Transcript

of

Family of Downe or Down

Devon & Cornwall Notes and Queries vol. VII, (1912-1913), Exeter: James G. Commin. 1913,  p. 240.

by

Major H.W.M. Down

Prepared by Michael Steer

The Note’s author intends to write a family history and seeks information on any pedigrees that link his family to the Downe’s who had resided at East Down House in the medieval period, The manor belonged, in the time of Edward III., to the family of Downe; and passed to the Pines and the Coffins. Several famous people have stayed at the manor, for example, Baroness Thatcher and Sir Keith Joseph, and celebrities Charlotte Bingham and Terence Brady as well some foreign dignitaries. The article, 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. FAMILY OF DOWNE OR DOWN. - (East Downe, Tutshill, Barnstaple, &c, County of Devon, Gules a buck's [or stag's] head cabossed ermine, sometimes argent, attired or).

I am anxious to find out whether there is a pedigree of this family in the possession of anyone. It is an ancient West Country family, and I cannot help thinking that there must be one somewhere, perhaps in some branch of the family still living in Devon. My object is to write a book on "The History, Traditions and Pedigree of the family of Down of Devon," and I should be very glad of any information. I have traced my branch of the family to about the year 1600 without a break. They then lived at Tiverton, but I am anxious to connect with the main branch at East Downe, who had their habitation at East Downe House from before 1100 to about 1300, when East Downe House and lands passed to Elenor, daughter of Philip de Doune, on her marriage with Oliver Pyne, now Pyne Coffin. Philip de Doune (now Downe or Down) had issue male by a second wife, whose posterity flourished at Pilton, near Barnstaple.

                                                   H W. M. DOWN, Major.