Pre 1500 prep workspace 5A

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

Humphrey Courtenay

Biography

Humphrey Courtenay was born about 1444 at Powderham, Devon, England, the son of Sir Phillip Courtenay of Powderham and Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of Walter, Lord Hungerford.

He married Elizabeth Pomeroy, daughter of Henry Pomeroy of Berry Pomeroy ( near Totnes in Devon )

They had children:

1. John Courtenay
2. Phillip Courtenay
3. Joan Courtenay

Humphrey Courtenay of Bickley, died on the 23rd of April 1496. An Inquisition Post Mortem was taken 12 Henry VII ( no.82 ) ^[1] It names his grandson Humphrey, then aged 7 and more , as his heir to the manor of Bickleigh, He was the son of John Courtenay,

Research Notes

Apart from Vivian's Visitations of Devon, there is other evidence for the existence of Humphrey's daughter, Joan Courtenay and her marriage to William Marwood ( Merwode ).

Runaway Match p 197.

An article by John Vincent in The Genealogist ^[2] mentions the inquisition post mortem ( 22 Edw. IV, no. 51 ) of William Merwode of Westcote taken at Exeter on 29th of July 1492 and desribes it as referring to Joan being called one of Humphrey's daughters ( vaius fil dicti Humfri ). This Joan was married to William Merwode, younger son and heir of the William Merwode lately deceased. The last named had granted to Humfrey and Walter Courtenay, esquires ( with others ) certain lands which these feoffees re-granted. The article then quotes from the original latin phrase: quibusdam Will'o Merwode, per nomen Will'i Merwode Junioris filij et heredis dicti Will'i in dicto brevi nominati, et Johanne uxori sue unius ( for uni ) fil ( iarum ) dicti Humfr'i

The original IPM for William Merwode is held by the National Archives at Kew ^[3] and was photographed by Joe Farler The latin text quoted above does appear, ten lines up from the bottom, starting near the left hand side. There is a faint red box added in the following image around the text: quibisdam Will'o Merwode per nomen Willi Merwode Junioris filij et heredis dicti Will'i in dicto brevi nominati et Johanne uxori sue unius fil dicti Humfr'i

William Merwode of Westcote IPM 22 Edw. IV no.51

Sources

1. ↑ Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem and Other Analogous Documents preserved in the Public Record Office (H.M. Stationery Office, London, 1898) Henry VII., Vol. 1, Pages 543-4
2. ↑ The Genealogist, Volume VI Edited by George W Marshall L.L.B. Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries London 1882. George Bell and Sons, York Street Covent Garden. Page 197 of: The Runaway Match of Elizabeth Courtenay by John A.C. Vincent.complete article viewable online here
3. ↑ C140/85/51 Merwode William, Devon 22 Edw IV Chancery Inquisitions Post Mortem Series 1, Edward IV

• The visitations of the county of Devon : Comprising the herald's visitations of 1531, 1564, & 1620 / With additions by Lieutenant-Colonel J. L. Vivian. Author: Vivian, J. L. 1830-1896. Published: Exeter : For the author, by H. S. Eland, [1895] Page: 246. viewable online here image below:

Courtenay Visitations of Devon p.246