Transcript

of

Manor of Deandon

Devon & Cornwall Notes and Queries vol. VI, (January 1910 to October 1911), pp. 47-48.

by

Mary Hall Jordan

Prepared by Michael Steer

The wide area of the Parish of Widecombe comprises no less than six different manors; or, rather, five manors, and a reputed one, viz.:-Widecombe Town, Spitchwick, Deandon or Jordan, Blagdon Pipard, Dunstone, and Notsworthy, now called Natsworthy, The Manor of Deandon, alias Dutton was a reputed manor, sometimes called Jordan, and is bounded by Spitchwick on the west, and by Dunstone on the east. Sir William Pole refers to Deandon as a manor, and briefly mentions that it “was in Kinge John’s tyme the land of William de Deandon,”whose pedigree he supplies. Both Westcote and Risdon are silent respecting it, but Lysons (1820), following Pole’s account, mentions that “Deandon gave name to an ancient family, by whom it passed by female heirs to the Malets, in the reign of Henry III. Sir John Malet, K.B., sold it about the year 1600.” The manor has since been held by the Mallocks of Cockington, but the manorial rights have fallen into desuetude, and no court has been held since the year 1793. The heiresses of the late Sir Walter P. Carew, Bart., own a considerable estate here, including Lizwell, which, in the early part of the last century, belonged to the Langworthys, a family of some local importance. 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.

34. MANOR OF DEANDON. - Can any of the readers of Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries supply the names of the owners of the manor of Deandon or Deaudon, Widecombe-in-the-Moor, from the ninth year of the reign of Henry IV. until 1748, when it was purchased by Rawlin Mallock, Esq., of Cockington Court?

From Sir Hamelin de Deandon it descended (after the death of his daughter Joan, who married Sir Roger Clavill) to Mabel his second daughter, married to Sir Baldwyn Malet, of Enemer. It then descended to their son William, and afterwards to Lucy Malet, who married first, Thomas de Tymmeworth, and secondly, Simon de Meriet, of Hestercombe. Walter de Meriet, their son, who was Chancellor of Exeter, in 1322, and afterwards Prebendary of Wells, died 7 June, 19 Edward III, having no lands in Devon, but possessed of lands in Somerset. In 35 Edward III, Henry, Duke of Lancaster, held Deandon, Devon, but it seems to have reverted to the Malets.

In the Note Book of Tristram Risdon, 1608-28, we find John Malet of Deandon, and Baldwyn "his sonne" in the list of " Knightes possessed of Landes in Devonshire during the raigne of King Edward III." Their arms: Azure 3 escallops or, being the same as those of Sir Baldwyn Malet of Enemer, and William Deandon, of Lydyete in Somersetshire, in the reign of Henry III.

In 14 Richard II, Sir Baldwin Malet and Letitia his wife granted lands in Deandon, but 9 Henry IV., we have in a deed (Lansdown MSS., Brit. Museum, No. 255: " Know ye that I have confirmed the Mannors of Enemer and Dutton to Sir Baldwine Mallett and Amisia his wife," Dutton, no doubt, being a corruption of Deandon. In Westcote (View of Devon) Baldwin Mallet is mentioned as having married the daughter and heir of Thomas Hatch, of Wollegh - he was Solicitor to Henry VIII. John Mallet is included in Risdon's list of Earls, Nobles and Sheriffs of Devon, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Was he the Sir John Malet, k.b., whom Lysons say sold Deandon about 1600?

The greater part of my information so far concerning this manor has been gleaned from a paper by the late Rev. T. W. Whale, m.a., entitled "Manors in Bratton Clovelly" (Trans. Devon Assocn., Okehampton, 1895), and I am also indebted to the late P. F. S. Amery, Esq., of Druid, Ashburton. Copy of a deed from the Cartulary of Buckfast Abbey, temp. King John, relating to land here, which has the signature of William de Deandone: -

Sciant presentes et futuri quod Ego Willelmus filius Ricardi concessi et dedi Eruglas filio fferlonis de Holne totam terram meam quam Habeo in Parochia de Tenhemue* cum omnibus pertinenciis suis, Sibi et heredi- bus suis, Tenendam de me, et de heredibus meis, Jure hereditario, libere et quiete. Reddendo inde annuatim michi, uel heredibus meis, duos Solidos esterlingorum in festo sancti Michselis, pro omni' Seruicio, saluo seruicio regali quantum pertinet ad sextam partem feudi unius militis. Et ego et heredes mei tenemur Warantizare predictam terram, cum pertinenciis suis, predicto Eruglas et heredibus suis aduersus omnes homines et feminas. Pro hac, autem, concessione et donacione Mea dedit michi predictus Eruglas duas Marcas Argenti in Recognicionem. Quod, ut firmum permaneat, sigillo meo, presenti scripto apposito, confirmaui. Hiis Testibus -

Willelmo filio Martini,
Ricardo fflandrense
Roberto de Capella,
Ricardo filio Waited
Ricardo fratre Archidiaconi Cornubie †
Radulpho de Mora ‡ tunc Vicecomite per Willelmum Brieguere
Radulpho filio Radulphi
Willelmo de Deandone.
Ricardo de Hundetorre,
et multis Aliis

                                     Mary Hall Jordan.

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* Teignmouth is in bishop's Teignton

† He must have been a brother of Walter Fitz Rogo who occurs as Archdeacon of Cornwall in the time of Bishop John (1187-1191), and died 23 June, 1216.

‡ Appointed 19 Jan, 1200-1