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The Raleigh or Rawleigh Family

Devon & Cornwall Notes and Queries vol. VII, (1912-1913), Exeter: James G. Commin. 1913, p. 223.

by

M.A.P.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The Note’s author seeks information about Sir Walter Raleigh and the Raleigh family. Sir Walter grew up in the house of Hayes Barton, in the parish of East Budleigh. He was the youngest of the five sons of Walter Raleigh (1510–1581) (or Rawleigh) of Fardel Manor in the parish of Cornwood in South Devon. His family is generally assumed to have been a junior branch of the de Raleigh family, 11th century lords of the manor of Raleigh, Pilton in North Devon, although the two branches are known to have borne entirely dissimilar coats of arms, adopted at the start of the age of heraldry (c.1200-1215). His mother was Katherine Champernowne, his father's 3rd wife, the 4th daughter of Sir Philip Champernowne (1479-1545), lord of the manor of Modbury, Devon, by his wife Catherine Carew, a daughter of Sir Edmund Carew (d.1513) of Mohuns Ottery in the parish of Luppitt, and widow of Otes Gilbert (1513-1546/7) of Greenway in the parish of Brixham and of Compton Castle in the parish of Marldon. Katherine Champernowne's paternal aunt was Kat Ashley, governess of Queen Elizabeth I, who introduced the young men at court. The coat of arms of Otes Gilbert and Katherine Champernowne survives in a stained glass window in Churston Ferrers Church, near Greenway. Sir Walter's half-brothers John Gilbert, Humphrey Gilbert, and Adrian Gilbert, and his full brother Carew Raleigh were also prominent during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. Raleigh's family was highly Protestant in religious orientation and had a number of near escapes during the reign of Queen Mary. In the most notable of these, his father had to hide in a tower to avoid execution. As a result, Raleigh developed a hatred of Roman Catholicism during his childhood, and proved himself quick to express it after Protestant Queen Elizabeth I came to the throne in 1558. In matters of religion, Elizabeth was more moderate than her half sister Mary. 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 159. THE RALEIGH OR RAWLEIGH FAMILY. - Can any of your readers tell me if Sir Walter Raleigh ever had a house of his own at Dartmouth or in its vicinity? I am, of course, aware that he was probably frequently at Greenaway, the home of his half brothers, the Gilberts. Also I understand that the Naval College stands on the Raleigh Trust estate. Why is this estate so named? Has it any connection with the family?

I should also be glad of any information concerning the Raleighs of Buckland Filleigh and Sheepwash. I have the few notes following concerning them, but, owing to distance, have been unable up to the present to see the wills mentioned -

1598.Will of John Rawly, Buckland Filleigh, proved. - Calendar of Devon and Cornwall Wills.
1642.Joseph Raleigh (Rawleigh), son of John, of Buckland Filleigh, Devon, pleb. Gloucester Hall, matriculated 6 May, 1642, aged 18. - Foster's Alumni Oxoniensis.
1668.Will of Robert Rawleigh, Sheepwash, proved. - Calendar of Devon and Cornwall Wills.
1680.Will of William Fortescue, of Buckland Filleigh, proved. Mention in it of "my cousin, John Rawleigh, of Sheepwash." Will dated 1676. - Abstracts of Somersetshire Wills.
1712.Will of John Rawleigh, Sheepwash, proved. - Calendar of Devon and Cornwall Wills.

                                                  M. A. P.