstead. William and Ann had the following children in Moretonhampstead. William and his family were early non-conformists and their children were baptised in the Moretonhampstead independent meeting chapel. Both William and Ann his wife died at an unknown date in Moretonhampstead, after the year 1722, they were presumably bur. in the independent chapel cemetery.
i. Walter 1707-1707, named after his grandfather, died in infancy; b. 6 Jul, bur. 8 Jul 1707 Moretonhampstead.
ii. William Mortimer II 1709-1749, b. 30 Nov 1709, m. Elizabeth Pinston (1716-1783?), 8 Jan 1739/40 Moretonhampstead. He may have died in 1749, Moretonhampstead. Elizabeth his wife may have died in 1783. They had two daughters
1. Elizabeth b. 1740, bap. 4 Jan 1740/1 Newton Abbot; Wolborough St. Independent Chapel
2. Mary b. 1743, bap. 13 Feb 1742/3 Moretonhampstead, who perhaps m. William Holman in 1768, Dunchideock.
iii. Elizabeth, b. 8 Jun 1712.
iv. Mary, b. 7 Jan 1721/2.
3. John b. 6 Dec 1675, bur. 13 Apr 1676 North Bovey.
4. Maxamillion c.1677- who was presumably a sister of William Mortimer, Walter Mortimer and George Mortimer, all of Moretonhampstead. She m. John Major 22 Jun 1701, Moretonhampstead.
5. Walter Mortimer III
6. George Mortimer II of Moretonhampstead (c.1684-1746), was presumably a son of Walter Mortimer, perhaps born in Moretonhampstead in the 1680s, at which time there was a parish register gap. His brother Walter Mortimer’s baptism record is also missing. George may instead have been born in 1673, Drewsteignton, son of George Mortimer. He m. Elizabeth, whose last name is unknown, and they had the following children in Moretonhampstead. George was bur. _ Jan 1745/6, Elizabeth his widow survived him by 12 years and was bur. _ 1758, Moretonhampstead.
i. George Mortimer II 1710-1766, bap. 18 Jun 1710 Moretonhampstead, m. Mary Perriman (1715-1791) 13 Jan 1742/3, Moretonhampstead, bur. 7 Dec 1766, Lustleigh. Mary his widow was bur. 18 Aug 1791. They had the following children in Lustleigh.
1. John Mortimer 1743, bap. Dec 1743, Moretonhampstead, perhaps died in childhood.
2. Susanna 1748-1819, bap. 14 Aug 1748 Lustleigh, bur. 7 Dec 1819, aged (72).
3. George Mortimer III 1753-1839, bap. 17 Jun 1753 Moretonhampstead, bur. 3 Mar 1839 Lustleigh, aged 85.
4. Elizabeth 1760-1841, bap. 27 Jan 1860 Lustleigh, bur. 13 Jan 1841, aged (81).
ii. Elizabeth 1712, bap. 8 Jun 1712 Moretonhampstead.
iii. Walter Mortimer of Kingsteignton 1716-c.1760, a contemporary of Walter Mortimer of Lustleigh (c.1720-1776). He m. Grace Tar (c.1724-1806) 8 Apr 1751 Teigngrace, and they had at least two children. Walter died at an unknown date after 1755. Grace his wife was bur. 1 Apr 1806 Kingsteignton, aged 82.
1. Joan 1752-1800, bap. 21 Jan 1751/2 Kingsteignton, m. Richard Knowling 21 Jul 1776 Kingsteignton.
2. Richard Mortimer b.1755, of whom nothing further is known.
iv. Mary 1718-1719
v. John Mortimer 1721, who perhaps m. Susanna Mardon 10 Oct 1742, Moretonhampstead.
vi. Mary 1723-1738, bur. 27 Apr 1738 Moretonhampstead
vii. Wilmot 1726-1752, bap. 3 Nov 1726, bur. 1752 Moretonhampstead, daughter of Elizabeth Mortimer. Elizabeth her mother presumably died in 1758.
7. Elizabeth b. 6 Mar 1686/7, presumably bur. 19 Jun 1687, North Bovey.
Walter was presumably the son of Walter and Wilmot Mortimer of North Bovey. He was born in a gap between the baptisms of his siblings John Mortimer in 1675, and Elizabeth in 1687. The wide gap leaves open the possibility there were other unrecorded children of Walter and Wilmot Mortimer. He m. Joan Nosworthy, 18 Apr 1710, Manaton, and they had the following seven children. Walter was a yeoman in North Bovey, as stated in his will dated 1754, which mentioned his wife Joan, eldest son George, daughter Agnes wife of John Boone and her children, daughter Mary, and son in law Richard Honeywill. The residue was left to his sons Walter and Nicholas Mortimer, joint executors. The will was proved on 8 May 1754. He died and was bur. 21 Jul 1753, in his home parish. His widow Joan died in 1759.
1. Agnes 1711, b. 3 Apr 1711 North Bovey, m. John Boone, 28 May 1732, Manaton. Their children were named in the will of her father George Mortimer; Joan, Mary, Benjamin, Elizabeth and Susan Boone.
2. Joan 1714-1742, b. 2 May 1714 Manaton, m. Richard Honeywell 18 Apr 1737, Widecombe in the Moor. She was bur. 11 Apr 1742 Widecombe in the Moor. Richard Honeywill remarried the following year to Elizabeth Smerdon 12 Apr 1743, they had a son Jonas Honeywill (1749-1820), bap. 18 Oct 1749 Buckland in the Moor, who m. Margaret Nosworthy 26 Mar 1786, Manaton, their daughter was Susanna Honeywill b. 1792 Ilsington, who married William Mortimer (c.1786-1867) in 1819, Ilsington (see below).
3. George Mortimer of North Bovey (1717-1787), b. 24 Apr 1716/7 North Bovey, m. firstly Ann Leyman 10 Jun 1746, North Bovey, his first wife died in 1758, he married secondly Mary Soper, 8 Jun 1762, North Bovey. She died in 1777. He made a will dated 13 May 1786, North Bovey. The Combe estate was divided between his four daughters, in fee simple. His son in law Richard Easterbrook was a trustee. The residue went to his daughters Mary and Joan who were joint executrixes. The will was proved 1 Nov 1787. George Mortimer had issue by his first wife Ann only.
i. Ann b. 3 Nov 1747 North Bovey, m. William Smale.
ii. Mary b. 17 Oct 1749, m. Gabriel German.
iii. Joan b. 11 Jun 1753, marriage unknown.
iv. Elizabeth b. 16 Oct 1755, contemporary of Elizabeth Mortimer b. 1753 daughter of Walter (below).
4. Walter Mortimer IV, of whom next
5. Mary 1726, b. 9 May 1726 North Bovey, m. Ambrose Nosworthy (1725-1783) presumably a relative of mother Joan, 11 Apr 1748, Widecombe in the Moor. She was described as a resident of N. Bovey in the m. record. She presumably died in 1784 and was bur. 23 May 1784 Widecombe in the Moor.
6. Nicholas Mortimer, of whom second.
7. William 1733-1733, bap. 18 Sep 1733, died young, bur. 14 Dec 1733.
Walter was b. 17 Jan 1719/20. He m. Mary Hill, 9 May 1742, Lustleigh and they had the following nine children. He died in 1776, and was bur. 14 Apr 1776, Lustleigh. His two eldest grandson were both born in 1776.
1. George Mortimer of Denbury 1743-1783. George was presumably born in 1743, North Bovey. He was perhaps a yeoman farmer, and moved away from his home parish. He married Mary Rolston (1742-1824), 24 May 1769, Denbury. He died and was bur. in 1783, Denbury. They had four daughters, all of whom were baptised in Denbury; Ann 1770, Eliz 1772, Mary 1775 and Susan 1779.
2. John Mortimer of North Bovey 1745-1795, bap. 15 Apr 1745, North Bovey. John may have instead been bapt. in 1743 Lustleigh, the son of George. However his connection to N. Bovey is without a doubt. He married Mary Sims (1749-1836), 11 Aug 1774, Lustleigh, at which time he was living in North Bovey. He may have died in 1795, North Bovey. His wife was presumably bur. in 1836, North Bovey, aged 87. His occupation is unknown but judging by the occupations of his children, he was probably an ag lab. John and Mary had the following children.
i. John Mortimer II 1776-1791, bap. 2 Jun 1776 Lustleigh, bur. 3 Nov 1791 North Bovey, aged (16).
ii. Walter Mortimer of Lustleigh 1778-1846, bap. 1778, m. Mary Plumshole, 4 Apr 1805, North Bovey. In 1841 he was an ag lab in N. Bovey. He died in 1846, Lustleigh. Walter and Mary had issue:
1. Walter Mortimer 1805
2. Elizabeth 1809
iii. Mary 1779-1780, bap. 1779 Moretonhampstead, presumably d. young before the birth of her sister Mary in 1786.
iv. George Mortimer of Marldon, 1781-1860, contemporary of George Mortimer of Moretonhampstead below. He was bap. 27 May 1781 North Bovey, and m. 1. Elizabeth Tozer (1778-1814) 14 Jun 1805, Marldon, m. 2. Mary Hawkins (1787-1867) 12 Jun 1825, Marldon. In 1841 he was occupied as an ag lab in Marldon. He died in 1860, and was bur. 8 Jan 1860, Marldon. George and his first wife Elizabeth had four children, all of whom were baptised in Marldon.
1. Mary b. 20 Oct 1805, bap. 3 Nov 1805 Marldon, who d. young, bur. 10 Nov 1805.
2. George Mortimer II b. 30 Dec 1806, bap. 11 Jan 1807
3. Susanna b. 19 Aug 1809, bap. 3 Sep 1809
4. John Mortimer of Greenwich (1811- bef.1884), b. 14 Aug 1811, bap. 25 Aug 1811. John m. Marina Tribble 1 Dec 1846, St Mary Magdalene Bermondsey, who was also born in Devon. They afterwards lived in Greenwich where John Mortimer worked as a hair dresser. They lived at 5 North Terrace Trafalgar Rd., Greenwich. John died and was bur. 13 Apr 1881, Greenwich, and Marina his wife was bur. 7 Nov 1884. They had the following children.
i. Elizabeth Ellen 1848-1882, bap. 12 Mar 1848 Woolwich St Mary Magdalen, Kent, m. Robert Whetstone, 8 Jan 1870, Christchurch, Greenwich. She was bur. 27 Sep 1882, Kensington and Chelsea.
ii. Marina 1853
iii. Amelia Louise 1855-1949, bap. 10 Apr 1857 Greenwich St Alphege, m. Charles Leeds Stocks, 10 Dec 1883, St George the Martyr.
iv. George John Mortimer 1857-, b. 25 Nov 1857. He joined the Royal Navy in 1877. He m. Cassandra Stevenson (1859-1944) 19 Dec 1880, St John Deptford, and they had at least two sons.
v.Β James Frederick Mortimer 1861-1937, bap. 1 Dec 1861 Greenwich St Alphege. He m. Hannah Matilda Bowman (c.1855-1926), 26 Oct 1884, St Luke Deptford. They lived in Cann Hall, Essex and had children, at least two sons. He died 31 May 1937, London.
vi. Arthur Philip Mortimer 1865-1944, b. 1 May 1865, bap. 1 Feb 1871 Christchurch, Greenwich. He m. Henrietta Buss (1867-1940) 27 Jun 1886 St Philip Deptford, London. They had at least five sons.
v. William Mortimer of Staverton, 1783-1841, bap. 16 Feb 1783, Moretonhampstead. He was apprenticed to John Atwill of Broadhempston, mason 21 Apr 1807. He m. Margaret Dodd (1785-aft.1841), 13 Oct 1808, Buckfastleigh. Between 1821/25 he was occupied as a husbandman in Staverton. By 1841, he was working as an ag lab in Broadhempston. He died sometime after, presumably before 1851. William and Margaret had the following ten children.
1. John Mortimer of Totnes 1809- , bap. 13 Aug 1809 Buckfastleigh, he m. Jane before 1881. He was occupied as a quarryman, and fl. 1851 Buckfastleigh, 1871/81/91 Totnes. By 1881 he had evidently retired from work when he was described as lately a labourer.
2. Mary bap. 12 Apr 1812 Buckfastleigh.
3. William Mortimer II bap. 9 Oct 1814 Staverton
4. James Mortimer bap. 20 Oct 1816, m. Mary Ann French (1821-1906), Jan 1841 Broadhempston. Their children were:
i. Harriet c.1842
ii. William Mortimer 1844-1921
iii. Elizabeth c.1846-1880, m. 1864 to Arthur Bradley Bowden (1843-1881).
iv. Ann French M. c.1849-1925, m. Henry Binmore (1846-1921), in 1866, Newton Abbot reg. district.
5. Susanna 1819-c.1824, bap. 31 Jan 1819, d. young before birth of younger sister Susanna.
6. Elizabeth bap. 15 Apr 1821
7. George 1823-c.1825, bap. 1823 Staverton, date unrecorded. He d. young before birth of younger brother George.
8. Ann bap. 1 May 1825
9. George 1827-1827, bap. 13 May 1827
10. Susanna 1828-1832
vi. Susanna 1785, bap. 20 Feb 1785 North Bovey, presumably so named after her aunt Susanna Mortimer, who was sadly convicted in 1787 at the age of 27 and transported to Australia for the rest of her life (see below). Susanna perhaps married George Baker in 1810, Exeter St Thomas the Apostle.
vii. Mary 1786-1857, bap. Christmas Day 1786, m. Thomas Stillman, 21 Mar 1809, Moretonhampstead. They lived in Exeter St David parish, 1851. She died in 1857 and was bur. 8 Apr 1857, Exeter St David, aged (73).
3. Walter Mortimer V 1748-1813, bap. 2 Feb 1747/8, North Bovey. He m. Susanna Dodd, 1775, North Bovey. He was bur. 9 Jul 1813, North Bovey, aged (66). Susanna his wife died in 1823. They had the following children.
i. William Mortimer of Manaton 1776-1828, bap. 21 Jul 1776 North Bovey, m. Joan Leyman (1772-1839) in 1802, Manaton. He lived in Higher Langdon, Manaton in 1814 and worked as a labourer, according to his daughter Mary’s baptism record. William was bur. 10 Feb 1828, North Bovey, aged 51, of Rendon. William and Joan had the following four children.
1. Elizabeth bap. 26 Dec 1805 Manaton.
2. John Mortimer of Ilsington 1808- , bap. 22 May 1808. He m. Elizabeth in c. 1831, and they had the following nine children. They lived in Ilsington 1841, Bickington 1851, and Ilsington again in 1861, where he worked as an ag lab.
i. Maria Ann 1833, Ilsington
ii. John Mortimer II 1840
iii. Thomas Mortimer 1841-1913
iv. Emma 1844
v. Ann 1845
vi. Elizabeth 1847
vii. Alice c. 1849 Ilsington
viii. Henry 1853 Bickington
ix. Alice 1858, Bickington.
3. Ann, bap. 16 Jun 1811
4. Mary, bap. 13 Nov 1814.
ii. Elizabeth 1778- , bap. 21 Apr 1778 North Bovey, m. Thomas Lee 24 Jul 1806 Stoke Damerel. She lived in Stoke Damerel in 1851.
iii. Wilmot 1780, b. 5 Mar 1780, m. William Holloway 20 Nov 1803 North Bovey.
iv. Susanna 1781, b. 18 Nov 1781, m. Richard Westington 14 Oct 1804 North Bovey.
v. George Mortimer of Moretonhampstead, 1786-, contemporary of George Mortimer of Manaton (1781-1860) above. He was bap. 29 Jan 1786 North Bovey. He m. Margaret Osbourne 6 Nov 1813, Stoke Damerel. They lived in Bere Ferrers where he was occupied as a husbandman, followed by Moretonhampstead, where he worked as an ag lab. They had the following children.
1. George Mortimer 1814- c.1818, bap. 3 Apr 1814 Bere Ferrers, who d. young, before the birth of younger brother George in 1820.
2. Henry Mortimer bap. 18 Aug 1816 Bere Ferrers
3. George Mortimer II b. 1820 Moretonhampstead
4. Grace Osbourne b. 1821 Beer Alston, bap. 4 Feb 1821 Bere Ferrers, who had a son George Mortimer b. 1849
5. Emma bap. 21 Jan 1827 North Bovey
6. William Mortimer bap. 8 Feb 1829
7. Margaret Louisa bap. 18 May 1834
vi. John Mortimer of Sampford Spiney 1787-1855, bap. 23 Dec 1787 North Bovey. He served in the First Regiment of Foot (Grenadier Guards from 1814, and fought in the Napoleonic Wars in both Canada and Europe. He was released from service before 1826, at which point he was a Chelsea Pensioner. He m. Elizabeth Sherrell 7 Dec 1825, Newton Ferrers, they had no issue. They lived in Sampford Spiney, in 1841, when he was an ag lab, and 1851, at which point he was reliant on his Chelsea Pension. He died before 1861.
vii. Walter Mortimer VI 1790-1853, bap. 4 Jul 1790, North Bovey. He m. Sarah Shears 15 Mar 1812 North Bovey, and they had the following children in North Bovey where he worked as an ag lab.
1. Mary 1815, bap. 20 Aug 1815 North Bovey, m. John Bond, and they lived in Torquay.
2. Susanna 1818-1870, bap. 5 Jul 1818, m. Henry Zaple in 1841, Newton Abbot reg.
3. Phoebe 1821-1872, bap. 11 Feb 1821, lived in Chagford as a servant in 1841, m. John Pethybridge (1820-1882) in 1844, Newton Abbot reg., they lived in Tormoham, where she died in 1872.
4. Ann 1824, bap. 15 Feb 1824, m. James Dolbear in 1841, North Bovey. This may have instead been Ann b. 1823 N. Bovey daughter of Edward Mortimer.
5. Walter Mortimer VII 1826, bap. 13 Aug 1826, who joined the Royal Navy and became a seaman. He m. Mary Popham (c.1835-1869) in 1853, Plymouth. They had three daughters, Elizabeth c.1859, Esther c.1864 and Belinda c.1867.
6. Eliza 1830, bap. 3 Jan 1830
7. William Mortimer 1831, bap. 1 May 1831
8. Maria 1835, bap. 28 Jun 1835, who lived with her sister Susanna and family in 1851.
viii. Nicholas Mortimer of North Bovey 1792-1866, who was bap. 2 Dec 1792. He m. Mary Elliot, which marriage was witnessed by Thomas Elliot. They lived in North Bovey, where he worked as an ag lab, as detailed in the baptism records of his children and the 1841-61 census returns. Nicholas and Mary Mortimer had the following children in North Bovey, where the lived next to his brother Walter Mortimer.
1. John Mortimer 1815, bap. 12 Mar 1815 North Bovey, m. Sarah (c.1821- ). They lived in North Bovey in 1841/51/61.
i. Mary Ann c.1847-1918
ii. Sarah c.1850
iii. Deborah c.1852
iv. William Mortimer c.1855
v. Nicholas Mortimer c.1858
vi. Elizabeth c.1860
2. Deborah 1817-1904, bap. 28 Sep 1817, m. William Routerby 1840
3. William Mortimer 1820-1900, bap. 26 Mar 1820, m. Susan Parker. He enlisted in the army and served as a private in the 90th Regiment of Foot. He was discharged before 1849 after which point he was a Chelsea Pensioner. William and Susan lived in North Bovey and had three children.
i. Leah 1861-1885, who m. Ananias Frost (1855-1924) in 1880, Newton Abbot reg.
ii. Edward Thomas Elliott (Tom) Mortimer 1864-1899, a servant in 1881, North Bovey, who became a Royal Navy merchant seaman, and emigrated to Australia where he died in 1899.
ii. Mary Kate 1868-1943, b. 2 Jan 1868, who m. John Garrish (1868-1949), 14 Apr 1894 North Bovey.
4. Thomas Mortimer 1822, bap. 8 Sep 1822, joined the Royal Navy and gained rank of Colour Sergeant. He m. Julia Newman in 1848, East Stonehouse. They had no issue.
5. Walter Mortimer 1825, bap. 6 Mar 1825
6. George Henry Mortimer 1828, bap. 16 Mar 1828
7. Mary Ann 1831, bap. 10 Jul 1831
8. Susan 1834-1910, bap. 26 Jan 1834, m. Henry Bishop (1828-1894) in 1856, Newton Abbot reg. Henry Bishop was born in Crediton, where by coincidence another Mortimer family lived)
9. Nicholas Mortimer II 1838, bap. 18 Feb 1838, m. 1860 Newton Abbot reg., who perhaps died in 1873, Portsea.
4. Mary 1750, bap 27 Feb 1749/50, Lustleigh. She may have married John Ash, 15 Jul 1771, Moretonhampstead.
5. Elizabeth 1753, bap. 8 Jul 1753, contemporary of Elizabeth Mortimer b.1755 daughter of George (above). She possibly m. James Richards, 12 Jan 1775 North Bovey. Otherwise this was Elizabeth b. 1755.
6. Wilmot 1756-1767, bap. 15 Aug 1756, bur. 22 Mar 1767 Lustleigh.
7. Richard 1759-1759, bap. 1 Apr 1759, died young, bur. 1 May 1759 Lustleigh.
8. Susanna Mortimer (1761-1846)*. Susanna was bap. 14 Jun 1761 in North Bovey. In Aug 1787, Susanna Mortimer aged 26 of Lustleigh, was accused of sheep stealing at Moretonhampstead. She absconded but was arrested in Southampton. She was convicted and sentenced to transportation for seven years. She was transported to Australia aboard the all female convict sheep Lady Juliana in 1788. After arrival in the colony, she was sent to Norfolk Island, Tasmania, with 194 other convicts, aboard the Surprize. In 1791 she married Thomas O’Brien, an Irish First Fleet marine officer, who had retired to take up a land grant on Norfolk Island. They lived in Glenorchy, and had children together, with many descendants in Australia. She died 31 Dec 1846 in Glenorchy, Tasmania.
9. William Mortimer 1764, bap. 3 Jun 1764, whose date of death is unknown, but who may have died young.
Returning to the family of Nicholas Mortimer, younger brother of Walter Mortimer IV:
Nicholas was bap. 8 Apr 1729, youngest surviving son of Walter and Joan Mortimer, and the younger brother of Walter Mortimer above. He m. Grace French (1729-1796), 15 Jan 1754, Manaton. The family evidently lived in Bovey Tracey; when his son George married in 1783 he was residing at Bovey Tracey. Nicholas was bur. 18 May 1795, Bovey Tracey. His widow Grace was bur. beside him 31 Oct 1796. They had the following children.
1. George Mortimer of Ilsington 1754-1827, contemporary of George Mortimer 1753-1839, (see above). George was bap. 28 Oct 1754 North Bovey, and m. Joan Shilston (c.1762- ) 5 Sep 1783, Lustleigh. At the time of their marriage, George Mortimer lived in Bovey Tracey, which was obviously his home parish, and where both his parents were buried. The marriage was witnessed by George Mortimer and John Arscott. The witness George Mortimer was possibly his uncle, George Mortimer of North Bovey, yeoman, d. 1787, or his relative George Mortimer of Lustleigh (both mentioned above). George and Joan lived in Ilsington and had nine children. George was bur. 16 Mar 1827, Ilsington, aged (67). His age at death given in the burial record is probably inaccurate, as no other George Mortimer born c.1759 is known from contemporary sources (George Mortimer b.1761 Ideford belongs to a different family unconnected to Bovey Tracey). Their children were all baptised in Ilsington. George’s wife Joan’s date of death is unknown, and it appears she was not buried in Ilsington.
i. John Mortimer 1784, bap. 4 Jul 1784 Ilsington, of whom nothing further is known.
ii. William Mortimer of Ilsington c.1786-1867, was born around the year 1786 in Ilsington, presumably the son of George and Joan Mortimer. His baptism is probably unrecorded, though he may have been bap. in 1787 Morchard Bishop. He m. Susanna Honeywill, 12 Aug 1819, Ilsington, who was a distant relative and a granddaughter of Richard Honeywill (above). and they had the following children. George was a small farmer, in 1841 he was a farmer of 74 acres, employing 1 labourer. He died in 1867, Ilsington.
1. Mary Honeywill, b. 15 Dec 1819, bap. 31 Jan 1820, Ashburton Independent Meeting House.
2. William Mortimer II 1823-1901, bap. 1 Jan 1824, Ilsington.
3. Elizabeth 1825, bap. 22 Sep 1825 Ilsington.
4. John Mortimer 1831, bap. 1831 Ilsington
5. Susan 1838, bap. 19 Sep 1838.
iii. Jane 1786-1860, bap. 10 Apr 1786 Ilsington, possibly m. Edward Wyatt 1809 Gidleigh, and bur. 21 Jun 1860 Trusham aged (70).
iv. George Mortimer II 1788-1871, bap. 14 Oct 1788, Ilsington, married his cousin Elizabeth Mortimer b. 1793 (see below), 27 May 1819 Ilsington. They had the following daughters, all of whom were baptised in the Ashburton Wesleyan Methodist Chapel. In 1851 he was living in Ilsington, as a farmer of 90 acres employing 2 labourers. He died in 1871, Ilsington. Two of his daughters married Kingwell family members. His contemporary was George Mortimer of Walkhampton who also m. an Elizabeth and had children baptised in the Ashburton Wesleyan Circuit in the same time period.
1. Eliza b. 1820
2. Mary 1822, b. 12 Jan 1822, bap. 12 Feb 1822, who m. Joshua Berry.
3. Susan 1827, b. 4 Jun 1827, bap. 1 Jul 1827, who m. William Abbott (1828-1908) in 1854, Newton Abbot reg.
4. Elizabeth b. 1830, visiting her sister Mary Berry in 1851. She m. _ Barter and emigrated to the US.
5. Harriet 1831, b. 10 Nov 1831, bap. 5 Jan 1832
6. Anna 1833, b. 27 Sep 1833, bap. 20 Jan 1834
v. Mary Ann 1791, bap. 17 May 1791, m. John Kingwell 10 Nov 1814 Ilsington.
vi. Thomas 1794, bap. 16 Jan 1794 Ilsington. Of him nothing further known.
vii. Susan 1795, bap. 17 Dec 1795 Ilsington, m. Thomas Kingwell, Christmas Day 1816 Ilsington.
viii. Nicholas Mortimer 1798-1883, bap. 14 Jun 1798, m. Judith Ash 2 Dec 1824 Ilsington, they lived in Ilsington 1851, Hennock 1861, Chudleigh Knighton 1871, and Hennock 1881. He died in 1883.
ix. Josiah Mortimer 1804-1876, who never married. Josiah lived with his brother Nicholas in 1851. He d. 16 Dec 1876.
2. John Mortimer of Ilsington 1757-1830, who was bap. 10 Aug 1757 North Bovey, second son of Nicholas and Grace Mortimer of Bovey Tracey. In 1780, he may have fathered an illegitimate child with Elizabeth Rich; James Mortimer, b. 1780 Hennock. He m. Elizabeth Hill (1766-1806), 26 Apr 1791 in Teigngrace, at which point he lived in Bovey Tracey. After their marriage, John and Elizabeth lived in Ilsington and Hennock, where John was occupied as a farmer (as stated in the m. record of his son George in 1839). They had the following children, all baptised in neighbouring Hennock. He died in 1830, Ilsington at the age of 72, and was bur. 1 Jun 1830, Asburton.
i. John Mortimer II 1792, bap. 2 Aug 1792 Hennock, who m. Elizabeth Taylor, 17 May 1823 Teigngrace. John was a farmer of Narrowcombe Farm, Ilsington, as stated in the baptism records of his children in Bovey Tracey baptist chapel. John and his family emigrated to America in 1846, sailing from London to New York aboard the ship Prince Albert on 25 Jun 1846. The family then lived in Lawrence, Mercer, New Jersey as shown in the 1850 US Census.
1. John Mortimer III 1823 Ilsington, bap. 4 Oct 1823 Bovey Tracey baptist chapel, sailed to New York in 1846
2. George Mortimer 1825, bap. 21 Mar 1825
3. Elizabeth 1827, bap. 21 Feb 1827
4. William Mortimer 1829, bap. 18 Dec 1829
5. Henry Mortimer 1832, bap. 20 Nov 1832
ii. Elizabeth b. 1793, Ilsington, bap. 3 Sep 1793, Hennock, m. her cousin George Mortimer (above), 27 May 1819, Ilsington. The census records confirm her birthplace as Ilsington.
iii. Mary 1795, bap. 11 Jun 1795, Hennock, m. William Staddon, 6 Dec 1821, Ilsington.
iv. William Mortimer of Tormoham 1797-1861, saddler, bap. 29 Jun 1797 Hennock, who was apparently born in Hennock according to the 1851 census. He m. Ann Cleave, 2 Apr 1839, Kenn, and they had the following two children. They afterwards lived in Tormoham, Torquay, where he died 8 Mar 1861.
1. William 1841-1855
2. Anna Maria c.1844
v. George Mortimer of Ilsington 1799-c.1876, miller, bap. 16 May 1799 Hennock, m. Mary Ann Knowling, 26 Sep 1833, Ilsington. They lived in Ilsington throughout 1851/61/71. He died before 1881.
3. Mary 1760, bap. 3 Oct 1760, North Bovey, m. William Barber, 28 Mar 1788, Bovey Tracey. Her date of death is unknown.
4. Joan 1763-1840, bap. 22 May 1763 Lustleigh, m. William Dymont (1763-1832), 15 Feb 1785, Bovey Tracey, bur. 28 Dec 1840, Bovey Tracey, aged (80). Her age at death given in the burial record appears to be inaccurate by a few years.
5. William Mortimer of Bovey Tracey 1765-aft.1841, bap. 21 Nov 1765 Bovey Tracey, m. Catherine Lethbridge (1776-1865), 14 Feb 1802, Bridford. Catherine his wife was born in 1776, Tedburn St Mary. They lived in West Teignmouth in 1813, at which point William was a husbandman. They both lived in Alphington in 1841, and William died sometime after that year. They had the following children.
i. Mary Ann 1803, bap. 17 Feb 1803 Bovey Tracey.
ii. William Mortimer II 1805- , bap. 1 Oct 1805 Tedburn St Mary
iii. Harriet 1808-1822, bap. 16 Jun 1808 and bur. 12 Oct 1822, Tedburn St Mary
iv. Catherine 1813-1888, bap. 6 Jul 1813 West Teignmouth, who m. John Rice before 1841.
v. George Mortimer 1813, bap. 6 Jul 1813 West Teignmouth, who possibly m. 1838 Newton Abbot reg. district.
6. Susanna 1768-1805, bap. 25 Feb 1768 Bovey Tracey, m. Nicholas Lamacraft of Bridford, 28 Mar 1798, Bovey Tracey. Susanna was bur. in 1805, Manaton.
7. Grace 1774-1851, bap. 17 Nov 1774 Hennock, m. Nicholas Lamacraft 6 May 1800, Moretonhampstead, bur. 1 Jan 1852 Exeter St Thomas, aged (77).
The Mortimers of Down St Mary descend from Francis Mortimer, born c. 1655, and were presumably connected to the Mortimers at Morchard Bishop, where later family members lived as tenant farmers. Francis Mortimer was presumably born in the neighbouring parishes of Β either Morchard Bishop or Sandford. He was occupied as a husbandman, and married Elizabeth Datheridge otherwise called Doddridge in 1682. The exact nature of his connection to other Mortimers in the area remains uncertain. He may have been a brother of Roger Mortimer who married Mary Comyns in 1673, Morchard Bishop, though this Roger might have been the same as Roger b.1653 Sandford, son of John Mortimer.
Francis date of birth is estimated from the date of his marriage, which marks the first known record about him. He m. Elizabeth Datheridge 22 Nov 1682 in Zeal Monachorum, Devon. He made a will dated 21 Jul 1705, which extract follows:
Francis Mortimer of Down St Mary, husbandman, leaves eastern house to son John, and western house to children Roger, Francis, Elizabeth, after wife’s death, on condition that wife Elizabeth remains a widow. To children Simon and Hannah, 20s. Residue to wife Elizabeth, sole executrix. Proved 16 Oct 1706.Β
Francis and Elizabeth Mortimer had the following children, the first four being born before the start of the extant parish register:
1. John Mortimer
2. Roger Mortimer c.1687-, who m. Elizabeth Howard, 21 Jul 1722, Down St Mary. They had the following children:
i. Mary 1724, b. 26 Sep 1724, m. William Howard (presumably a relative of mother Elizabeth Howard) 31 Mar 1746, Morchard Bishop. They had six children in Morchard Bishop; Eliz 1746, Eliz 1749, Mary 1751, Gra 1756, Wm 1759-1761, & Wm 1763.
ii. Roger Mortimer II 1728, b. 19 Mar 1727/8, who m. firstly Mary Kingwell 30 Jan 1753, Morchard Bishop, they had the following children:
1. John 1753-
2. Patience 1756-1813, b. 1 Feb 1756, m. Roger Bibbins, 12 Jun 1780, Zeal Monachorum. They had seven children in Zeal Monachorum; Mary 1781-1781, John 1782, Roger 1785, Mary 1788, Ann 1791, Patience 1794, Jane 1798. Patience was bur. in 1813, Zeal Monachorum.
3. Elizabeth 1760-?, b. 24 Fe 1760, who presumably d. young, before 1776.
4. Mary 1763, b. 29 May 1763.
5. Roger b. 1 Jan 1766, d. before 1841.
Roger Mortimer m. secondly, Ann Bond, in 1770, Down St Mary. They had three children:
6. Ann b. 22 May 1773, bap. 23 Jun 1773 Chudleigh, Devon.
7. Elizabeth 1776-c.1777, b. 16 Sep 1776, d. young, before 1778
8. Elizabeth b. 11 Oct 1778
iii. John Mortimer 1730-1773? Ideford, b. 1 Dec 1730 Down St Mary. He m. Mary Towill, 8 May 1757, Bishopsteignton. He was possibly bur. 1773, Ashcombe near Chudleigh, Devon, the same parish where his brother Francis Mortimer lived. He died after 1771, and may have been bur. in 1773 Ashcombe, although alternatively this may have been John Pudner Mortimer b.1770 Ashcombe, whose life details are unknown. John and Mary had the following children in Ideford:
1. George 1761-c.1763, b. 17 Jul 1761, who presumably d. young.
2. Elizabeth 1764, b. 2 Dec 1764.
3. John Mortimer II 1767-1840, b. 21 May 1767. In 1794, he witnessed the m. of William Mortimer d.1815. He m. Elizabeth Gale (1763-1843), 1 Nov 1794, Ideford, signing his name. His occupation at the time was a labourer. The marriage was witnessed by William Smallridge and Thomas Wilking. He died and was bur. 11 Aug 1840, Ideford, aged (74), at the time of his death he lived at Ugbrook, Chudleigh. John and Elizabeth had the following children baptised in Ideford:
i. John 1795-1795, b. 30 Aug 1795, bur. 4 Oct 1795.
ii. John 1796-1797, b. 17 Nov 1796, bur. 26 Mar 1797.
iii. William Mortimer of Wolborough 1798-c.1867, who was b. 26 Aug 1798, and m. Sarah Hole, 25 Mar 1827, Chudleigh. He worked as an ag lab. in Kingsteignton, then Wolborough, and died between 1861/71. William and Sarah his wife had the following children.
1. John Mortimer 1829
2. Elizabeth 1830
3. William Mortimer 1833
4. Charles Mortimer 1835
iv. John Mortimer III 1801-c.1886, b. 18 Oct 1801, Ideford. He m. Sarah, and lived in Chudleigh and Kingsteignton. He died between 1881/91. John and Sarah had the following children.
1. William Mortimer c.1827-1918, who m. Ellen. They had one son.
i. John Mortimore c.1893-1914, born in Ugbrooke, near Chudleigh, Devon, the only son of William and Ellen Mortimer. He served in the First World War in the Coldstream Guards. He fell 22 Dec 1914 and was bur. at Le Touret Cemetery, Richebourg-l’AvouΓ©, Pas-de-Calais, France.
2. Mary c.1829
3. Elizabeth c.1831
4. John Mortimer IV c.1833-1904
5. James Mortimer c.1835-1916
6. Stephen Mortimer c.1838-1911
7. Sarah Ann c.1840
8. Lucy c.1842-1898
9. Alban Mortimer c.1845
10. Henry Mortimer c.1848-1938
v. Mary Ann 1804, b. 5 Aug 1804, m. Stephen White, 8 Feb 1831, Chudleigh. At the time of her marriage she was living in Totnes. They had a daughter, Matilda b. 1832.
4. Ann 1769
5. William Mortimer of Chudleigh c.1771-1815, whose baptism record is missing. He m. Ann Cornish (b.1772), 5 Oct 1794, Bishopsteignton. The m. was witnessed by John Mortimer, whose signature matches that of John Mortimer m. 1 Nov 1794 to Elizabeth Gale (see above). William was bur. 24 Mar 1815, Bishopsteignton, aged (43), of Chudleigh. William and Ann Mortimer had the following children. He may have been occupied as a stonemason, as two of his sons followed this profession.
i. William Mortimer II of West Teignmouth 1796-1867, b. 15 May 1796 Ideford, who m. Ann Cole 26 Dec 1815, East Teignmouth. He worked as a stonemason in West Teignmouth. He died in 1867. William and Ann had a son:
1. Charles Mortimer c.1831, who married and had at least two sons, and four daughters.
ii. John Mortimer 1799-1879, b. 13 Jan 1799, who m. Keziah Lee (c.1791-1874), 29 Sep 1819, East Teignmouth. He worked as a stonemason in West Teignmouth. John and his wife had a daughter:
1. Mary Ann Mortimer, b. 1825 West Teignmouth.
iii. Mary 1801
iv. Ann 1803
v. Elizabeth 1805
vi. Thomas Mortimer 1807
vii. Charles Mortimer 1809, who m. Jane, and they had the following children in Tormoham, Torquay.
1. Louisa c.1841
2. Noah Mortimer 1843-1923, who emigrated to the USA.
3. Elizabeth c.1848
iv. Francis Mortimer 1733-1770, b. 16 Jan 1732/3 Down St Mary. He m. Ann Pudner, 29 Aug 1759, Ashcombe. He was bur. 8 Apr 1770, Ashcombe. His wife’s son John was born 8 months afterwards. They had two older children:
1. Roger Mortimer, b. 3 May 1761, Aschcombe, possibly bur. 1785, Down St Mary.
2. Francis Mortimer II 1763-1847, b. 27 Feb 1763, m. Mary Ridaway, 31 May 1798, Highweek. Both bride and groom were described as sojourners in the parish, and Francis Mortimer lived in Down St Mary at the time. He was an ag lab., and died in 1847, Newton Abbott Workhouse. He was bur. 15 Oct 1847, Highweek parish churchyard, near Chudleigh. His wife Mary d. in 1843 and was bur. in the same location. They had the following children baptised in Combeinteignhead.
i. Elizabeth 1798, b. 21 Oct 1798 Highweek.
ii. John Mortimer, b. 25 Dec 1801.
iii. William Mortimer, b. 9 Apr 1805.
iv. Mary Ann, b. 29 May 1808.
v. James Mortimer, b. 30 Aug 1812.
Ann widow of Francis Mortimer had sons
3. John Pudner Mortimer, who may have been illegitimate. He was bap. 9 Dec 1770 Ashcombe. He was a near contemporary of John Mortimer of Sandford (1768-1809), who m. Betty Evans.
4. Thomas Mortimer 1773-1849, b. 4 Jul 1773 Ashcombe, who moved to Plymouth as a mariner. He m. Elizabeth Vivan, 30 Jul 1801, Plymouth.
5. William Mortimer 1776-1824, b. 29 Oct 1776 Ashcombe, who like his brother probably also moved to Plymouth. He was bur. 15 Jul 1824 Stoke Damerel, aged (45).
v. Elizabeth 1736, b. 18 Jan 1735/6, who m. John Kensbeer in 1761 Down St Mary. They had three children; John 1764-c.1766, Elizabeth 1767, & John 1773.
3. Simon Mortimer of Sandford (c.1690-1763), detailed in Mortimers of Sandford, Part 2.
4. Hannah (c.1693- ), who m. Peter Easterbrook, 31 Mar 1719 Sandford. Either Hannah died in Feb 1730/1 Sandford, or she died in 1754 (Hannah Easterbrook Mortimer was bur. in 1754, Sandford). Her husband died in 1778.
5. Elizabeth 1697-c.1702, who died young, b. 25 May 1697, d. before 1704.
6. Francis 1700-aft.1723, b. 29 Apr 1700, perhaps the same Francis Mortimer who lived in Cadbury at the time of the 1723 Oath Roll.
7. Mary 1701-1703, who died young, b. 17 Jun 1701, bur. 17 Oct 1703.
8. Elizabeth 1704, who m. Francis Cove, 25 May 1724, Down St Mary.
John was presumably the eldest son of Francis Mortimer, husbandman. He was left the “eastern house” in the will of Francis Mortimer, and stayed in Down St Mary his whole life. He was presumably also a husbandman like his father. He married Ann Dain, 2 May 1715 Down St Mary, and they had four children; two daughters and two sons, both of whom lived in Morchard Bishop. He made a will proved by his wife in 1730.
1. Ann b. 13 Feb 1715/6 Down St Mary, who m. Robert Steer, 7 Feb 1743/4 Down St Mary. They had one son, Nathaniel b. 1744. An Ann Steer later m. John Mortimer in 1757, though this Ann was more likely related to Faith Steer b. 1733, as the name Faith is used for the first time in the following generation.
2. John Mortimer, was bap. 17 Jan 1718/9, the eldest son of John and Ann Mortimer of Down St Mary. He m. Ann Heywood, 26 Oct 1742 in Morchard Bishop, and they had at least seven children. Both John Mortimer and George his brother married into the Heywood family.
i. Ann b. 2 May 1743 Morchard Bishop
ii. George Mortimer, the eldest son, was b. 6 Feb 1744/5. He m. Elizabeth Pope, 30 Dec 1768 in Morchard Bishop. They had eight children, half of whom survived to adulthood.
1. William Mortimer 1769-1841, who was b. 18 Jun 1769 Morchard Bishop. He lived all his life in his home parish, where he worked as a shoemaker. Neither William or any of his sisters ever married, and they all lived together in the same house in 1841.
2. Betty 1771-c.1777, b. 15 Apr 1771, d. young before 1777.
3. Ann 1776-1854, b. 16 Jun 1776, d. 1853/1854 or 1859. She never married and lived with her brother and sisters in Morchard Bishop all her life.
4. Elizabeth 1770-c.1780, b. 30 Sep 1777, d. young before 1784.
5. Mary 1781-c.1784, b. 28 Jan 1781, d. young before 1791
6. Betty 1784-1868, who was b. 18 Jul 1784. She never married and lived with her brother and sisters in Morchard Bishop all her life.
7. John Mortimer 1787-c.1790, b. 9 Apr 1787, presumably died young, there being no further record of him.
8. Mary 1791-1874, the youngest and last surviving child. She was b. 7 Aug 1791 and bap. 7 Oct 1791. She never married and lived with her brother and sisters in Morchard Bishop all her life. Mary died in 1874 at the age of 83.
iii. Mary b. 27 Jul 1747, who m. Samuel Tozer, 24 Jul 1768 Zeal Monachorum. They had eight children; Eliz 1769, Mary 1771, Giles 1773, Giles 1778, Nancy 1780, Mary 1783, Ann 1785, & Joan 1789.
iv. Susanna b. 5 Mar 1749/50, bur. 4 Dec 1752
v. Betty b. 17 Oct 1752, m. John Pike 8 Apr 1776 Morchard Bishop
vi. Susanna b. 7 Oct 1755, m. Edward Conybeer 8 Feb 1784 Morchard Bishop.
vii. John Mortimer 1758 / or Thomasin Mortimer 1758, b. in different months of the same year. One was presumably the child of John and Ann m. 1741/2, the other the child of John Mortimer and Ann Steer m. 1757.
3. George Mortimer 1721-1799, was the second son of John and Ann Mortimer. Unusually, even though he was the second son, it seems to be his branch of the family who managed a farm in Morchard Bishop, while the heir of his brother John Mortimer was a shoemaker. He m. Elizabeth Heywood, 2 Feb 1751/2, and they had seven children. George was a yeoman, as stated in his will dated 1799, in Morchard Bishop.
i. Mary b. 23 Oct 1752
ii. John Mortimer 1756-1814, b. 20 Apr 1756, eldest son of George and Elizabeth Mortimer. He m. Mary Philpe in Morchard Bishop, and was bur. 9 Sep 1814, aged 58. They had the following children.
1. Frances b. 2 Oct 1778, who m. Robert Sage 25 Jul 1809 Morchard Bishop.
2. Betty 1780, who m. Richard Southcott, 15 Jan 1810, Morchard Bishop.
3. Thomasin b. 9 Mar 1783
4. William Mortimer 1786-1858, b. 27 Aug 1786, m. Mary Sage 27 May 1817. They had the following children. He lived in Birchinbeer, Morchard Bishop between 1817-1819. By 1820 he had moved to Lower Town, in the same parish. He was occupied as a broadweaver in Morchard Bishop. William and Mary had two daughters.
i. Frances 1817-1819
ii. Elizabeth 1825
5. George Mortimer 1788-1856, b. 7 Sep 1788, who m. Elizabeth Scott c.1820. In 1841 he lived in Higher Knightstone, Morchard Bishop where he was a hand loom weaver and pauper. George and Elizabeth his wife had two children in Morchard Bishop.
i. John Mortimer 1821-1869, b. 10 Jun 1821 Morchard Bishop, m. Grace Mitchell, 1851, Crediton. He was bur. 7 Jun 1869, Cruwys Morchard, aged 48. They had two children.
1. John Mortimer II 1854
2. George 1857-1861
ii. Grace 1825, bap. Christmas Day 1825, Morchard Bishop.
iii. George Mortimer 1758-1818, b. 24 May 1758, m. Elizabeth Gibbins (1765- ) 26 Dec 1792 Morchard Bishop. He was a yeoman farmer in Morchard Bishop, as stated on the marriage record of his son, Thomas. George was bur. 15 Dec 1818, aged 61. George and Elizabeth had the following seven children.
1. Thomas Mortimer 1793-1858, b. 16 Jul 1793 Morchard Bishop, m. Elizabeth Gibbins, 27 Feb 1845 Morchard Bishop. Thomas was a yeoman and resided at Wigham Farm, Morchard Bishop. In 1851 he farmed 71 acres and employed 5 labourers. He died and was bur. in 1858. Thomas and his wife Elizabeth had the following children.
i. Thomas Mortimer II 1846-1916
ii. Ann 1848
iii. Elizabeth 1850
2. Mary 1795-1871, b. 24 Feb 1795, m. John Pope of Knathorne, Morchard Bishop, 24 Mar 1817. They had ten children; Simon Mortimer Pope 1819, John 1820, William Wreford P. 1822, George 1824-c.1830, Philip Henry P. 1826-c.1830, Eliz 1826, Charlotte 1828, Mary 1831, George 1833-1900, Philip Henry P. 1838.
3. William Mortimer of Morchard Bishop 1797-1831, whose contemporary William Mortimer was also b. 1795, son of John and Ann Mortimer. He was bap. 2 Apr 1797, and bur. 1831, Morchard Bishop, aged 34.
4. George Mortimer of Bristol 1799-1867, b. 20 Aug 1799, Morchard Bishop. He m. Elizabeth McGregor, 8 Mar 1838 Bristol Temple parish. He was occupied in Bristol as a licensed victualler and publican, and lived at Quay St., Bristol. He died and was bur. 19 Apr 1867, Totterdown, Somerset, aged (69). George and Elizabeth had two children.
i. Isabella 1839-1916
ii. William Mortimer 1840
5. Elizabeth 1801, was b. 30 Dec 1801. She m. John Somerwill, 2 Jun 1827, Morchard Bishop. They had the following children; Mary Ann 1829, Prudence 1831, John 1835, Emma 1837, George 1838, Ellen 1842, and Thomas 1844.
6. John Mortimer of Bristol 1804-1877, b. 3 Apr 1804, m. Emma Dorchester (1823-1895), 3 Apr 1849, Bedminster, Somerset. They had one son, John Mortimer II b. Oct 1849. The elder John Mortimer died in 1877, Hallen, Gloucestershire.
7. Ann 1806, b. 29 Oct 1806, who m. John Ford of Exeter (1805-1884) 21 Jan 1828, Morchard Bishop. They had the following children; George Mortimer Ford 1829, William Henry F. 1831, Thomas Mortimer F. 1833, Ann 1836, Charles 1839, Frederick 1840.
iv. William 1761-1762, b. 21 Jul 1761, bur. 8 Jan 1762.
v. Elizabeth b. 31 May 1763
vi. Nathaniel Mortimer 1766-, b. 20 Jan 1766, who was apprenticed to Richard Challis, butcher 29 Jan 1788, Morchard Bishop. He m. Elizabeth Hill in 1796, Morchard Bishop. They moved to Enmore, Somerset before 1800, and had the following eight children.
1. Grace b. 11 Oct 1796, Morchard Bishop.
2. John Mortimer of Moorlinch 1798-1876, who moved to Somerset. He was bap. 11 Mar 1798, Enmore. He m. Sarah Davis, 25 Apr 1833, Middlezoy, Somerset. He worked as a dairyman in Somerset, and died 24 Sep 1876, Bridgewater. John and his wife Sarah had six children.
i. Elizabeth 1834
ii. George 1835
iii. Jane Elizabeth 1841
iv. William 1842
v. Mary Ann 1843-1875
vi. Elizabeth 1847
3. Nathaniel II b. 11 Mar 1798, was presumably a twin of John Mortimer above. He perhaps fathered an illegitimate child by Ann Webber, in 1827, Morchard Bishop.
4. Elizabeth b. 11 Apr 1800, Enmore.
5. George 1803-1831, b. 27 Feb 1803, Enmore, bur. 25 Jan 1831, Morchard Bishop, aged 27.
6. William 1805-1815, b. 19 May 1805, bur. 4 Jun 1815, Enmore.
7. Thomas Mortimer of Witheridge 1807-1858, b. 12 Jul 1807, Enmore, m. Mary Peck, 1 Aug 1831 Crediton, bur. 1858, Morchard Bishop. They had no children.
8. James Mortimer 1809-1890, b. 18 Jun 1809, m. Elizabeth Pitman, 6 May 1839 Bristol St Mary Redcliffe. They had no children. James d. 25 Apr 1890, Weston Zoyland, and was bur. 2 May 1890 in the same parish. His will was proved 27 May 1890.
vii. Grace b. 21 Apr 1767
4. Francis Mortimer 1722-1722, b. 8 Nov and bur. 18 Nov 1722.
Morchard Bishop is a large parish directly north west of Sandford, Devon. This Mortimer family was presumably related to the Mortimers of Sandford.
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 Cookeβs 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 Bishopβs 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 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:
This page is currently under construction Β
The Mortimers who lived in North Devon are particularly obscure. One branch lived in Great Torrington, descended from William Mortimer of Weare Giffard, d.1578. Unfortunately since this will does not survive, very little is known of the familyβs origins, which can only be the subject of speculation at best. His descendant William Mortimer was assessed for 4 hearths in the 1662 Hearth Tax.
Explore the main family branches here.
See the Mortimer History Page List for a complete site layout and list of content.
The Mortimer family often moved between different locations. Search for a particular location or individual in the form below.
Explore the main family branches here.
See the Mortimer History Page List for a complete site layout and list of content.
The Mortimer family often moved between different locations. Search for a particular location or individual in the form below.
Explore the main family branches here.
See the Mortimer History Page List for a complete site layout and list of content.
The Mortimer family often moved between different locations. Search for a particular location or individual in the form below.
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