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Elizabeth DENSILL
Elizabeth daughter of Richard Denzil a wealthy ship owning merchant, with a small estate, Filleigh, Wear-Gifford. Her mother was Joan Trewin of Weare Giffard daughter & sole heiress of William de Wear (see record below 1424 )
The manor of Filleigh, Devon belonged to the ancient family of de Filleigh, whose heiress , Joan married William Trewin, Esq., of Weare Giffard Joan, only heir of William Trewin, of Wear, and his wife Elizabeth Filleigh, married Richard Densell.
Elizabeths date of birth is estimated to be about 1444 & she was married to Martin Fortescue second son of Sir John Fortescue, who was Chancellor and Chief Justice to Henry VI. The marriage in 1455 was probably when she was about 12 as was fairly common. she was about 16 when she had her first child.
John born 1460 married Jacquet St Leger and had a son Bartholomew who became heir to his grandmother Elizabeth Densill, Lady Pomeroy
Bartholomew Fortescue married Ellen Moore daughter of John Moore of Moorehayes. died 12 SEP 1557
William Fortescue b 1465 married Anne Gifford and had 12 children
Martin Fortescue died 18 years after their marriage on 12 NOV 1472
and in 1475 she married Baron Sir Richard Pomeroy and gave him 2 sons and 2 daughters
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', esquire, 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 25/1/46/90, number 276.
Link: Image of document at AALT
County: Devon.Place: Westminster. Date: One month from St Michael, 34 Henry VI [27 October 1455].
Parties: Martin Fortescu and Elizabeth, his wife, querents, and John Fortescue, knight, and Isabel, his wife, deforciants.
Property: The manor of Combe and 4 messuages, 1 dove-cot, 3 gardens, 6 ferlings of land, 5 acres of meadow, 12 acres of wood and 27 shillings and 8 pence of rent and rent of 1 wax candle worth 12 pence and of 1 pound of wax in Holbeton', Overcombe, Nethercombe, Battokkysburgh', Efford' and Alston'.
Plea of covenant. Agreement: John and Isabel have granted to Martin and Elizabeth the manor, tenements and rent and have rendered them to them in the court, to hold to Martin and Elizabeth, without impeachment of waste, of John and Isabel and the heirs of John, for the life of Elizabeth, rendering yearly 1 rose at the feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist, and doing to the chief lords all other services.
And after the decease of Elizabeth, the manor, tenements and rent shall remain to Martin and the heirs begotten by Martin on the body of Elizabeth, to hold of John and Isabel and the heirs of John by the aforesaid services for ever. In default of such heirs, reversion to John and Isabel and the heirs of John, quit of the other heirs of Martin and Elizabeth, to hold of the chief lords for ever.
Places: Holbeton, Combe, Battisborough, Efford, Alston (all in Holbeton )
HOLBETON, on west of the Erme estuary, just east of Newton Ferrers & north of Mothercombe Holberton, consisiting of 4623 acres of land. Very close to Collaton Manor home of Pomeroys & Battisborough Manor owned by the Slannings .
The manor farm at Battisborough was owned by the Slanning Family , into which John Pomeroy , son of Andrew senior, married after cause uproar with his older brother William & Nicholas Slanning . Today there is one of those large Victorian piles which "sleeps 24" & has gorgeous views.
Nearby is the Flete Estate
The year following the death of Martin Fortescue in 1473 Elizabeth married Sir Richard Pomeroy b. about 1441 in Berry Pomeroy, who was 2nd heir to the barony after his brother St Clere diedat or following the Battle of Tewkesbury 1471. On his father Henry's death in 1487 Richard became baron.
They had at least 4 children.
Sir Edward Pomeroy b. 1475 who married Jone/Johanna Sapcot - gained possession of Corscombe, Dynum, Prestley, Shepton Malet, Barton & Glastonbury, held from Lord Henry, Master of Wells, and also the Manor of Cory Malet."
Blanche Pomeroy mentioned in her father's Will as a widow with a son - unnamed
Elizabeth mentioned in her father's Will ,who in about 1517 married William Barnhowse of Kingston in Staverton near Totnes
2nd son Thomas Pomeroy, b. 1478 in Berry Pomeroy, Totnes, who died 1508 unmarried age 31
Sir Richard died on 24 May 1496 - and we have both his 1496 Will & her 1496 Dower record
The heir to Elizabeths' estates from her Fortescue marriage was her grandson Bartholomew Fortescue who married Ellen Moore daughter of John Moore of Moorehayes and died 12 SEP 1557 -
and there was another Moore marriage - later, Katherine Pomeroy , daughter of Foolish Thomas and Joan Edgecombe - she was granddaughter of Edw'd & Sapcot & married Sir John Moore of Moorehayze died 1549 - her Will is in the book of Devon Wills.
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 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 which was 11 years.
As seen in the document above the Manor of Combe which Martin Fortescue and his little bride, shortly after their marriage, were given for a rose rent
The IPM the 2nd son of Sir Richard & Elizabeth Densil Lady Pomeroy of Thomas 1508
Translation of the Inquisition Post Mortem of Thomas Pomerey Dated 30 November 1508
line by expensive line from the Latin that AML paid for .
1. Presented by John Rodes [indeciperably faint word] (79) [word cut off at margin]
2. Inquisition indented, held at Wellys (on) the last day of November (in) the Year of the reign of King Henry the seventh the twenty-fourth [i.e. 1508], before William Bysley, Escheator of the said lord King in the County aforesaid, (by) virtue
3. of a writ of ìdiem clausit extremumî* after the death of Thomas Pom[er]ey, (to) the same Escheator directed, & (to) the inquisition attached, by the oath, &c. Who** declare upon their oath that a certain Elizabeth Pom[er]ey, widow, who
[* this translates literally as ì(he) has closed his last dayî; ** i.e. the un-named Jurors who are under oath]
4. was the wife of Richard Pom[er]ey, knight, was seised in her demesne, as of fee, of the Manor of Corscombe, with appurtenances, in the County aforesaid, and of forty & four messuages, seven mills, One Thousand acres of land, twelve acres of meadow-land, eight acres of wood-land, three hundred acres of furze & heath, & of twenty & six shillings & three pence for the yearís rent [/revenue], and of the rent of one pound, & of a pepper[corn], & of two pounds head-silver(? ñ word obscured by fold), with appurtenances, in Corscombe, Dynu[m] Nunn[er]y(?), Prestley, Shepton Malet, Barton, & Glastonbury in the County aforesaid. And afterwards, a certain John Shepcote, knight, John Kyrkeh[a]m, esquire,
7. Thomas Appelford, clerk, & George Vyall, by means of a writ of the lord King with regard to entry upon disseisin, in ìle postî, at Westminster, before the Justice of the lord King from the common Bench, to recover the aforesaid Manor, messuages, lands, tenements, & the other premises, towards the aforesaid Elizabeth Pomeray, widow, just as appears (in) Hillary term (in) the year of the reign of King Henry the seventh the fifteenth [i.e. 1499], (in) Roll 142, as by means of that record, (by) the Jurors aforesaid, upon
9. the taking of this inquisition, in proofs clearly demonstrated, it is the more fully apparent, (by) virtue of which recovery, the same John, John, Thomas, & George have been thereupon seised in their demesne, as of fee, &
10. thus seised by means of their charter, (by) the Jurors aforesaid, upon the taking of this inquisition, in proofs clearly demonstrated, have given the aforesaid Manor, messuages, lands, & tenements, and the other premises (to) the afore-mentioned Elizabeth Pom[er]ey, widow, for
11. the term of her life, to remain thereupon after the decease of the same Elizabeth (to) the afore-mentioned Thomas Pom[er]ey, in the said writ named, & (to) the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten. And for the failure of such issue,
12. to remain thereupon (to) Edward Pom[er]ey, knight, & the heirs male of his body lawfully begotten. And for the failure of such issue, to remain thereupon (to) the right heirs of the afore-mentioned Elizabeth, in perpetuity. Holding of
13. the chief lords of that fee, by the services thereupon owed, & by customary right, in perpetuity, (by) virtue of which gift, the same Elizabeth was thereupon seised in her demesne as of free tenure, & from such standing, thereupon died
14. seised, after whose death, the aforesaid Thomas Pom[er]ey in the aforesaid Manor, messuages, lands, & tenements has entered & thereupon was seised in his demesne as by fee-tallage. And from such standing, died thereupon
15. seised without heirs of his body begotten, after whose death, the aforesaid Edward Pom[er]ey, knight, in the aforesaid Manor, messuages, lands, & tenements, & the other premises, with appurtenances, has entered, as for(?) his
16. to remain, (by) virtue of which, the same Edward thereupon was seised in his demesne as by fee-tallage, & hitherto from such standing, thereupon is seised. And furthermore, the Jurors aforesaid declare that the Manor, messuages,
17. lands, & tenements aforesaid are held of lord Henry, Master of Wells(?), as of his Manor of Cory Malet, but by what service the Jurors aforesaid are wholly ignorant. And (they) declare likewise that the Manor aforesaid,
18. the messuages, lands, & tenements, and the other premises are worth yearly, beyond deductions, twenty pounds. And that the aforesaid Thomas Pom[er]ey, in the said writ named, died (on) the twelfth day of August last past. And that
19. the aforesaid Edward Pom[er]ey, knight, is the brother and heir of the aforesaid Thomas the nearest. And is of the age of thirty years & more. And (they) declare likewise that the same Thomas no other lands & tenements
20. had nor held in the County aforesaid (on) the day (on) which he died. In Which, &c.21
Elizabeth Densill 's dates as Given are puzzling
She died in March 1508, the date of her IPM.
Elizabeth Denzil married Martin FORTESCUE in 1454 but did not have their 1st child for 6 years. suggesting to AJP that she was 11 or 12 at that time Married for 19 years they produced 1st John born in 1460 who married & was father of Bartholomew , & William born 1465.
Martin died in 1472 & she married Richard Pomeroy a year later . when she was in her early 30's
It was quite customary for girls to be married age about 11 or 12. These were arranged marriages & an early marriage gave the husband the benefit of her dowry and if he was kind he waited until she was 16 to consummate the marriage.
Margaret Beaufort mother of Henry VII was married at 11 and Edmund Tudor her husband didn't wait; the birth of his son so damaged the poor girl that she never produced another child.
BIOLOGY does not change much over centuries but CUSTOMS D0 - Given the menstrual cycle of any woman in a time when women gave birth so young could she have gone to have 5 more children, after the age of 40. ? Obviously its possible but its unlikely.
Elizabeth was probably in her early 30s , when she made her 2nd marriage as a very wealthy well dowered lady. The wealthy merchants daughter married into a titled Baronial bloodline bringing with her lands ,fine properties and funds to build his castle.
The fine properties went to her Fortescue heir and remain in the Fortescue portfolio to this day.
Edward Pomeroy the heir to Sir Richard, according to his father's 1496 IPM , was of age at 17 . This gives an estimated DOB 1476 .
Their 2nd son Thomas Pomeroy who died unmarried & without chidren at the age 31 in 1508, so born 1477 , when mother Elizabeth was apparently about 43.
daughter Blanche, possibly not a blood daughter but a widowed daughter in law with a son,
daughter Elizabeth married Will Barnhowse apparently in about 1515 so after her parents death -
Elizabeth died in 1508 when she was about 64 , a good age for a woman in the time.
This makes more sense of her life but not a scrap of difference to anything !
AJP 2023
Sir Henry Carew in his record of families & the coats of Arms
AML found
Sa. a crescent with a mullet issuing from between its horns. ar. Denshill qrtered by Fortescue of Filley. This coate standeth in STAVERTON church (Impaled with POMEROY, but it should be a mullet. H.
Pomeroy impaled with Densil in Staverton. This tells us that the earliest Pomeroy's in Staverton were most likely connected to Elizabeth Densil and Sir Richard Pomeroy.
Elizabeth Densil wife of Richard IPM dated 1496
1 acre called Shurtcombe
I acre called Estermyllond East Milland occupied by John Tud
2 acres called Westermyllond held bt Thomas Tud
Close in Worthy called Ivecombe with 30 acres occupied by Thomas Tokerman with 100 acres called Flute Down also held by him
Hebage of Flute Wood , 20 acres
60 acres called Waddon and Worthyped occupied by John Millar senior
10 acres called Polemede occupied by John Goderigge senior
A house and 10 acres in Weston held by John Small
A messuage ( house with garden) and 34 acres hels by Nicholas Miller
rent 5s 5,1/2 d paid by him for execption from the office of provost
a house & garden and 34 acres occupied by Richard Hought who pays 5s/51/2d rent
a house and garden with 34 acres occupied by Thomas Tokerman who pays 3s 4d incrental rent and 5s 51/2 for exemption as above
a house and 34 acres occupied by Richard Peny who pays 5s51/2 d for exemption
17 acres occupied by Richard Peny with 2 perches forememly held by John Scrope now occupied by Richard Peny
A cottage and 1 acres held bt William Scotte
A house & garden with 34 acres occupied by John Miller who pays 5s51/2d for exemption
1/3 of the park of Bury Pomeroy for 1/3 of the deer from Slade Yate to William Tud , westaward to Sonde Yate and from Sode Yate to Slade yate
1/3 share of the manor of Hurberton30 acres held by William Veysy and 1/3of the rents of free tenants there
witnessed by Sir John Sapcote, John Fortescue Esq,Robert Pomeroy and Nicholas Cokworthy esq
Edward Son and heir of Sir Richard Pomeroy ( knight)
....in Stotescombe, 1/2 a fee in North Bauceyn
1/3 of a fee of Vhichelsburgh
3/4 of a fee in Shirford Priors which the heir of John Doune holds worth 60/s a year
A1/2 fee in Clist Rof which the heirs of Richard Poddig holds 20/-
1/4 of a fee in Ferhulle which the hier of Andrew de Wigheworthy holds 40/s
1/3 of a fee in Kildytonwhich Robert Fitzpayne holds 40/
1/3 of a fee on Grepeton which Richard Mevy holds 10/s
1 fee in Westodley which the heir of John Penchardune holds 40/s
31/2 fees in Bokerel which Humphrey de belloCamp ( Beauchamp) holds worth £20 a year
Total fees 311/2 £104.10s
Othe rknights fees held by Hery Pomeoy by following tenants upon whose holdings relief is owing
1/3 of a fee which Gilbert Fitz Stephen holds
1/4 of a fee inLaVera which Roger Chrispin holds
1.4 of a fee in Cranefors which Gilbert Fitz Stephen holds
1/20 of a fee in Osenenns which the abbot of Bucaster holds
Internet Archive Densill Pedigree
Richard 2nd son
Wikitree
Martin FORTESCUE son of Sir John Fortescue Born after 1400 in Devon
Son of John Fortescue Knt and Eleanor Norreys
Brother of Henry Fortescue, Joan Bozom and Richard Fortescue
Wife Isabella Jamys married 1436
Issue Maud Corbet, Elizabeth Whalesborough, Martin Fortescue and Robert Fortescue
In 1454 Martin married Elizabeth Densill dau of wealthy wool merchant & ship owner Richard Densill and his wife Joan Trewin only daughter & heir of William Trewin of Weare Giffard whose wife was heiress to Filleigh
Densill sources
↑ Burke, Bernard. A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage... (Harrison and Sons, London, 1885) p. 288.
Fortescue sources
L. G. Pine, The New Extinct Peerage 1884-1971: Containing Extinct, Abeyant, Dormant and Suspended Peerages With Genealogies and Arms (London, U.K.: Heraldry Today, 1972), page 53.
↑ Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003. volume 1, page 1473.
Vivian, John Lambrick, The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Herald's Visitations of 1531, 1564, & 1620 (Exeter: H.S. Eland, 1895.), p. 353
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudal_barony_of_Berry_Pomeroy
http://www.castlehilldevon.co.uk/history.
The Visitations of Cornwall: 1530, 1573 & 1620 by J. L. Vivian Page 168: Fortescue
Filleigh
Weare Giffard
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