The following extracts are drawn from Exchequer Depositions, inquiries into that estate through interrogation of individuals (PRO ref. E134/10Wm3/7Mich).
Interrogatories to be exhibited to witnesses to be produced sworn and examined on the part and behalf of the most noble William Duke and Earl of Bedford complainant in a cause depending in the honourable court aforesaid between him the said Duke and Henry Manaton Esq. defendant as followeth:
[Only one of the interrogatories relates to Francis Glanville, but another prompts answers that refer to him; in total there are 15 interrogatories concerning a variety of properties in the area.]
3. Do you know the now Barton or capital farm of or called Kilworthy situate
within the parish of Tavistock was the same originally and time out of mind
one entire Barton or farm and demesnes or was it compounded and made up or
enlarged out of several lesser farms or tenements and when by whom purchased
and annexed to the Barton of Kilworthy and of whom bought. Are the tenements
or farms called Gammeraby Bullensparkes spire lands and Goves tenements or
either of them now deemed and taken to be or as part and parcel of the said
Barton of Kilworthy and were and are occupied and enjoyed by Ambrose Manaton
Esq. deceased in his lifetime and by the defendant Henry Manaton since his
death as part of the demesnes of Kilworthy.
Declare your knowledge or remembrance therein with your reasons.
4. Did you know or have you heard of Sir Francis Glanvill Kt deceased in his
lifetime was he seised or did he at any and for what time occupy the ancient
Barton of Kilworthy without the tenements of farms called Halsworthy
Grammeraby Bullensparkes spire lands and Goves tenement was the old Barton
of Kilworthy his original or ancient mansion house and demesne. If yea when
did hr purchase the before mentioned tenement or farmes and of whom were
they or some of them not the inheritance of the now complainant or some or
one of his ancestors earls of Bedford who made leases of them for lives or
years determinable on lives and were held and occupied by the tenants
distinctly from the said Barton and were not part thereof till after the
said purchase and the tithes arising there out paid or compounded for by the
occupants or tenants and in particular by the tenants of Goves tenement.
Declare your knowledge with your reasons and circumstances inducing you
thereunto.
Deponents (with relevant information on these two interrogatories)
James Leare of Tavistock, gent, aged 47
3&4 Š The deponent hath heard and believe that the four of the said
tenements that is to say Grammarby Bullingsparke spire land and Goves
tenement were anciently the land and inheritance of the complainants
ancestors or of some or one of them and that the said tenement called
Kilworthy was anciently the land or inheritance of Sir [blank] Glanvill who
as this deponent hath heard was in the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth one
of Her Majesty's Justices of the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster and
that all the said tenements were enjoyed by the said Ambrose Manaton Esq. in
his life time and by the defendant since his death.
John Neare of Lamerton next adjoining to the parish of Tavistock aged 88.
3. To the third interrogatory this deponent sayeth that he knows of some
part of the Barton of Kilworthy in the interrogatory named and hath known
the same for upward of the space of 40 years last past and that Sir Francis
Glanvill was proprietor or owner of the said Barton of Kilworthy and that
when he was so he did purchase the Goves tenement in the previous
interrogatory mentioned and did afterwards enjoy and occupy the said same
tenement together with the said Barton and that the said tenement hath been
ever since enjoyed and occupied as part of or with the said Barton and more
to this interrogatory sayeth not.
4. To the fourth interrogatory this deponent sayeth that at the time (viz)
upward of 50 years since when Sir Francis Glanvill in the previous
interrogatory named did purchase the said Barton of Kilworthy there was no
mansion or other house on the same excepting a barn and more to this
interrogatory this deponent cannot depose.
Roger Vere of the parish of Tavistock yeoman aged 65
3. To the third interrogatory this deponent sayeth that he hath heard and
believes it to be true that the tenement called Goves tenement in these
interrogatories mentioned was not originally part or parcel of the Barton or
farm of Kilworthy in the interrogatory mentioned but that the same was
heretofore purchased by one Sir Francis Glanvill Knight and that the said
tenement was occupied and enjoyed by the said Ambrose Manaton esq. deceased
in his life time and by the defendant since his death as part of and
together with the said now Barton of Kilworthy and more to this
interrogatory this deponent sayeth not.
Daniel Humphrey of Tavistock, yeoman, aged 60 years or thereabouts
3. Š this deponent doth remember that one Sir Francis Glanvill Knight having
the possession of the said Barton of Kilworthy did purchase the said lands
called Coves tenement in the interrogatory mentioned about 60 years since
and doth remember that the said Sir Francis Glanvill did possess and enjoy
the said tenement called Goves tenement with the said Barton of Kilworthy
and doth believe that several years after the death of the said Sir Francis
Glanvill the said tenement called Goves tenement did come to the said
Ambrose Manaton legally with and as part of the said Barton of Kilworthy Š
Walter Langford of the parish of Peter Tavy, gent aged 46 years
3. Š a certain tenement called Coves tenement in the interrogatory mentioned
was heretofore (viz) about 60 years since purchased by one Sir Francis
Glanvill Kent then possessor and occupier of Kilworthy aforesaid and
likewise has been informed that the said Sir Francis Glanvill did after the
time of his said purchase occupy enjoy the said tenement called Goves
tenement together with the and as part of the said Barton of Kilworthy until
the time of his the said Sir Francis Glanvill's death Š
PRO ref. E134/11&12Wm3/Hil1
Interrogatories to be administered to witnesses brought sworn and examined on the part and behalf of Henry Manaton Esq. defendant to the bill of complaint of the most honourable Duke of Bedford.
Listed - 13 interrogatories, of which three refer to the ancient owners of the Barton of Kilworthy. Only depositions that relate to the possessions and tenure of the Glanvill family are transcribed.
2. Do you know the farms within the rectory of Tavistock called Kilworthy and The Farme or lands called Spackmans and the close or lands called the Warren within the said rectory, and for how long since have you known the said farm close and lands or either of them how and for whom have you been summoned or employed on the said farms or either of them, set forth your knowledge of the same.
3. Do you know have credibly heard or been informed that any certain sums of money hath been yearly or half yearly paid for or in lieu of all tithes arising on the said farm called Kilworthy, how much is such sums and when payable, when and how often have you known the same paid and to whom, hath any other sums of money at any time to your knowledge been paid for or in lieu of the tithes of the said farm, have tithes in kind at any time to your knowledge been paid for titheable matters arising on the said farm, what hath the reputation been during the time of your memory, wither tithes in kind were due or payable on the said farm or that a modus or customary payment of a certain sum of money and what sum was due and payable in lieu of tithes and what have you heard any ancient person or persons and who by name and when say, was due for the tithes of the said farm set forth your knowledge and belief herein fully and the reasons for your belief.
10. Item do you know or have you heard or been credibly informed that the ancient occupiers and possessors of the Barton and farm called Kilworthy and who by name did at the same time hold and enjoy any and what other messuages lands or tenements and lying and being within the rector of Tavistock near to the said Barton of Kilworthy or how far distant from the same and for how long and until what time did such person or persons so hold and enjoy such estates. Declare etc.
Deponents
Tristram Cundy of the parish of Lamerton aged 54
2. this deponent knoweth the barton of Kilworthy and farm called Spackmans
and the close called the warren Š and have known the same for the space of
30 years last past and upwards and sayeth that for the five first of the
thirty years aforesaid or more the said deponent was a covenant servant with
one Mr Benjamin Spackman who at that time was the principal servant or
steward to Sir John Davy or his lady who before that time was the relict of
[blank] Glanvill esq. and afterwards married to the said Sir John Davy, and
sayeth that the said Lady Davy was jointress of deputed jointress of the
barton of Kilworthy aforesaid and then enjoyed the said barton; and the
deponent also sayeth that he lived there for some further short time and in
the space aforesaid was employed by the said Spackman this deponents master
in plowing sowing reaping and gathering of corn in mowing of grass and
gathering in the hay thereof and other husbandry works in and upon parts of
Kilworthy aforesaid, within that time held at a yearly rent from the lady
Davy or Sir John her husband, and also sayeth that during the space
aforesaid he was employed by his said master in like works of husbandry upon
other parts of the barton aforesaid which within that time were in the
possession and manurant of the said Sir John Davy or his said LadyŠ
3. this deponent sayeth that he hath heard from persons of good credit and verily believes that there was or anciently has been a certain sum of £15 per annum payable in lieu of all tithes arising issuing or growing in out of or upon the barton of Kilworthy aforesaid (and verily believes the same to be true) for that the said Spackman in the first years that this deponent became a covenant servant to and with him, delivered unto him this deponent the sum of £15 which he ordered this deponent to pay onto one John Hogson then the tithe gatherer or agent for the complainant in lieu of one years tithes for the barton of Kilworthy and this deponent sayeth the he apprehended the same to be a customary payment for the tithes of the said barton of Kilworthy and accordingly paid the same at such, and the same was received by the said Hogson, and that the said Hogson gave unto this deponent a receipt for the same, which this deponent believes was carried to Goody the then principal place of habitation of the said Sir John Davy and his Lady Davy, and this deponent further sayeth that he never knew or heard of any other sum of money paid for or in lieu of the tithes of the farm aforesaid, and this deponent sayeth that he never knew of any tithes in kind that were paid for any titheable matter arising on the said barton of Kilworthy during all the space that he lived as a servant as aforesaidŠ
Richard Raddacliffe of the parish of Lamerton yeoman aged four score years.
2. for the space of 60 years last past and upwards he was sometime as a
covenant servant to the Lady Glanvill afterwards to Francis Glanvill her son
the successive owners and occupiers of the barton farm called Kilworthy
lying within the rectory of TavistockŠ.
3. (re. tithes, payable at £15 per year) for about 40 or 50 years since one
Mr Edgcombe had the agency management and disposal of the affairs of the
family at Kilworthy barton as chief servant to the Lady or her son Francis
Glanvill (remainder relates to tithes, as above)
Walter Nicholls of the parish of Brentor, yeoman aged 82
2. (recognises the stated properties) Š and sayeth that for three score
years ago, and for several years since, he this deponent was employed by one
Thomas Edgecombe who was then for several years after continued to be head
of chief servant to Francis Glanvill esq. then owner of the said barton of
Kilworthy in reaping, mowing corn grown on the said barton of Kilworthy and
for seven or more of the said years was employed in carrying away the same
for and on the account of the said Francis Glanvill esq. and was also
employed in carrying hay made of the grass grown on the said barton of
Kilworthy for the said manor of years unto the said barton house of
Kilworthy by the order of the said Mr Glanvill's agent and more to this
interrogatory the deponent knoweth not.
William Stephyns of Tavistock yeoman aged 67
2. he doth know the barton of Kilworthy, the farm called Spackmans and the
field called the Warren all lying within the rectory and parish of Tavistock
and hath known the same for the space of 55 years of last past and upwards
and was at first an apprentice to the Lady Glanvill deceased her son
afterwards employed by Sir John Davy and his lady and after that by others
who were all severally owners and occupants of the said barton of Kilworthy
3. (relates to tithes) Š about 50 years since by one Thomas Edgecombe who
then long before that time had been steward and butler to Francis Glanvill
esq. deceased then owner of the said barton of Kilworthy and was also in
like manner afterwards about 40 years ago by one Richard Elford then an
ancient man and one who had been an ancient servant and labourer to the said
family
10. The tenth interrogatory this deponent sayeth that the ancient occupiers
and possessors of the said Barton of Kilworthy did at the time of their
being in possession thereof hold other messuages or tenements not far
distant from Kilworthy lying within the parish and rectory of Tavistock
aforesaid. And particularly aforesaid that the Lady Glanvill deceased who
was long since an inhabitant of Kilworthy enjoyed one estate called Creeber
Close another called the Leazes and also enjoyed the parks of Bristol and
Bearesparke parcel of the Barton of Hardicke and held the same to the time
of her death. In his said last memorial premises lie also within the said
rectory and parish of Tavistock and as this deponent hath head were held in
lease; and this deponent sayeth that the Lady Davy the widow of Francis
Glanvill esq. deceased for some years after the death of this said lady
Glanvill together with Kilworthy enjoy Creeber Cross the Leazes and the
warren all lying within the rectory of Tavistock aforesaid and about one
mile distant from the Barton of Kilworthy aforesaid. And held the same to
the time of the her death and hath leased that Sir Francis Glanvill husband
of the before named Lady Glanvill did in his time also enjoy other messuages
or tenements lying within the parish of Tavistock aforesaid all the same
time and times which he enjoyed the Barton of Kilworthy and this deponent
sayeth that Francis Glanvill deceased did also in his life enjoy the said
Barton of Kilworthy and therewith certain closes called Spirelands which are
now also in the possession of the present occupier of the said Barton. And
more he sayeth not.