Other Events:

• Education: 07 Mar 1672/73; Matric. Exeter College, Oxford (aged 18)

Notes:

--- "Oxford University Alumni, 1500-1886" (1500-1714, Volume II, E, 17 of 40):
Eliott, Edward, s. E., of South Petherwyn, Cornwall, gent. Exeter Coll., matric. 7 March, 1672-3, aged 18; a student of the Middle Temple 1675, as son and heir of Edward, of Trebursey, Cornwall, esq.

Family/Spouse: Joan French. Joan died before 16 Feb 1743; was buried on 16 Feb 1743 in St. Paternus, South Petherwin, Cornwall. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

--- "A Complete Parochial History of the County of Cornwall" Vol. 4, Joseph Polsue, 1872, page 65:
The chief place of the parish is Trebursey, and property and residence of Charles Gurney, Esq. This interesting was formerly the property and residence of the family of Gedy or Gedye; Richard Gedy of this place was sheriff 21 James I., 1623; he married Katherine, daughter of Hugh Boscawen, Esq., of Tregothnan, and died circa 1629, leaving an only daugher and heiress named Radigund, who became the wife of Sir John Eliot, Knt. of Port Eliot, the celebrated patriot. Daniel Eliot, grandson of Sir John, dying without issue male, bequeather Trebursey to his relative Edward Eliot, great-grandson of Sir John through his fourth son Nicholas. William Eliot, a descendant of this Nicholas, erected the present handsome mandion on a new site; but succeeding his elder brother, he became the 2nd Earl of S. Germans, and sold Trebursey to the late David Howell, Esq., of Ethy, from whom it passed to the present proprietor.

--- "The Cornish Magazine" by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch, 1898, page 292-3:
Both as clergyman and schoolmaster, Ruddle figures in his own narrative; and it is possible, therefore, to test his accuracy in points of detail. He sets out with two specific assertions--- that there was in his school a lad named John Eliot, son of Edward Eliot of Treberse (or, as it is more usually called, Trebursye), and that he 'preached at [his] funeral, which happened on the 20th day of June, 1665.' Now, the name of Edward Eliot, of Trebursye, was one not lightly to be used at Launceston, and in connection with a story, he being one of the most prominent of all the neighbouring gentry. He was the third son of Sir John Eliot, the illustrious patriot, into whose family the possession of Trebursye had come through his marriage with the daughter of richard Gedie, one of the victims of Charles I.'s oppression. While in his fatal confinement in the Tower, Sir John Eliot had written to his father-in-law, with whom the ten-year-old lad was staying at Trebursye, 'I hope God will bless him with his growth to overcome the defluxion in his eyes, against which I see no practice does prevail;' and when grandfather and father alike had passed away, and Edward Eliot had seen the troubled times of the Great Rebellion, the local love for his forbears cased him to be returned for Launceston to the Convention Parliament--- 'by the proper officer,' as it was reported to the House of Commons. But a son of Sir John Eliot was not likely to be in favour at Westminster just then, and the Restoration party ousted him from his seat upon some undiscovered pretext, and gave it to one of Monk's active intriguers, while almost simultaneously the Lords were petitioned by some Cornish widow with a grievance to exempt him and his eldest brother from the General Act of Indemnity until her claim against them had been satisfied. From that time Edward Eliot, save for occasional appointment as a Commissioner of the Subsidy, settled down to a quiet life at Trebursye; and the parish register of Sourh Petherwin, in which that estate is situated, attests, as Ruddle relates, that 'John the son of Edward Elliot Esq and of Anne his wife was buried the 20th day of June 1665.'

Edward married Anne Fortescue. Anne (daughter of Francis Fortescue and Elizabeth Speccot) was born after 1620; died before 25 Jun 1661; was buried on 25 Jun 1661 in St. Paternus, South Petherwin, Cornwall. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Knighted: 18 May 1618
• Will: 20 Dec 1630
• Will: 27 Nov 1632, Codicil Added
• Will: 11 Dec 1632, Will Proved

Notes:

--- "Western Morning News" 02 Dec 1942, page 6:
CORNISHMAN'S WARNING
The most famous, or, to speak more correctly, the most fameworth, Cornishman of his day was Sir John Eliot, an ancestor of the Earl of St. Germans.

An outstanding figure in that great struggle with the Crown, his speech, made while his friends Valentine and Holles prevented the Speaker of the House of Commons from leaving the chair, has lost none of its force when applied to the present day. Solemnly he uttered the warning that none had "gone about to break Parliaments but that in the end Parliaments had broken them."

Today the struggle is with a dictatorship outside the country, but Sir John Eliot's words are still a solemn warning.

--- West-country Poets by William HK Wright (as he found it in Worth's "West-Country Garland"), 1896
ON SIR JOHN ELIOT
Heer a musitian lyes whose well tuned tongue
Was great Apollo's harpe, so sweetly strunge
That every cadence was an harmonye.
Noe crotchets in his musicke! Onlye hee
Charmed the attentive burgesses alone,
Ledde by the eares to listen to his songe.
For innocence, sad widdowes' orphans' teares
(The dumbe petitioners of unfeigned feares),
How smoothly could thine eloquence alone
Create a helpinge pittie where was none.

John married Radigund Gedy in Jun 1609. Radigund (daughter of Richard Gedy and Katherine Boscawen) died before 13 Jun 1628; was buried on 13 Jun 1628 in St. Germans, Cornwall. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

--- "Launceston, Past and Present" by Sir Alfred Robbins, 1888, page 143-4:
On June 17 Eliot followed up this exposure by denouncing Mohun to the Lords, but three days later he was forced to abandon the attack by melancholy news from Cornwall, the Commons Journals of the twentieth containing the entry "Sir John Eliot, in respect of the death of his wife, hath leave to go down into the country." Lady Eliot had been failing in health for some time, but the end, which took place at Port Eliot, was sudden. Of her "all that is known to us is the tenderness with which her husband described, as 'a loss never before equalled,' what had befallen him by her death; and that she was said to have been so devoted to her children as never to have willingly consented to be absent from them . . . Care for his younger children appears to have occupied him at first; and some were placed with their mother's father, Mr. Gedie, of Trebursey, to whom Eliot is lavish of grateful expression for his service at this time."

Other Events:

• Probate: 23 Feb 1649/50, P.C.C., London

Notes:

--- "The Visitations of the County of Devon" 1895, page 357
Francis Fortescue of Preston in Com. Devon, son and heir, aged 8 years 3 months and 14 days at his father's death, living 1620, aet. 30, d. on or about 6 Ap, 1649. Memorandum pro. as will 23 Feb. 1649-50, P.C.C. (Pembroke 21).

--- Inscription on a Marble Floor Slab (St. Mary's, Woodleigh, Devon):
"Here lyeth the body of Francis Fortescu of Wood Esquire who dyed the 6 and was buried the 7 April ano Dom. 1649"

--- "Sir John Fortescue, Knight: His Life, Works, and Family History in Two Volumes" Vol. 2, by Thomas Fortescue, Lord Clermont Private Distribution, 1869, page 11:
This John Fortescue died April 11, 1587, at Woodley; his son William was seized of Preston, and of Wood also on the death of his mother, who lived after his father. William died at Armington, January 29, 1602, having married: --- first, the daughter of Sir John Fulford, by whom he left no issue; and secondly, Margaret, daughter of John Francis, of Coombe Florey, in Somerset, who survived him. By her he obtained a third of the manor of Coombe Florey. His children were one son, Francis, and four daughters, to each of whom he left by will four hundred pounds. There are three post-mortem inquisitions relating to his estates; one taken at South Tavistock, one at Totness, and a third at Taunton, for the Somerset property. His heir, Francis, born in 1598, married the daughter of Sir John Speccot, of Speccot, in Thornbury, and died April, 1649, leaving by his will 1,000 pounds each to two of his daughters, Anne and Deborah.

He was succeeded by his third surviving son, Sir Peter Fortescue, of Wood, created a Baronet in January, 1666-67, married, first, to Bridget, daughter of Sir John Eliot, of Port Eliot, in Cornwall, and secondly, to Amy, daughter of Peter Courtenay, Esq., of St. Michael, and widow of Sir Peter Courtenay, Knight. Leaving no male issue --- his only son, Peter, having died an infant --- the Baronetcy became extinct at his death in 1685. He left three daughters, --- Amy, married to John Fortescue, son of Arthur Fortescue, of Penwarne, in Cornwall, who left no issue; Bridget; and Elizabeth, married, in 1667, to John Turberville, Esq., son of John Turberville, of Golden in Somerset, and had issue a son. Sir Peter, by his will, dated June 29, 1675, leaves his "real estate in trust for such daughter who should marry a Fortescue." From this it may be supposed that his daughter Amy, the wife of John Fortescue, inherited the estate. She, however, had no issue.

Thus the families of Preston in the male line, and of Wood in both male and female lines, were extinguished.

Francis married Elizabeth Speccot. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

--- John Speccot (grandfather of Francis) wrote a will on 18 May 1641. Francis is living at this time.

Notes:

--- "The Life of Sir John Eliot" by Harold Hulme, 1957, page 18:
Richard Eliot inherited most of his uncle's Cornish and extensive Devonshire properties. Among them was the lease of Cuddenbeak in St. Germans. But the mansion house of Port Eliot, orchards, gardens, and about fifty acres of land had been given by John Eliot to his wife Grace as her jointure. Eventually this estate reverted to Richard and his heirs. From 1577 to about 1598 he was living at Cuddenbeak, while from the latter date to his death in 1609 he made Port Eliot his residence.

Richard Eliot married Bridget, daughter of Nicholas Carswell of Hatch Arundell in Devonshire. Their son and only child [sic], John Eliot, the future knight, was born at Cuddenbeak on April 11, 1592. The middle-aged father must have been overjoyed at the birth of a son and heir. When, on April 20, the child was baptized in the old Norman church festivities were the order of the day at Cuddenbeak. Richard Eliot invited his neighbours to drink to the health and prosperity of his son and feast upon the bounty of his lands. It is said that the lord of Cuddenbeak and Port Eliot 'by his ancient hospitality and generous living [had] attracted the acquaintance of most of the gentlemen in his neighbourhood who frequently visited him at his house at St. Germans'.

Richard married Bridget Carswell. Bridget (daughter of Nicholas Carswell and Ellen Fortesecue) was born before 24 Feb 1559/60; was christened on 24 Feb 1559/60 in Loddiswell, Devon; died on 04 Mar 1617/18 in St. Germans, Cornwall (Cuddenbeak or Port Eliot); was buried on 05 Mar 1617/18 in St. German's, St. Germans, Cornwall. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

--- "The Western Antiquary" vol. 1, 1882, page 176:
Genealogical Hints.
(By Wyvern Gules.)
Sir, --- The late Earl of St. Germans being somewhat of a genealogist, desired some information respecting the Gedey family, from whom the Eliots derived much property. while turning over some Close Rolls last week, I accidentally discovered that Henry Killegrew (in 1585), partly in reward for the good offices of his servant Ric. Gedey, conveyed to him Tudeford, in St. Germans, then in occupation of Rob. Trelawney.

--- "Notes and Gleanings" Vol. 3, W. Pollard and Company, 1890, page 159:
Although he [Jasper Hickes, Vicar] had received his previous livings from the king, his extremem Puritanpropensities probably account for his presentations to Landrake, the manor of which had been owned in the early part of the seventeenth century by Richard Gedie, of Trebursye, South Petherwin (father-in-law of Sir John Eliot) who, in his will dated 1627, stated that he had sold it to Hugh Boscawen, John Trefusis, John Rashleigh, and Leonard Treise.

--- "The Western Antiquary" Vol. 10, 1891, page 33
South Petherwin.
. . . The full parish list, dated "March 6 1641" has 169 names, including "Jacob Rowse vicar," and leading off with "Thomas Blighe Degory King get Antipas Rowse gent," whil it includes John Treise, Nicholas Geddy, Sylvester Geddy, and Richard Geddy, the three last being evidently of the family into which Sir John Eliot had married.

--- "The Parochial and Family History of the Deanery of Trigg Minor" Vol. 1 by Sir John Maclean, page 79:
Treise.
The family of Treise would seem to have been of respectable station in the early part of the seventeenth century, but it is not noticed in the Herald's Visitation of Cornwall of 1620. The first of the name which we find mentioned is William Treise of Castle Milford, in the parish of Tremayne, gentleman, who died May 4, 1622. His eldest son and heir, Leonard Treise, was recorder of Launceston, where he RESIded. He married Radigund, daughter of John Squire, by which marriage he is supposed to have acquired Trevallet in the parish of St. Thomas, where the family was seated for three generations. This lady would appear to have been related to Mr. Geddie of Trebursey, whose daughter married the celebrated patriot Sir John Eliot of Port Eliot, with whom Mr. and Mrs. Treise were on intimate terms. Mr. Treise was a trustee for certain estates under Mr. Geddie's will for the benefit of Sir John Eliot's children; and he, together with his wife and daughter Mary, are mentioned in kindly terms, several times, in Sir John Eliot's letters, published in Forster's Life of Eliot.

--- "Launceston, Past and Present: Historical and Desciptive Sketch" by Sir Alfred Robbins, page 132:
[Sir John] Eliot had left London for the West on the day of the adjournment, and, as Vice-Admiral of Devon, was soon busily engaged in dealing with the Pirates. After the dissolution he had private affairs to occupy him as well. Charles had issued what were known as "privy seals," directing that those who were able should contribute to the royal exchequer; and the deputies for Cornwall showed their dislike for Eliot "by returning his father-in-law, Mr. Gedie, for an exorbitant amount. There was no pretence of dissatisfaction in the case. Mr. Gedie had served only the preceding year as sheriff of Cornwall, and his estate was still suffering from expenses consequent thereon. Yet he was certified for an amount of which the oppressiveness appears in the fact that it doubled the highest imposed upon someof the richest estates in Yorkshire, Sir Thomas Wentworth [afterwards the Earl of Strafford] being taxed for twenty and Mr. Gedie for forty pounds."*

*Forster, Sir John Eliot, vol. i., pp. 271-2.

Richard married Katherine Boscawen after 01 Mar 1590/91. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Margaret Francis. Margaret died after 20 Nov 1599. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Daughter of John Francis of Combe Florey.

--- Administration of her husband's will was granted to her on 20 Nov 1599.

John married Elizabeth Edgcomb. Elizabeth died before 1620. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]