Sidbury, Devon
A Staveley family of some note originating from the County of Yorkshire and traceable for about two hundred years in Devon from 1500-1700. From the qualification of their 'coat of arms', it seems they were originally from STAINTON, Yorks.
They appear to have moved to Devon in the very early 16th Century - in fact about 1500 when a Richard Staveley is the first to appear though he may have been accompanied by a James Staveley whose will of 1532 was proved that year (Canterbury Wills). Although their arms are the same usual Staveley design, (i.e. chevron, stags heads, lozenges etc), the blazon (colour scheme) of them is unlike either the Stainley or Thormanby lines and my best guess is that this could well be the arms of the defunct Swinton line.
The following excerpt is from Thomas Westcote's book regarding this Devonshire family:
STAVELEY, of East-Buckland and Sidbury, gent -- Arms -- Argent, on a chevron between three lozenges azure three bucks faces, or. John Staveley, of Staveley, Yorkshire, married Christian, daughter of Thomas Rocher, and had issue John. John Staveley, of East-Buckland, married Joan, daughter and coheir of Lapelode, and had issue Bartholomew, Richard, and Ellen, married to Henry Huish of Sand. Bartholomew Staveley, of Sidbury, married Joan, daughter of Sedborough, and had issue Robert and William. Richard Staveley, of East Buckland, (second son of John) married Ann, daughter of John Richards of Roborough, and had issue Charles, Bartholomew, John, Anthony, Ellen, Mary, Christian, Grace, Joan. (It should seem he had his children by a daughter of Davy of Eberley.) Charles married and had issue Richard, Anthony, John, Margaret, Grace. View of Devonshire in MDCXXX with A Pedigree of Most of its Gentry by Thomas Westcote, Gent. (Pub 1845). |
Once in Devon, Richard's son, John Staveley built 'Voggis Hill Farm', Harcombe, Sidbury, just north of Sidmouth, in 1521. John married Joan LAPFLODE. The Laplode estate is at Bridford (about 20 miles away to the West of Exeter and a co-heiresses of the Lapflode inheritance which John acquired via this marriage. John's daughter, Ellen, married a local landowner called Huish (Hewish)1 in about 1550 and she went to live at his manor house, somewhat removed, being at Sand in Somerset.
Ellen's brother Bartholomew married Joan SEDBOROUGH and settled in North Molton.
John's son Anthony settled in Bideford, Devon, and was buried at St. Mary Arches in Exeter in 1622.
John's grandson Robert, is reported to have later sold the farm to the Huish's at the end of the 16th century and returned to Yorkshire. However it is apparent that other Staveleys seem to have sprung from this early settlement for there are also reports of a move by the same family group to Buckland near Barnstable at this time and in 1632 a John Staveley, who was rector of West Buckland, died there (likely the brother of Anthony above).
Records contained at the National Archives referring to this family group include:
| C 1/886/51 | Joan, late the wife of John Staveley. v. James ....wghton.: Messuages, land, and rent in Warsbrightley (in Stoodleigh) and Oakford.: Devon. | 1532-1538 |
| C 1/1159/56-59 | Richard, son of John STAVELYE, v. Joan STAVELEY, late the wife of the said John.: Farm called Brayle in East Buckland, demised to both parties and the said John by John Hacche, lord of the manor of Wytheyatt in North Molton.: DEVON. | 1544-1551 |
| STAC 3/2/46 | PLAINTIFF: Joan Staveley DEFENDANT: Thomas Haydon, John Serell, and others PLACE OR SUBJECT: Forcible ouster and unlawful distraint at Sidbury COUNTY: Devon | 28/01/1547-06/07/1553 |
From wills made during the 17th century, and Star Chamber accounts, Staveleys have definitely been associated with Exeter, Sidmouth, East & West Buckland and also Abbotsham in Bideford. However some three hundred years later, in the year 2002, there appears to be no surviving legacy of these indigenous 16th century West Country Staveleys. This is quite sad as they appear to have been a solid and respectable family of the county with several vicars, primarily of West Buckland, in their number.
Author: Peter Staveley
1Burke's Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland: Henry Hewish, or Huysh , purchased the estate and dwelling of Sand, in the parish of Sidbury, Devon, in 1560 and 1561. By inquisition taken at Tiverton, it appears that he died 21 Jan 1566. He was buried at Sidbury. He m. Ellen, daughter of John Stavely, esq. of East Buckland, in Devon, by Joan, his wife, daughter and co-heir of John Lapflode, and had by her, who was buried at Sidbury, 27 May 1592, three sons and five daughters.
A Genealogical and Heraldic History of The Commoners of Great Britain And Ireland Enjoying Territorial Possessions or High Official Rank: But Uninvested With Heritable Honours.