John Prideaux (abt. 1380 - abt. 1443)

Born about 1380 in Adeston, Devon, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1443 at about age 63 in England

Note

Information about the origin of the Prideaux family, the change in spelling from Pridias to Prideaux, Prideaux Castle, the different branches of the family, and the family coat of arms, can be found on the profile of the presumed progenitor of the family, Paganus de Pridias.

Biography

We find him [John Prideaux] serving on a jury in 1413. On 18th June 1415 he had a license to go abroad in company with the King, and in 1423 he had license to be abroad whilst in company with Sir John Rohessart, Knt., Captain of the castle of Saint Sauvier le Viscont. He was thrice married. By his first wife Isabella, sister and heir of John Bromford, with a daughter, he had a son John Prideaux who, upon the death of his uncle, the said John Bromford, was found to be the nearest heir and to be of the age of 15 years and more.^[1] This son John died without issue, and the Bromford lands were inherited by his sister Joan, wife of Robert Stretchleigh, while his half-brother William became heir to the Prideaux estate.

"Sir John Prideaux of Adeston had followed his father to Dartmouth and acquired, by [his second] marriage [to Maude French], a fine estate at Sharpham by the mid 15th century. His father had been a burgess in Edward III’s parliament for Dartmouth, and both men were active in the wine and cloth trades across the English Channel, despite the French wars and persistent piracy."^[2]

“Sir John Prideaux was born in 1380….He married Isabella Bromford in 1407. Isabella was the sister and heir of John Bromford of Horilake, a considerable estate. Isabella gave birth to Joan in 1409 and John in 1414. The heir safely born, Isabella faded and died a few months later in 1415. Her estates in Horilake were willed to her son John. In this same year, Sir John had license to go abroad with Henry V and was more than likely at Agincourt.

“Sir John…soon married again to Maude French Sharpham. Maude was the daughter and heiress of Robert French Sharpham and so John acquired an interest in the Sharpham estate, which has a frontage of three miles along the Dart.

“John and Maude had three daughters, two of which, Elizabeth and Julian, grew up to marry William and Adam Somaster. Their parents, Richard and Marjery Somaster, were neighbours and friends of the Prideaux family. The Somasters, another County family, held lands around Devon, including property at de la Port or Old Port. This was an estate slightly nearer the sea than Adeston and had at one time been a castle of defence when the creek was deeper and wider and allowed ships further inland…. Sir John and Maude had another daughter they named Jane. This Jane Prideaux married William Drew and after his death, she married Baldwin Acland. Both of these men were famous in their time and the Acland family is still a huge landowner in Devon. Maude soon died after giving birth to the three children in quick succession….

“Sir John was still sailing back and forth to France. In 1423, he had license to travel with Sir John Robeassart. He was Captain of the Castle of Saint Sauvieur le Viscount, so he may also have fought under the Duke of Bedford. It is thought both of these men saw Joan of Arc burnt at the stake….

“Upon his return, Sir John married Anne Shapton, daughter of John Shapton of Shapton who successfully bore the son and eventual heir, William of Adeston.”^[3] [This might not be quite right – if John’s son William was indeed age 10 when his elder brother died in February 1432/3 (see William's profile), then John would have been married in 1422 or before.]

Research Notes

See 'Prideaux, A Westcountry Clan,' by R. M. Prideaux (Chichester, England: Phillimore & Co., Ltd., 1989) for the ancestry given here; this book gives extensive insight into the life and times of the family and the wider society. Adeston is in the parish of Holbeton, Devonshire.

Sources

1. ↑ Sir John MacLean, The Parochial and Family History of the Deanery of Trigg Minor, in the County of Cornwall, vol. 2 (1876), p. 203.
2. ↑ R.M. Prideaux, Prideaux: A West Country Clan (Addendum), quoted at the “Prideaux: A Thousand Year Old Name” family tree.
3. ↑ A.A. Prideaux, Sir John Prideaux 1380-1443

Acknowledgements

This person was created on 28 April 2011 through the import of GerwingLoueyFamilyTree2009_2011-04-27.ged.

Roger Churm, firsthand knowledge. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Roger and others.

This person was created through the import of Ancestors of Lois Greene.ged on 19 October 2010.