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Of

Cocktree

Devon Notes & Queries, vol. I, (January 1900 to January 1901), p. 103.

by

Ethel Lega-Weekes

Prepared by Michael Steer

Clues to the ancient origin of the name Cocktree, a farmhouse adjoining North Wyke, which was long a possession of the Wykes family are sought. Ethel Lega-Weekes, the question’s author, was a Devon antiquarian, a prolific author of articles on the Wykes family, perhaps best known for her ‘Topography of the close of Exeter’. She was the great granddaughter of two of Lord Byron's servants, Lega Zambelli, his secretary, and William Fletcher, famously his valet. 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 69. COCKTREE. Cocktree (now a farmhouse), a property adjoining North Wyke, in the parish of South Tawton, was acquired by Wm. Wyke, of North Wyke, on his marriage, c. 1400, with Katherine, dau. and heir of John Burnel, whose family had been settled for some generations at Great or “Mychel" Cocktree. In endeavouring to discover the origin of the name and its application to this place, I have made the following notes:
In 1218, one Jordan de Coketrewe acknowledges the right of Robert, son of Richard de Bremelrigge, to one ferling of land in Bremelrigge (which is in the neighbouring parish of Crediton. E.L.W.)[1]
At Croke Burnel, Robert Burnel had his dwelling, temp. Hen. III.[2]
33d Hen. III. Robert Burnel and John Burnel, de terre in Caketrewe.[3]
Examinacis feodorum Devoniae, 1303, Hundredorum de Suth Tawton .... Rogerus Burnel tenet in Coketrewe.[4]
De loco de la Trewe . . . et aliis . . . concessis . . . Thome Cok . . . senescall gascon.[5]
In 14th Hen. VI., a Richard Cocktree is witness to a grant by Roger Weeke of land in Stone in decima de Croke Burnel. [6]
The H.E.D. gives M.E. tree, tre ; A.S., treo, tveow . . etc.; all from Teuton type. Trewa, a tree.
In the Inq. P.M. of Thos. Giffard of Halsbury (4th Ed. VI.), occur the place-names of Hollytrew in poch de Puworthy, and Trew (perhaps near E. Clifford ?), and in the Inq. P.M. of Henrico de Bellocampo (24th Hen. VI., No. 43), I noticed the name Trewe St. Jacob's (query whether Jacobstowe, near Winkleigh, as it occurs between Winkleigh and S. Tawton in the list). Close by the present house of " Little Cocktree " stands the ruin of a large oak, which, considering the slow growth of such trees in this Dartmoor region, may well in accordance with the local tradition of its being many hundreds of years old have flourished in the days of Katherine Burnel.
             ETHEL LEGA-WEEKES.

[1] Worthy's Devon Wills
[2] Polwhele
[3] Le Neve Index, Vol. 12a,p.36
[4] Feudal Aids
[5] Rot. Gas. 25th, Ed III, No. 9
[6] Risdon