Wramgatpm. Devon

THE LORDSHIP of Wrangaton lies within the parish of Ugborough, a neat and pleasant village to the East of Plympton. At the time of the Norman Conquest, Wrangaton formed part of the Manor of Ugborough, for which the entry in Domesday Book reads:

Alfred (the Breton) himself holds Ugborough. Alwin held it before 1066.

It paid tax for three hides and one virgate of land.

Land for 15 ploughs. In lordship two ploughs; five slaves;

Nine villagers and nine smallholders with six ploughs.

Meadow, 12 acres; pasture 50 acres; underwood 15 acres.

Value 60s.

After the Conquest Wrangaton came into the possession of Richard de Redvers, a baron who fought for Henry I against his brother Robert, and later, on the side of Maud in the first English Civil War. King Stephen stripped de Redvers of his titles and gave them to Baron Henry Brewer (sometimes spelt Briwere), Sheriff of Devon. On Brewer's death the title passed to his daughter Alice, who married Reginald de Mohun in 1205. Their son, also Reginald, succeeded to his father's estates in 1213. At this point he was a minor and was placed under the care of Henry Fitz-Count, son of the Earl of Cornwall. Reginald was a religious man who was anxious to leave his mark for posterity. In 1246, with the advice of Alcius of Gisors, Abbot of Beaulieu in Hampshire, he founded the abbey of Newenham at Axminster in Devon. The foundation was confirmed by Pope Innocent IV that same year, and Mohun travelled to Lyon to receive a blessing. At the papal court, the Pope is said to have asked Mohun of what degree he was, and Mohun replied that he was a plain knight bachelor. Innocent IV presented him with a gold rose, telling him that this gift could only be made to kings, dukes or earls, therefore, henceforward, he would become the Earl of Somerset. Though Mohun is supposed to have carried the arms of this earldom, he never held this as a legitimate English title.

Wrangaton was sold by the Mohun family to Sir Nigel Loring, who left his daughter, Isabel, as his sole heir. She married Robert de Harington. Through the Haringtons, Wrangaton passed to the family of William, Lord Bonville who married Elizabeth Harington, sole heir to her father, William. The Bonvilles were succeeded by their daughter Cecily, who married Thomas Grey, Marquess of Dorset. Dorset was a prominent supporter of Edward IV (1461-83), and Edward V (1483), but when Richard III (1483-5) seized the Throne in 1483 Dorset was found guilty of treason and fled to Brittany. As a supporter of Henry VII who defeated Richard at Bosworth two years later, he was reinstated to his former position, and made Knight of the Garter in 1501.

His son Thomas, a loyal servant of Henry VIII (1509-1547), succeeded him. Thomas's son Henry, to whom Wrangaton passed, in 1530, was created Duke of Suffolk, in 1551. Henry Grey was among the most powerful men at Henry VIII's court. He was said to have carried the sceptre at Anne Boleyn's coronation, was present at Princess Elizabeth's christening and was the chief mourner at Henry's funeral. He was made a Knight of the Garter on the accession of Edward VI (1547-1553). He played an important role in the government of England during Edward's minority and on the extinction of the Brandon line of the Dukedom of Suffolk, he was conferred with that title, thanks to his wife, Frances, being the eldest daughter of Charles Brandon, the last Duke. He was, however, much under the influence of the Duke of Northumberland, Protector of the Realm, who persuaded him to marry his daughter, Jane Grey, to Northumberland's son, Guilford Dudley, and to promote Jane as queen. On 9 July, 1553, three days after the death of Edward VI, Northumberland and Suffolk proclaimed Jane queen. Suffolk, in the face of defiant support for Mary in London, effected an immediate volte face and voiced his support for Mary. Suffolk deeply resented Mary's reign and in the following year organized an abortive revolt. He was found guilty of treason and executed on Tower Hill, in February 1554.

Suffolk's estates were forfeited to the crown, and bought by Thomas Williams, Speaker of the House of Commons, in the 1560s. Wrangaton remained with the Williams family until, through the Harris family, it was purchased by Walter Palk MP. On his death it passed to his heir, Elizabeth, the second wife of Sir Henry Carew, in whose family the Lordship still remains.

The Carew family are of ancient lineage. They seem to have arrived in England with the Norman Conquest. The family settled in Devon and their descendants included the Barons Carew, Barons Clopton, and the Earls of Totnes. The first of one of the main branches of the family, was Thomas, the second son of Sir Edmund, Baron Carew. Thomas served under Thomas, Earl of Surrey, in Henry VIII's wars with Scotland. He is mentioned in James Prince's The Worthies of Devon, as playing a legendary role before the battle of Flodden, in 1513. A Scottish knight challenged an English gentleman to meet him in hand-to-hand conflict to secure the honour of his country. Carew begged for the chance and was granted his wish. In the ensuing fight he defeated the Scottish knight, thus signalling the eventual English victory, it was believed. During the battle, Carew was riding with Surrey, and Lord Howard, then Lord Admiral of England. At a narrow pass they became surrounded by the Scottish. To prevent Howard's capture, Carew swapped armour with him and rode ahead. He was captured for his troubles, and imprisoned at Dunbar Castle, the Scots assuming him to be Lord Howard. After his eventual release, the grateful Admiral made Carew Vice-Admiral. Thomas Carew was succeeded by his son Peter, who in turn, was succeeded by his half brother, Sir Humphrey Carew. His son Peter, was succeeded by his own son, Sir Henry, who left two daughters. Elizabeth, the eldest, in marrying Sir Thomas Carew, united two branches of the family after they had been split for four hundred years.

Sir Thomas was created a Baronet in 1661 and was succeeded by his son, Henry, in 1676. On Henry's death the estates passed to Sir Henry, who died unmarried. Sir Thomas inherited them and died some time before 1746, to be succeeded by his son Sir John, the 5th Baronet. The title passed through his son, Sir Thomas, to the 7th Baronet, Sir Henry, who married Elizabeth, daughter of Walter Palk, as mentioned above.

The Manor is presently in the possession of the 11th Baronet, Sir Rivers Carew and his descent can be seen on page 6 of this catalogue [cf. Lot 3, Aller, above].

Associated manorial documents / archive references

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• We have not yet indexed a lordship of the manor for this category yet.

Source notes

Catalogue transcribed by the Lord of Finchingfield - a friend to learning

Wrangaton is described as having formed part of the manor of Ugborough at the Norman Conquest. The recorded descent then runs through Richard de Redvers; Henry Brewer (Briwere); Alice Brewer and Reginald de Mohun; the Mohun family; Sir Nigel Loring; Isabel Loring and Robert de Harington; the Harington family; William, Lord Bonville and Elizabeth Harington; Cecily Bonville and Thomas Grey, Marquess of Dorset; the Grey family; Thomas Williams, who acquired the forfeited estates in the 1560s; the Williams family; the Harris family; Walter Palk; Elizabeth Palk and the Carew family. The record states that the lordship remained in the Carew family and was in the possession of Sir Rivers Carew, the 11th Baronet, at the time of the catalogue.