Densill

Richard Denzell was a successful and very wealthy wool merchant and ship owner. He was son of Richard Densill & his wife Isabel. Son Richard married Joan ,the heiress of de Wear heiress, and he left no male progeny. His daughter Elizabeth was his sole heiress. 
On her marriage Elizabeth Densill had possessions in North Devon, being the heiress of Richard Denzille of Filleigh, Wear Gifford and Buckland Filleigh. She also had Lands in Colebrook (N. Devon), Combe in Holberton, and Tamerton on the Tamar, all in South Devon.

His 12 year old daughter & his only heir , Elizabeth,& the manor of Filliegh became a possession of the Fortescue family when in 1454 she was to married Sir Martin Fortescue (d.1472), second son of Sir John Fortescue (1395–1485), Chief Justice, of Ebrington Manor in Gloucestershire.
They had 2 Fortescue sons that lived in the 18 years of their marriage between 1454 & Martins death in 1472 ,

William Fortescue married Anne Gifford and had 12 children
John married Jacquet St Leger and had at a son Bartholomew who was heir to his grandmaother Elizabeth Densill Fortescue Pomeroy. He married Ellen Moore daughter of Maurice Moore of Moorehayes. died 12 SEP 1557

AJP thinks Elizabeth was about 12 when she was 1st married Martin in 1454. A not an uncommon arrangement at the time was for the husband to wait until the wife was 16 to claim her as a wife & have children. Son John was born in 1460, 10 years after the marriage, suggesting she could have been born around 1442 & married when she was about 12 years old making her about 30 when she married Richard Pomeroy in 1475 and had 4 more children.

She married Richard Pomeroy in about 1474 age about 3o & and had 2 Pomeroy sons & 2 daughters.

When Richard Pomeroy died in 1496 his widow Elizabeth had the a moiety of the lands of Berry Pomeroy for her lifetime. These included Coffyns Heannton (Lynton) Ogewell, Churston Ferrers, Clyst Forneson (Sowton) Gattecombe in Colyton, Knighton Hethfield at Hennock, Pynesford in Asprington and Saltern at Budliegh Salterton...for her lifetime. She died 20th March 1508 the same year as her son Thomas Pomeroy Esq., of Corscombe was 30 when he died in August in 1508.

The Fortescue family quartered the arms of Denzell in the second quarter of greatest honour, and the Denzell arms may be seen sculpted on a bench end from c. 1510 in Weare Giffard Church. see right

Weare Giffard Hall was built on the site of an old Saxon manor house in about the middle of the 15th century.
Described thus by Sabine Baring-Gould "In approaching the house, we have on our left the square gateway tower, and enter, by a low modern Gothic porch, the entrance hall. Above the fireplace are two oak carvings of the Adoration of the Magi and the Resurrection. The walls of the hall are lined with tapestry. The best view of the hall roof is obtained from the gallery. The north wall is ornamented with three full-length portraits in the style of Sir Peter Lely, and some Elizabethan medallions. On the south wall are three coats-of-arms in relief: the Royal arms, dating 1599; on the right, the Bedford; on the left, those of Bourchier, Earl of Bath. To the height of 10 ft. the walls are panelled with richly carved oak. There are several rooms with interesting fireplaces".
Its Grade I listed status Rebuilt after 1454 for Martin Fortescue; altered in late C16 for Hugh Fortescue, and remodelled, restored and extended to rear in 1832.

When Elizabeth of York was crowned in 1487 Richard Pomeroy & his brother Thomas were both knighted . I wonder if John Densyl with his connection to that lady was instrumental in that ??

Would Elizabeth, daughter of a merchant involved in the daily running of her father's business ?
If she was only 12 years old when she was pushed into marriage that seems less likely although she might have been allowed to remain in her father's household until she was 15. Married at 12 in 1454 she was 16 by 1458 2nd their son John was born circa 1460; 2nd son William was born about 1465

Sir Richard Pomeroy b. about 1441 in Berry Pomeroy, d. 24 May 1496 who inherited the barony after his brother StClere who died after the Battle of Tewkesbury in May 1471-

He married Elizabeth Densill widow Fortescue in about 1474
On her marriage Elizabeth Densill had possessions in North Devon, being the heiress of Richard Denzille of Filleigh, Wear Gifford and Buckland Filleigh. She also had Lands in Colebrook (N. Devon), Combe in Holberton, and Tamerton on the Tamar, all in South Devon.

Richard Pomeroy died in 1496 his widow Elizabeth, formerly Densill,had the lands of Berry Pomeroy for her lifetime. These included Coffyns Heannton (Lynton) Ogewell, Churston Ferrers, Clyst Forneson (Sowton) Gattecombe in Colyton, Knighton Hethfield at Hennock, Pynesford in Asprington and Saltern at Budliegh Salterton...for her lifetime.

Their children were

Sir Edward Pomeroy b. 1475 married Jone/Johanna Sapcot - gained possession of " Corscombe, Dynum, Prestley, Shepton Malet, Barton & Glastonbury, held of Lord Henry, Master of Wells, and also the Manor of Cory Malet."
Blanche Pomeroy living in 1496 mentioned in her father's will
Elizabeth Pomeroy, living in 1496 mentioned in her father's will, her husband & son unnamed
Thomas Pomeroy, b. 1478 in Berry Pomeroy, Totnes, who died 1508 unmarried age 30 Thomas of Corscombe

The heir to her Fortescue and Densill estates ) was her grandson Bartholomew Fortescue who married Ellen Moore daughter of John Moore of Moorehayes and died 12 SEP 1557 -
There was another Moore marriage - later Katherine Pomeroy , daug. of Foolish Thomas Pomeroy& his wife Joanna Edgecombe -
Katherine was grandchild of Edward Pomeroy & Johane Sapcot & married Sir John Moore of Moorehayse who died 1549
Katherines Will is in the book of Devon Wills.

Feet of Fines.

CP 25/1/45/72, number 54. Link to Image

County: Devon. Place: Westminster.

Date: One week from St Michael, 6 Henry [IV] [6 October 1404].

Parties: querents Richard Pyperell' the younger, Alfred (Alueredus) Giffard', clerk, and Richard Trevilien, chaplain,

deforciants. Richard Denssell' and Isabel, his wife,

Property: The manor of Stokedamarle ( Stoke Damerell in Plymouth ) and 14 messuages, 4 carucates of land, 6 acres of meadow, 14 acres of wood, 40 acres of furze, 40 acres of heath and 2 shillings of rent in Kemell' and Westwhytelegh'.

Action: Plea of covenant.

Agreement: Richard Denssell' and Isabel have acknowledged the manor and tenements to be the right of Alfred, as those which Alfred, Richard Pyperell' and Richard Trevilien have of their gift, and have remised and quitclaimed them from themselves and the heirs of Isabel to Richard Pyperell', Alfred and Richard Trevilien and the heirs of Alfred for ever.

For this: Richard Pyperell', Alfred and Richard Trevilien have given them 20 marks of silver.

CP 25/1/45/79, number 23. Link: Image of document at AALT

County: Devon. Place: Westminster.

Date:The day after St Martin, 3 Henry VI [12 November 1424]. And afterwards one week from St Hilary in the same year [20 January 1425].

Parties: querents, Richard Densill Esq; and Joan his wife, ( Joan Trewin, daughter & sole heiress of William de Wear)
deforciants. Henry Keche, clerk, and John Dygon', clerk,

Property: The manors of Lamerton', Whytechirche and Were Gyffard' and the advowson of the church of Were Gyffard'.

Action: Plea of covenant.

Agreement: Richard and Joan have acknowledged the manors and advowson to be the right of Henry, as those which Henry and John have of their gift.

For this: Henry and John have granted to Richard and Joan the manors of Lamerton' and Whytechurche and have rendered them to them in the court, to hold to Richard and Joan, of the chief lords for the lives of Richard and Joan, and after their decease the same manors shall remain to Richard Densill' the younger and the heirs of his body, to hold of the chief lords for ever. In default of such heirs the same manors shall remain to the right heirs of Joan. Henry and John have also granted to Richard Densill, esquire, and Joan the manor [of Were] Gyffard' and the advowson and have rendered them to them in the court, to hold to Richard and Joan and the heirs of their bodies, of the chief lords for ever. In default of such heirs the same manor and advowson shall remain to the right heirs of Joan.

CP 25/1/46/85, number 171. Link to Image

County: Devon. Place: Westminster.

Date: The day after Ascension, 18 Henry VI [6 May 1440]. And afterwards one week from Holy Trinity in the same year [29 May 1440].

Parties: querents John Copleston', John Mulys, John Harry, William Blenche and William Noreys, clerk,

deforciants. Richard Denshill' & his wife Joan ( Joan Trewin, daughter and sole heiress of William de Wear)

Property: The manors of Fyllegh', Estbokelond' and Fyllegh' Bokelond' and the advowsons of the churches of Fyllegh' and Estbokelond' and 10 messuages, 200 acres of land, 40 acres of meadow, 200 acres of pasture, 20 acres of wood and 1 pound's worth of cumin in Brodebray, Londesende and Exon'.

Action: Plea of covenant.

Agreement: Richard and Joan have acknowledged the manors, tenements and advowsons to be the right of William Noreys, as those which the same William, John, John, John and William Blenche have of their gift, and have remised and quitclaimed them from themselves and the heirs of Joan to John, John, John, William and William and the heirs of William Noreys for ever.

Warranty: Warranty.

For this: John, John, John, William and William have granted to Richard and Joan the manors, tenements and advowsons and have rendered them to them in the same court, to hold to Richard and Joan and the heirs of Joan, of the chief lords for ever

Below Densell Barton St Mawgan Cornwall

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