BRIXHAM & Kingswear

Domesday 1086

The population of Brixham in 1068 was 39 households which was very large, with 15 villagers; 12 smallholders and 12 slaves. It consisted of 10 acres of ploughland ; 2 lord's plough teams; 8 men's plough teams on 4 acres of meadow; 12 acres of pasture and 12 acres of woodland; 2 cobs( heavy horses) 4 cattle. 10 pigs. 200 sheep.

The Saxon Lord in 1066 had been a Saxon named Ulf.
After the Norman Conquest in 1086 Judhel of Totnes was lord of the Manor as Tenant-in-chief . He held 96 manors in total in Devon and was feudal baron of Totnes and of Barnstaple .

Fishing boats were undoubtably working out of Brixham from the time it first became a settlement and
a lone manorial survey of one-third of the manor of Brixham in 1440 show that there were 90 cottages within the whole manor, 30 of which were farm holdings.
The large number of landless cottages seems to indicate that many of the inhabitants worked at sea.

In about 1087, Judhel of Totnes founded Totnes Priory and shortly after the death of William the Conqueror in 1087 he expelled from the barony of Totnes to be replaced Roger of Nonant a favourite of William II . Judhael died before 1130
There was some kind of dispute over the estates held by Ralf de Pomeroy from Judhel of Totnes in 1086

Totnes Priory

Totnes Guildhall once part of the Priory

England was under the ‘feudal system’. Landless serfs , ‘cottars’ and slaves were at the bottom of the social order and above, in ascending order, were richer peasant ‘villeins’, bound to the land living as tenants in property that required compulsory labour for the lord of the manor.

Then came the ‘freemen’ who owned theri small plot of land, but also owed rent to greater landowners.
These were the tenants-in-chief . The Lord of the manor who in turn held their land directly from the king to whom they owed a knights service for the privilege. In Feudal England You either owned land or you worked it, we were mainly an agricultural country , with fishing on the coast,. The countryside population worked the land and herded sheep. The towns were small, even London, and lawyers and other professions were few. Merchants were few and many came from across the Channel.
There was an extraordinary growth of the wool trade from around the 13th century which brought England its most significant export.
The result was great wealth for those willing to risk investment for which we now have the centuries old reminder in the House of Lords The Wool Sack in which the Lord Chancellor still sits for the Opening of Parliament to this day -

Wool made men extremely rich and not only paid for building grand houses, even small castles, but for some men it also bought influence in national politics . These men created dynasties that have survived to the present day - Example the Spencer family of Princess Diana which started out as sheep farmers .

I praise the Lord and ever shall; 'tis the sheep hath paid for all.

More of Brixham

By 1205 the township of Brikesham was awarded to Henry de Nonant and valued at £18 and from the thirteenth century Brixham was held by various families in dower and often sub-divided. In 1334 Edward III gave John de Leybourne free warren (the taking of rabbits) in all the demesne lands of Brixham.

A deed dated 1335 records that Henry de Pomeroy was one of two Lords of the Manor of Brixham. This deed, a lease, contains probably the first mention of a house in the town, the house and land being that located in ‘Bremele Furlong’.

Further new building is mentioned in 1343 when Johannes de Wynston granted to Ely Baker of Brixham and Laurencya his wife

‘a house in my tenement of La Chircherete [?Church Street] in Brixham which house I have built anew near the tenement of Clement Boghecleve’.

Grants in 1346 included land recognisably at Chiseldon and Summer Lane. Leases for various properties occur throughout subsequent reigns given by the de Pomeroy overlords, many of the cottages or tenements having substantial small holdings of land.

Grants in 1346 included land recognisably at Chiseldon and Summer Lane.

Leases for various properties occur throughout subsequent reigns given by the de Pomeroy overlords, many of the cottages or tenements having substantial small holdings of land.
The size of the property held by Edward Pomeroy’s is revealed in a 1537 grant of his portion of the manor of Brixham, which included 40 messuages (a house with outbuildings and land), a mill, 400 acres of land, and rents in Brixham.

From then on an increasingly number houses and tenements enter the records although placing them is virtually impossible because they are highly subjective described in relation to

other tenements, rather than by a recognisable location.

Roger of Brixham here Brixham research here

BRIXHAM BMDS- From the parish registers

WILLIAM POMERYE Bb 24 Apr 1597 son of William POMERYe w& grandson of Sir Thomas d 1566 & his wife Joan Edgecumbe
married an Elizabeth

Honor POMERYe Bb 22 Jul 1610 in Brixham dau of William & Elizabeth
Henrye 1613 s/o William & Elizabeth
HENRYE POMEROY Bb s/o Willyam & Elizabeth 23/ 07/ 1614

POMERYe Arthur Bb 1609 Brixham, Devon, s/o Valentine
POMERYe Elizabeth Bb 1607 Brixham, Devon, d/o Valentine
Note Valentine son of Thomas & Honor was born in about 1575 would have been 20 in 1595 He could have married before his 1st recorded marriage Jane Reynell in 1616

Valentine POMEROY of Sandridge born about 1575 died 14 Aug 1645 son of Thomas POMEROY Esq of Beenleigh in Harberton and his wife Honor Rolle married 1st by licence of Jan 23rd in 1616 to Jane Reynell dau of Sir Thomas Reynell of West Ogwell
children were Jane Pomeroy born 1617 who married Nicholas Roope 1643; Lettice b 1620 d 1641 ; Valentine Born & buried 1621; Elizabeth buried 1622 died young ; wife Jane Reynell Pomeroy died 1622 probably at the birth of Elizabeth

Valentine in 1628 married 2nd wife Margaret Whiddon by whom he had at least 4 children

Roger Pomeroy by MW Bb Sept 1629 married Jane Wyvell of Saltash
Gilbert Pomeroy Bb on 26 feb 1630/31 in Stoke Gabriel, inherited from Hugh of Sandridge died 1715 leaving his land &property to sons of his cousin Paul Pomeroy (gent) of Brixham
Valentine Pomeroy of Beenleigh B 1631 died 1691 married in 1680 to Lucy Hody
John Pomeroy Born in 1638 in Stoke Gabriel, died age 32 in a drowning accident near Dittisham on the Dart with Francis Whiddon & William Harris. Buried together in same grave on 8 Sep 1670 in Stoke Gabriel. John may have married & had a son John in 1655

Edward POMEROY son of Thomas Esq & Honor Rolle married Wilmot Perryman in Drewsteignton 28 June 1602

Children of Edward and Wilmot

Their 1st child Susanna was baptised 28 Jan 1602 at Drewsteignton
- January coming after June when the years that ran from March to March

Other children followed

William POMERY 25 Sep 1606 Baptism Brixham, Devon,

Arthur Pomeroy Bb 8 Jan 1608 son of Edward

HONOR. 18 April 1611 d/o EDWARD & WILMOT

ARTER POMEROY s/o EDWARD & WILMOT 11 May 1614 died in infancy

I found several Peryman /Perriman's in Drewsteignton presumably farmers

however there might be familial connection between Pomeroys & Perryman in Chagford -
John Perriman & William Ford were wealthy wool merchants Chagford -
Ford was grandfather to John Ford who married Mary Pomeroy of Ingsdon 1588
John Perryman married by banns 7 June 1596 to Christian Sowford at Chagford

No sign of Wilmot baptism to be found in records

Mistress Wilmot Peryman Pomery died & was buried at St Marys, Brixham on 22 Jan 1660

William Bb 15 Sept 1606 son of Edward & Wilmot married 1st in 1629 and then again in 1634
died before 1660
1st married by licence at Chudleigh to Judith White widow Call on 26 Oct 1629 she was buried Brixham 17 May 1633.

3 children did not survive
MARY POMEROY Bb 22 Aug 1630 Baptism Brixham dau of William

2nd wife was Jane Wolfe married 22 May 1634 in Churston Ferrers near Paignton

EDWARD son of Mr WILLIAM Baptism at St Mary's Brixham 15 Feb 1634

Catherine. Born in 1636 in Brixham dau of William & Jane
WILLIAM POMEROY Bb s/o Mr WILLIAM 29/12/ 1638
Anna Bb 1640 Brixham dau of William & Jane
THOMAS Born in 1643 in Brixham
ROGER Bb 4 Jan 1645 in Brixham s/o Mr WILLIAM 01/ 1645/
PAUL POMEROY Bb s/o WILLIAM Gent 31/ 08/ 1655
JOHN Pomeroy son of Mr William Pomeroy signed protestation Rolls 1642. married Susan Rewe or Rowe 1624

Mistress JANE POMEROY died 20 Nov 1660 recorded as WIDOW of William P gent

Unravelling the tangle

William Pomeroy gent Bb 15 Sep 1606 3rd son of Edward Pomeroy of Sandridge by his wife Wilmot Perryman of Drewsteignton

Lieutenant William Pomeroy serving on the merchant ship ' London ' under Captain John Stephen in 1642 was part of Kings summer guard ( of the seas) By 1663 had his own ship & had been made Captain William Pomeroy.

1st married by licence at Chudleigh to Judith White widow Call on 26 Oct 1629 who was buried in Brixham on 17 May 1633.

They had 3 children who did not survive

Married his 2nd wife Jane WOULFE. in Churston Ferrers in 1643 daughter of Roger Woulfe Esq of Harberton
Jane died 20 Nov 1660 recorded as WIDOW of William P gent

Children

Thomas. Born Bb 1655 became Constable of Brixham

Paul Pomeoy gent son of William Bb 31 Aug 1655 St Mary Brixham married 15 Nov 1683 at St Mary's Brixham to Anne Dyer b 22 May 1634 from Churston Ferrers.
His wife Ann died in 1703 & in 1705 he married a 2nd time. Marion Whiddon had married John Bartlett in Brixham in 1681 . He died in June 1689 and she was 49 when married the 50 year old widower Paul Pomeroy, Gent. On 25 Dec 1705

BAPTISMS children of his first marriage

17 Oct 1684 Paul son of Paul & Ann died 1688 buried 19 March
21 Oct 1684 William son of Paul & Ann
17 Oct 1686 Paul son of Paul & Ann seems to have died age 20 in 1733
7 April 1689 John son P&A Bp Churston Ferrers died buried 19 June 1690
10 Aug 1693 Jane dau of Paul & Ann
19 April 1691 Daniel son of Paul & Ann
19 April 1696 Edward son of Paul & Ann seems to have died 1704 age 9
18 Aug 1698 Elizabeth dau of Paul & Ann
26 Nov 1700 George son of Paul & Ann
24 March 1702 Ann dau of Paul & Ann died 1703

Wife Ann died 14 March 1703 & was buried in wool;

Marine / Marion POMEROY died and was buried on 4 Dec 1722 in Brixham, St Mary, Devon
Married at the splendid Exeter Cathedral 29 March 1722 Elizabeth Pomeroy & Thomas Grimes both of Brixham.
She was possible dau of Paul Pomeroy & his 1st wife Ann Dyer
There is a burial in Brixham of Elizabeth Pomeroy for 1669 but she is recorded as a widow

PAUL POMEROY died and was buried on 14 Jan1733 in Brixham, St Mary, Devon

Daniell Pomery marraige 18 Dec 1690 to Eliza Crosse at St Petrox Dartmouth FMP Archive reference 2537A/PR/1/1

Exeter Cathedral 29 March 1722

This BRIXHAM tree is headed by James Pomeroy and his wife Joanna Scoble, who married in 1781 St Savoir, London.

They were married in 1781 in Southwark, St Saviour (London); this is in Pallot's Index, without a date. Their first child was baptised in Brixham in 1784. The single DNA result associated with this tree, which came from an American tree member, and puts it firmly in the same genetic family as the Beaminster 1617 tree of emigrant Eltweed Pomeroy.

James is buried 13 Feb 1835 St Mary’s Church Brixham, Devon.
His son James’ marriage record (1838) states that his father had been a grocer. James, Jr was a Tallow Chandler

John Pomeroy son of William Pomeroy & his wife Wilmot Perriman signed protestation Rolls 1642. He married Susan Rewe or Rowe married in 1624 - and had 7 children -
including George was born 1635 and another George Pomery , a son of John & daughter Susan in Brixham Bb 1636

George Pomeroy of Kingsweare married by Banns 1 Nov 1657 Brixham, St Mary
his wife was Izabell /Elizabeth Thomas of Brixham on 15 Nov 1658
Isabal /Elizabeth Thomas dau of Leonard Thomas in DARTMOUTH Bb 8 Feb 1645 If this was her she was about 13 or 14 in 1658
She died 2 years later, presumably in childbirth, buried 6 Apr 1659 -

Admirable George Pomeroy of Kingswear 1684
He remarried 9 months later in January 1659 ( The year ran March to March - changed to New Calendar in 1750 )

George POMEROY SON OF JOHN Pomery married to Mary OGIER of Brixham dau of Thomas Ogier,

married by banns 13 Jan 1659 witnesses William Reeve, Edward Lawrence .

The dates below suggest at least one child a son named George

Pomeroy Elizabeth Born 4 Nov 1727 died & was buried 1 Dec 1729 dau of George & Hannah Pomeroy in Dartmouth, St Saviour,

Pomeroy Daniel Born 3rd March 1730 died & buried 11 Dec 1732 on of George Pomeroy in St Saviour,Dartmouth,

What was his occupation ?

George Pomeroy buried Brixham 24 May 1688 buried in woollen ;

He was a very honest and religious person a constant attendant on ye holy ordinance according to ye usage of the Church of England of which he was a most dutiful and affectionate son , he lived in fear of God beloved of all men ( who ) where of his acquaintance and died much lamented by them..... Affidavit was made before JUSTICE Pomeroy and Susan Webber.

The Burying in Woollen Acts 1666-80 were Acts of the Parliament of England which required the dead, except plague victims and the destitute, to be buried in woollen shrouds and an affidavit of this was required or a heavy fine was levied .

Churston Ferrers

EDWARD POMEROY 15 Feb 1634 Bb Brixham son of William

CATHERINE POMEROY 15 Apr 1636 Bb Brixham dau of Willam & Jane

ANNA POMEROY 12 April 1640 Bb Brixham dau of William & Jane

ROGER POMEROYE 4 Jan 1645 Bb Brixham, St Mary son of William

ELIZABETH POMEROY 9 Jul 1633 Bb daughter of John

MARGARET POMEROY 22 Aug 1635 Bb Brixham Dau of John & Susan

VALENTINE POMEROY 9 Oct 1630 Bb Brixham son of John

RICHARD POMEROY 19 Oct 1624 Bb Brixham, Devon, son of John -
Richard married Elizabeth Skrevene on 8 Jan 1685. at Brixham, St Mary Richard died 1695

WILLIAM POMEROY Bb 21 10 1684 s/o PAUL POMEROY Gent & ANN Dyer 1st wife

PAUL POMEROY Bb 17/ 10/ 1686 s/o PAUL & ANN

DANIEL POMEROY Bb 19/ 04/ 1691 s/o PAUL & ANN

JANE POMEROY Bb 10/08/ 1693 d/o PAUL & ANNE

JANE POMEROY Bb Aug 1695 d/o Paul

EDWARD POMEROY Bb 19/ 04/ 1696 s/o PAUL & ANN

GEORGE POMEROY Bb 26/ 11/ 1700PAUL & ANN

ANN POMEROY Bb24/ 03/ 1702/3 d/o PAUL & ANN

JOHN POMEROY Bb 12/ 06/1655 s/o John

marriages Brixham

Willyam SHYNNER married Elizabeth POMEROY on 8 April 1616

DANIELL WHIDDON of Brixham married Elizabeth POMEROY of Brixham 09 April 1654

George POMEROY son of John married by banns Mary OGIER of Brixham dau of Thomason 13 Jan 1659/60 witnesses William Reeve, Edward Lawrance

John TROAK married Judith POMEROY 28 April 1685

NICHOLAS CROWTE married Mary POMEROY of Brixham 13Jane 1659/60 witnesses William Reeve, Edward Larance

Paul POMEROY married Anne DYER 15 Nov 1683 1st wife 2nd wife Marine or Marion BARTLET married 25 Dec 1705

Elizabeth Pomeroy b 9 Jul 1633 dau of John Pomeroy & his wife Susan Rowe married Daniel Whiddon. 5 Feb 1654.
Their daughter Marion Whiddon /Marine born 24 Jun 1656 married of John Bartlett in Brixham in 1681;
After Paul died in June 1689 age 49 Marion or Marina married the widowed Paul Pomeroy, Gent .of Brixham

a later marriage

Sarah Anne Pomeroy of Lower Brixham, age 31 married on 16 August 1853 to Christopher Adams Green, bachelor age 33 of Lower Brixham , shipowner;

Father of the bride PHILLIP LYDE POMEROY, master mariner ; father of the groom Joseph Green, shipowner in Lower Brixham

CHURSTON FERRERS ( nearby parish )

POMEROY William born 1606 s/o Edward de la Pomeroy & Wilmot Peryam who were married at Drewsteignton in 1601

William married 22 May 1634 to JANE WOULFE born1613 Harberton, Devon

FMP BRIXHAM search June 2018 BMDs

Marriages

POMEROY Elizabeth 8 Apr 1616 Marriage Brixham, St Mary to William Shynner

Pomeroy Agnes 1 633 Marriage Brixham to John Metford

POMEROY Elizabeth 1654 Banns & Marriage Brixham, St Mary,1654 to Danniel Whiddon

POMEROY George 1657 marriage 15 Nov 1658 Brixham,St Mary,to Izabell Thomas

POMEROY George 13 Jan 1659 Marriage Brixham, Devon, Mary Ogier

POMEROY Honner 2 Oct 1637 Marriage Brixham Devon, to John Brown

POMEROY John 1624 marriage Brixham St Mary, Devon, Susan Rewe

POMEROY Judeth 1685 Marriages Brixham, Devon, to John Troke

POMEROY Paul 1683 Marriage Brixham, Devon, England to Anne Dyer

POMEROY Paul 1705 Marriage Brixham, Devon, England to Marine

POMERY Agnes 17 Jan 1633 Marriage Brixham, Devon, England to John Metford

POMERY Paul 1683 Devon Marriages Brixham, St Mary, Devon,

Pomeroy Paul 1705 England Marriages 1538-1973 Brixham, Devon, England

Pomerey Richard Jan 1645 Marriage Brixham, Devon, England to Elizabeth Skrevene

BURIALS in Brixham

Artur POMERYe Arter 1612 Devon Burials Brixham, St Mary, Devon, England

THOMAS POMEROY. ESQ 3/8/1615 wife Honor Rolle

POMEROY William 21 Sep 1615 Burial Brixham, St Mary, Devon, England

Judith POMEROY 17 May 1633 Burial Brixham, St Mary, Devon, wife of Mr William Pomeroy

Vallentyne POMERY 13 Jul 1634 Burial Brixham, St Mary, Devon, England

POMERY Susan 8 Sep 1643 Burial Brixham, St Mary, Devon, England

POMERY Susan 24 Aug 1644 Burial Brixham, St Mary, Devon, England

Edward POMERY esq. 26 Jan 1656 Burial Brixham, St Mary, Devon, England

Welmot POMEROY 22 Jan 1660 Burial Brixham, St Mary nee Peryam wife of Edward Esq

JANE POMEROY Widow of Mr Wm GENT 20/11/1660 nee Jane Wolfe

Mr ARTHUR POMEROY Gent 14/ 3/1663 Brixham

MARGERY POMEROY Dau of ELIZABETH, widow 25/ 10/ 1669 widow of William

John POMEROY 26 Feb 1678 Burial Brixham, St Mary, Devon, England - buried in wool

William POMEROY gent. 22/10/1683 Devon Burials Brixham, St Mary, Devon,

Peter POMEROY 23 Jan 1688 Burial Brixham, St Mary, Devon, England buried in wool

GEORGE POMEROY 23/5//1688 Brixham

Paul POMEROY 14th March 1688 Burial Brixham, St Mary, buried in wool Son of PAUL

JOHN POMEROY 29/6/ 1690 Brixham J Son of PAUL

Elizabeth POMEROY buried 10 Aug 1690 Brixham,Dau of Paul & Anne Pomeroy

George POMEROY March 1700 son of Paul & Anne March 1700

ANN POMEROY 14/3/1703 buried in wool wife of Paul

Mary POMEROY 28 Oct 1717 widow Burial Brixham, St Mary, Devon buried in wool

Marina POMEROY Marine 4 Dec 1722 Burial Brixham, St Mary, Devon, wife of Paul

PAUL POMEROY 14/1/ 1733/4

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