Withycombe Raleigh Freeholders Extract from Introduction by Simon Dixon Friends of Devon Archives Introduction to Devon Freeholders, 1711-1799
I urge you to read the whole introduction and explore the whole index (click here to do so)
Click here to read more about the Friends of Devon Archives
The survival of a series of freeholders books provides a valuable source of information. The books were compiled for the purposes of identifying inhabitants of the county who were eligible to serve on juries. Therefore they contain the names of the elite of eighteenth century Devon society. With certain exceptions, the qualification from 1692 until 1730 was to own freehold or copyhold land with an annual value of £10 or more. After 1730, tenants of land worth £20 per year held on long leases were also eligible. Eligibility was restricted to men between the ages of 21 and 70.2 Therefore, the lists contain the names of the more substantial property owning inhabitants of Devon parishes during the century. Freeholders books survive in the records of the Devon quarter sessions from 1711 until approximately 1816.3 61 volumes are extant up to and including 1800. These web pages contain transcripts of one book for each decade until the end of the eighteenth century. The longest of the published lists is that for 1733, containing 3,723 names, and shortest is that for 1711, with 1,162 names. In addition to the names of inhabitants, the books provide information regarding the status or trade of some of those listed.
I have extracted all the names of people listed in Withycombe Raleigh. As the books are spread across a number of years the names are often repeated. In that case I have only kept the one instance of the name but where a change occurs (such as variation in spelling or occupation) I have listed that as well. So John Snow would be listed as
Snow John
Snow John gentleman
Snow John yeoman, freeholder
This does not imply there were three separate John Snows in the parish at this time ( although their might have been) but just shows how his status changed over a period of years
This list is designed as a quick finding and you should always check the Friends of Devon original extracts
Withycombe Raleigh Freeholders
Baring Charles
Bass Abraham
Belfield Allan
Belfield Finney
Bence Robert
Chown John
Colleton Sr. John bart
Copp John
Cross John
Dening Robert
Drake Philip gentleman
Gooch Thomas surgeon
Gould William
Haddy Richard gentleman
Hayman Robert
Hayman Samuel
Hayward Robert mariner
Hobbs Thomas
Howard Robert
Hull William
Knight George
Litton William
Morris James
Morrish John
Norton Andrew
Pardon Edward
Peace Chr
Pearse Christopher
Pearse John
Perry Richard
Raymond John
Reed Richard
Sanders Thomas
Saunders Thomas
Thomas Hull William
Walley Charles
Warren John
Warren Joseph
Warren Samuel
Watts John
Wearman George gentleman
I urge you to read the whole introduction and explore the whole index (click here to do so)
Click here to read more about the Friends of Devon Archives
The survival of a series of freeholders books provides a valuable source of information. The books were compiled for the purposes of identifying inhabitants of the county who were eligible to serve on juries. Therefore they contain the names of the elite of eighteenth century Devon society. With certain exceptions, the qualification from 1692 until 1730 was to own freehold or copyhold land with an annual value of £10 or more. After 1730, tenants of land worth £20 per year held on long leases were also eligible. Eligibility was restricted to men between the ages of 21 and 70.2 Therefore, the lists contain the names of the more substantial property owning inhabitants of Devon parishes during the century. Freeholders books survive in the records of the Devon quarter sessions from 1711 until approximately 1816.3 61 volumes are extant up to and including 1800. These web pages contain transcripts of one book for each decade until the end of the eighteenth century. The longest of the published lists is that for 1733, containing 3,723 names, and shortest is that for 1711, with 1,162 names. In addition to the names of inhabitants, the books provide information regarding the status or trade of some of those listed.
I have extracted all the names of people listed in Withycombe Raleigh. As the books are spread across a number of years the names are often repeated. In that case I have only kept the one instance of the name but where a change occurs (such as variation in spelling or occupation) I have listed that as well. So John Snow would be listed as
Snow John
Snow John gentleman
Snow John yeoman, freeholder
This does not imply there were three separate John Snows in the parish at this time ( although their might have been) but just shows how his status changed over a period of years
This list is designed as a quick finding and you should always check the Friends of Devon original extracts
Withycombe Raleigh Freeholders
Baring Charles
Bass Abraham
Belfield Allan
Belfield Finney
Bence Robert
Chown John
Colleton Sr. John bart
Copp John
Cross John
Dening Robert
Drake Philip gentleman
Gooch Thomas surgeon
Gould William
Haddy Richard gentleman
Hayman Robert
Hayman Samuel
Hayward Robert mariner
Hobbs Thomas
Howard Robert
Hull William
Knight George
Litton William
Morris James
Morrish John
Norton Andrew
Pardon Edward
Peace Chr
Pearse Christopher
Pearse John
Perry Richard
Raymond John
Reed Richard
Sanders Thomas
Saunders Thomas
Thomas Hull William
Walley Charles
Warren John
Warren Joseph
Warren Samuel
Watts John
Wearman George gentleman