(Dorothy) Land Chin nee
Plumleigh, the wife of John Butt Chin Snr, was born at Dartmouth, Devon on 8
January 1770 to parents Anthony
Plumleigh and Elizabeth Pyle, and died on 3 December 1850 at Walworth,
London.[i] This was a non-conformist baptism.
Land married John Butt Chin at St Michaels' Cornhill, London on 8 September 1797.
In John Chin's "Memoirs", written by their daughter, John was "apprenticed to a respectable builder at Bristol, and one morning while walking out a little way from the town, he came across a service being conducted in the open air by 'Mr Hey', Independent minister at Bristol, and he joined Mr Hey's church. it was here he became acquainted with an excellent young friend who was also an active and highly esteemed member of the church, and who eventually became the partner of joys and sorrows"- Land Plumleigh. "He was united to Miss Plumleigh of Bristol in 1797. She was descended from a family long resident at Dartmouth, which had formerly suffered much persecution on account of their non-conformity. She was baptised at the age of 17 by the late Rev. Isaiah Birt, by whom she was regarded with much esteem and affection."
This information reveals much important information: Land Plumleigh was baptised in 1787 by Rev. Isaiah Birt. Isaiah Birt, son of Rev. Mr Birt Baptist pastor of Gloucestershire, arrived in Plymouth in the Summer of 1782- he came to preach for a few Sundays in the Plymouth meetinghouse. He became pastor of the Baptist Church in Plymouth and at Saltash between 1784 and 1815. He was also a travelling minister through Cornwall at various times. So it would appear that Land Plumleigh was living in Plymouth in 1787, before she went to Bristol.
John Chin refers to a 'Mr Hey' conducting a service, and that he met Land Plumleigh in his church. Mr Hey was Rev. John Hey (1734-1815) who was pastor of the Independent congregation at Castle Green, Bristol 1789 to 1804. There was some controversy between Hey and Rev.Thomas Treganna Biddulph, the evangelical vicar at St James Bristol " Important Question at Issue: Between the Editors of a Periodical Publication entitled Zion's Trumpet and a Non-conformist." Hey was one of the forming directors in the Formation of the Missionary Society in London, at which Hey preached six sermons in September 1795. The year before, in 1794, "the Trustees of the Zion United Church were formed, these included five of the friends who sent out the circular plus the Rev. John Hey of Castle Green, Bristol and six Bristol tradesmen". "In 1795, the Chapel was licensed for worship by the Bishop of Gloucester and opened for worship. Rev. John Hey preached the first service in the morning, but the building was so full the service had to be finished outside. For a few years, the Chapel was used as a preaching station with no formal membership, but in 1802, a regular church was formed by 18 members." So the Plumleigh family must have moved to Bristol between 1788 and 1793 (when son Thomas married).
This was the time that John Chin and Land Plumleigh both became involved with the Baptist church, while her brother Thomas and her father remained with the Presbyterian church (family members, including Anthony Plumleigh, and son Thomas' daughter Jemima, were buried at Lewins Mead Chapel Cemetery in Bristol- first established in 1690's and a new building for a meeting house erected in 1788. The Burial Ground in on the northside of Brunswick Square adjacent to the Congregational Church, was purchased by the Society in 1768- now parkland. A smaller burial ground between Lewins Mead and upper Maudlin St, was up behind what was the Unitarian Chapel.)
Land married John Butt Chin at St Michaels' Cornhill, London on 8 September 1797.
In John Chin's "Memoirs", written by their daughter, John was "apprenticed to a respectable builder at Bristol, and one morning while walking out a little way from the town, he came across a service being conducted in the open air by 'Mr Hey', Independent minister at Bristol, and he joined Mr Hey's church. it was here he became acquainted with an excellent young friend who was also an active and highly esteemed member of the church, and who eventually became the partner of joys and sorrows"- Land Plumleigh. "He was united to Miss Plumleigh of Bristol in 1797. She was descended from a family long resident at Dartmouth, which had formerly suffered much persecution on account of their non-conformity. She was baptised at the age of 17 by the late Rev. Isaiah Birt, by whom she was regarded with much esteem and affection."
This information reveals much important information: Land Plumleigh was baptised in 1787 by Rev. Isaiah Birt. Isaiah Birt, son of Rev. Mr Birt Baptist pastor of Gloucestershire, arrived in Plymouth in the Summer of 1782- he came to preach for a few Sundays in the Plymouth meetinghouse. He became pastor of the Baptist Church in Plymouth and at Saltash between 1784 and 1815. He was also a travelling minister through Cornwall at various times. So it would appear that Land Plumleigh was living in Plymouth in 1787, before she went to Bristol.
John Chin refers to a 'Mr Hey' conducting a service, and that he met Land Plumleigh in his church. Mr Hey was Rev. John Hey (1734-1815) who was pastor of the Independent congregation at Castle Green, Bristol 1789 to 1804. There was some controversy between Hey and Rev.Thomas Treganna Biddulph, the evangelical vicar at St James Bristol " Important Question at Issue: Between the Editors of a Periodical Publication entitled Zion's Trumpet and a Non-conformist." Hey was one of the forming directors in the Formation of the Missionary Society in London, at which Hey preached six sermons in September 1795. The year before, in 1794, "the Trustees of the Zion United Church were formed, these included five of the friends who sent out the circular plus the Rev. John Hey of Castle Green, Bristol and six Bristol tradesmen". "In 1795, the Chapel was licensed for worship by the Bishop of Gloucester and opened for worship. Rev. John Hey preached the first service in the morning, but the building was so full the service had to be finished outside. For a few years, the Chapel was used as a preaching station with no formal membership, but in 1802, a regular church was formed by 18 members." So the Plumleigh family must have moved to Bristol between 1788 and 1793 (when son Thomas married).
This was the time that John Chin and Land Plumleigh both became involved with the Baptist church, while her brother Thomas and her father remained with the Presbyterian church (family members, including Anthony Plumleigh, and son Thomas' daughter Jemima, were buried at Lewins Mead Chapel Cemetery in Bristol- first established in 1690's and a new building for a meeting house erected in 1788. The Burial Ground in on the northside of Brunswick Square adjacent to the Congregational Church, was purchased by the Society in 1768- now parkland. A smaller burial ground between Lewins Mead and upper Maudlin St, was up behind what was the Unitarian Chapel.)
BIRTH OF DOROTHY LAND PLUMLEIGH
There is a non-conformist baptism record for Dorathey Land Plumleigh just three
months after her birth, on 18 April 1770 in Dartmouth, father named as ‘Mr’ Plumleigh. There are
two other baptisms with the father recorded the same way, viz. Thomas Plumleigh baptized on 22 June 1769 and Robert
Plumleigh on 30 October 1773, in the same register by the same minister, Rev. John Adams. A fourth child, Elizabeth is named in their father's will- her birth and death records are yet to be found. Anthony Plumleigh names his daughters as Elizabeth Maish (widow) and Dorothy Chin in his will of 1804.
The
unusual name of ‘Land’ probably came
from a maternal line somewhere, as Land is a fairly common surname in these parts.
Original Baptismal record for Dorathey Land Plumleigh, daughter of Mr Plumleigh, [ii]
Land
Chin’s obituary gave us important facts about her father Anthony Plumleigh and his business interests which can’t be found
elsewhere. We can sense Anthony Plumleigh’s despair when his financial
interests collapsed. The obituary also gave us a wonderful insight into his strong
religious beliefs as a Puritan, descending from a family of Puritans extending
back into the Cromwellian era. It reveals that they were followers of the prominent
Puritan preacher in Dartmouth in the mid 17th century, John Flavel.
Wikipedia
explains Puritanism in the following summary:
The term “Puritan”
was coined in the 1560’s when it appeared as a term of abuse for those who
found the Elizabethan Religious Settlement of 1559 inadequate. The Puritans
were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and
17th centuries, including, but not limited to, English Calvinists.
Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy
shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist
movement within the Church of England in the late 1630’s with the Scottish
Presbyterians with whom they had much in common. The Puritans became a major
political force in England and came to power as a result of the First English
Civil War (1642-46), after which King James I was executed and the Commonwealth
Parliament established under the leadership of the Lord Protector Oliver
Cromwell. After the restoration of Charles II in 1660 and the 1662 Uniformity
Act, almost all Puritan clergy left the Church of England, some becoming
nonconformist ministers, and the nature of the movement in England changed
radically. Puritans felt that the English Reformation had not gone far enough,
and that the Church of England was tolerant of practices which they associated
with the Catholic Church. They formed into and identified with various
religious groups advocating greater “purity” of worship and doctrine, as well
as personal and group piety.
Land’s
obituary stated:
Anthony Plumleigh was a highly respected merchant in Dartmouth
in the county of Devon.
He belonged to the class of Christians then called “Puritans”,
and was a man of deep piety.
Several of his ancestors were intimately acquainted with, and
attended the ministry of that eminent servant of God, Mr Flavel, and in that account of their nonconformity. By many, Mr
Plumleigh might have been considered too rigid in the regulations observed in
his family, more particularly on the Lord’s-day; but his daughter often said
she thought such observances had a much better influence on the minds of young
people, than the lax and trifling manner in which it is now spent by many
professing families. He read the Scriptures, and expounded them every Lords-day
evening, having collected together the whole of his family and servants,
addressing each individual in a solemn and impressive manner, as he considered
the occasion might require. These services were so conducted, as to be looked
forward to with deep interest and pleasure. He was a praying Christian. When
referring to that circumstance, his daughter days, “He was in the constant
habit of retiring to his closet for private devotion. I remember once going to
the door, when about eight years of age, and listening to his petitions for us,
till the tears flowed down so fast, I could stay no longer.” Having lost her
mother when an infant, she was placed under the care of a pious lady, whom she
said, took great care of her.
At the instigation of some of his friends, but against his
better judgment, Mr Plumleigh was induced to employ vessels in the American
war (viz. American War of Independence 1775-1783), and soon he said, “the hand of his God went out against him;” for he lost
most of them and other calamities succeeded, which beclouded his latter days;
so that at the early age of fourteen, the subject of these remarks was obliged
to leave the happy home of her childhood, and was cast on the Providence of
God, in this wide, inhospitable world, without father, mother, or property.
By
this account Land’s mother, Elizabeth, died when she was young. A burial record exists for an Elizabeth Plumleigh, buried 24 February 1781 at St Saviours Dartmouth, cause "decay"- she was aged 43 (b.1738). (SW Heritage Trust-Devon Burials ref 2992A/PR/1/3).
'
Her reference to her father, Anthony Plumleigh, is rather ambiguous. After discussing her father's financial woes, she stated that at the age of 14 she had to leave the happy home of her childhood and was cast into the world without father, mother or property- as
he was alive until 1804 which was seven years after her marriage, it would seem
to indicate that he could no longer subsidize her during her youth and therefore she had to
leave home and find work. It could also indicate that when "she was obliged to leave the happy home of her childhood", this referred to the family's removal from Dartmouth in c.1784 (when she was 14). Land was baptised in Plymouth- whether her father was also at Plymouth before removing to Bristol, is uncertain.
ANTHONY PLUMLEIGH
There is a non-conformist death record for Antony Plumley (sic) in Bristol in October 1804. This was a major seaport and was the city where (Dorothy) Land Plumleigh met John Chin. In his Will, Anthony Plumleigh appointed his other daughter Elizabeth Maish who was a widow, his executrix. His effects were valued at less than £20, and he left 2 guineas to his daughter Dorothy Chin, which proves he was indeed Land's father.
Anthony Plumleigh left a Will, dated 14 September 1804, probated October 1805
(Bristol Records Office- Bristol Willis Index 1793-1858- Plumleigh Anthony 1805):
The fact that his estate was valued at less than £20
proves that he was in greatly reduced circumstances at the time of his death.
No records have yet been found for Anthony's daughter Elizabeth Maish's birth, marriage or death, although a death record for an Elizabeth Maish was found at Abson, St James, Gloucestershire, a tiny hamlet just 8 kms NW of Bristol, on 5 May 1839, aged 73 (b.1766) which could be relevant, although parents Anthony and Elizabeth were married in 1768- but the age given on her record could be incorrect. Another record has an Elizabeth Maish dying in the June quarter 1839 at Chipping Sodbury about 20 kms NE of Bristol. (there are numerous death records for others named Elizabeth Maish.)
A grocer in Bristol named Thomas Plumleigh, possibly Anthony's son named Thomas born 22 June 1769 at Dartmouth , was declared bankrupt in the months before his father's death:
See below (bottom of page) for records and possible descendants of this Thomas Plumleigh of Bristol.
ANCESTRY OF LAND PLUMLEIGH
'
As this was probably her mother, then Land was only 12 years of age when her mother died.
ANTHONY PLUMLEIGH
There is a non-conformist death record for Antony Plumley (sic) in Bristol in October 1804. This was a major seaport and was the city where (Dorothy) Land Plumleigh met John Chin. In his Will, Anthony Plumleigh appointed his other daughter Elizabeth Maish who was a widow, his executrix. His effects were valued at less than £20, and he left 2 guineas to his daughter Dorothy Chin, which proves he was indeed Land's father.
Death & Burial record
(Bristol Records Office- Bristol Willis Index 1793-1858- Plumleigh Anthony 1805):
TRANSCRIPT OF WILL:
This is the last Will and Testament of me Anthony Plumleigh of the City of Bristol, Gentleman. In the first place I will and direct that all my just debts, funeral expenses and the costs and charges of proving this my will be paid and satisfied by my Executors hereinafter named as soon as conveniently may be after my decease. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Maish Widow all my money, securities for money, goods, Chattels and personal Estate and effects whatsoever and wheresowever. To Hold to __ her Executors Administrators and Assigns for ever Subject to the payment of the Legacy or sums of Two Guineas unto my Daughter Dorothy Chin and I make, nominate and appoint the said Elizabeth Maish sole Executrix of this my Will hereby revoking all former Will by me at any time heretofore made and declaring this to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and seal this Fourteenth Day of September in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand eight Hundred and Four.
Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the said Testator Anthony Plumleigh as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as Witness thereunto
Geo Martin, Atty, Bristol, Thos Martin, his clerk
11th Day of October 1805, Proved at Bristol before the Reve Thois Johnes___ by the Oath of Elizabeth Maish the sole Executrix, To Whom- Effects under 20 pound (Testator died in October 1804)
signature and seal of Anthony Plumleigh on his Will- Sept. 1804
No records have yet been found for Anthony's daughter Elizabeth Maish's birth, marriage or death, although a death record for an Elizabeth Maish was found at Abson, St James, Gloucestershire, a tiny hamlet just 8 kms NW of Bristol, on 5 May 1839, aged 73 (b.1766) which could be relevant, although parents Anthony and Elizabeth were married in 1768- but the age given on her record could be incorrect. Another record has an Elizabeth Maish dying in the June quarter 1839 at Chipping Sodbury about 20 kms NE of Bristol. (there are numerous death records for others named Elizabeth Maish.)
A grocer in Bristol named Thomas Plumleigh, possibly Anthony's son named Thomas born 22 June 1769 at Dartmouth , was declared bankrupt in the months before his father's death:
Morning Post 11 June 1804- List of Bankrupts
(The Bush Tavern in Corn Street was a well known establishment in Bristol and can be seen in a chromolithograph by William Lewis, after JH Maggs)
Thomas was probably left out of his father's Will due to his bankruptcy.
See below (bottom of page) for records and possible descendants of this Thomas Plumleigh of Bristol.
ANCESTRY OF LAND PLUMLEIGH
Both Anthony and Elizabeth were "of this parish" on their marriage record.
The witness to their marriage was John Pyle who was probably Elizabeth's father.
It is very likely that Elizabeth was a daughter of John Pyle of Dartmouth who had nine children baptised in the Presbyterian Church in Dartmouth by the same minister, Rev. Samuel Adams, as the children of Robert Plumleigh, Anthony's father, and all around the same time.
John Pyle had the following children baptised: Mary 1735; an unnamed daughter 1738 (Elizabeth?); Hannah 1740; Sarah 1743; twins Dorothey and Ann in 1746; John 1749,; Frances 1752; and Ann 1756.
Although there is no specific baptism record for an 'Elizabeth' Pyle, the record below would appear to be for Elizabeth who was born in late 1737 or early 1738 ( aged 43 at her death in February 1781). Notably one of the daughters was given the name of Dorothey, baptised May 19, 1746, which may be the source of Land's first name.
(Non-Conformist & Non-Parochial Registers RG4-piece 0959- 1726 to 1800's)
Anthony Plumleigh was baptized 5 April 1739, one of many children of Robert Plumleigh of Dartmouth.[iv]
The witness to their marriage was John Pyle who was probably Elizabeth's father.
It is very likely that Elizabeth was a daughter of John Pyle of Dartmouth who had nine children baptised in the Presbyterian Church in Dartmouth by the same minister, Rev. Samuel Adams, as the children of Robert Plumleigh, Anthony's father, and all around the same time.
John Pyle had the following children baptised: Mary 1735; an unnamed daughter 1738 (Elizabeth?); Hannah 1740; Sarah 1743; twins Dorothey and Ann in 1746; John 1749,; Frances 1752; and Ann 1756.
Although there is no specific baptism record for an 'Elizabeth' Pyle, the record below would appear to be for Elizabeth who was born in late 1737 or early 1738 ( aged 43 at her death in February 1781). Notably one of the daughters was given the name of Dorothey, baptised May 19, 1746, which may be the source of Land's first name.
(Non-Conformist & Non-Parochial Registers RG4-piece 0959- 1726 to 1800's)
Baptismal record (RG4/959)- NB. Unnamed “Daughter of Mr John Pyle” at top of page for 1738, no specific date
noted, probably Elizabeth. The last entry on the previous page was for 10
November 1737.
Also note baptism of
Anthony Plumleigh in April 1739 just below.
Anthony Plumleigh was baptized 5 April 1739, one of many children of Robert Plumleigh of Dartmouth.[iv]
Non-conformist baptism record for Anthony Plumleigh son of Mr Robert Plumleigh at Dartmouth (RG4- Piece 0959)
Robert Plumleigh, born about 1689 in
Dartmouth and died in 1773 aged 84 years, married
Johanna Youatt on 14 June 1732 at Saint Sidwell, Exeter, Devon, daughter of
John Youatt Jun. and Rebecca Stokes.[v].
Family Tree of the Plumleigh family.
Robert Plumleigh is named as the
father of the following children in the Non-conformist baptismal records- sadly most did not survive infancy, and of five sons, only Anthony survived:
Rebecca b.7/6/1733, buried 26/11/1735; Thomas b.22/5/1734, buried 1/3/1734/35; Robert b.27/4/1735, buried 29/11/1737; Joanah
3/10/1736 died bef. 1740; John 4/9/1737, buried 19/2/1737/38; Anthony 15/4/1739;
Joanna 6/8/1740; John 1/3/1742, buried 17/2/1742/43. [vi]
Notably,
all of the above were performed by Rev Samuel Adams at St Saviours Church Dartmouth, and are in the same record book as Dorathey Land
Plumleigh, Thomas and Robert Plumleigh, children of ‘Mr’ Plumleigh who were baptised by Rev. John Adams of St Saviours who took over from his father Rev. Samuel. This
indicates that these records may belong to the same family.
No
birth or baptism record has yet been found for Robert Plumleigh, although his burial record at St Saviours on 27 December 1773 states he was 84 years of age, which makes his birth circa 1689 or 1690:
Land’s obituary indicates that her father was a descendant of the Plumleighs who were close associates of the Puritan preacher John Flavel of St Saviours Church, which therefore indicates descent from either John Plumleigh, and/or Anthony Plumleigh, or Capt. Robert Plumleigh who were living in Fairfax Place in Dartmouth, which will be explained in the following sections.
As Robert was born around the time of the marriage of Anthony Plumleigh and Dorothy Burdwood (the daughter of Puritan preacher James Burdwood of St Petrox, a close associate of John Flavel), and as Robert's son Anthony named his second daughter Dorothy, I would tend to believe that Robert was the son of Anthony and Dorothy.
Land’s obituary indicates that her father was a descendant of the Plumleighs who were close associates of the Puritan preacher John Flavel of St Saviours Church, which therefore indicates descent from either John Plumleigh, and/or Anthony Plumleigh, or Capt. Robert Plumleigh who were living in Fairfax Place in Dartmouth, which will be explained in the following sections.
As Robert was born around the time of the marriage of Anthony Plumleigh and Dorothy Burdwood (the daughter of Puritan preacher James Burdwood of St Petrox, a close associate of John Flavel), and as Robert's son Anthony named his second daughter Dorothy, I would tend to believe that Robert was the son of Anthony and Dorothy.
marriage of Anthony Plumleigh and Dorothy Burdwood on 24 September 1689
at St Saviours Church, Dartmouth
THE PLUMLEIGHS OF DARTMOUTH, COUNTY OF DEVON
The
Plumleighs belonged to a very prominent family of merchants and mariners living
in Dartmouth from at least the early 1500’s.
There
were several spelling variations for the name through the centuries: Plumley, Plumlie, Plumbley, Plumbliegh,
Plomley, Plombley and Plumleigh.
The
name is first found in Derbyshire where they held the family seat as lords of
the Manor. A Saxon surname and family name first referenced in 1235 when
Alexander Plombley held estates in that shire
They
spread to Somersetshire, where, in the 1300’s, John Plumley and William Plumley
were allowed to cultivate a tract of manor-owned land. From there they spread
south west to Devon and Cornwall.
(Somerset
and Dorset Family History Society, Vol. 25 No. 3 p114)
Map of Dartmouth in Devon
Map of Dartmouth on the River Dart
Description of
Dartmouth:
(from History of Parliament website
given below)
From its foundation
in the twelfth century, Dartmouth was important for its deep natural harbor, in
a sheltered location close to the Dart estuary. A base for major mercantile and
military voyages during the Middle Ages, the town first returned Members to
Parliament in 1298, and secured the right to elect its own mayor in 1341. By
1600 it was Devon’s second busiest coastal port after Plymouth, with a rapidly
expanding population of around 2,000. Local trade revolved around two principal
commodities, cloth and fish. Devon dozens were exported mainly to France, but vast
quantities of Newfoundland fish were sent as far afield as the Mediterranean
and the Canary Islands. The early 17th century was one of
Dartmouth’s most lucrative eras. Only in the late 1620’s when war with France
and Spain disrupted trade and the town was burdened with billeted troops, did
the local economy experience decline.
Dartmouth was
governed by a mayor, two bailiffs and 12 common councilors, an arrangement
confirmed when the borough was enfranchised in mid-1604. The charter also
provided for a recorder, town clerk and various minor officers. Etc etc.
JOHN PLUMLEIGH the elder of DARTMOUTH
The
earliest Plumleigh recorded at Dartmouth was a John Plumleigh born in the early 16th century, birthplace unknown. He was elected
Mayor of Dartmouth in 1568 and 1576 and was a prominent merchant. He had seven sons by his two wives, ___ Eastchurch and Ann Fortescue.
Ancestry members' trees give a birth year for John Plumleigh of Dartmouth as c.1519, no sources cited.
John Plumleigh died in 1580 and left a Will (UK Archives- PROB 11/62/446- see copy at end of this chapter) probate date 31 October 1580, written in August 1579. The will, although difficult to decipher, leaves his extensive property to all of his sons and makes provision for his wife Ann.
The main beneficiaries were his eldest sons William and Thomas. He names his sons as William, his eldest; Thomas, his second son, and youngest son John. He also lists 5th and 6th sons fferdinando and Lewes. No mention is made of his fourth son Stephen who may have died in childhood. Although his 3rd son Robert is also not named as a beneficiary, he does make a bequest to John, son of Robert Plumleigh, which implies that Robert had pre-deceased him. He also forgave all debts due unto him by sons William, Thomas and Robert.
The Visitation of Devon in 1620 produced the following family tree for the Plumleigh family, provided by William Plumleigh (the younger) of Dartmouth, which helps us to see how the branches from John Plumleigh were related. Notably William did not list all of the sons of John the elder, probably because fferdinando and Lewes were no longer residing in Dartmouth. He probably also missed out a few of his other male cousins as well:
John’s first wife was __ Eastchurch (of Chudley/Chudleigh, between Dartmouth and Exeter), and his second wife was Ann Fortescue, daughter of John Fortescue of Fallowpit and Honora Speccott. They were married on 3 July 1567 (Familysearch.org).
John Fortescue was the son of Lewis Fortescue, Baron of the Exchequer temp (Henry VIII) and Elizabeth dau. and heir of John Fortescue of Fallowpit (Visitation of Devon 1620: Fortescu of Fallowpit). Ann was born c.1542.
Ancestry members' trees give a birth year for John Plumleigh of Dartmouth as c.1519, no sources cited.
John Plumleigh died in 1580 and left a Will (UK Archives- PROB 11/62/446- see copy at end of this chapter) probate date 31 October 1580, written in August 1579. The will, although difficult to decipher, leaves his extensive property to all of his sons and makes provision for his wife Ann.
The main beneficiaries were his eldest sons William and Thomas. He names his sons as William, his eldest; Thomas, his second son, and youngest son John. He also lists 5th and 6th sons fferdinando and Lewes. No mention is made of his fourth son Stephen who may have died in childhood. Although his 3rd son Robert is also not named as a beneficiary, he does make a bequest to John, son of Robert Plumleigh, which implies that Robert had pre-deceased him. He also forgave all debts due unto him by sons William, Thomas and Robert.
The Visitation of Devon in 1620 produced the following family tree for the Plumleigh family, provided by William Plumleigh (the younger) of Dartmouth, which helps us to see how the branches from John Plumleigh were related. Notably William did not list all of the sons of John the elder, probably because fferdinando and Lewes were no longer residing in Dartmouth. He probably also missed out a few of his other male cousins as well:
PLUMLEIGH TREE FROM VISITATION OF DEVON 1620:
John’s first wife was __ Eastchurch (of Chudley/Chudleigh, between Dartmouth and Exeter), and his second wife was Ann Fortescue, daughter of John Fortescue of Fallowpit and Honora Speccott. They were married on 3 July 1567 (Familysearch.org).
John Fortescue was the son of Lewis Fortescue, Baron of the Exchequer temp (Henry VIII) and Elizabeth dau. and heir of John Fortescue of Fallowpit (Visitation of Devon 1620: Fortescu of Fallowpit). Ann was born c.1542.
Visitation of Devon 1620
John Plumleigh appears to be the
ancestor of this line of Plumleighs of Dartmouth, which the Visitation of Devon 1620 shows.
The names of John, William, Thomas, Anthony and Robert frequent these Plumleigh families over two centuries in Dartmouth, so it is difficult sorting the various family groups, and who was born to whom, although the family trees in the Visitation of Devon in 1620, certainly help.
The names of John, William, Thomas, Anthony and Robert frequent these Plumleigh families over two centuries in Dartmouth, so it is difficult sorting the various family groups, and who was born to whom, although the family trees in the Visitation of Devon in 1620, certainly help.
It
is likely that John Plumleigh’s family originally came from Totnes a few miles
north of Dartmouth.
A book written by Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner, "Devon" Vol. 5, p.320 (Yale Uni Press 1991), gives a description of Dartmouth:
"In the C16 the trade of the port of Devon was dominated by Totnes merchants exporting cloth and tin to France in return for linen and manufactured goods. Dartmouth men seem to have limited themselves to providing the shipping. From the end of the C16, however, and well into the C18, the town's merchants began to profit from the annual voyages to the Newfoundland fishery, using the proceeds to import luxury goods from the Continent. In the 1720's Defoe found the town "very large and populous.... though meanly built" with "some very flourishing merchants". Later in the C18, a decline began.
Dartmouth originated as 3 riverside settlements- Hardnesse and Clifton and South Town. Lower Street and Fairfax Place marked the waterfront of medieval Clifton, from which the New Quay (now The Quay) was built out in 1584-85."
A book written by Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner, "Devon" Vol. 5, p.320 (Yale Uni Press 1991), gives a description of Dartmouth:
"In the C16 the trade of the port of Devon was dominated by Totnes merchants exporting cloth and tin to France in return for linen and manufactured goods. Dartmouth men seem to have limited themselves to providing the shipping. From the end of the C16, however, and well into the C18, the town's merchants began to profit from the annual voyages to the Newfoundland fishery, using the proceeds to import luxury goods from the Continent. In the 1720's Defoe found the town "very large and populous.... though meanly built" with "some very flourishing merchants". Later in the C18, a decline began.
Dartmouth originated as 3 riverside settlements- Hardnesse and Clifton and South Town. Lower Street and Fairfax Place marked the waterfront of medieval Clifton, from which the New Quay (now The Quay) was built out in 1584-85."
An article on the merchants of Devon
and their trade with the fishing grounds of Newfoundland, Decks Awash Journal, Vol
22, No 2, March-April 1993
“In the 1500’s Totnes
had five times as many shipowners as Dartmouth…
In Totnes, the Shapleigh and Plumleigh
families were active…. The Newman family, who moved
to Dartmouth in the 1600’s were Totnes merchants in the 1500’s. The main reason
that Totnes was more important was that the River Dart was often heavily silted
with sand from the nearby tinworks. Dartmouth overhauled Totnes and Exeter as Devon’s main port in the late
1500’s.
After
reclamation works on the river bank during the late 1500’s and early 1600’s,
Dartmouth’s importance as a shipping port grew.
John
Plumleigh’s eldest son married into the Shapleigh family who were also
prominent in Totnes during the early 1500’s, according to the article above.
The Shapleighs became prominent merchants in Dartmouth as well.
Map showing Dartmouth, Totnes, and Exeter
(Also note Stoke Fleming for later reference)
During the period of the late 16th to the mid-late 17th
centuries, the Plumleigh family were leaders of the community in Dartmouth with
several elected as town mayor and as town councillors. One of the Plumleighs,
William Plumleigh, became a Member of Parliament in 1624 .
The Roll of Mayoralty of Dartmouth:[viii]
1568- John Plumleigh
1576- John Plumleigh
1586/87-Thomas Plumleigh
1613- John Plumleigh
1617- William Plumleigh
1619/20- John Plumleigh
1625- William Plumleigh
1627- John Plumleigh Jnr
1632- William Plumleigh
1635- John Plumleigh
1641- William
Plumleigh
John Plumleigh the elder was elected Mayor of Dartmouth firstly in 1568, and
secondly in 1576 as the following record confirms:
Report and Transactions of the Devonshire Association.
(Dartmouth, July 1911), Vol 43, pub. Plymouth 1911- Mayoralty of Dartmouth-
p.145
1576- JOHN PLUMLEIGH
This Mayor gave
a Certificate that Joseph Edwards was a free Burgess and free of toll (704)
1620 VISITATION DESCRIPTION OF DARTMOUTH:
Plumleigh Arms
"Ermine On a bend fusilly Gules (red). Three escallops (Plumleigh). (These arms also occur on
one of the galleries)."
(Devonshire Parishes
or the Antiquities, Heraldry and Family History of Twenty-eight Parishes in the
Archdeaconry of Totnes, by Charles Worthy Esq., Exeter, 1889, Vol II, P14- Chancel. No.6).
JOHN PLUMLEIGH'S FIRST FAMILY
The Visitation of Devon
1620 family tree, supplied by William Plumleigh, stated that John Plumleigh married firstly ___ Eastchurch,
and had issue:
1.Thomas Plumleigh, married Elizabeth Shapley/Shapleigh,
daughter of Robert Shapleigh of Dartmouth, Mayor of Dartmouth in 1580 (NB. the
Shapleighs also prominent in Totnes)
2. William Plumleigh, married Joane Page daughter of Allen Page
of Totnes
3. Robert Plumleigh, married Elizabeth Seyre, daughter of
Thomas Seyre of Dartmouth
These sons would
have been born between c.1550 to 1560- John’s first wife died before 1567
when John remarried.
It should be noted however, that the 'Visitation of Cornwall 1620' recorded a Plumleigh family- John Plumleigh of Maybn, who settled in the early 17th century, descended from Thomas son of John Plumleigh of Dartmouth (Mayor), by his second wife Ann, daughter of John Fortescue of Fallopit. In the pedigree of Plumleigh of Dartmouth, however, recorded by the same Heralds in the 'Visitation of Devon', this Thomas is shewn as the second son of the said John Plumleigh by his first marriage with the daughter of ...Eastchurch of Chudleigh. We must leave this discrepancy to be reconciled by the Heralds.
The 'Visitation of Cornwall' information cannot be correct, as, in that case the birth years of Thomas, William and Robert etc would have been later, viz. after 1567, and Robert's son John was named in John the elder's will of 1579 and married in 1597 so must have been born in the early 1570's. Also Robert, William and Thomas were named in a list of piracy fines (see later) in 1579 and 1580, so they must have reached adulthood.)
It should be noted however, that the 'Visitation of Cornwall 1620' recorded a Plumleigh family- John Plumleigh of Maybn, who settled in the early 17th century, descended from Thomas son of John Plumleigh of Dartmouth (Mayor), by his second wife Ann, daughter of John Fortescue of Fallopit. In the pedigree of Plumleigh of Dartmouth, however, recorded by the same Heralds in the 'Visitation of Devon', this Thomas is shewn as the second son of the said John Plumleigh by his first marriage with the daughter of ...Eastchurch of Chudleigh. We must leave this discrepancy to be reconciled by the Heralds.
The 'Visitation of Cornwall' information cannot be correct, as, in that case the birth years of Thomas, William and Robert etc would have been later, viz. after 1567, and Robert's son John was named in John the elder's will of 1579 and married in 1597 so must have been born in the early 1570's. Also Robert, William and Thomas were named in a list of piracy fines (see later) in 1579 and 1580, so they must have reached adulthood.)
JOHN PLUMLEIGH'S SECOND FAMILY
According to the 'Visitation of Devon 1620':
John
Plumleigh married on
3 July 1567 at East Allington Devonshire (about 10 km east of Dartmouth), to
his second wife Anne Fortescue (b. c. 1549 at Fallowpit Devonshire), dau of
John Fortescue and Honora Speccott.
John and Anne had issue, four sons-
1. Stephen (no information- not mentioned in John's will so may have died in infancy)
2. fferdinando- (no information, apart from mentions in father's will)
3. Lewes/Lewis, married Wilmott Axten at St Mary Arches church Exeter 10 Dec 1599, and had a son John Plumley bap. 10 June 1603 at St Mary Arches.
4. John Plumleigh (the younger).
1. Stephen (no information- not mentioned in John's will so may have died in infancy)
2. fferdinando- (no information, apart from mentions in father's will)
3. Lewes/Lewis, married Wilmott Axten at St Mary Arches church Exeter 10 Dec 1599, and had a son John Plumley bap. 10 June 1603 at St Mary Arches.
4. John Plumleigh (the younger).
Map showing East Allington and Dartmouth
John Plumleigh the younger married firstly Barbara Eyve who died in 1610, and secondly Margaret
Martin (daughter of Nicholas Martin of Exeter) who died in 1638. The two wives
were buried in St Petrox Church Dartmouth:
Plumleigh Memorials in St Petrox Parish Church,
Dartmouth:
Barbara's children depicted in the dress of the times, at the bottom of the memorial
There are no arms, but they are described as: Argent or ermine, a bend fusiily gules; crest, An arm embowed, vested gules, cuffed argent, holding in the hand proper an arrow of the first, sans feathers, headed of the second
The following information came from: Devon
Notes and Queries: a Quarterly Journal devoted to the Local History, Biography
and Antiquities of the County of Devon, Vol. IV- from January 1906 to October
1907, Edited
by P.F.S. Amery and John S. Amery and J. Brooking, pub Exeter 1907, Volume
IV, page
70-71:
The
Memorial Brasses Found in the Church of St Petrock, Dartmouth
BARBARA
PLUMLEIGH: She was the first wife of John Plumleigh the younger, and daughter of Stephen
Eyre, probably of a family so called located at Umberleigh North Devon, and
died, according to the inscription, the third day of September 1610.
John
Plumleigh, her husband, was seventh son of John Plumleigh of Dartmouth,
there were four
children then alive (viz. of John Plumleigh Junior), and he was surviving in 1633. Of these-
1.Richard,
son and heir, was aged 24 in 1620; he married Elizabeth, daughter of William
Nutbrowne, by whom he had two sons, Charles and Philip, and a daughter,
Elizabeth.
2.George, of Dartmouth, aged 19, 1620, married Joan- by whom he had a son John, his will dated 1632-3, proved 1649.
3 Anne, married Nicholas Ford, of Ford
4. Barbara (called after her mother) aged 16, 1620, married Thomas Woodward, of London.
2.George, of Dartmouth, aged 19, 1620, married Joan- by whom he had a son John, his will dated 1632-3, proved 1649.
3 Anne, married Nicholas Ford, of Ford
4. Barbara (called after her mother) aged 16, 1620, married Thomas Woodward, of London.
According to the article in Notes and Queries, this John Plumleigh was Mayor of Dartmouth in 1613 and 1619/20. However, this appears to be confused with John Plumleigh son of Robert, who was Mayor elect of Dartmouth in the 'Visitation of Devon 1620', as supplied by William Plumleigh, and was therefore the Mayor of Dartmouth in 1620 when the Pilgrims visited on their way to America (see 'New World Tapestry' below).
John Plumleigh the younger, married secondly, apparently about two months after his first wife’s decease, on 17 Dec. 1610, Margaret, daughter of Nicholas Martin of Exetor, relict of John Ellacott, merchant of Exetor, by whom he had one daughter, Jane, married to Nicholas Roope. His will, Nov. 1641 proved 1641-2.
John Plumleigh the younger, married secondly, apparently about two months after his first wife’s decease, on 17 Dec. 1610, Margaret, daughter of Nicholas Martin of Exetor, relict of John Ellacott, merchant of Exetor, by whom he had one daughter, Jane, married to Nicholas Roope. His will, Nov. 1641 proved 1641-2.
Brass memorial:
Barbara wears a kind of French hood with
dependent cover-chief, ruff, and richly embroidered stomacher and petticoat,
with fathingale over, close sleeves with cuffs, the hands raised in prayer,
the feet in shoes with rosettes. Below the epitaph are the two groups of her
children. Two boys with cloaks and collars, tight hose and shoes, and four
girls in hoods and gowns.
‘Here
lyeth the Bodye of Barbara, the Wife of John Plumleighe, of Dartmouth, who
departed thirde daye of September, Anno domini, 1610.
Here
lyeth the wife of John Plumleigh, who Barbara had to name,
Whose virtuous
life and godly death, hath left her last’g fa’e,
Of rich
and poor shee was beloved, to y’one a neighbou’ kind,
To the
other still in all distresse, a tender harted frinde,
Two
sons and daughters 4 shee bare, unto her husband deare,
And
dyed when age had neer runne out, y’foure and xxx yeare,
Whose
corp, though thou O death destroy, yet Christ shall raise againe,
And it
conjoyne with soul in blisse, for ever to remaine,
For
death to life a passage is, as scriptures all accord,
Blest
are the dead threfor that die in favour of y’ Lord.
Bene
est ei quo brevi luget.”
There are no arms, but they are described as: Argent or ermine, a bend fusiily gules; crest, An arm embowed, vested gules, cuffed argent, holding in the hand proper an arrow of the first, sans feathers, headed of the second
Introduction
to this article:
The
ancient borough of Dartmouth, with its splendid and almost unequalled river,
caused it at early date to become in maritime importance scarcely second to any
found on the southern coast. The facility this afforded for intercourse with
nations “beyond the seas” naturally brought together merchant adventurers of
considerable influence, whose shipping lined the quays of its noble harbour.
Towards the close of the sixteenth and early in the seventeenth centuries, a
numerous class of influential “marchants’ had their residences, when in the
flesh, within the precincts of the ancient borough, and its associated
surroundings; and when “life’s fitful fever over” found their last resting
places in the interesting old churches therein existing; and several memorials
laid down in commemoration of them are still found over their dust. Of the
three Monumental brasses in the picturesque old church of St Petrock, as far as
the writer knows, no illustration of the has been undertaken; they occur at the
east end of the fabric and adjoin each other, and their closeness together
suggests a family relationship existing between those they commemorate. (viz.
John Rouse, Barbara’s son-in-law)
On the north side is a tablet with the
inscription:- Hereunder lyeth ye Body of Margaret, the second wife of John Plumleigh
of Dartmouth, Gentleman, who was the daughter of Nicholas Martin of Exon, Esq.:
who departed this life ye 25 of February 1638. She lived vertuosly and died
Godly.
Although the Visitation of Devon family tree shows that John’s sons Richard Plumleigh and George Plumleigh were
the sons of his second wife Margaret Martin, the article above states that Richard was born in 1596 (aged 24 in 1620) and George was born in 1601 (aged 19 in 1620) and were the sons of Barbara Eyve. Richard would become
a prominent and highly respected captain in the King’s navy, and promoted to admiral
of the Channel and Irish Sea fleets by Charles II. (see next chapter for details)
According to the
Visitation of Devon family tree and the article above, Richard Plumleigh married Elizabeth Nuthrowne, daughter
of Wm Nuthrowne. Captain Richard Plumleigh will be explored in detail in the next chapter.
(According to the article above on Barbara Plumleigh's brass memorial, John Plumleigh the elder had seven sons, yet only five of these were named in the family tree supplied by William Plumleigh- two sons fferdinando and Lewes were named as beneficiaries in John's will. Lewes had moved to Exeter which may account for his exclusion.)
(According to the article above on Barbara Plumleigh's brass memorial, John Plumleigh the elder had seven sons, yet only five of these were named in the family tree supplied by William Plumleigh- two sons fferdinando and Lewes were named as beneficiaries in John's will. Lewes had moved to Exeter which may account for his exclusion.)
THE SONS OF JOHN PLUMLEIGH AND __ EASTCHURCH
John
Plumleigh the elder’s three eldest sons (by his first wife ___ Eastchurch), William, Thomas, and Robert, and their
sons, would also hold prominent positions in the community during the late 16th
century and the 17th century.
Described as ‘yeomen’ in 1578, they became wealthy merchants and shipowners trading with Portugal, Spain, France and Flanders, as well as sending ships to the Newfoundland fishing banks. In 1578/79, John and his three sons were fined for dealing with pirates and pirate goods according to a document in UK State Archives:
Described as ‘yeomen’ in 1578, they became wealthy merchants and shipowners trading with Portugal, Spain, France and Flanders, as well as sending ships to the Newfoundland fishing banks. In 1578/79, John and his three sons were fined for dealing with pirates and pirate goods according to a document in UK State Archives:
The 3rd
of February 1578
Piracy
Fines
A note of such bands
as have been taken of sundry persons in the county of Devon for the payments of
such sums of money as they are bound to pay to her Majesties use for dealing
with pirates and pirates’ goods.
Inprimis, v. several
bands of xx a band of John Plumleigh of
Dartmouth, in the county of Devon, yeoman, for the payment of the sum of l
in form following, viz: x in Michelmas Term which shall be in anno 1579; other
in Michelmas Term, anon 1580; other in Michelmas Term, 1581; other x in
Michelmas Term 1582, and the other x, the residue of the said whole sum of 1 in
Michaelmas term which shall be in anno 1583.
Item- other
obligations of Roberte Plumleigh of
Dartmouth, in the said county of Devon, yeoman, the one of the sum of xx for
the payment of x unto Mr Henry Killegrewe, esquire, one of the Tellers of the
Exchequer, in Michelmas Term, anno 1579, and the other obligation of x for the
payment of v in Michelmas Term anno 1580.
One obligation of Thomas Plomleigh of Dartmouth
aforesaid, yeoman, of the sum of xx for the payment of x in Michelmas term,
anno 1579.
One obligation of William Plumleigh of Dartmouth
aforesaid, yeoman, of the sum of v for the payment of l in Michelmas Term anno
1580.
The moietie of such
sums of money as hath been imposed upon all the aforenamed Plumleighs hath been answered and paid in their behalf by William
Sutton upon the 6 of February 1578, so that there remaineth no more to be paid
by them then is contained in the several bands above mentioned, the which
moiety is lxxvij 10s. All of which bands are appointed by my Lords to be
delivered to Mr Henry Killigrewe, receiver, appointed for these causes, to the
end that upon the payments made he may deliver them to the parties, or else
upon default of payment to cause them to be put in sute to her Majesties use.
(Privy
Council/PC 2/12 f. 389).
1. THOMAS PLUMLEIGH
The
second son Thomas
Plumleigh was elected Mayor of
Dartmouth in 1586 and 1587 and appears to have been an interesting character. In John Plumleigh the elder's will, Thomas shared the majority of his father's estate with his elder brother William.
He married Elizabeth Shapley/Shapleigh (daughter of Robert Shapleigh of Dartmouth), and had two sons, Thomas, and John who lived in St Maybn in Cornwall and had issue: Gilbert (son and heir), Elizabeth, Ralph b.1610, William b.1611, Grace b.1612, Jone b.1615, John b.1621, Frances b.1626, Mary b.1627.
Thomas Plumleigh (senior) died in St Maybn in 1615, his wife Elizabeth died there in 1628, while their son John died there in 1660.
(Ancestry.com- UK Extracted Probate records 1269-1975- burials- Cornwall and Devon-Calendar of Wills, Admins and Accounts; Archdeaconry of Cornwall, Wills and Admins. Chapter 1839.; Visitation of Cornwall 1620 p.532)
The 'Visitation of Cornwall 1620', p.532 Parish of St Mabyn- Plumleigh:
recorded a Plumleigh family- John Plumleigh of Maybn (Cornwall), who settled in the early 17th century, descended from Thomas son of John Plumleigh of Dartmouth, by his second wife Ann, daughter of John Fortescue of Fallopit (see NB below). In the pedigree of Plumleigh of Dartmouth, however, recorded by the same Heralds in the 'Visitation of Devon', this Thomas is shewn as the second son of the said John Plumleigh by his first marriage with the daughter of ...Eastchurch of Chudleigh. We must leave this descrepancy to be reconciled by the Heralds. At the date of the Visitation, John Plumleigh was Mayor of Dartmouth, and William Plumleigh, elder brother of the whole blood of Thomas (according to the Devon Pedigree), was one of the Capital Burgesses. The above mentioned Thomas Plumleigh, by Elizabeth daughter of Robert Shapleigh of Dartmouth, had a son John Plumleigh, who married Joane daughter of John Sture of Huishe in Devon (called in the Devon Visitation "John Steourt of Bradley"). He had a daughter buried there in 1610. His second son Ralph was baptised there on 13 May 1611. At the end of the century this line would seem to have become almost extinct in the male line, though some lingered in the parish until 1736.
John Plumleigh, Gent., was assessed to the subsidies of St Mabyn, upon goods, in 1625,1629, and 1642.
NB. The Visitation of Devon stated that Thomas and William Plumleigh were sons of John Plumleigh's first wife ___ Eastchurch, which is correct, as William, Thomas and Robert were all born between 1550 and 1560, before John's second marriage to Ann Fortescue in 1567.
He married Elizabeth Shapley/Shapleigh (daughter of Robert Shapleigh of Dartmouth), and had two sons, Thomas, and John who lived in St Maybn in Cornwall and had issue: Gilbert (son and heir), Elizabeth, Ralph b.1610, William b.1611, Grace b.1612, Jone b.1615, John b.1621, Frances b.1626, Mary b.1627.
Thomas Plumleigh (senior) died in St Maybn in 1615, his wife Elizabeth died there in 1628, while their son John died there in 1660.
(Ancestry.com- UK Extracted Probate records 1269-1975- burials- Cornwall and Devon-Calendar of Wills, Admins and Accounts; Archdeaconry of Cornwall, Wills and Admins. Chapter 1839.; Visitation of Cornwall 1620 p.532)
The 'Visitation of Cornwall 1620', p.532 Parish of St Mabyn- Plumleigh:
recorded a Plumleigh family- John Plumleigh of Maybn (Cornwall), who settled in the early 17th century, descended from Thomas son of John Plumleigh of Dartmouth, by his second wife Ann, daughter of John Fortescue of Fallopit (see NB below). In the pedigree of Plumleigh of Dartmouth, however, recorded by the same Heralds in the 'Visitation of Devon', this Thomas is shewn as the second son of the said John Plumleigh by his first marriage with the daughter of ...Eastchurch of Chudleigh. We must leave this descrepancy to be reconciled by the Heralds. At the date of the Visitation, John Plumleigh was Mayor of Dartmouth, and William Plumleigh, elder brother of the whole blood of Thomas (according to the Devon Pedigree), was one of the Capital Burgesses. The above mentioned Thomas Plumleigh, by Elizabeth daughter of Robert Shapleigh of Dartmouth, had a son John Plumleigh, who married Joane daughter of John Sture of Huishe in Devon (called in the Devon Visitation "John Steourt of Bradley"). He had a daughter buried there in 1610. His second son Ralph was baptised there on 13 May 1611. At the end of the century this line would seem to have become almost extinct in the male line, though some lingered in the parish until 1736.
John Plumleigh, Gent., was assessed to the subsidies of St Mabyn, upon goods, in 1625,1629, and 1642.
NB. The Visitation of Devon stated that Thomas and William Plumleigh were sons of John Plumleigh's first wife ___ Eastchurch, which is correct, as William, Thomas and Robert were all born between 1550 and 1560, before John's second marriage to Ann Fortescue in 1567.
Visitation of Devon 1620
The
following records refer to Thomas Plumleigh:
Report and
Transactions of the Devonshire Association. (Dartmouth, July 1911), Vol 43,
pub. Plymouth 1911, p.146
The
Borough of Clifton-Dartmouth-Hardness (viz. the original name of Dartmouth)-
Its Mayors and Mayoralties
1587 -THOMAS PLUMLEIGH
Married Elizabeth dau
of Robert Shapley of Dartmouth. He was buried at St Mabyn, Cornwall 24 July
1615 (Col. Vivian’s, Visitation of Devon p595)
Report and
Transactions of the Devonshire Association Vol. 43, (pub. 1911), p.147- Dartmouth
and its Mayors and Mayoralties
17 October 1598. This
Mayor (viz. Robert Martin) and his brethren write the Lord Chief Justice,
asking for a warrant against Thomas
Plumleigh, who had thrown stones at the Mayor and goes about armed,
refusing to obey orders because the Mayor ordered the removal of a heap of
stones which lay hurtful to shipping in the harbor (1409)
Thomas Plumleigh was Mayor of Dartmouth
in the years 1586-87: The year following his mayoralty, 1588, was the year the Spanish Armada sailed towards England
through the English Channel, with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of
England and putting an end to her involvement in the Spanish Netherlands and in
privateering in the Atlantic and Pacific. It was driven out by an English
fire-ship attack and after the ensuing battle the Armada withdrew north with
the English fleet harrying it for some distance up the east coast of England.
The fleet headed for Spain, sailing around Scotland and Ireland, losing many
which were wrecked on the western coasts of Ireland. Of the fleet’s original
130 ships, about fifty never returned to Spain. The following year England
organized a similar large-scale campaign against Spain, the Drake-Norris
expedition, also known as the Counter Armada of 1589 which was unsuccessful.
This was a fleet of warships sent to the Iberian coast by Queen Elizabeth I,
led by Sir Francis Drake as admiral on his ship the Revenge and Sir John
Norreys as general on the Nonpareil. However, the campaign resulted in the
defeat of the English fleet and eventually to withdrawal with heavy losses both
in lives and ships. The expedition was floated as a joint stock company, with
capital of about £80,000- one quarter to come from the Queen, and one eighth
from the Dutch, the balance to be made up by various noblemen, merchants and
guilds, however preparations were poorly executed.
When
the fleet sailed, it was made up of 6 royal galleons, 60 English armed
merchantmen, 60 Dutch flyboats and about 20 pinnaces. In addition to the troops,
there were 4,000 sailors and 1,500 officers and gentlemen adventurers. Most of
the ships lost. During the campaign, the English sustained heavy losses of
ships, men and resources. (ref: Wikipedia)
The
‘Report
and Transactions of the Devonshire Association. (Dartmouth, July 1911), Vol
43, pub. Plymouth 1911, p146, recounts the involvement of the Dartmouth
merchants in these events, and no doubt, John, Thomas, William and Robert Plumleigh would
have played a role, as Sir Walter Raleigh was known to have based his ships in
Dartmouth:
1588- This year the ‘Cresente’ and the ‘Harte’ were fitted out
against the Spanish Armada, and there are preserved, Interrogatories to be
added to former Interrogatories in a suit which appears to relate to the
charges incurred in fitting out the ‘Cresente’ against the Armada and for the
Portugal voyage of 1589. The owners of the ship appear to have agreed with Sir
John Norris and Sir Francis Drake and not with the Corporation.
In addition to these
two vessels, five voluntary vessels went
out from Dartmouth, viz. the ‘Roebuck’, Sir Walter Raleigh (under Capt. Jacob
Whitton, which conveyed powder), the ‘Phoenix’ (Mr Gawen Champernowne’s bark of
70 tons and 50 men), the ‘Gabriel’ (Sir John Gilbert’s ship of 150 tons and 80
men), the ‘Elizabeth’ (Mr Adrian Gilbert’s ship of 70 tons and 60 men), and the
‘Samaritan’ (300 tons and 150 men).
1592. There was a proclamation by Queen Elizabeth as to great
spoils made of the goods lade in a Spanish carrague brought to Dartsmouth and conveyed secretly on
land to certain parts of the realm.
2. WILLIAM PLUMLEIGH
John
Plumleigh’s eldest son William Plumleigh (the
elder) married Joan, daughter of Allen Page of Totnes Devon. William inherited an extensive estate from his father John.
There is a burial record for a Johanne Plumlie, widdow, on 26 August 1609 at St Saviours, which appears to be appropriate. If so, then William (the elder) died before August 1609.
(However, this may also refer to Johanne Follett wife of John Plumleigh who married 20/9/1591- how they fit in the family tree has not yet been determined)
There is a further marriage record for a William Plumleigh of Dartmouth - how this marriage fits into the family tree has not yet been determined:
A William Plumlie married Peternell Leufe 24/8/1607, St Savior, Dartmouth
Peternell Plumlie, wife of Wm Plumlie was buried 7 December 1625 at St Saviours.
If the burial record of Johanne Plumlie, widdow, does not relate to William Plumleigh's wife, then the marriage to Peternell may have been a second marriage for William the elder.
William and Joan Plumleigh had a son, also named William Plumleigh (the younger) who became very prominent in Dartmouth, being elected Mayor in 1617, 1625, 1632 and 1641, and as their member of Parliament in 1624. He was described in the Visitation of Cornwall 1620 (p.532) as one of the Capital Burgesses. The Plumleighs, as devout Puritans, were supporters of the new Commonwealth under Cromwell.
The family tree in the Visitation of Devon 1620 (which William the younger provided) and The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris 2010 Available from Cambridge University Press, Authors George Yerby and Paul Hunneyball, (see history of parliament website:
There is a burial record for a Johanne Plumlie, widdow, on 26 August 1609 at St Saviours, which appears to be appropriate. If so, then William (the elder) died before August 1609.
(However, this may also refer to Johanne Follett wife of John Plumleigh who married 20/9/1591- how they fit in the family tree has not yet been determined)
There is a further marriage record for a William Plumleigh of Dartmouth - how this marriage fits into the family tree has not yet been determined:
A William Plumlie married Peternell Leufe 24/8/1607, St Savior, Dartmouth
Peternell Plumlie, wife of Wm Plumlie was buried 7 December 1625 at St Saviours.
If the burial record of Johanne Plumlie, widdow, does not relate to William Plumleigh's wife, then the marriage to Peternell may have been a second marriage for William the elder.
William and Joan Plumleigh had a son, also named William Plumleigh (the younger) who became very prominent in Dartmouth, being elected Mayor in 1617, 1625, 1632 and 1641, and as their member of Parliament in 1624. He was described in the Visitation of Cornwall 1620 (p.532) as one of the Capital Burgesses. The Plumleighs, as devout Puritans, were supporters of the new Commonwealth under Cromwell.
The family tree in the Visitation of Devon 1620 (which William the younger provided) and The History of Parliament: The House of Commons 1604-1629, ed. Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris 2010 Available from Cambridge University Press, Authors George Yerby and Paul Hunneyball, (see history of parliament website:
provides the following information:
William Plumleigh (the younger)
married 1. By 1601 Joan, daughter of
Thomas Spurway of Exminster Devon by whom he had 5 sons (2 d.v.p.) and 4
daughters (1 d.v.p.);
married
2. On 20 Jan 1626- Ann Cockney of
Dartmouth, by whom he had 2 daughters;
married
3. Katherine, who administered his
will, 28 October 1648.
The
Visitation of Devon 1620 lists five
sons of William Plumleigh and six daughters. Their births are recorded in St.
Saviours Church register:
John Plumleigh- 6 Mar 1605
Thomas Plumleigh- 27 Sept 1612
George Plumleigh- 27 July 1617
William Plumleigh- 28 June 1618
Richard Plumleigh- 22 Dec 1620
(also Philip Plumleigh b. 1621/22- see below)
The Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714 (ed. Joseph Foster, pub 1891, pp. 1154-1181) confirms that George was still living in 1634, and also states that there was another brother named Philip born in 1621/22 (after the Visitation):
(also Philip Plumleigh b. 1621/22- see below)
The Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714 (ed. Joseph Foster, pub 1891, pp. 1154-1181) confirms that George was still living in 1634, and also states that there was another brother named Philip born in 1621/22 (after the Visitation):
PLUMLEIGH
George, son of William of Dartmouth, devon, gent, Exeter College, matric. 9
Sept 1634 aged 17; BA from Gloucester Hall 24 Oct 1637; brother of Philip
PLUMLEIGH
George, of Exeter Coll, subscribed 19
May 1637 (probably identical with former entry)
PLUMLEIGH,
Philip, son of William of Dartmouth, devon, gent. Exeter College; matric. 17
March 1636-7 aged 15; brother of George
Notably,
in his Will dated 1647/48, William left the bulk of his estate to his eldest son John, making
generous provision for his wife Katherine and two of his daughters, and a
bequest to his son George. His other three sons and his remaining daughters
were not mentioned, and we are told that two of his sons 'd.v.p'. viz. died in their father's lifetime, but not which of the sons- Thomas, William or Richard.
William
Plumleigh’s biography is included in The
History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, and includes the following information:
William was Recorder
for Dartmouth 1610-11 and Mayor of Dartmouth 1617-18, 1625-26, 1632-33, 1641-2.
He represented Dartmouth in the Commons in 1624.
Biography:
Plumleigh belonged to
a merchant family which rose to prominence in Dartmouth in the second half of
the sixteenth century. Like many of his kinsmen, he profited from the town’s
lucrative trade with Newfoundland, France and Spain. In 1613 he began lending
money to the corporation, and three years later he travelled to London on
municipal business with his future colleague William Nyell. He served as mayor
for the first time in 1617-18. Plumleigh’s status as a gentleman was accepted
by the heralds during the 1620 Devon Visitation, and his subsidy rating of £6
in the following year was one of the town’s highest.
In 1624 Plumleigh was
elected to represent Dartmouth in the Commons. His return was apparently
unopposed, though he may have been viewed as a temporary replacement for the
borough’s regular choice, Roger Matthew, who was currently the mayor, and
therefore ineligible to stand. In marked contrast to his colleague Nyell, Plumleigh
is not known to have contributed to the Common’s debates, nor did he attract
any personal nominations. However, he did attend the committees for the bills
to enfranchise county Durham, and to reform corrupt customs officials. The
latter issue was of particular concern in Dartmouth, and he and Nyell were both
regular faces at the relevant committee. Plumleigh probably helped to procure
for the town its lengthy copy of the trade grievances presented by the Commons
to the king, many of which reflected Dartmouth’s complaints. He was paid £30,
at 5s. a day ‘for his expenses at the Parliament’.
In 1625 Plumleigh was
replaced in the Commons by a country gentleman, John Upton. Later that year he
was again chosen as mayor, in which capacity he presided over the 1626
parliamentary election. On the day before the vote, the corporation passed a
new by-law which aimed to reinforce the custom of electing only townsmen.
However, this move failed to prevent the freemen from again choosing Upton.
During this mayoralty Plumleigh complained to the government about the soldiers
billeted in Dartmouth after the Cadiz expedition, and local merchants’ losses
at the hands of the Sallee pirates, two issues which were also raised on the
borough’s behalf in the 1626 Parliament. In February 1626 Plumleigh was accused
of obstructing the impressment of seamen, but he also sought to profit from the
war with Spain, obtaining letters of marque later that year for a ship which he jointly owned. He was
listed as owner of three other vessels in Sir James Bagg II’s 1626 survey
of Devon shipping.
Plumleigh’s
cousin Richard (viz. Captain Richard Plumleigh of the Royal Navy- see next
chapter) was attacked during the 1628 Parliament as a Catholic convert,
but he himself contributed generously to the rebuilding of St. Saviour’s church
in 1631.
His final mayoral
term coincided with the outbreak of the Civil War, and he presumably backed
Roger Mathew’s efforts to obtain an order from Parliament that the mayor should
also act as Dartmouth’s military governor.
Three
of his family’s ships were employed in the
town’s defence while it was a parliamentarian garrison in 1643. Plumleigh made
his will on 9 November 1647, bequeathing £150 to his wife, and £450 to a
widowed daughter and her children. His date of death has not been established,
but the will was proved 11 months later. No other members of the family sat in
Parliament.
State Papers UK has the following
document (referred to in the biography above)
In 1625/6 Capt Pennington of the Kings
Navy had fumed that the mayor of Dartmouth ‘is
so farre from giving ayde to the press that he frees and takes the men from
them after they have prest them’.
(SP 16/21/33, 18 Feb 1626, Pennington
to Duke of Buckingham [High Admiral of the Navy] - The Navy under Charles I- 1625-40” by Andrew Derek Thrush, University
College- Ph.D. Dissertation, 1990 page 231- re Pressmasters).
In 1625, William Plumleigh was mayor.
As the article in “Decks Awash”
explained: Because
the Newfoundland fishery provided such excellent training in handling boats in
the most difficult conditions, Dartmouth and Poole became prime targets
for the Royal Navy press gangs. When wars loomed, embargo warrants would
decimate the ranks of Newfoundland bound fishermen.
Devonshire Parishes,
or the Antiquities, Heraldry and Family History of 28 Parishes in the
Archdeaconry of Totnes, by Charles Worthy esq. London 1889, Vol. II, Ch. XIV,
Part IV Parish of Dartmouth:
William
Plumleigh, who died in 1647/48, gave 24s. a year, to be paid yearly out of land in
the North Churchyard, to twelve poor widows of St Petrock’s parish at
Shrovetide. It appears to have been leasehold property. All trace of the
benefaction has been lost.
The
National Archives of UK has the Will of William Plumleigh dated 28 October 1648
(PROB 11/205/512).
There
is also a book listed on Google Books entitled:
Marriage Settlement
of William Plumleigh of Dartmouth, Merchant, with Richard Culme of Cannonsleigh
Esq. For messuage in Stokenham and the borough of Dartmouth (Clifton Dartmouth
Hardness), Devon, settled on their children. Consideration £600. Published in
1631. (Uncertain if this was
William’s third marriage to Katherine, or of his son named William)
The
following records from UK State Archives relate to William:
25 August 1631 Mayor
(Roger Mathew) and others of Dartmouth to the Council
In
obedience to their letters of 28 July, have sent William Plumleigh to offer to their consideration the manifold
inconveniences which will grow to many thousands in the western parts
interested in the trade of Spain and Portugal, if the desired charter should be
granted to the Londoners under pretence of regulating disorders in that trade,
but aiming at nothing more than their private gain. (SP16/198 f.79)
7 July 1637-
Dartmouth
Thomas
Spurwaie, Mayor of Dartmouth and John Plumleigh to the Council
On 29th
June last, Frenchman to the number of one hundred persons and upwards, being
lately taken by Dunkirkers were brought into Torbay, where they were landed
(being left altogether destitute), who, repairing unto that town are likely there to continue
burthensome. Further, the Dunkirk men of war within this year last past have,
in like manner, put on shore at Torbay poor Frenchmen and others, to the number
of forty or fifty at a time, to the great charge of the inhabitants, and no
less disturbance of his Majesty’s subjects in several places adjoining. Refer
the consideration hereof to the Lords. (SP 16/363 f.115)
NB
This Thomas Spurway was the son of Thomas Spurway of Exeter, and the
brother-in-law of William Plumleigh. The John Plumleigh referred to, could have
been William’s eldest son, or William’s cousin John Plumleigh who was Mayor of
Dartmouth on several occasions, or even John Plumleigh father of the naval
captain Richard Plumleigh who wrote to his son about the pirate “Dunkirkers”
who were a problem to Dartmouth shipping merchants:
December
1635- Extract from letter of John Plumleigh to his son Sir Richard Plumleigh (
Captain Plumleigh, an Admiral of the Royal Navy)- Dartmouth
Wishes his Majesty
would send a ship to guard the western coast, for there are two of three
Dunkirkers which lie between Dartmouth and Plymouth, right off the Start, and
that week they had taken two French ships coming from the banks laden with
fish, and set on shore 28 men which came to that town, for whom (to their great
charge) they can as yet get no passage. No ship, if they may overcome them goes
free from pillage. A ship of Dartmouth which came in yesterday met with one of
them, from whom they took green ginger, potatoes and other commodities, and
another ship which came from Bordeaux, they have taken to Dunkirk, alleging the
wine to belong to Flemings. (SP 16/305 f.233)
William’s
first wife Jone Spurway was the daughter of another prominent merchant from
Exeter named Thomas Spurway Mayor of Exeter whose descendants also lived in
Dartmouth and were also elected to positions such as mayor. The following
information on Thomas Spurway of Exeter came from the Visitation of Devon 1620 and the website :
(ref: http:// adeinnelson.homestead.com/SpurwayDevon.html)
Visitation of Devon 1620: Spurwaie, supplied by Thos Spurwaie:
Thomas Spurway b.c.1482 at Tiverton in North. Devon; d.1548 Exeter; m.1. Jone Lewis
(d/o Geoffrey Lewis Mayor of Exeter), m.2. Amy Gale of Crediton.
Issue of Thomas Spurway of Exeter:
Thomas Spurway Jnr, John Spurway, 3 daus including Jone Spurway.
Issue of Thomas Spurway Jnr. (and Jone Goram): Thomas Spurway of Dartmouth (m. Luce Liston of Dartmouth) and
Edward Spurway.
Thomas Spurway Snr: Lord Mayor of Exeter 1540-41; 1542- M.P. for Exeter;
receiver-general to the marguis of Exeter who was arrested for treason- Spurway
put in charge of his forfeited estates.
Spurways of Tiverton- a tradition of service to the Courtney earls of Devon.
Thomas Spurway Snr, son of John Spurway
and Agnes Sherron; son of John Spurway
b.c.1446 in Oakford Devonshire (near Tiverton), and Florence Worth b.c.1450;
son of Peter Spurway; son of Robert Spurway (and Elizabeth Spring),
son of Thomas Spurway (and Alice
Pointington), son of Robert Spurway of
Spurway.
Notably the Spurways were
freemen (and Mayors) of Dartmouth during the 1600's- Thomas Spurway Jnr- Mayor
in 1606, 1616, 1622; William Spurway- Mayor in 1655, 1662; Edmund Spurway in
1660; Edward Spurway in 1669
Another
record:
5
December 1643
Further certificate
by Wheeler
In
1642 on the coming forth of the Act of Parliament empowering Corporations to
subscribe for lands in Ireland, certain persons approached the Corporation of
Dartmouth and asked leave to subscribe in their name. These persons undertook
for £2,668.7s.6d. and £2,397.15s. thereof was paid into the Treasurers of the
Guildhall in London. The sums accordingly adventured belong to the actual
subscribers, and not to the Corporation. Arrears have since been paid in by
several persons, which, with their former payments, are to the amount of
£781.15s.: and all are now paid in except some poor persons who, owing in all
£114 to the adventure, have sent in certificates, under the hands of the
Justices, according to the Provisions of the Act, certifying their poverty.
Giles
Rouncevall Capt Nicholas
Roope
George
Leigh Richard Forward
Benjamin
Cleland Richard Tack
William Plumleigh John Adams
Thomas
Boone Roger Sparke
Laurence
Wheeler John Cawley
Edward Spurway Andrew Voysey
John
Staplehill Eustace
Budgell
Dorothy
Mudd Henry Penny
The
total paid in by these persons is £781.15s
(A
further 25 names paid a total of £1,649.7s.6d.
(SP
63/297 f.283)
After William's death, his son John Plumleigh tried unsuccessfully to claim the lands in Ireland that William had invested in. The following records show the results.
State
Records UK (SP Ireland 297..[2164] SP 63/297 f.273 p.256)
19
May 1654
Certificate
by Richard English, notary public
At
the request of John Plumleigh of Dartmouth, son of Wm. Plumleigh, late of
Dartmouth, deceased, he certifies that John is the sole executor of is father’s
last will. The will was duly proved in the Prerogative Court of London before
Sir Nathaniel Brent, Kt., late Judge of the Prerogative Court, and the probate
bears date 28 October 1648, in witness whereof he signs and puts his “wonted
and accustomed firme.”
Also
underwritten with note:- The Commissioners have no power to make over the lands
in Ireland to any but to the heirs of deceased adventurers or to the person to
whom it is expressly given by will; therefore this certificate is nothing
worth.
(SP
63/297 f.274)
29
May 1654
Certificate
by Wheeler, Mayor of Dartmouth, and Thos Spurwaie, or Spurway, two Justices of
the Peace
John
Plumleigh is the son of the late William Plumleigh, William’s will, of which
they have seen probate, gives no bequest of his Irish adventure.
The
following record also refers to William’s eldest son John Plumleigh (born 6 March
1605):
British History
online
Appendix
I: May 1661, Calendar of Treasury Books, Volume 7: 1681-1685, by William A.
Shaw, pub. 1916, pp.1563-1577 Date accessed 23 July 2013
Date:
May 4, 1661
Warrant
by same to the Clerk of the Pipe for a lease to the Mayor, bailiffs and
burgesses of Clifton, Dartmouth Hardness (for 99 years terminable on two lives
to be named by them in reversion after the life of Robert Jago) of the farm of
the office of water bailiff or bailiff of the said town and of the port of the
liberty and precinct thereof and of all the rights and profits granted to the
said Mayor etc. by the patent of Charles I. 1625-6, Mar. 4, for 99 years
terminable on the lives of John
Plumleigh, son of William Plumleigh, Senr., John Mathew, son of Roger
Mathew and Robert Jago, son of Paschasius Jago at a rent of £14.13s.4d. per an.
The present grant is to be under the rent of £20 per an. And fine of £80
payable to the Receiver of the Duchy of Cornwall. (Ref. p110
The
List of Mayors of Dartmouth names a
John Plumleigh Junior in 1627 and a John Plumleigh in 1635. Whether these refer
to William’s son and heir John, or to the second son of the previous Mayor John
Plumleigh (son of Robert Plumleigh, and William’s cousin), can’t be determined.
The Roll of Mayoralty of Dartmouth:[viii]
1613- John Plumleigh (either son of Robert, or, youngest son of John the elder)
1617- William Plumleigh (son of William Snr)
1619/20- John Plumleigh (son of Robert)
1625- William Plumleigh (son of William Snr)
1627- John Plumleigh Jnr (uncertain)
1632- William Plumleigh (son of William Snr)
1635- John Plumleigh (probably son of Robert)
1641- William Plumleigh (son of William Snr)
3. ROBERT PLUMLEIGH
Robert
Plumleigh of Dartmouth, was the third son of John Plumleigh Senior of Dartmouth
Robert’s
son was named John and would have been born in the early 1570’s.
As the name Robert features in Land
Plumleigh’s ancestral line, I would suggest this line is probably the most
relevant to our ancestral search.
According to the Visitation to Devon 1620, Robert Plumleigh married Elizabeth Seyre, daughter of Thomas Seyre or Seire of Dartmouth and had a son John Plumleigh who must have been born c.1570 as he is recorded as marrying in 1597, and was named in his grandfather's will of 1579. In the family tree, no other son of Robert is listed but that does not mean there were no other sons. Records of an Edmund Plumleigh who named his son Robert, and were merchants and mariners in Dartmouth, suggest he may have been a second son of Robert Plumleigh- they will be discussed in detail later.
In his father John Plumleigh's will, written in August 1579, Robert is not mentioned as a beneficiary although all of John's other sons are named as beneficiaries; however, 'John Plumleigh son of Robert Plumleigh is mentioned. The text is difficult to decipher, but John's maternal grandfather Thomas Sayre is also mentioned.
Robert's son and heir John Plumleigh:
According to the Visitation to Devon 1620, Robert Plumleigh married Elizabeth Seyre, daughter of Thomas Seyre or Seire of Dartmouth and had a son John Plumleigh who must have been born c.1570 as he is recorded as marrying in 1597, and was named in his grandfather's will of 1579. In the family tree, no other son of Robert is listed but that does not mean there were no other sons. Records of an Edmund Plumleigh who named his son Robert, and were merchants and mariners in Dartmouth, suggest he may have been a second son of Robert Plumleigh- they will be discussed in detail later.
In his father John Plumleigh's will, written in August 1579, Robert is not mentioned as a beneficiary although all of John's other sons are named as beneficiaries; however, 'John Plumleigh son of Robert Plumleigh is mentioned. The text is difficult to decipher, but John's maternal grandfather Thomas Sayre is also mentioned.
Also, towards the end of the will, John forgives all debts due unto him from his sons William, Thomas and Robert Plumleigh. And just before that section, Robert's name is crossed out. This would seem to signify that Robert had recently pre-deceased his father.
The Register book of
Dartmouth from the year of our Lord God, 1586, wryten by Walter Roche, Clerke,
who in the yeere aforesaid was Presented, Instituted and Inducted into the
Vycaredge of Townstall and Dartmouth aforesaid. A note: I, Antony Harford,
Preacher of Gods word and vicar of Townstall began to keepe the Register booke
June 11th 1636.
Marriages 1591
20/9/1591- John PLUMLEIGH and Joan FOLLETT (unknown record- she could be the Johanne Plumleigh who died in 1609)
Marriages 1597
26/9/1597- John
PLUMLEIGH and Margaret/Marjorie TOWSE, daughter of Evan Towse-
issue
1.Thomas Plumleigh,
2. John
Plumleigh
3. Anthonie
Plumleigh
There is a marriage record (Family search.org) for Evanus
Towse and Elizabt Tapper on 2 July 1576 at Bovey Tracey, Devon, which
appears appropriate as parents of Margaret Towse (ie. about 20 kms north of Totnes).
THE NEW WORLD TAPESTRY
A magnificent tapestry, longer than the Bayeux Tapestry, was produced late last century to commemorate the settling of America, and is housed in the Bristol Museum, Galleries and Archives. (Check it out online at www.newworldtapestry.co.uk)
It is named “The 24 Panels of the New World Tapestry”.
Panel 1620, Scene Three features John Plumleigh Mayor of Dartmouth and his coat of arms. This John was the son of John the elder's third son Robert Plumleigh. (as noted by John's cousin William Plumleigh in the Visitation of Devon 1620)
It is named “The 24 Panels of the New World Tapestry”.
Panel 1620, Scene Three features John Plumleigh Mayor of Dartmouth and his coat of arms. This John was the son of John the elder's third son Robert Plumleigh. (as noted by John's cousin William Plumleigh in the Visitation of Devon 1620)
The Panel for 1620 commemorates the voyage of the Mayflower and Speedwell transporting Separatists who, though loyal subjects of King James, were seeking freedom to worship as they chose, safely away from his persecution, and who had been living in Holland for thirteen years.
Several people are featured in these panels of 1620, and all played prominent roles in the organization of the Mayflower voyage; their Pastor John Robinson was recognized as the father of the “Pilgrim Fathers”, and helped organize the Mayflower expedition in conjunction with his brother-in-law John Carver and other leaders such as Brewster and William Bradford. They left Holland on the Speedwell ready to join with their second chartered vessel the Mayflower awaiting them in Southampton.
On the 5th August 1620, the Mayflower set sail with the Speedwell towards the west of England, but the Speedwell began taking in water and signaled to the Mayflower that they must seek the nearest port for urgent repairs, which turned out to be Dartmouth. There, the Speedwell was beached and the hull inspected. Seams had sprung apart and would have to be caulked, and rotten timbers replaced. All the passengers were forced to leave the ship and seek accommodation in the town, wondering what their reception would be. However, the townsfolk welcomed them, led by the Mayor, John Plumleigh. Dartmouth was a port where Sir Walter Raleigh’s ships were built or were based, and where the Newfoundland fishing fleet sailed from, so repairs to the Speedwell took no longer than six days. However, it did not accompany the Mayflower to the New World, and some of the passengers transferred to the Mayflower before it departed on the 6th September. The New World Tapestry honours the help given by the people of Dartmouth to the Pilgrims, represented by the Mayor and his Arms and also features the Plumleigh building on the Quay which housed some of the Pilgrims during their stay in the town. The Mayor, John Plumleigh, was the son of Robert Plumleigh of Dartmouth. John was also the father of Thomas, John and Anthony (see Visitation of Devon 1620 Plumleigh tree).
Scene three (1620) of the New World Tapestry
featuring John Plumleigh, Mayor of Dartmouth, and his Arms.
(refer to newworldtapestry.co.uk )
THE MERCHANTS OF DARTMOUTH
As State Records show, the merchants of Dartmouth made continual complaints about the pirates known as the Dunkirkers who attacked their merchant vessels and took the cargoes from their ships returning from Portugal and Spain, and also from the fishing grounds at Newfoundland.
As State Records show, the merchants of Dartmouth made continual complaints about the pirates known as the Dunkirkers who attacked their merchant vessels and took the cargoes from their ships returning from Portugal and Spain, and also from the fishing grounds at Newfoundland.
The following article
explains the relationship between the merchants of Dartmouth with the fishing
grounds of Newfoundland during the 1500's to 1700's.
Decks Awash Journal, Vol 22, No 2, March-April 1993
This issue explores the
relationship between the towns of west England and Newfoundland during the
1500’s to 1700’s. The editor wrote that, the West Country was the very reason
for Newfoundland’s existence, as not only did the West Country send its
fishermen to the shores of the “New found lande”, it also sent its explorers.
Many Newfoundland
communities have close historical connections to ports in the West Country of
England. Records indicated the importance of Newfoundland and its fishery to
some of the larger ports such as Bristol, Dartmouth, Plymouth, Exeter and
Poole, etc.
(NB. I have only selected
those sections relating to Dartmouth)
The first European fishermen
to take part in the Newfoundland fishery probably arrived in the 1400’s,
although there was no obvious summer fishery until the 1500’s when the French,
Basques and Spanish became active.
The English did not take
an interest in Newfoundland until the closure of the Icelandic fishing grounds
in the late 1500’s, but the West Country merchants quickly expanded into both
Newfoundland and New England during the Age of Discovery. Several West County
ports greatly increased in importance because of the Newfoundland fishery.
Dartmouth overhauled
Totnes and Exeter as Devon’s main port in the late 1500’s. The Anchor Stone in
Dartmouth Harbour is said to be the place where Sir Walter Raleigh lit the
first pipe to be smoked in England, and also where local men brought their
wives at rising tide to cool off. In the 1500’s, Totnes had five times as many
shipowners as Dartmouth, where James Pelliton was the most prominent
merchant. In Totnes, the Shapleigh and Plumleigh families
were active. The Newman family, who moved to Dartmouth in the 1600’s were
Totnes merchants in the 1500’s. The main reason that Totnes was more important
was that the River Dart was often heavily silted with sand from the nearby
tinworks. Topsham, Dartmouth and Teignmouth battled for supremacy in the late
1500’s to early 1800’s, but local herring and
pilchard fisheries were important too.
The loss of the Icelandic
fishery to Denmark encouraged Dartmouth and Plymouth merchants to look to
Newfoundland after 1580. Roope, Holdsworth and Teage operated out of Dartmouth.
Peter Ouquier was another merchant in Dartmouth as was Andrew Pinson.
Being a free port,
Dartmouth’s vessels operated on the share system developed in Iceland, with one
third to the shipowner for hire and maintenance, one third to the merchants for
fitting out and supplies, and one third to the master and crew for wages and
reward. This became the normal method of payment in the Newfoundland fishery.
John Davis was the most
famous Dartmouth sailor in the 1500’s, far surpassing the Gilberts, and between
1580 and 1640 Dartmouth was the richest port in terms of trade with
Newfoundland. As Burton wrote in his book on the West Country, “Life was hard,
the risks great, the profits enormous”, and Newfoundland trade built up the
British Navy which soon outpowered that of the Dutch. Small wonder that the
Royal Naval College was built in Dartmouth.
Sir Humphrey Gilbert set
sail for North America from Dartmouth in 1578 with the most powerful squadron
ever assembled on the west coast with the idea of crippling the fishing fleets
of France, Spain and Portugal. After obtaining royal authority to take
possession of any new lands he discovered, he put together a fleet, including
two ships under the command of Walter Raleigh and his half-brother Carey Raleigh.
Although the expedition as a disaster taking four years to pay his debts and
rebuild a new fleet, Gilbert claimed Newfoundland for the English crown on
August 5, 1583. After his death, his brother persuaded John Davis to seek the
North West passage after 1585. Exeter and Totnes merchants financed the 1586
trip, and in 1587 he got finance from a relative of Walter Raleigh for a
trip from Dartmouth. As many as 100 ships may have sailed from Dartmouth,
Plymouth and other West Country harbours in the 1585-87 period, but the fishery
was suspended in 1588 because of war with Spain that culminated in the routing
of the Spanish Armada by Sir Francis Drake. The next century saw a substantial
increase in transatlantic trade and the fist established settlements in Newfoundland.
In the 1600’s the French
were a constant threat to the fishery, but the more difficult to deal with were
the English privateers and pirates. There were so many prates that , in 1625,
the mayors of Poole and Weymouth made a desperate plea to the Crown to offer
special protection, without success. At that time, 250 ships were setting sail
for Newfoundland. Both cod and oil were brought from Newfoundland. Macpherson
listed 150 small ships engaged in Newfoundland trade in 1615, 250 ion 1622 and 170
in 1626. Another pamphlet published in 1623 also referred to 250 English
vessels sailing for Newfoundland. By 1636, merchants and shipowners from
Exeter, Plymouth, Weymouth and Lyme Regis were all complaining about pirates.
The French fleet appeared in 1636 and the mayor of Weymouth claimed 87 ships
were lost that year.
As early as 1592, London
merchants were complaining about the blockage of Newfoundland trade by West
Country merchants. Dartmouth expanded in 1600 with the filling in of marshland
and became the leading trading port of Devon with a sheltered deep-water
harbour and two protective castles. Trade with Spain and Portugal later
overshadowed the fishery in Newfoundland. Residents of Devon towns settled on
the Southern Shore of Newfoundland in the mid-late 1600’s
Despite interruptions by
maritime wars, Dartmouth prospered better than most other West Country ports
between 1583 and 1643, and the Newfoundland fishery drew hundreds of new
families to the free port, which wisely recruited them as burgesses and made
them servants of the town.
No ship could leave before
March 1, so the rush to get to the fishing rooms was intense. Salt, cod and cod
oil were taken to Portugal and Spain before a return to port in the fall. These
direct sales were not economical, so Dartmouth merchants were already taking
control by 1612. They bought salt in France and took it to Newfoundland, before
sailing to the West Indies with fish to trade for rum or tobacco. Two runs
could be made in good years.
Trade declined in the wars
of the 1620’s, but privateering flourished with at least 80 ships involved, and
Turkish pirates are reported to have captured the Plymouth fishing fleet in
1636. Further wars reduced the fishing fleet in 1652 but built up by 1677 but
declined to a point where it had almost ended by 1699 after which merchants
concentrated on trade with the West Indies.
One of the most prominent
Dartmouth merchants was Captain Arthur Holdsworth, who first visited
Newfoundland in the 1640’s and later and became a leading local politician,
elected as mayor of Dartmouth in 1672.
Dartmouth merchants engaged in the wine trade with Portugal by the
1650’s. Robert Shapleigh (viz. father of Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Plumleigh
Senior), John
Plumleigh and Thomas Saier (viz. father
of Elizabeth, wife of Robert Plumleigh senior) were all in the cod fishery
and may have sent ships to Newfoundland long before the trade in cod increased.
West Country merchants
continued to prevent a permanent Governor being appointed on the Southern Shore
of Newfoundland in order to maintain their monopoly. Fishermen still returned
home at the end of each fishing season even after a relaxing of the rules in
1670.
Wars and threats of wars
largely destroyed the Newfoundland trade in the late 1600’s- the Third Dutch
War of 1672-74 was particularly hard on Dartmouth’s ships, 27 of which were
lost. By the end of the 1600’s, there may have been as many as 400 fishing
vessels in Newfoundland waters, 20% from Dartmouth. Totnes merchants had by then moved to Dartmouth.
Because the Newfoundland
fishery provided such excellent training in handling boats in the most
difficult conditions, Dartmouth and Poole became prime targets for the Royal
Navy press gangs. When wars loomed, embargo warrants would decimate the ranks
of Newfoundland bound fishermen.
Dartmouth only sent 21
vessels in 1700, mostly under the control of Arthur Holdsworth, who was by then
Admiral at St John’s. He employed 136 bye-boat keepers recruited in Devon.
Bristol overtook Dartmouth and Plymouth as Exeter’s biggest rival. Rum, sugar
and tobacco were the main imports from America, and slaves were the main
exports. However, Dartmouth’s importance increased while that of Bristol
declined as a direct result of its freer trading practices. Most Dartmouth
merchants had set up in Port de Grave. In 1791, about 112 Dartmouth ships were
used in the trade with Newfoundland and the Mediterranean. There were Dartmouth
natives on the Northern Peninsular of Newfoundland, too. There was a brief
revival in Newfoundland trade after 1763, but this was ended by the American
War of Independence in 1766.
(Recommended reading
Russell, Percy, Dartmouth: A
history of the Port and Town, B.T. Batsford Ltd, Toronto 1950; Mee, Arthur,
Devon: Cradle of Our Seamen, The Caxton Publishing Co., Ltd. London 1949.
Devonshire Parishes,
or the Antiquities, Heraldry and Family History of 28 Parishes in the
Archdeaconry of Totnes, by Charles Wortthy esq. London 1889, Vol. II, Ch. XIV,
Part IV Parish of Dartmouth:
In
1641, John Plumleigh by deed, gave
to the town, a close of land at Ford Head, as a place for the inhabitants to
dry and bleach their clothes in, and the herbage for the poor. The grass is now
let for £6 a year. Adjoining is a meadow of half an acre, in which the
inhabitants have the right to wash and dry their clothes, for which purpose
wells and tables are provided.
Devon Record Office
R9/1-0/Z/5
15 May 1627
Feoffment
by William Langdon and John Smith (at the appointment of the Mayor, bailiffs and
burgesses of Clifton Dartmouth Hardness) to John Staplehill, Richard Smith,
Thomas Walldrob, John Plumleigh the
younger, Edward Spurway, Giles Rounsevali, John Follett and Symon Voysie of
Dartmouth, merchants, Rectory of
Tounstal and Chapel of Dartmouth and all tithes.
Devon Record Office 4625M-0/Z/5
8 Sept. 1627
Order from Whitehall to the mayor and burgesses of Dartmouth to enquire into the failure of John Shapleigh, John Plumleigh, John Richards and John Budley to carry out their official duties.
(NB in 1627 John Plumleigh Junior was Mayor of Dartmouth)
Devon Record Office 4625M-0/Z/5
8 Sept. 1627
Order from Whitehall to the mayor and burgesses of Dartmouth to enquire into the failure of John Shapleigh, John Plumleigh, John Richards and John Budley to carry out their official duties.
(NB in 1627 John Plumleigh Junior was Mayor of Dartmouth)
Cornwall Record
Office CY/3764
13 April 1686
Assignment
of lease by way of mortgage £150
(i)
Peter
Trevisa, Crockaton, St Mellion, esq.
(ii)
Rich.
Richmond, London, gent.
Rec.
of lease of Jn. Frances, Gilbert Staplehill, Vincent Winchester, Wm Spurway,
Jn. Martyn, Rich. Smith, Geo. Plumleigh,
Thos Plumleigh, Thos Wandroppe, Wm. Holland, Jn. Plumleigh, jun, and Jn. Follett of borough of Clifton Dartmouth
Hardnes, Devon, merchants under common seal the said borough, 1 August 1622. (surr. of former lease
to Aldred Staplehill, 67 yrs to run. Andrew Voysey, Dartmouth, merchant,
possessed of lease and had undertaken to erect some commodious buildings on the
land). Also £3. Leased to him (A. Voysey)- quay and parcel of land in
Dartmouth, Fosse Way on west. Quay extended from there east as far as wall of
quay or palace called Howlyes Hall. For 80 yrs. Rent 13s.4d.
(NB. In
1622, the George, Thomas and John Plumleigh jun. named in the record above
probably referred to the three sons of William Plumleigh.)
Recital:
Wm Barnes, Lawrence Wheeler, Jn. Budley, Jn. Hoolygrove, Walt. Jay, Gilbert
Staplehill, Anthony Follett, Jn.
Plumleigh, Jn Matthew, Dartmouth,
merchants and feoffees of lands belonging to the corporation of the borough, 6
August 1655 under common seal of the borough. For £25 leased to Andrew Voysey,
curtilage, palace, cellar and loft at North Town, Dartmouth, at the Fosse,
street called Fosse on the west, east Dartmouth harbour. Cellar, and loft built
on land of first recital (above). To hold from 24 June 1703 for 32 yrs. Rent
13s.
Recital:
Jn. Frances, Wm Spurway, Gilbert Staplehill and Jn. Plumleigh of Dartmouth, merchants and feoffees by lease under
common seal of borough 7 August 1655. For £4. To Andrew Voysey, land at N.
town Dartmouth adjg. E. side of cellar occ. By Voysey. Rec. of will of Andrew
Voysey, the father, 18 May 1653, excr.s. Andrew Voysey, 21 Aug 1653. A. Voysey
jun. proved the will at Westminster (‘in the then Court for probate of
Wills..’) and procured redr. Of term of first lease. Rec. A Voysey, jun. made
his will 25 December 1680- made wife Rebecca excx. She proved at P.C.C.
After
leases a ‘fair messuage’ and several other edifices built and a crane and a
crane house on land leased above- premises improved. Rec. of assignment by
Rebecca Voysey. 14 February 1683. For £152 to Peter Trevisa- quay, cellars, and
lofts and buildings and crane and crane house for redr. Of term of 80 years.)
Quay,
cellars, lofts, and buildings in North Town, Dartmouth for several terms of
years. (Mortgage to be repaid 14 October following at house of Samuel
Hartcliffe, scrivener; Jn Drayton, servant
(NB Andrew Voysey was Mayor in 1626 the year between William
Plumleigh’s mayoralty in 1625 and John Plumleigh Jnr in 1627)
THE SONS OF JOHN PLUMLEIGH (Son of Robert), MAYOR OF DARTMOUTH
As mentioned, John Plumleigh (son of Robert) had three sons (named in the Visitation of Devon), viz. Thomas, John, and Anthony.
They were born between 1598 and 1618 to John and his wife Margaret/Margery Towse daughter of Evan Towse
They were married on 26 September 1597:
A Mr John Plumleigh, described as "Merchant", died on 17th and was buried on 18th August 1658 at St Petrox Church:
There is a burial record for a Margery, wife of Mr John Plumlie on 1 January 1627/28 at St Saviours:
There is a marriage record (Family search.org) for Evanus Towse and Elizabt Tapper on 2 July 1576 at Bovey Tracey, Devon, which appears appropriate as parents of Margaret Towse (ie. about 20 kms north of Totnes).
As mentioned, John Plumleigh (son of Robert) had three sons (named in the Visitation of Devon), viz. Thomas, John, and Anthony.
They were born between 1598 and 1618 to John and his wife Margaret/Margery Towse daughter of Evan Towse
They were married on 26 September 1597:
A Mr John Plumleigh, described as "Merchant", died on 17th and was buried on 18th August 1658 at St Petrox Church:
There is a burial record for a Margery, wife of Mr John Plumlie on 1 January 1627/28 at St Saviours:
There is a marriage record (Family search.org) for Evanus Towse and Elizabt Tapper on 2 July 1576 at Bovey Tracey, Devon, which appears appropriate as parents of Margaret Towse (ie. about 20 kms north of Totnes).
ANTHONY PLUMLEIGH born 1618, SON OF JOHN PLUMLEY
Anthony Plumley was christened at
St. Saviour’s on 26 July 1618, father named as John Plumley.
baptism record Anthony, son of John Plumley 26/7/1618 St Saviours
Other
issue of John Plumley (Mayor Elect of
Dartmouth and son of Robert Plumleigh) Penelope-
ch 20 Aug 1609;
Agnes- ch 6/7/1606.
Also,
Thomas, and
John (Visitation of Devon
1620- see below)
An
Anthonie Plumleigh/Plumbleigh married Joane Penny on 5 Feb 1641 at St
Saviour’s Church, and was probably the Anthony born in 1618. Joane was the daughter of Thomas and Joane Penny. Joane's mother, Joane "wife of Thomas Penny" was buried 17 November 1652 at St Saviours.
marriage record Anthonie Plumleigh and Joane Penny 5 February 1641/1642
.
They
had issue:
Elizabeth Plumleigh was christened on 6
December 1644 at St Saviour’s, father named as Anthony Plumleigh.
Margerie Plumleigh- b.1642
Marie Plumleigh- b.1646 d.1651
Sarah Plumleigh- b/d 1649
Sarah Plumleigh- b.1650
Mary Plumleigh- b.1652,
all
baptized at St. Saviour’s.
So
they were probably the parents of Anthony Plumleigh christened 2 November 1663 at St Saviour, son
of Anthony Plumleigh. Anthony also had an elder brother Thomas and a sister named Esther (see Will of C. Stocker below), no baptism records yet found- this lack of records may be because of the appointment, by John Plumleigh and Edward Spurway, of Rev. Allen Geare and John Flavell to the vicarage of Townstall and Chapel of St Saviour in 1656 from which they were ejected in 1662 due to their non-conformism. (see section below on John Flavell and his ministry.)
Baptism of Anthony Plumleigh 2 November 1663
(Notably
the records of the baptisms of Anthony Plumley in 1618 and his brothers, and
Anthony Plumleigh in 1663, and the daughters of Anthony and Joane, all have the
same batch number and film number in Familysearch.org, viz. Batch C05079-1,
film 917192.)
The Will of Charles Stocker, Mariner of Dartmouth, proved 1 March 1693/94 (PROB 11/419/15 Prerogative Court Canterbury), written 8 January 1692 (shortly before his death), left his house and household goods to his wife during her natural life and then his eldest son Charles, and if his son died, to his brothers-in-law Thomas and Anthony Plumleigh. He also nominated his brothers-in-law, Thomas and Anthony Plumleigh his executors, and signed the will in the presence of Anthony Plumleigh and Dorothy Plumleigh.
Charles Stocker married Esther Plumley on 10 April 1684 at St Saviour, Dartmouth, and their son Charles was baptised 5 May 1687 at St Saviour.
So this record shows that Anthony Plumleigh (husband of Dorothy Burwood) had an elder brother Thomas and a sister Esther in addition to those above.
Joane Plumleigh was buried at St Saviours on 13 April 1666, just three years after the birth of Anthony, which may have contributed to her death as she would have been in her forties.
The second burial record was in 1696, and again it was spelt Plumly:
Anthony Plumleigh, the elder, was a wealthy merchant and shipowner who built an impressive building at No. 29 Fairfax Place in Dartmouth in 1665, next to the building owned by his close relative Robert Plumleigh. These buildings are still in existence and details are given below.
The Will of Charles Stocker, Mariner of Dartmouth, proved 1 March 1693/94 (PROB 11/419/15 Prerogative Court Canterbury), written 8 January 1692 (shortly before his death), left his house and household goods to his wife during her natural life and then his eldest son Charles, and if his son died, to his brothers-in-law Thomas and Anthony Plumleigh. He also nominated his brothers-in-law, Thomas and Anthony Plumleigh his executors, and signed the will in the presence of Anthony Plumleigh and Dorothy Plumleigh.
Charles Stocker married Esther Plumley on 10 April 1684 at St Saviour, Dartmouth, and their son Charles was baptised 5 May 1687 at St Saviour.
So this record shows that Anthony Plumleigh (husband of Dorothy Burwood) had an elder brother Thomas and a sister Esther in addition to those above.
Joane Plumleigh was buried at St Saviours on 13 April 1666, just three years after the birth of Anthony, which may have contributed to her death as she would have been in her forties.
burial record of Joane (Penny) wife of Anthonie Plumleigh Snr 13/4/1666 at St Saviours
There are two records of deaths of Anthony Plumleys which may be relevant. The first died a few months after Joane, on August 21, 1666, although the record has spelt his name Plumley and her name as Plumleigh (although spelling of names at this time was not formalised). If they did both die in 1666, the elder daughters must have raised the infant Anthony. The second burial was on the 15 April 1696 at St Saviours. However, which of the two records is relevant is difficult to determine.
burial record Anthony Plumley 21/8/1666 at St Saviours
burial record Anthony Plumly 15/4/1696 at St Saviours
(NB. "Eddem die" means same date)
Anthony Plumleigh, the elder, was a wealthy merchant and shipowner who built an impressive building at No. 29 Fairfax Place in Dartmouth in 1665, next to the building owned by his close relative Robert Plumleigh. These buildings are still in existence and details are given below.
Anthony Plumleigh, the younger (b.1663), married Dorothy Burdwood at St Petrox Church on 24 September 1689.
Dorothy was the
daughter of James and Dorothy Burdwood. He was a non-conformist minister of St Petrox Church who was closely
associated with the preacher John Flavel of St Saviours Church, with whom he
held private meetings. (see below)
Notably,
Land Plumleigh’s parents, Anthony
Plumleigh and Elizabeth Pyle married in 1768 at St. Petrox. The Burdwoods had several children, many of them dying at a young age: Margaret b.1654, Joseph b.1656, Nathaniel b.1657 d.1659, Theophilis b.1659, James b.1660, and daughters Susanah d.1683 and Rebekah d.1678. A daughter named Dorothy after her mother was buried 12 April 1665, so their youngest daughter, also named Dorothy, who married Anthony, must have been born after 1665.
Dorothy Burdwood, wife of James Burdwood was buried 6 October 1684 at St Saviours.
The following burial record is for a Dorothy Plumleigh. This could be Dorothy, wife of Anthony Plumleigh. She was buried on 25 August 1728 at St Saviours, and was described as a widow. However, it could also be Dorothy Plumleigh the widow of Thomas Plumleigh, a Dartmouth merchant who died in June 1714 and who left his whole estate to his widow Dorothy and a small bequest to his daughter Susannah. (PROB. 11/541/158). Notably, he left her his lands in Plymtree which is north of Exeter.
Her husband Anthony, named as Mr Anthony Plumleigh, a title only accorded those of social rank, died in 1719, buried on June 16 at St Saviours:
As the names of Anthony, Robert and Dorothy frequent this line, I would suggest that it is highly probable that Land (Dorothy) Plumleigh descended from this line. (see two trees below)
Dorothy Burdwood, wife of James Burdwood was buried 6 October 1684 at St Saviours.
The following burial record is for a Dorothy Plumleigh. This could be Dorothy, wife of Anthony Plumleigh. She was buried on 25 August 1728 at St Saviours, and was described as a widow. However, it could also be Dorothy Plumleigh the widow of Thomas Plumleigh, a Dartmouth merchant who died in June 1714 and who left his whole estate to his widow Dorothy and a small bequest to his daughter Susannah. (PROB. 11/541/158). Notably, he left her his lands in Plymtree which is north of Exeter.
THE ANCESTRY OF EDMUND PLUMLEIGH AND SON ROBERT PLUMLEIGH, MARINERS AND MERCHANTS OF DARTMOUTH
As previously
mentioned, there are several references to an Edmund Plumleigh and son Robert
Plumleigh who were merchants and mariners in Dartmouth in the 1600’s, and
appear to be closely related to William Plumleigh, John Plumleigh and John’s son Anthony
Plumleigh.
State
Papers online have a record dated 1636, of an Edmund Plumleigh of Dartmouth, master of the Medusa, and his son Robert,
sailor on the Medusa who was captured
by Dunkirkers in 1636 (see record below).
State Records UK
17 October 1636
Similar examination of Robert Plumleigh of Dartmouth, sailor, taken 15th
October 1636. Went in Medusa of
Dartmouth, of about 20 tons, Edmund
Plumleigh, master, for a voyage to Morlaix, laden with helling stones,
eight coloured kersies, and four rolls of St Christopher’s tobacco- about 40
lbs in each roll. Sailed 25th August last. The same night were
chased by a vessel which they thought to be a Turk, but afterwards perceived,
to be a Dunkirk sloop or frigate. Examinant and John Williams were taken aboard
and examined by the captain, who, being told by men whom he had sent aboard the
Medusa of the kersies and the
tobacco, the captain commanded them to be brought aboard the frigate. They also
took out of the Medusa three Flemish
jugs or pots, and most of the clothes of the company. The frigate, in Hamoaze
is the same ship that took the Medusa,
and the three jugs or pots are now aboard her. (SP 16/334 f. 36)
17 October 1636- Similar examination
of John Williams of Dartmouth, seaman, but taken before Sir James Bagg. Was on
board the Medusa and accompanied Robert Plumleigh onboard the Nicodemus, as before stated.
Gives
the same account as Robert Plumleigh
of what took place, adding that when Capt, Jonson told them to go aboard their
ship he said, “I told you I was of Flushing, now you shall know I am of
Dunkirk”. He corroborated Plumleigh, that the Nicodemus was the ship that robbed them. (SP 16/334 f.38)
17
October 1636- Further examination of Robert
Plumleigh, sailor, another of the company of the Medusa.
He
affirmed that the examination of John Williams was true. (SP 16/334 f.39)
Robert Plumleigh
would go on to have a distinguished naval career during the Interregnum under
the Protector Oliver Cromwell as the following records from State Archives UK
show:
25 January 1653- Capt
Hen. Hatsell, Plymouth, Adm. Com., to Robt Blackbone: Asks a warrant to
impress men for the Gift and Duchess and
appointment of officers. The Success
and Falmouth have arrived from
France. A man-of-war of Brest has taken five or six coasting barks. Recommends Capt. Robt. Plumleigh of Dartmouth, for
the command of the Samson. (SP 18/46
f.130)
14 Feb 1653- Capt.
Robert Plumleigh
nominated by the Admiralty Committee to be captain of the ship Samson approved, and the Generals of the
fleet to give him a commission (SP25/39 f.49)
The
Samson was a 32 gun ship, ex Dutch Samsun captured in 1652 and sold in
1658.
23 Feb 1653- Capt Hen Hatsell,
Plymouth, Adm. Comm. Lieut. Wyatt having declined the command of the Sampson will
give it to Capt Plumleigh and
dispatch him back to Portsmouth to procure seamen, and supply her with ordnance
from the prizes. (SP 18/47 f.255 p.535
25 Feb 1653 Capt. Hen Hatsell to
the Admiralty Committee- Plymouth
I
will hasten the fitting out of the Marmaduke
and Sampson. Capt Plumleigh is gone to Dartmouth to get men for the Sampson.
21
June 1653 Capt Robt Plumleigh, Sampson, Portsmouth.
Conveyed
certain vessels to Ireland by order of the General, and on returning, met Capt.
Sparling, and who ordered him to ply on the Irish coast; then went to the
Rendezvous to wash and water, and convoyed some vessels to Plymouth. Has but
five week’s provisions, and his men are much discontented with the quantity and
quality. (SP 18/55 f.40 p.610)
19 July 1653 Capt
Robert Plumleigh
to the Admiralty Committee- The Sampson,
Dover Road
On
order of Commissioner Willoughby, I searched the coasts between the Isle of
Wight and the Downs, and found the sea very clear of pirates and other
infestors. The fleet off Dartmouth was not the Dutch fleet as suspected. I left
the Charity and Black Baven at Portsmouth. I require tallowing and revic-tualling,
having been off the ground six months. (SP18/38 f.160 p.36)
12 Aug 1653 Capt Robt
Plumleigh,
Sampson, Dover Road (Adm. Com.)
Has
taken in 5,612 round shot by order of Mr Green, and will sail to the fleet at
Southwould Bay with all speed, but requires cables and anchors, being ordered
to lie on the coast of Holland. (SP 18/57 f.143 p.477)
Capt Robert Plumleigh was transferred to
the larger vessel, the Reserve, on which ship he served for the remainder of
his career. The Reserve was a 40 gun, 4th
rate frigate built for the navy of the Commonwealth of England and launched in
1650. She was a full rigged ship of 523 tons, 100’ x 31’.
9 July 1655 Capt Robt Plumleigh, Reserve, Plymouth Sound
Received
the Protector’s instructions appointing Capt. Ames of the Winsby as his
consort, and on her arrival will use all diligence to observe them, having
victualed for 4 months at Plymouth. (SP18/111 f.47 p.502)
21 July 1655. Capt
Robt Plumleigh,
Reserve, to Adm. Com.,
Being
off Scilly, took a Frenchman with fish from Newfoundland, bound for Rochelle,
and having manned her, has sent her for England.
In
July, certified his departure from Plymouth, and the taking and sending in
there of a ship of Rochelle with fish; has since met another from Newfoundland,
from whom he demanded the 10th due to the State, but as she had
little money, was forced to receive £10, 6 hogsheads of train oil, and 100 of
dry fish. Since then, has been guarding the English fishery from the French, of
whom there have been 100 sail fishing on the coast; the English have generally
made a good voyage, and gone home. Will go for Portsmouth, but if he is to keep
at sea, will want another suit of sails.
(SP
18/111 f. 127 p.507)
Privy Council Day’s
Proceedings
(SP 25/76 f.496 p.137)
25 Jan 1655-6
Order-on
report from the Admiralty Commissioners that they have received advertisement
from Capt Plumleigh in the Downs,
that the Dartmouth frigate has
brought in a Flemish ship that lately came from Nantes, laden with French wine,
whose master and company confessed they were to unload at Ostend or Dunkirk-
that the charge of the ship and her lading be given to the Prize Goods
Commissioners, to keep a distinct account thereof, and report it to the Customs
Commissioners, who are to have an inspection into that business.
11 Feb 1655-6 Capt
Robt Plumleigh, Reserve, Downs to
Blackborne
Asks leave of absence
for 2 months to go to Dartmouth to settle his affairs and recruit his health,
having been in the service 3 years, and not more than 14 days with his family.
Was forced to leave his estate in a very confused condition, and the greater
part being in shipping, his partners have not rendered him an account of the
losses and gains, particularly in the Newfoundland voyages, and there are other
matters requiring his attention. (SP18/133 f.229 p.467)
11 Feb 1655-6 Capt
Robt Plumliegh,
Reserve, Downs (Adm. Com)
Sends
an account of the pressed men received from the Cinque Ports, and of their
disposal; is pressing more daily, but the arrival of ships in the Roads
obstructs it. Sent Capt Jno. Groves of the Pembroke to Yarmouth, for those in
the custody of Mr Burton and Capt Mackey, and will distribute them as ordered.
The squadron needs re-victualling and cleaning, so as to be able to destroy the
Dunkirk and Ostend pirates infesting the coasts. Capt Berry of the Nonsuch met 6 of them, having 10 to 12
guns each, and was forced to leave his convoy to the mercy of the enemy and
shift for himself; being upon the wind; but he had a skirmish with one of them
for 2 hours when she left him. Bread is much wanted, and the contract with the
baker has expired. (SP 18/133 f,223 p.467)
15 Feb 1655-6 Capt
Robt Plumleigh, Reserve, Downs (Adm. Com)
Desires leave of
absence for 2 months, to settle an estate left him at Dartmouth. (SP 18/134 f.75
p.474)
16 Feb 1655-6 Capt
Robt Plumleigh, Reserve, Downs, to Robt Blackbone
Thanks for procuring
him leave of absence from the Commissioners; is willing to wait until the 1st
of next month before taking it. (SP 18/134 f.105 p.475
23 Feb 1655-6 Capt Lamb,
Cornelius, Harwich (Adm. Com)
Had
orders from Capt. Plumleigh, commander-in-chief
in the Downs, to proceed to Harwich to convoy some provisions for Dover.
(SP 18/135 f.59 p.486)
27 Feb 1655-6 Capt
Robt Plumleigh, Reserve, Downs (Adm. Com)
Has
received some more pressed men, and sends a list of them. Desires order to
discharge some he has on board, as being useless. Renews his application for two
months’ leave of absence. (SP 18/135 f.162 p.491)
27 Feb 1655-6 Major Wm Burton,
Yarmouth, Adm Com.,
Cannot
agree with Capt. Plumleigh that 70
or 80 of the pressed men were no sailors, but it cannot be expected that fishermen
are as competent as able seamen, and it is easy for the captain to cast dirt in
others’ faces, and not press any men himself; does not desire such thankless
employment. (SP 18/135 f.152 p.491)
3 March 1655-6 Capt
Robt Plumleigh,
Reserve, Downs, Adm Com.,
Out
of 68 pressed men on board, has taken out 30 as unfit for service, and will
return them to Yarmouth by the Dartmouth, which is to convoy to the Downs
several vessels delayed by the embargo. Thanks
for leave of absence, and recommends his lieutenant for the temporary command.
Has directed the commanders of the squadron to keep their officers and men on
board, so as to be ready to oppose any that assault them, and have ordered
Capt. Rich. Country, of the Hind
ketch, to ply upon the coast. (SP 18/136 f.51 p.497)
27 April 1656 Capt Robt
Plumleigh, Reserve, Downs, Adm. Com.
His leave having
expired, has returned to his command, but finds his ship leaky and foul, having
been out 11 months; asks orders. The Ostend and Dunkirk men of war are busy in
the Channel; the Bryer, in which he
came as passenger, chased 5 of them, but they escaped. (SP 18.139 f.154 p.544
11 August 1656. Capt Allgate, the Wexford, Harwich, Adm. Com.
Received
orders from Capt. Plumleigh to see
the 4 vessels he convoyed from Rotterdam for London into the river. (SP 18/143
f.180 p.405
20 Oct 1656 Capt Jer. Smyth, the
Dunbar, Downs (Adm. Com)
The
Dartmouth has come in to clean and
victual: as Capt. Plumleigh’s
father-in-law is dead, he desires leave to go to London for 5 days, while
she is supplied.
26 Oct 1656 Capt Robt
Plumleigh,
Reserve, Downs, to Robt Blackborne
Thanks
for favours as also for the narrative of the victory of the fleet on the coast
of Spain. Retook the Palm of Dartmouth,
and sent her to the Downs. Examined all ships passing the Narrow, but could not
meet with any of the enemy; hearing they have a rendezvous on the coast near
Plymouth, hopes they embezzled several parcels of goods, and has put some of
them in irons on board the Dunbar,
for trial by a court martial; the commander-in-chief and the governor of Deal
are endeavouring to find out the buyers, two of whom are Mun. Bingelston and
Vincent Dean of Deal; the former was charged 10 months since with buying a
hawser of the gunner of the Preston. Hopes they will be punished. (SP 18/146
f.292 p.442)
10 Nov 1656 Capt Jer. Smyth, the
Dunbar, Downs (Adm. Com)
Desires
leave of absence. Capt Plumleigh will
take command meantime, his ship requiring refitting. (SP18/147 f.182 p.453)
(The
Dunbar was launched in 1656, 64 guns,
2nd rate ship of the line.)
11 Nov. 1656 Capt Ben Gunson, Truelove, Rye (Adm. Com)
Will
convoy 12 or 14 sail with the first wind, and proceed to the Narrow to look
after Capt. Plumleigh and his squadron,
as ordered. (SP 18/147 f.207 p.454)
2 July 1657 Capt Robt Plumleigh, Reserve,
Plymouth, Adm Com.
Thanks
for late leave of absence; will Bail for Newfoundland with the first wind, the Satisfaction and other ships bound that
way having joined him. (SP 18/169 f.17 p.393)
12 Oct 1657. Capt
Robert Plumleigh,
Reserve, Plymouth Sound, Adm., Com.
Convoyed
several ships from Plymouth bound for New England and Newfoundland, and off
Scilly, left Capt Butler with those for New England, and proceeded with the
others to Newfoundland. Found the English fishery there all safe, but there had
been a great want of provisions in the land, and the fleet was in great
distress for bread. Spared 8,000 lbs to such had most need. Has returned with
47 sail, and the masters return thanks for the convoy. The best fishing voyage
made this year will have a losing account, both to adventurers and seamen,
price of fish this year being only between 16 and 17 ryals per quintal, which
is a very low rate and besides only a small quantity is taken. (SP 18/172
f.134. p.435)
4 May 1658 Arth. Farmer, Mayor,
Aldworth (Navy Com)
Order to make out a
bill to Capt. Robt Plumleigh, of the Reserve,
for £50, for his extraordinary care in managing the fleet in the Downs, when he
was commander-in-chief, and for other services since 1 Jan 1655-6.
NB
Oliver Cromwell died 3 Sept 1658 and while he was succeeded by his son Richard,
the Commonwealth failed within a short time and King Charles II was invited to
return to England, and was restored to the throne in 1660.
5 Feb 1658-9 Capt
Robt Plumleigh,
Reserve, Spithead to Robt Blackborne
In
his last voyage for France, cruising in his station to the west of Scilly, met
with very stormy weather which forced him into the Channel; secured himself in
Plymouth Sound, where he received the Commissioners’ orders to proceed to
Spithead, but could not sail until the 2nd instant. Having been off
the ground nearly 3 months, his ship is foul and leaky, and the ironworks of
his rudder are broken; has only 9 days’ provisions left, and wants cables,
sails &c. (SP 18/208 f.37 p.521)
21 Feb 1658-9 Capt
Robt Plumleigh,
Reserve, Spithead, to Robt Blackborne
Sends
a receipt for 50 printed tickets. Thanks
for appointing his lieutenant, who, being a relative, is valued at a higher
rate. Wants 20 more men and a press warrant. Has made all dispatch in
fitting out, and would have sailed had not an order come to the ordnance
officers to supply him with 4 more guns and materials; on receipt thereof, will
proceed to Hoseley Bay. (SP 18/209 f.39 p.535)
NB.
This was the last entry for Captain Robert Plumleigh in the records. He would
have been dismissed on the return of King Charles II.
5 April 1662, Robert
Plumleigh of Mary
Warrants
(see p.38 in Calendar of State Papers Dom, Charles II Adenda 1660-1685) from Commissioners for Discharging Navy to
Sir Thomas Player to pay out of the three months assessment commencing 2 June
1660 the sums due since 14 March 1658 to: Robert Plumleigh of Mary, 5 Apr. 1662
(SP 46/138 f.219 p.6)
The reference above to Robert Plumleigh 'of Mary' is unclear. Robert returned to Dartmouth where his building at No. 4 The Quay was situated, and it still exists- details below. I cannot find a place called 'Mary'.
The reference above to Robert Plumleigh 'of Mary' is unclear. Robert returned to Dartmouth where his building at No. 4 The Quay was situated, and it still exists- details below. I cannot find a place called 'Mary'.
Edmund Plumleigh and
son Robert
are named in a petition dated 1642:
On
25 January 1642, a petition
addressed to the Justices of the Peace for the County of Devon was signed by “The Mayor, his brethren and the rest of the
inhabitants of Clifton-Dartmouth-Hardness and places adjacent. The petitioners, who are occupied in the
Newfoundland fisheries, complain that their trade is likely to be destroyed in
consequence of the number of Turkish pirates from Algiers and Sallee, the
rebellion in Ireland, and the dread entertained of a popish rising.
The
following Plumleighs signed the petition
No.
39 William Plumleigh, the Mayor,
home parish: Dartmouth SS.
No.
153- Edmond Plumleigh, home parish:
Dartmouth SS
No.
155- Robert Plumleigh, b.1614, son
of Edmond, home parish: Stoke
Fleming (a few miles south of Dartmouth near the southern coast- see map above).
The
IGI records have Edmonde Plumleigh
marrying Alice on 14 March 1613 at
Townstal or St. Clement Dartmouth, and their son Robert Plumlye baptised 19 March 1614 at Stoke Fleming, Devon.
It
would appear that Robert named one of his sons after his father Edmund, who in
turn named his first son Robert:
An Edmund Plymley had two sons and a daughter
baptized at St Saviour’s:
Robert Plumley on 3 February 1669 who died 16 March 1669;
William Plymley on 27 Aug 1671;
Elizabeth Plumley on 1 March 1673
Robert Plumley on 3 February 1669 who died 16 March 1669;
William Plymley on 27 Aug 1671;
Elizabeth Plumley on 1 March 1673
An old IGI record (NB. no
longer found in Family Search records) had a Robert
Plumleigh christened at St
Saviour on 20 February 1641, parents not recorded. He was possibly the son of
Robert Plumleigh born in 1614 (son of Edmund), and may have been the brother of the above
mentioned Edmund Plymley. There are no further records of a marriage, issue, or death of this Robert Plumleigh.
Robert Plumleigh
(b.1614)
and his wife are named as supporters of the Puritan preacher John Flavell in
the mid 1600’s. (see section on Flavell below)
Robert is also named as the
owner of a building at No. 4 The Quay
in Dartmouth in 1655, which is a heritage building still standing today. This
building adjoined the building owned by Anthony
Plumleigh, and the site was in the Plumleigh family’s possession since 1585
and remained in their hands until the 1700’s, so one could conclude that Robert
and Anthony were closely related. (see below for further details)
The
Robert Plumleigh (the elder) who was
born in the mid 1500’s to John Plumleigh the elder, and who married Elizabeth
Seyre, was the father of John Plumleigh Mayor of Dartmouth (married to Margaret
Towse). It is probable that Robert and Elizabeth had other sons not listed in
the Visitation of Devon 1620 document and therefore he may have been the father
of this Edmund Plumleigh whose son Robert was born in 1614.
CHURCHES OF ST. PETROX AND ST. SAVIOUR IN DARTMOUTH
The Plumleigh family were parishioners at either St Petrox or St Saviour Churches in Dartmouth.
A
book written by John Stabb, “Some Old
Devon Churches”, London, (1908-16), describes the two main churches in
Dartmouth associated with the Plumleighs- St Petrox and St
Saviour.
St Petrock/Petrox. The church consists
of chancel and nave with continuous roof, north and south aisles, and west
tower with five bells. The pulpit is dated 1641. The roofs which are wagon
shape and plastered. The tower is a circular Norman font of the type common in
the neighbourhood.
It
is a very ancient structure, dating back to about 1632, in the south of the
town, immediately behind the castle, and has undergone many repairs and
alterations. It has a low tower, containing five bells and crowned by a very
short spire. It had formerly a chantry, founded in the reign of Edward III, and
the ancient manor house of Clifton stood near it. It is in the patronage of the
rector of Stoke Fleming which is about two miles south of Southtown.
(Wikipedia)
St Petrox Church
St. Petrox Church near castle
St Petrox font
Photo from www.parishofdartmouth.co.uk/petrox.htm
Saint Saviour- The church, which
dates from 1372, consists of chancel, nave, north and south aisles, north and
south transepts, north and south porches, and west tower containing eight
bells.
The
rood screen is very fine, it is complete with groining, cornices and doors, and
has the rood with figures of the Blessed Virgin and St. John added in 1891. The
date is probably early 15th century. The pulpit is of stone, carved
and painted. The recesses at one time contained figures of saints, these have
been removed and their place filled with the following devices in wood coloured
and gilt; a lion surmounted by a Royal crown, a rose surmounted by a Royal
crown and encircled with strawberry leaves, the thistle, fleur-de-lis, the harp and the portcullis similarly surrounded, and
the letters “C.R.” within a chaplet.
These adornments were probably added during a visit to the town in 1671 of King
Charles II (reign 1660-1685). The north and south galleries have been removed,
and the arms of the old merchants of the town, which formerly adorned their
fronts, have been placed on the front of the west gallery. Etc. The registers
date from 1586.
St Saviour Anzac Street Dartmouth
St Saviour pulpit
St Saviour alter
St Saviour rood screen
Photos from www.parishofdartmouth.co.uk/petrox.htm
FAIRFAX
PLACE, DARTMOUTH, home to ANTHONY AND ROBERT PLUMLEIGH
Fairfax
Place is a short narrow street near the quay in Dartmouth and was one of the
prime properties owned by the Plumleigh’s. According to the History of Dartmouth, the Plumleigh family leased this plot on the corner of The Quay/Spithead Street and Fairfax Place from 1585 until after 1700. The following descriptions and
photos are of the Plumleigh buildings which are still there today.
Map of Fairfax Place and No. 4 The Quay in Dartmouth- marked with *
Buildings of England-
Devon,
Vol. 5, by Nikolaus Peysner and Bridget Cherry, Yale University Press, 1989,
p.326
Dartmouth-
1. The Old Town Centre- South Town
THE QUAY, the present centre
of Dartmouth, was created in 1584. Little of that period is visible. No. 4 The Quay, built for Robert Plumleigh, mariner, in 1664,
with a show front to FAIRFAX Place, is a good introduction to Dartmouth’s
timber-framed houses, constructed in traditional fashion, with stone party-walls
containing fire-places (serving also a demolished adjacent house). Elaborate
star-shaped chimney stacks of imported ‘Dutch’ brick. Carved corner-posts to
first-floor jetty and oriel; the second jetty has a dragon beam supported by a
figure of Samson (or Hercules?) and the lion. Originally, the house had a
ground-floor shop or warehouse, with the main domestic rooms above, and a
courtyard and possibly a back block behind (cf. Totnes, Exeter, etc.). Inside
there is evidence for three rooms on each floor and five attic rooms, nine of
them heated and for a now vanished framed staircase instead of the older newel
type. Oak-hooded fireplaces remain on the second floor, with traces of the
sgraffito decoration popular in Devon at the time.
No. 4 The Quay (the corner building) adjacent to No 29 Fairfax Place- both buildings belonging to the Plumleighs in the 17th century
No. 4 The Quay from the side facing The Quay- built by Robert Plumleigh in 1664
No 4 The Quay with Fairfax Place leading off to the right
‘Cranfords Restaurant’ (a listed
building)- No 29 Fairfax Place
Merchants
house refurbished as a Stamp Office, now a cafeteria with house above. Late 16th/early
17th century, refurbished in 1901 for RC Cranford. Mixed
construction: stone rubble side walls, timber framed front and back walls,
party-wall stone stacks with 17th century Dutch brick chimneyshafts
(star shaped chimneyshaft of 1664 shared with No. 4 The Quay) Slate roof.
Original house built end onto the street with a 2-room plan and side passage
alongside left party wall.
Exterior:
3 stories and attic; one-window front built in the attractive eclectic
Elizabethan style. Older work survives on the upper floors: first-floor front
has a splendid oak-panelled chimney piece dated 1585 with the initials AIC (each
in a separate panel), richly carved with fluted pilasters.
History
of Cranford’s restaurant: This plot was
leased by the Plumleigh family from 1585 until after 1700. In 1655 this
property was leased to one Anthony Plumleigh whilst
the adjoining property, No.4 The Quay was leased to Robert
Plumleigh, both were mariners. The property was built on land
reclaimed from the estuary in the 1580’s and thereafter Fairfax Place/Lower
Street became one of the main trading streets in Dartmouth. It connects the old
quay at Bayard’s Cove with the New Quay around the present Boat Float.
Ref:
Journal: Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society: Thorp, John
RL:
4 The Quay, Dartmouth: A devon town-house of 1664: 1983: p 107-122)
No 29 Fairfax Place- known as Cranfords early 20th century- leased by Anthony Plumleigh in 1655
Fairfax Place in 1909-14- photo by R.J. Hunt
The
Plumleighs also had a brief association with another heritage building in
Dartmouth known as The Butterwalk:
The Butterwalk, Duke Street Dartmouth, today
The Butterwalk c 1880 from The Quay
The Butterwalk in Duke Street, with its timber
framed arcade was built 1635-40 with its intricate wooden carvings and a
frontage supported on granite columns forming an arcade. This impressive façade
was damaged by bombs during 1943, but it has now been fully restored. According
to deeds in the Devon records Office in Exeter, the Butterwalk is built on land
reclaimed from the river in 1628 and was first leased by a Mark Hawkins, a
local fish merchant, and in 1635 ‘built there several dwelling houses’. Hawkins
took a mortgage of £2,500 to pay for this and let the houses to tenants. His
trading activities collapsed when the English Civil War interrupted trade after
1642 and he was unable to pay the interest on the loan. The property was
repossessed and the building passed to John
Plumleigh in 1653. In 1657 it was sold. Charles II held court in the
Butterwalk whilst sheltering from a storm in 1671.
The following information and map showing land reclamation in Duke Street and near Fairfax Place, is from the Discover Dartmouth website:
www. discoverdartmouth.com/visitor-information/about-dartmouth/history-of-dartmouth
Land reclamation from the River Dart began early in the 1200's. Further reclamation was undertaken in the 1580's with the embanking of the New Quay and Spithead. At the beginning of the 17th century Duke Street was reclaimed and the Butterwalk built on it.
THE PLUMLEIGHS’
CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH
THE NOTABLE DARTMOUTH
PURITAN PREACHER JOHN
FLAVELL FROM SAINT
SAVIOUR’S CHURCH
Land
Plumleigh’s obituary stated that “Several
of her father Anthony Plumleigh’s ancestors were intimately acquainted with,
and attended the ministry of that eminent servant of God, Mr Flavel, and in that account of their nonconformity”.
The
following article outlines the Plumleigh’s association with John Flavell. The
above statement also confirms that her father descended from either Robert or Anthony Plumleigh, the
merchants and mariners who owned the buildings in Fairfax Place and No. 4 The
Quay.
Report and
Transactions of the Devonshire Association Vol. 43, 1911
P172-John Flavell: A Notable Dartmouth Puritan
and His Biography, by Edward Windeatt.
John
Flavell, born in Worchester 1630, was educated at University College Oxford,
where he took his B.A. degree. He was first assistant to the Vicar of Deptford,
Devon and was settled there by the Standing Committee of Devon in 1650 and
ordained at Salisbury the same year. He succeeded to the Rectory at Deptford,
married and moved to Dartmouth as Lecturer in the Church of St Saviour’s in
that town. The Vicar of Townstall and St Saviour’s died in 1655/56, and the
living was the property of the Corporation of Dartmouth, and difficulties
appear to have arisen on who should succeed. The Feoffees or Trustees of the
Rectory of Townstall for the Corporation had appointed a Mr Geare, and that a
Mr John Howe, or some able, pious Minister, would be appointed as assistant or
Lecturer, they dividing the stipend, and the agreement to carry this into
effect is signed by Allan Geare and John Flavell, who was appointed, as Mr Howe
could not be obtained (his services required by Cromwell Lord Protector whom he
impressed). The document is endorsed:
“An
Agreement made by General Desborough concerning Mr Geare and Mr Flavel.
7th
August 1656.
“For
the composing of the differences in the Corporation of Dartmouth and their
trustees. It is this day before the Right Honorable Generall Desborough agreed
as followeth. That the presentation made by Mr Edward Spurway and Mr John Plumleigh (Feoffees
or Trustees of ye Rectory impropriate of Townstall in trust for the Corporation
of Dartmouth) of Mr Allen Geare to the Vicarage of Townstall and Chaple of
St Savior’s by consent shall stand and that all caveats entered against it
shall be forthwith withdrawn and all written of Quare impedit or other writes
or proceedings against the Institution and induction upon the same
presentation.
“That
Mr John Howe of some able pious Minister shall be appointed as Lecturer at
Townstall and Dartmouth to be chosen by Mr Thomas Boone, Esq., Mr Stephen
Knowling, Mr Obidiah Widger, Mr Edward Elliott, Mr Robert Baker, Mr Anthony
Plumleigh, Mr Richard Aylwin, Esq., Mr. John Whiteway Esq.
“That
ye profits of the Vicarage and the augmentations now or hereafter to be settled
on both, or either Churches shall be equally divided between them.
“That
the weekly lecture in the Chapel shall be performed by both ministers in turns
And the revenue for maintenance thereof by subscriptions be equally divided
between them. Etc. etc.
“(Signed)
Thomas Boone Will Barnes
Steph
Knowlinge Edw Wheeler
Robert
Baker Joseph Cubitt
Richard
Aylwin Edward Spurway
John Plumleigh
John
Flavell Allen Geare
It
will be noted that Obadiah Widger, Edward Elliott, Anthony Plumleigh, and John Whiteway
did not sign, but William Barnes, Edw. Wheeler and Joseph Cubitt, who were not
named in the document, did, and the two Trustees who had appointed Mr Geare did
also sign.
General
Desborough referred to in the agreement was brother-in-law of Cromwell and
would appear to have been Governor of Dartmouth; he was military commander of
the Western District, comprising Devon and Cornwall. These commanders appear to
have had control in religious as well as military affairs.
Mr
Flavell commenced his work in Dartmouth in December 1656, and was associated in
it with Mr Geare until their ejection on Bartholomew’s Day 1662. Geare was
summoned to appear before the Commissioners at Exeter, caught a cold and died
in December 1662.
After
their ejection in August 1662, Flavell and Geare worked privately among their
people until Geare’s death when Flavell continued the work in conjunction with James Burwood,
who was ejected from St Petroc’s Church Dartmouth, and on his election set
up a Latin School in Dartmouth till driven thence by the Five-Mile Act. Other
Nonconformist ministers also assisted in the work.
In
1663 proceedings were taken in Dartmouth against Nonconformists who did not
attend the Church Services, and an order made for the constables to distrain
for the penalty, 12d. each.
A
“Warrt for 12d. for not coming to Church” was issued against several people:
Absentees
from Church 2nd November 1663:
William
Taylor and his wife
Robert
Plumleigh and his wife
Jeremy
Stor and his wife
Edward
Jeffrey and is wife
(a
further 11 names and wives, plus 5 from South Towne)
In 1665 the Bishop of Exeter made a return as to Nonconformists in his Diocese, which is now preserved at Lambeth, and records:
“In Dartmouth, there
are also Mr James Burdwood and Mr
John Flavell; who are reported to have private Meetings.”
William and John
Plumleigh were Mayors of Dartmouth, and Robert Plumleigh was no doubt a member
of this, one of the leading families in the town, and probably the master mariner, son of Edmund Plumleigh.
On
the passing of the Oxford Act, Flavell had to leave Dartmouth, and his people
followed him to Townstall Churchyard, where they took farewell of each other.
Being
at Exeter, Flavell was invited to preach in a wood three miles away, where the
meeting was broken up and many arrested and taken before the Justice and fined.
Flavell escaped.
Whilst
in Dartmouth in the troublesome times Flavell went to Totnes, disguised as a
woman, riding on horseback behind a man, to baptize a child of the family of
White, a leading Nonconformist family in that town.
On
another occasion, he is said to have been pursued, when on horseback, and to
have ridden down to a cove near Dartmouth, and plunging his horse into the sea
he swam it around to the next cove and escaped, his pursuers, though on
horseback, not caring to follow him.
On
the issue of King Charles II’s Indulgence in 1672, Mr Flavell returned to
Dartmouth and took out a licence as a preacher.When the Indulgence was
withdrawn, he continued to preach privately, but being in danger in Dartmouth
he went to London, by sea. When he died in 1691, his body was returned to
Dartmouth and buried in St Saviours.
"James II granted the liberty again in 1687. When Mr Flavell died, he was not immediately settled in a successor at Dartmouth, but was supplied by Mr John Galpin, an ejected minister who lived in Totnes and died there in 1698. After Galpin's death, Mr John Hughes was excited to settle in Dartmouth, and he was accordingly ordained at Dartmouth on October 6, 1702, and continued pastor of the people till his death in 1726. The Misses Hughes, sisters of Mr Hughes, gave a dwelling house to the minister, which house still belongs to the meeting. Hughes was succeeded by Mr Samuel Adams from Chudleigh who by manuscript sermons still extant, appears to have been a man of sound piety, orthodox sentiments and considerable talents. During his ministry, the congregation of dissenters in this town appears to have been numerous and respectable. After his decease, he was succeeded by his son, Mr John Adams who was ordained June 6, 1746 and continued in his pastoral office till his death in February 1795. During the earlier part of Mr J. Adams ministry, the congregation was considerable, but toward the latter part of his life, it much declined."
(Ref: The Congregational Magazine, No. 11, N.S., November 1825, Vol. VIII, pp 606-607- Religious Intelligence:- Statistical View of Dissenters- Devonshire, Dartmouth)
"James II granted the liberty again in 1687. When Mr Flavell died, he was not immediately settled in a successor at Dartmouth, but was supplied by Mr John Galpin, an ejected minister who lived in Totnes and died there in 1698. After Galpin's death, Mr John Hughes was excited to settle in Dartmouth, and he was accordingly ordained at Dartmouth on October 6, 1702, and continued pastor of the people till his death in 1726. The Misses Hughes, sisters of Mr Hughes, gave a dwelling house to the minister, which house still belongs to the meeting. Hughes was succeeded by Mr Samuel Adams from Chudleigh who by manuscript sermons still extant, appears to have been a man of sound piety, orthodox sentiments and considerable talents. During his ministry, the congregation of dissenters in this town appears to have been numerous and respectable. After his decease, he was succeeded by his son, Mr John Adams who was ordained June 6, 1746 and continued in his pastoral office till his death in February 1795. During the earlier part of Mr J. Adams ministry, the congregation was considerable, but toward the latter part of his life, it much declined."
(Ref: The Congregational Magazine, No. 11, N.S., November 1825, Vol. VIII, pp 606-607- Religious Intelligence:- Statistical View of Dissenters- Devonshire, Dartmouth)
Notably,
Anthony Plumleigh married Dorothy Burdwood
on 24 September 1689 at Saint Petrox Church. She was the daughter of
James Burdwood, another ‘lecturer’, who preached at St Petrox, and, when ejected from the church, held
meetings with Flavell, mentioned above. His wife was named Dorothy.
No
doubt, the Anthony and Robert Plumleigh
named in the above article on Flavell are the two Plumleighs living in adjacent
properties in Fairfax Place.
The Visitation of Devon- Plumleigh tree, has Anthonie Plumleigh as son of John Plumleigh Mayor elect who was son of Robert Plumleigh and Elizabeth Seyre.
Robert Plumleigh was probably the master mariner and naval captain, son of Edmund Plumleigh, master mariner, whose parentage is unknown at this stage.
The Visitation of Devon- Plumleigh tree, has Anthonie Plumleigh as son of John Plumleigh Mayor elect who was son of Robert Plumleigh and Elizabeth Seyre.
Robert Plumleigh was probably the master mariner and naval captain, son of Edmund Plumleigh, master mariner, whose parentage is unknown at this stage.
LAND PLUMLEIGH"S IMMEDIATE FOREBEARS
In
the UK & US Directories 1680-1830 database (Ancestry.com)- Robert Plumleigh of Dartmouth Devon,
date 1753, subscribed to The Family
Expositor; or a paraphrase and
version of the New Testament (Vol. 4; 2nd Ed.), 1753, pub.
Doddridge, Philip, London.
This
was no doubt Land Plumleigh’s grandfather.
Whether
Robert Plumleigh, Land Plumleigh’s
grandfather, was the son of Anthony
Plumleigh (b. 1663) and Dorothy Burdwood, or another Plumleigh, has not
been positively proven at this stage, but his birth year (1689) would suggest so. And the recurrence of the names Robert, Anthony and Dorothy in this line would also suggest a link.
However, notably
Robert Plumleigh the younger, named his sons in the following order: Thomas,
Robert, John, and Anthony.
Robert’s
son Anthony named his sons as Thomas and Robert. Whether there is any
significance to the order of naming is unclear.
There are IGI records of a Thomas Plumley, died in 1700, birth 1640, marriage in 1658 (IGI Batch 5007487), and a Thomas Plumleigh, Ch 4 Sept 1685 at St Saviour, father named as Thomas Plumleigh.
The Thomas Plumleigh, son of Thomas Plumleigh, baptized at St Saviour in 1685, may therefore be relevant (see below)- Thomas snr may have descended from Thomas the eldest son of John Plumleigh Mayor elect (son of Robert etc); or the Thomas, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Shapley, son of the original John Plumley (in the tree), or Thomas b. 1612, son of William Plumleigh Mayor of Dartmouth.
Possible ancestral tree of Land Plumleigh's grandfather Robert Plumleigh:
There are IGI records of a Thomas Plumley, died in 1700, birth 1640, marriage in 1658 (IGI Batch 5007487), and a Thomas Plumleigh, Ch 4 Sept 1685 at St Saviour, father named as Thomas Plumleigh.
The Thomas Plumleigh, son of Thomas Plumleigh, baptized at St Saviour in 1685, may therefore be relevant (see below)- Thomas snr may have descended from Thomas the eldest son of John Plumleigh Mayor elect (son of Robert etc); or the Thomas, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Shapley, son of the original John Plumley (in the tree), or Thomas b. 1612, son of William Plumleigh Mayor of Dartmouth.
Possible ancestral tree of Land Plumleigh's grandfather Robert Plumleigh:
Family tree of Land Plumleigh:
The following reference to an Anthony Plumleigh:
The UK Register Duties Paid for Apprentices Indentures 1710-1811 (Ancestry)
Tuesday 16th June 1719 No. 15 Ind 37./
December 13, 1718 Anthony Plumleigh of Dartmouth Devon, Hatmaker, apprenticed Hugh son of Richd Croker of Dartmouth, Ironmonger, 24 August 1717All that we know is that Land Plumleigh’s father’s ancestors were intimately involved with John Flavel, and that her father was a wealthy merchant until he lost his fortune at the time of the American Revolution (1775-1783) when the thirteen colonies of north America joined together to break with the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America in 1789.
OTHER BDM RECORDS OF PLUMLEIGHS DURING THIS PERIOD
John Plumleigh b.c.1518 of
Dartmouth- IGI batch no A04596-4, film no. 445870- Marriage to second wife Ann Fortescue 3
July 1567- batch no.A20762-2; film no. 456953-
John Plumleigh b.1567 Dartmouth ????
IGI Batch no. A01510-3; film no 170449
John Plumleigh buried 7/2/1660- of
Dartmouth – IGI batch A00535-5; film no 177899
Anthony Plumlie, b.26/7/1618, St
Saviours, father John Plumlie; married Joane
Penny 5/2/1641 St Saviours
Thomas Plumley died 1700, birth
1640 (IGI Parish Printout); marriage 1658 (IGI Batch no 5007487)
Thomas Plumleigh, b.4/9/1685, St
Saviour, father Thomas Plumleigh
Thomas Plumleigh was buried 29 April 1689 at St Saviours
Mr Thomas Plumleigh was buried on 11 June 1714, and just above his entry, a burial for John Plumleigh on 3 June 1714. Thomas Plumleigh, a merchant of Dartmouth, left a will (National Archives UK- PROB.11/541/158- probate dated 23 July 1714). In the will he leaves a small bequest to his daughter Susannah, and the rest of his estate to his wife Dorothy. No sons are recorded. Although described as a merchant of Dartmouth, he left his lands in Plymtree to his wife- Plymtree is in Nth Devon, north of Exeter.
Thomas Plumleigh was buried 29 April 1689 at St Saviours
Mr Thomas Plumleigh was buried on 11 June 1714, and just above his entry, a burial for John Plumleigh on 3 June 1714. Thomas Plumleigh, a merchant of Dartmouth, left a will (National Archives UK- PROB.11/541/158- probate dated 23 July 1714). In the will he leaves a small bequest to his daughter Susannah, and the rest of his estate to his wife Dorothy. No sons are recorded. Although described as a merchant of Dartmouth, he left his lands in Plymtree to his wife- Plymtree is in Nth Devon, north of Exeter.
(Recorder,
Mayor, and MP for Dartmouth) William
Plumleigh/Plumlie, son of William Plumleigh of Dartmouth and Joan dau of
Allen Page of Totnes Devon,
married
1. by 1601 Joan dau. of Thomas Spurway of Exminster Devon by whom he had 5 sons
(2 d.v.p.) and 4 daughters (1 d.v.p.);
married
2. 20 Jan 1626 Ann Cockney of Dartmouth by whom he had 2 daughters;
married
3. Katherine who administered his will in 1648.
A
William Plumlie married Peternell
Leufe 24/8/1607, St Savior, Dartmouth.
John Plumlie, 6/3/1605 St
Saviour, father William Plumlie (Senior?)
Susannah Plumlie, 24/1/1609,
d.8/4/1610, St Saviour, father William Plumlie
Thomas Plumlie, 27/9/1612, St
Saviour, father William Plumlie
George Plumlie, 27/7/1617, St
Saviour, father William Plumlie
William Plumlie, 28/6/1618 St
Saviour, father William (Wm) Plumlie
Richard Plumley, 22/12/1620, St
Saviour, father Wam Plumley
Annah Plumlie, 22/4/1627 St
Saviour, father Wam Plumlie
Susannah Plumbley, 21/8/1628, St
Saviour, father Wam Plumbley
John Plumlie, 2/9/1632, St
Saviour, father Wam Plumlie
Martha Plumleigh, 3/5/1640 St
Saviour, father William Plumleigh
Edmonde Plumleigh married Alice, 14/3/1613, Townstall or St Clement Dartmouth
Robert Plumlye, 19/3/1614, Stoke Fleming Devon, father Edmund Plumlye, mother Alice
Robert Plumleigh 20/2/1641 St
Saviour, ???? (old IGI record- can’t find again)
Robert Plumley, 3/2/1669,
d.16/3/1669, St Saviour, father Edmund Plumley
Robert Plumlie married Cathern Sevie, 29/9/1638 at Plympton St Mary Devon (near Plymouth)
William Plumlie, 25/9/1639, Plympton st Mary, Devon, father Robert Plumlie
George Plumleigh, 27/1/1663 St
Saviour, father Jno Plumleigh
John Plumleigh, 5/2/1662 St
Saviour, father Jno Plumleigh
Zebulon Plumley married Sarah Dinch
2/3/1679 St Saviour
Other National
Archives records relating to Plumleighs of Dartmouth that are undetermined:
Sentence of Johan Plumleigh,
Gentleman of Dartmouth Devon date 28 November 1647 (ref: PROB 11/202/432-
Which
John Plumleigh this last record refers to is uncertain.
Records of Captain Sir Richard Plumleigh of the King’s Royal Navy are explored in the next chapter. (viz. son of John Plumleigh, son of John Plumeigh the elder- see above)
Will of John Plumleigh,
written in August 1579 and probated 31 October 1580
(UK. National Archives- PROB 11/62/446)
THOMAS PLUMLEIGH OF BRISTOL
(continued from section on Land Plumleigh at top of page)
As mentioned above, a Thomas Plumleigh, grocer of Bristol was declared bankrupt in June 1804- this was just four months before the death of Anthony Plumleigh in Bristol.
Morning Post 11 June 1804- List of Bankrupts
(The Bush Tavern in Corn Street was a well known establishment in Bristol and can be seen in a chromolithograph by William Lewis, after JH Maggs)
It is most likely that Thomas was the son of Anthony Plumleigh and his wife Elizabeth Pyle, born and baptised at St Saviours in Dartmouth, Devon, on 22 June 1769.
(NB. the baptisms for Thomas Plumleigh and sister Dorathey Land Plumleigh (1770), and brother Robert Plumleigh (1773), were all in the same church record book for St. Saviours, with father named as 'Mr Plumleigh'. Dorathey (married name of Chin) was named in Anthony Plumleigh's Will of Sept 1804 in Bristol, which proves that Anthony Plumleigh of Bristol was her father- see above.) According to Dorothy Land, they left Dartmouth in 1784 (when she was 14). This was just after Anthony lost his money in his shipping disasters during the American War, and three years after the death of his wife Elizabeth.
Baptism Record for Thomas son of Mr Plumleigh, January 22 1769 at St Saviours, Dartmouth, Devon
(England & Wales Non-Conformist Record Indexes [RG4-8), 1588-1977- Findmypast)
Notably Thomas was not mentioned in Anthony's will, in which Anthony left his small estate to his daughter Elizabeth, with a small bequest to his second daughter Dorothy (Land) Chin, probably due to Thomas' bankruptcy shortly before the Will was written.
Sister, Dorothy/Dorathey Land Plumleigh was born in 1770 and a brother Robert Plumleigh in 1773; no record has been found for sister Elizabeth's birth or marriage to __ Maish.
Thomas Plumleigh (Snr) was married to Mary Ann Knight on 26 February 1794 at Bristol.
There are records of children born to Thomas and Mary Ann Plumleigh:
Thomas (Jnr) b.1797 Bristol- d.1886 Illinois, USA;
Jemima who died in October 1800 and was buried in Bristol on 9 October 1800 aged fifteen months (b.1799). (Non-Conformist Register, Piece 3507: Bristol, Lewins Mead Chapel [Presbyterian], 1768-1820);
Robert Knight Plumleigh who married Mary Ann Davis in Bristol in 1823 (and had a son Robert Knight Plumleigh Jnr in Bristol in 1825);
and possibly a daughter Mary Ann Plumleigh who married Joseph Cox in 1814 in Bristol;
and possibly a daughter Hestor Plumleigh who married Francis Rogers in Dec 1809 (although she would have been very young at the time).
Thomas Plumleigh (Junior) was born 11 December 1797 in Bristol, and emigrated to the USA (in c.1834?), and married Eliza Herman (b. 1818 Germany, d. bef 1900 in Kane Illinois). They had issue:
Charles b.15 Sept 1841, Albany NY, d. 1927;
George William b.10 Nov 1844 New Jersey, d.1930;
Robert Knight b.15 Nov 1846 Illinois; d.1921
Henry/Harry b.c.1848 Illinois, d.1897;
Mary b.c.1850;
William b. 15 Feb 1851 Illinois, d. 1926;
Ellen b.1854 Illinois.
Thomas Plumleigh Junior died 8 January 1886 in Dundee, Kane Co. Illinois
A Rootsweb entry states that "in 1835 Dr Thomas Plumleigh, the third settler in Algonquin received a land grant from the government and settled in the South Main Street area which is now the Old Town business district. He farmed 383 acres and knew many of the Indian medicines. He sold Plumleigh's Brick Mill (which he built in the village in 1850) in December 1869 to George Marshal, and left town almost broke- it was eventually dismantled in 1893."
(http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=070860&id=I1098)
Algonquin's first settler arrived the year before, in November 1834 and farmed 245 acres, and before then, the area, on the Fox River, was settled by the Potawatomi Indians. Another website states Dr Plumleigh moved to Carpentersville (next to Dundee in Kane Co.) during the Civil War.
Thomas acquired more land in Algonquin in 1840 and 1843 (Ancestry.com).
Algonquin's first settler arrived the year before, in November 1834 and farmed 245 acres, and before then, the area, on the Fox River, was settled by the Potawatomi Indians. Another website states Dr Plumleigh moved to Carpentersville (next to Dundee in Kane Co.) during the Civil War.
Thomas acquired more land in Algonquin in 1840 and 1843 (Ancestry.com).
The 1860 Census for Algonquin, County of McHenry, Illinois (about 80 kms NW of Chicago), has Thomas Plumleigh, aged 60, farmer, value of real estate $7000, value of Personal Estate $1500, place of birth England, wife Eliza 43, born Germany, children Charles 18, George 16, Robert, 14, Henry 12, Mary 10, William 8, Ellen 6.
By 1867, Thomas is listed in the US City Directory in Kane, Illinois as a "land owner" (Kane County Illinois Gazetteer 1867). Sons George Plumleigh (listed with his father), and Charles Plumleigh, land owner, Dundee, and Harry Plumleigh, 'wks S. Dahlbom, Carpentersville', were also listed.
The 1870 Census, Dundee County of Kane, Illinois, has Thomas Plumley 73, physician, value of real estate $4000, Eliza 52, George 26 works in foundry, Robert 24 farm labourer, Harry 22 farm labourer, William farm labourer, and a 10 year old girl named Anna listed as adopted (birthplace and parents not listed)
The 1870 Census, Dundee County of Kane, Illinois, has Thomas Plumley 73, physician, value of real estate $4000, Eliza 52, George 26 works in foundry, Robert 24 farm labourer, Harry 22 farm labourer, William farm labourer, and a 10 year old girl named Anna listed as adopted (birthplace and parents not listed)
The 1880 Census, in Dundee in County of Kane, State of Illinois (about 80 kms N of St Louis), June 1880:Dundee, Co of Kane, Illinois
Thomas Plumleigh, 83, farmer, Eliza 62, keeping house, Robert 33 son works on farm, Adelade 26 daughter-in-law, Mary 7 granddaughter, Robert 3 months grandson, Edward Carburg 19 servant works on farm
There are numerous descendants of Thomas Plumleigh and Eliza Herman living in the USA today.
Issue of the sons of Thomas and Eliza:
Charles Plumleigh married Ella Mae Bradford on 9 April 1871 in Douglas Co Nebraska. Charles died 31 January 1927 and is buried in Hartington Cemetery, Hartington, Cedar Co. Nebraska. Charles and Ella Plumleigh had issue: Harry, Elizabeth, Doran C., Grace Virginia, Frank L (b.30 July 1887 Kansas, died Nov. 1963 Kansas), Alfred, Bessie Beatrice (b. 1895 Hartington Nebraska, m. Gettis Monroe Sherbahm 1917), Phillip, Charles Harry (b 1874), Ruth d.1899 aged 1yr 8mth, ??Helen b 12 June 1900, died Aug 1974 Nebraska
George William Plumleigh married Marjorie Minerva Porter (b.1864 Iowa, d. 1958 Kansas) in c.1880, George died 1930 and they are buried in Argonia Cemetery, Argonia, Sumner Co., Kansas. George and Marjorie had issue: Thomas Henry b.1881 Iowa, married Maud Howell 1913 Arkansas; John Winthrop b 1885 Nebraska; Daisy b.c.1891 Iowa; Effie b.c.1893 Iowa; George William b.c.1895 Iowa; Marjorie b.c.1896 Iowa; Bertie b.c.1897; Elsie Cleo b.1901 Nebraska; Genevieve b.1904 Nebraska; Charles T. b.1907 in Arkansas. (1910 census- living in Harrison, White Co.,Arkansas where George was a farmer)
Robert Knight Plumleigh married Florence R Kenyon 5 Oct 1872 in Kane, Illinois.
In the 1880 census, Robert K.,33, was living with father Thomas Plumleigh 83, farmer, and Eliza 62, and Robert's wife (Florence) Adelade,26, and chn Mary 7 and Robert 3 months (in June 1880).
A daughter Daisy Plumleigh "daughter of Constable Plumleigh died suddenly of bowel complaint Dec 17, 1893 aged 12 (born 1881), internment at Dundee" (Elgin Every Saturday, Dec 23, 1893)
In the Elgin City, Kane, Illinois City Directory 1903, Robert K. Plumleigh listed as a Constable and City Sealer.
Robert K Plumleigh (the elder) was listed in the Kane Co History III Vol. 1, p.714 as an 'inspector of weights and measures' in 1901-2; a sealer of weights and measures in 1902-3; he was not listed in 1903-4 onwards, and it would appear they went to Los Angeles to live.
By 1910 (Census) Robert, 62 and wife Florence 54 were living in Los Angeles, where he is working as a gardener, with daughter Florence, 18, and daughter Gertrude, 22, and husband Lawrence Rehmann, 24, and daughter (just born).
In the 1920 Census, Robert K. 76, nightwatchman in a laundry, Florence 65, was living with daughter Gertrude Rehmann 30 hairdresser in a hotel, Doris 9 and Harry 8- husband not listed but Gertrude listed as married.
Robert K. Plumleigh died 18 July 1921 in Los Angeles (aged 77)
In the 1930 Census, Florence is listed as a widow. She was living with her daughter Mary Allan 57 and her husband Morton S. Allan 66, a Canadian working as a nightman in a laundry . This must have been Mary's first husband, as she had remarried by the next Census.
In the 1940 Census, Florence is listed as a widow, living with daughter Mary Ann 67 and husband John C. Iverson, 68, carpenter in building construction, living in Los Angeles.
Robert Knight Plumleigh's wife Florence Adalaide Plumleigh nee Kenyon (father's name) b. 19 Jan 1854 Michigan, died 17 April 1940 in Los Angeles.
Issue of Robert K. and Florence A. Plumleigh:
a) Robert Knight Plumleigh Jnr b.1880, married Mae Louise Gronberg (aged 21) on 11 April 1903 Chicago Illinois.
In the town of Elgin, Kane Co Illinois, in the 1910 census, Robert Plumleigh, machinist working in Casket Manufacture, aged 30 (b.1880) with wife May, 26, dau Evelyn L.,6, sons Tom,4, and George,2, and uncle Clayton Kenyon (mother's brother) 54, unemployed.
In 1940 Census, Robert, 58, machinist, and Mae, 56, were living in Dundee Kane Illinois, by themselves.
In the US City Directories in 1948 (as a machinist) and 1950 (as a gardener) Robert K Plumleigh and Mae L. Plumleigh were living in S Greenwood Av Montebello California.
Robert Knight Plumleigh is buried in Olive Lawn cemetery Los Angeles, and his memorial has: Robert K Plumleigh, Illinois, Pvt Co E 3 Regt Illinois Inf. Spanish American War March 12 1880-Jan 27 1961.
Robert K. Plumleigh Jnr, born 12 March 1880 Illinois, died 27 Jan 1961 Los Angeles (mother's name Kenyon). Son Richard Knight Plumleigh b. 24 Feb 1911 Illinois, died 25 Oct 1984 San Diego (mother's name Gronberg)- their son named Robert Knight Plumleigh (III), b.1961 Los Angeles- d.1988 San Diego, buried by 'Dad'.
Sons Thomas Norman b.14 July 1905 Illinois, d. 1 May 1991 Orange (mother Gronberg), and George Ellwood b 9 August 1907 Illinois, d. 11 October 1986 Los Angeles (mother Gronberg. (California Death Index)
b) Gertrude Plumleigh b.1888, married Lawrence Rehmann in 1909 Los Angeles and had a daughter Gertrude in 1910 in Los Angeles (1910 Census, living with parents), and a son Harry b. 1911
c) Mary Ann Plumleigh (father Plumleigh, mother Kennyon), born 15 March 1874 Illinois, died 19 Dec 1951 Los Angeles. Married 1. Morton S. Allan (b.Canada 1864); married 2. John C Iverson (b.1872).
d) George William Plumleigh b. 15 March 1878 Iowa, died 15 Nov. 1970 Los Angeles.
(Refs California Death Index)
e) Florence A Plumleigh (father Plumleigh, mother Kenyon) b.1892, married 1 May 1911 to Robert G Mitchell (b.1889) at Los Angeles
??Thomas Plumleigh b 20 Aug 1883, died May 1980 California (no parents named)
??Hattie Plumleigh b.1 June 1881, died 15 Dec 1966 California (no parents named)
Harry Henry Plumleigh died 5 May 1897. There is a record of a marriage of a Harry Earl Plumleigh (b.29 March 1888 Dodgeville Wisconsin to Harry H. Plumleigh and Cora M. Van Halligan/Penhalligan), who married 26/3/1929 in Iowa to Singhild Eleanor Bechus (age 32- b. Wisconsin). The 1900 Census has Cora Plumleigh (has Clara sic),34, living with her parents Mary and A H Penhalligan (both English born), and Cora's son Harry E. Plumleigh b. March 1888 aged 12, and daughter Clara (or Cora?) P. Plumleigh b. Sept 1893 aged 6. The 1920 Census has Cora Plumleigh 53, widow, living with her son Earl Plumleigh 31, electrician for the Elec Light Co., Earl's father's birthplace Illinois, both living in Dodgeville Iowa Wisconsin. Harry Earl was killed in 1929 when working on high wires during a storm. His wife Singhild b.1897 d.1987.
William Plumleigh married Margaret Wolgamott (born April 1862 Illinois) 12 Dec 1879 in Iroquois, Illinois.
In the 1900 Census, William 48 and Marguerite 38 were living in Blairsburg Liberty, County of Hamilton, Iowa- no children.
William died 10 Oct 1926 Los Angeles and Maggie died 4 May 1927. Both buried at Los Angeles Odd Fellows Cemetery, Los Angeles, California. William was a dairy/butter farmer living in Dundee, Kane County Illinois before moving to Iowa and then Los Angeles. No issue found.
Issue of the sons of Thomas and Eliza:
Charles Plumleigh married Ella Mae Bradford on 9 April 1871 in Douglas Co Nebraska. Charles died 31 January 1927 and is buried in Hartington Cemetery, Hartington, Cedar Co. Nebraska. Charles and Ella Plumleigh had issue: Harry, Elizabeth, Doran C., Grace Virginia, Frank L (b.30 July 1887 Kansas, died Nov. 1963 Kansas), Alfred, Bessie Beatrice (b. 1895 Hartington Nebraska, m. Gettis Monroe Sherbahm 1917), Phillip, Charles Harry (b 1874), Ruth d.1899 aged 1yr 8mth, ??Helen b 12 June 1900, died Aug 1974 Nebraska
George William Plumleigh married Marjorie Minerva Porter (b.1864 Iowa, d. 1958 Kansas) in c.1880, George died 1930 and they are buried in Argonia Cemetery, Argonia, Sumner Co., Kansas. George and Marjorie had issue: Thomas Henry b.1881 Iowa, married Maud Howell 1913 Arkansas; John Winthrop b 1885 Nebraska; Daisy b.c.1891 Iowa; Effie b.c.1893 Iowa; George William b.c.1895 Iowa; Marjorie b.c.1896 Iowa; Bertie b.c.1897; Elsie Cleo b.1901 Nebraska; Genevieve b.1904 Nebraska; Charles T. b.1907 in Arkansas. (1910 census- living in Harrison, White Co.,Arkansas where George was a farmer)
Robert Knight Plumleigh married Florence R Kenyon 5 Oct 1872 in Kane, Illinois.
In the 1880 census, Robert K.,33, was living with father Thomas Plumleigh 83, farmer, and Eliza 62, and Robert's wife (Florence) Adelade,26, and chn Mary 7 and Robert 3 months (in June 1880).
A daughter Daisy Plumleigh "daughter of Constable Plumleigh died suddenly of bowel complaint Dec 17, 1893 aged 12 (born 1881), internment at Dundee" (Elgin Every Saturday, Dec 23, 1893)
In the Elgin City, Kane, Illinois City Directory 1903, Robert K. Plumleigh listed as a Constable and City Sealer.
Robert K Plumleigh (the elder) was listed in the Kane Co History III Vol. 1, p.714 as an 'inspector of weights and measures' in 1901-2; a sealer of weights and measures in 1902-3; he was not listed in 1903-4 onwards, and it would appear they went to Los Angeles to live.
By 1910 (Census) Robert, 62 and wife Florence 54 were living in Los Angeles, where he is working as a gardener, with daughter Florence, 18, and daughter Gertrude, 22, and husband Lawrence Rehmann, 24, and daughter (just born).
In the 1920 Census, Robert K. 76, nightwatchman in a laundry, Florence 65, was living with daughter Gertrude Rehmann 30 hairdresser in a hotel, Doris 9 and Harry 8- husband not listed but Gertrude listed as married.
Robert K. Plumleigh died 18 July 1921 in Los Angeles (aged 77)
In the 1930 Census, Florence is listed as a widow. She was living with her daughter Mary Allan 57 and her husband Morton S. Allan 66, a Canadian working as a nightman in a laundry . This must have been Mary's first husband, as she had remarried by the next Census.
In the 1940 Census, Florence is listed as a widow, living with daughter Mary Ann 67 and husband John C. Iverson, 68, carpenter in building construction, living in Los Angeles.
Robert Knight Plumleigh's wife Florence Adalaide Plumleigh nee Kenyon (father's name) b. 19 Jan 1854 Michigan, died 17 April 1940 in Los Angeles.
Issue of Robert K. and Florence A. Plumleigh:
a) Robert Knight Plumleigh Jnr b.1880, married Mae Louise Gronberg (aged 21) on 11 April 1903 Chicago Illinois.
In the town of Elgin, Kane Co Illinois, in the 1910 census, Robert Plumleigh, machinist working in Casket Manufacture, aged 30 (b.1880) with wife May, 26, dau Evelyn L.,6, sons Tom,4, and George,2, and uncle Clayton Kenyon (mother's brother) 54, unemployed.
In 1940 Census, Robert, 58, machinist, and Mae, 56, were living in Dundee Kane Illinois, by themselves.
In the US City Directories in 1948 (as a machinist) and 1950 (as a gardener) Robert K Plumleigh and Mae L. Plumleigh were living in S Greenwood Av Montebello California.
Robert Knight Plumleigh is buried in Olive Lawn cemetery Los Angeles, and his memorial has: Robert K Plumleigh, Illinois, Pvt Co E 3 Regt Illinois Inf. Spanish American War March 12 1880-Jan 27 1961.
Robert K. Plumleigh Jnr, born 12 March 1880 Illinois, died 27 Jan 1961 Los Angeles (mother's name Kenyon). Son Richard Knight Plumleigh b. 24 Feb 1911 Illinois, died 25 Oct 1984 San Diego (mother's name Gronberg)- their son named Robert Knight Plumleigh (III), b.1961 Los Angeles- d.1988 San Diego, buried by 'Dad'.
Sons Thomas Norman b.14 July 1905 Illinois, d. 1 May 1991 Orange (mother Gronberg), and George Ellwood b 9 August 1907 Illinois, d. 11 October 1986 Los Angeles (mother Gronberg. (California Death Index)
b) Gertrude Plumleigh b.1888, married Lawrence Rehmann in 1909 Los Angeles and had a daughter Gertrude in 1910 in Los Angeles (1910 Census, living with parents), and a son Harry b. 1911
c) Mary Ann Plumleigh (father Plumleigh, mother Kennyon), born 15 March 1874 Illinois, died 19 Dec 1951 Los Angeles. Married 1. Morton S. Allan (b.Canada 1864); married 2. John C Iverson (b.1872).
d) George William Plumleigh b. 15 March 1878 Iowa, died 15 Nov. 1970 Los Angeles.
(Refs California Death Index)
e) Florence A Plumleigh (father Plumleigh, mother Kenyon) b.1892, married 1 May 1911 to Robert G Mitchell (b.1889) at Los Angeles
??Thomas Plumleigh b 20 Aug 1883, died May 1980 California (no parents named)
??Hattie Plumleigh b.1 June 1881, died 15 Dec 1966 California (no parents named)
Harry Henry Plumleigh died 5 May 1897. There is a record of a marriage of a Harry Earl Plumleigh (b.29 March 1888 Dodgeville Wisconsin to Harry H. Plumleigh and Cora M. Van Halligan/Penhalligan), who married 26/3/1929 in Iowa to Singhild Eleanor Bechus (age 32- b. Wisconsin). The 1900 Census has Cora Plumleigh (has Clara sic),34, living with her parents Mary and A H Penhalligan (both English born), and Cora's son Harry E. Plumleigh b. March 1888 aged 12, and daughter Clara (or Cora?) P. Plumleigh b. Sept 1893 aged 6. The 1920 Census has Cora Plumleigh 53, widow, living with her son Earl Plumleigh 31, electrician for the Elec Light Co., Earl's father's birthplace Illinois, both living in Dodgeville Iowa Wisconsin. Harry Earl was killed in 1929 when working on high wires during a storm. His wife Singhild b.1897 d.1987.
William Plumleigh married Margaret Wolgamott (born April 1862 Illinois) 12 Dec 1879 in Iroquois, Illinois.
In the 1900 Census, William 48 and Marguerite 38 were living in Blairsburg Liberty, County of Hamilton, Iowa- no children.
William died 10 Oct 1926 Los Angeles and Maggie died 4 May 1927. Both buried at Los Angeles Odd Fellows Cemetery, Los Angeles, California. William was a dairy/butter farmer living in Dundee, Kane County Illinois before moving to Iowa and then Los Angeles. No issue found.
Charles Plumleigh's life is in a book "Memoirs of Andersonville" written by Charles and edited by Winifred Plumleigh Preston (pub Tucson Arizona, 2002), in which he writes of his enlistment in the Union Army in 1862, his being taken prisoner at the Battle of Allatoona Pass and Ackworth on 7 October 1864 and imprisonment at Andersonville. He was mustered out of the Army 16 Sept 1865, Ft Leavenworth, Kansas. Andersonville Prison was notorious during the Civil War in the period 1864-1865 with 13,000 deaths of the over 40,000 prisoners due to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions, many dying of disease and starvation. The camp commander was executed after the war on charges of cruelty.
Charles' brother George Plumleigh is also listed in the US Civil war Soldiers records 1861-65, enlisting as a private in Company A, Illinois 141st Infantry Regiment on 16 June 1864 and mustered in October at Chicago. Robert Plumleigh enlisted with his brother George.
© B A Butler
Contact email: butler1802 @hotmail.com (no spaces)
http://chin-haddockfamilyhistoryaus.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/chin-haddock-family-ch1-introduction.html
Links to all chapters in this blog:
John Butt Chin, wife Ann Haddock, and children
http://chin-haddockfamilyhistoryaus.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/chin-haddock-family-ch2-john-butt-chin.html
Rev. John Butt Chin, and ancestry
http://chin-haddockfamilyhistoryaus.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/chin-haddock-family-ch3-rev-john-butt.html
Plumleigh family of Dartmouth
http://chin-haddockfamilyhistoryaus.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/chin-haddock-family-ch4-plumleigh.html
Captain Richard Plumleigh of the King Charles I's Navy
http://chin-haddockfamilyhistoryaus.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/chin-haddock-family-ch5-captain-richard-plumleigh.html
Haddock Family ancestry- Southwark and Newington, London
http://chin-haddockfamilyhistoryaus.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/chin-haddock-family-ch6-haddock-family.html
John Haddock's Bankruptcy
http://chin-haddockfamilyhistoryaus.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/chin-haddock-family-ch7-john-haddocks-bankruptcy.html
Bywater and Griffith families of Southwark
http://chin-haddockfamilyhistoryaus.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/chin-haddock-family-ch7-bywater.html
[i] The
Primitive Church Magazine, Advocating
the Constitution, Faith and Practice of the Apostolic Churches. Vol.
VIII- New Series (NB on Google Books it says Vol 4): No 85- January 1851, Pub.
London 1851, p.32 and p.45- death notice and obituary
[ii] Non-conformist records-
bmdregisters.co.uk- RG4 0959
[iii] Familysearch.org
[iv] Non-conformist
records- bmdregisters.co.uk- RG4 0959
[v] IGI record; and, http:// familytreemaker.genealogy.com /users/y/o/u/Richard-W-Youatt/WEBSITE- 0001/UHP-0159.html
[vi] Non-conformist
records- bmdregisters.co.uk, and familysearch.org (LDS)
[vii] The LDS website-
familysearch.org
[viii]
http://archive.is/M6zQ
[ix] http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1604-1629/member/plumleigh-william-1648 published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, ed.
Andrew Thrush and John P. Ferris 2010 Available from Cambridge University Press
Authors
George Yerby and Paul Hunneyball
[x] Ibid.
NB. The above baptismal, marriage and burial records at St Saviours, Dartmouth, came from the Devon Record Office, placed on Find My Past.
NB. The above baptismal, marriage and burial records at St Saviours, Dartmouth, came from the Devon Record Office, placed on Find My Past.