Transcript

of

A noted pluralist [Samuel Partridge]

Devon Notes & Queries, vol. I, (January 1900 to January 1901), pp. 198-9.

by

A.J. Davy

Prepared by Michael Steer

Within the Church of England, the ‘Established’ Church, a benefice or living is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The holder of more than one benefice, later known as a pluralist, could keep the revenue to which he was entitled and pay lesser sums to deputies to carry out the corresponding duties. The subject of this Note, Rev Samuel Partridge held several benefices including vicarage of Cockington. The manor of Cockington was owned by Alric the Saxon, before William Hostiarus, William de Falesia and Robert FitzMartin, who passed it down to his son Roger, who renounced his name to become Roger de Cockington. The Cockington family owned Cockington Estate from 1048–1348. The Cary family (this particular branch included George Carey (c. 1541–1616)) owned the court from 1375 to 1654. It was then sold to the Mallock family a family of rich silversmiths from Exeter, who owned it from 1654 to 1932 when they sold the estate to the Torquay Corporation. The extract, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

Note 166. A NOTED PLURALIST. Samuel Partridge, M.A., Rector of Skyness, 1780; Vicar of Cockington, 1781; Rector of Leverton, 1782; Chaplain to the Bishop of Bristol, 1785; Vicar of Boston and Surrogate, 1785; Justice of the Peace, 1787 ; Chaplain to Brownlow, Duke of Ancester. 1792 ; Chaplain to Peter, Lord Gwyder, 1797; Vicar of Wigtoft cum Quadring, 1797; Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, 1800; Proctor in Convocation, 1806 and 1807; and Chaplain to the South Lincoln Militia, 1809.
He is also said to have been Chairman of the Quarter Sessions for the hundreds of Kirton and Skirbeck, and to have died in 1817. Is the Cockington referred to the parish lately amalgamated with Torquay, and, if so, is anything known of him during the time he held the living ? A complete list of the vicars of Cockington would be of great local interest.
A. J. DAVY.