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Tucker Family

Devon & Cornwall Notes and Queries vol. VI, (January 1910 to October 1911), pp. 150-151.

by

Captain Anthony Tucker

Prepared by Michael Steer

Tucker is a characteristic Westcountry surname. The name is especially numerous in the Exeter and Barnstaple districts. It is also found in Somerset, and occurs too, but much less frequently, in Cornwall, Dorset, Hants, and Wilts. Tucker was the west of England name for a fuller. 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 139. TUCKER FAMILY (V., Part I., Jan. 1908, Appendix, Exeter Churches, St. Mary Arches, pp. 105 and 107; V., Part II., April, 1908, p. 64).— The wife of Richard Tucker, of Exeter, merchant (died 6th Feb., 1680), was Dorothy Sanford (three bars wavy). The said Richard Tucker was buried in St. Mary Arches, 16th Feb., 1680; and the entry, about 30 years ago, was so faded as to be hardly legible (will transcribers of the St. Mary Arches' Registers for the Devon and Cornwall Record Society please note this?). On the same stone as the inscription to the above is that to James Tucker and his wife Jane (p. 105). The latter was Jane Risdon, and the obliterated coat impaled with Tucker was probably " three arrows." The latter impalement was entirely worn away 30 years ago. Administration of her effects granted to her husband 1st July, 1706 (Archd., Exon.). Administration of the effects of Richard Tucker, of Exeter, granted 5th March, 1680, to Darothy, his relict (P. R., Exon.). Will of Dorothy Tucker, of Exeter, widow, dated 13th May, 1693, proved 30th June, 1693, mentions brother, John Sanford, of Virginia ; and brother, William Sanford ; and son, James Tucker (Archd., Exon.). The stone, "partly covered over" (on p. 107), to Sallomy Tucker, should read "[Grace] Tucker [vide Register] who died [May] the 5th, 1696 [buried 9th May] also Sollomy Tucker, who died Oct. the 13th, 1696, daughter of Mr. James Tucker, of this city, merchant. Also ye body of Mrs. Jone Tucker, their mother, who departed this life ye 2nd day of March, 1709 [buried 6th March, 1709, vide Register]. Here lyeth the body of Willhelmia, daughter of Edwd. Edwards, apathecia of this city, who died ye 6th of April, 1738, aged 1 year 6 months." The Edwards family had nothing to do with the Tuckers, and must have taken advantage of the latter's stone to record the death of their infant thereon. The full inscription was copied, on the removal of the organ, 18th Jan., 1909, except that the only words legible before the words " also Sollomy " were "Tucker, who died the 5th, 1696."The blanks have been supplied by me from the Register. There is a gravestone in the porch of the west entrance to St. Mary Arches, which was nearly illegible 30 years ago, and which can hardly be read at all now. The words "Tucker" and "Waltham" and a shield of arms are legible, I believe, still. The grave is that of James Tucker, Mayor of Exeter, 1638- 1639, and of Elizabeth Waltham (a chevron between 3 suns), his wife. The former was buried in St. Mary Arches nth Oct., 1643, and the latter 12th Nov., 1663 (see Register). Will of James Tucker, dated 10th June, 1643, proved 5th Feb., 1643-4 (P.C.C. Rivers, O.W.). Will of Elizabeth Tucker, widow, dated 10th Sept., 1663, proved 21st June, 1664 (P.C.C. 74 Bruce). Elizabeth Waltham had been previously married to Bellarmine (see Westcote). Marriage licence of James Tucker, of Lyme Regis, and Elizabeth Bellarmine, of Exon, 10th May, 1618 (Mar. Lie. Exon). I do not know where they were married. The said James Tucker was the only son of Walter Tucker, five times Mayor of Lyme Regis (1607, 1614, 1625, 1634, anc * I0 4i), and predeceased his father. Will of said Walter Tucker, dated 3rd Nov., 1643, proved 3rd April, 1645 (P.C.C. 61 Rivers).

Curiously enough the M. I. of the above Walter Tucker is entirely obliterated, also in Membury Church, but is recorded in Somerset & Dorset Notes & Queries, from a copy made at the end of the 18th century. The said Walter Tucker was a Devonshire man. He desired in his will to be buried at Membury "where I was born." The register of his burial does not appear in the Registers of Membury, nor of Lyme Regis, but 1644-45 was a troublous time for Lyme and its vicinity.

The hand and foot of man have conspired to erase the memory of Walter Tucker and his son James. I am glad to be able to preserve it in the indelible pages of their county Notes & Queries                 Anthony Tucker, Captain.