Devon Wills
There are a number of places where wills from Devon/Dorset can be sourced online. Many of the records for Devon were lost in 1942 during WWII. However, Joseph Gardner Bartlett made some usable extracts from the wills he gathered for his 1914 publication The Newberry Genealogy. They are still available from NEHGS.
Additionally, other publications have been produced showing wills that may no longer be in existence, but will give the researcher the flavor of the people who populated the area. It is also important to remember, some parts of Devon were formerly part of Dorset. Stockland, Membury, Yarcombe, Dalwood and Wambrook were all part of Dorset before the mid 19th century. The National Archives still holds many of the original wills and administrations that were not destroyed during the bombing of Exeter. What follows is an incomplete list showing the Newberry/Newbery people who wrote wills, or for whom administrations were produced upon their deaths.
Calendars of wills and administrations relating to the counties of Devon and Cornwall : proved in the Court of the Principal Registry of the Bishop of Exeter, 1559-1799 and of Devon only, proved in the Court of the Archdeaconry of Exeter, 1540-1799 : all now preserved in the Probate Registry at Exeter by Edw Alex Fry;
DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF CALENDARS AT THE DISTRICT
PROBATE REGISTRY AT EXETER
1. Earliest Will 1553
Principal Registry of the Bishop of Exeter - Persons dying within the Diocese
of Exeter
2. Earliest will 1532
Consistory Court of the Bishop - Over all persons dying within thirty-seven
parishes. which were Peculiars of the Bishop in Devon and Cornwall
3. Earliest will 1547
Consistory court of the Dean and Chapter - Over all persons dying within
twenty-eight parishes, which were Peculiars of the Dean and Chapter in
Devon and Cornwall
4. Earliest will 1632
Peculiar Court of the Dean - The Close of the Cathedral Church of Exeter
and the parish of Braunton, Devon
5. Earliest will 1633
Peculiar Court of the Custos and College of Vicars Choral of the Cathedral -
Parish of Woodbury, Devon
6. Earliest will 1540
Consistorial Archidiaconal Court of Exeter - throughout the archdeaconry
with the exception of the above named Peculiars of the Bishop Dean and
Chapter, Dean, Vicars Choral and Prebendary for Uffculme
7. Earliest will 1563
Consistorial Archidiaconal Court of Barnstaple - throughout the
archdeaconry, with the exception of the above-named Peculiars of the
Bishop an Dean.
8. Earliest will 1600+
Consistorial Archidiaconal Court of Totnes - throughout the archdeaconry,
with the exception of the above-named Peculiars of the Bishop and Dean and Chapter.
DEVONSHIRE WILLS AND ADMINISTRATIONS
IN THE PRINCIPAL REGISTRY OF THE BISHOP OF EXETER
p. 132 (NOTE: All permutations are considered in these lists)
1603 Newberry George, Membury
1608 Newberry, John, Membury
1649 Newberry, William, Bridgrule
1696 Newberry, Samuel, Southmolton
1705 Turner als. Newberry, Grace, Axminster
1725 Newborough, Henry, Clerk, Virginstow
1740 Newborough, Henry, Clerk, Virginstowe
1742 Newborough, Henry, clerk, Virginstowe
1771 Newbery, Mary Chudleigh
1771 Newbery, Betty Otherwise Elizabeth Combrawleigh
1780 Newbury, James Chudleigh
1786 Newbery, James Chudleigh
1791 Newbery, Hann., Clist Honiton
1792 Newbery, James Chudleigh
COURT OF THE ARCHDEACONRY OF EXETER
p. 216
1588 Joane Neweberie, Membury
1595 John Newberie, ____
1603 George Newberry, Membury
1608 John Newbery, Membury
1618 Anstace Newberry, Upawtrey
1630 William Newberry, Membury
1632 Christian Newberry, Axminster
1640 Henry Newberry, Axminster
1643 Richard Newberry, Broadcliste
1646 John Newberry, Upottery
1649 William Newberry, Bridgrule
1672 Susanna, Newberry, Axmister
1674 John Newberrey, Membury
1685 Agnes Newbery, Axmister
1690 John Newberry, Membury
1697 Samuel Newberry, Yarcombe
1698 Henry, Newberry, Broadclist
1699, William Newberry, Okehampton
1706 Grace Newberry als. Turner, Axminster
1710 Richard Newberry, Tiverton
1716 Richard Newbury, Membury
1718 Samuel Newberry, Yarcombe
1719 Edward Newberry, Membury
1721 Joseph Newberry, South Tawton
1723 Jane Newberry, South Tawton
1725 Joane Newberry, Upottery
1729 Samuel Newberry, Yarcombe
1731 John Newberry, Exeter
1731 Richard Newberry, Broad Clyst
1733 Richard Newberry, Cotleigh
1734 Joseph Newberry, South Tawton
1736 John Newberry, Membury
1736 Richard Newberry, Northleigh
1739 Grace Newberry, Widowrthy
1740 Mary Newberry, Membury
1741 Isiah Newberry, Ottery
1742 Henry, Newborough, Exeter
1742 Henry, Newborough, Exeter
1752 John Newborough, Exeter
1754 Grace Newberry, Yarcombe
1755 William Newberry, Exeter
1757 Elias Newberry, Honiton
1763 Samuel Newbery, Axmouth
1764 John Newberry, Kilmington
1766 John Newberry, Huxham
1767 Samuel, Newberry, Honiton
1769 Richard Newberry, Whimple
1770 Sarah Newberry, Axminster
1773 Giles, Newberry, Pinhoe
1774 Susanna Newberry, Whimple
1780 Benjamin Newberry, South Tawton
1781 William Newberry, Southleigh
1782 Elizabeth Newberry, Axmouth
1783 Mary Newborough, Exeter
1785 Robert Newberry, Yarcombe
1792 Joseph Newbery, South Tawnton
1794 Robert Newberry, Comb Rawleigh
1797 Zenobianna, Newborough, Exeter
Many of the early emigrants to New England came from this area, and it is believed that they are descendants of the Newburghs of Dorset, probably via John Newburgh Esq. of Turnerspuddle and his descendants who are thought to have been seated at Warmwell and Upper Styll moving on to the cluster of villages on the western border of Dorset. (Stockland, Membury, Yarcombe, Dalwood and Wambrook). Milton Abbey was important for this area, and was supported by the 13th century Newburgh family, when Ambrose Newburgh granted lands around Cattistock to the abbey in 1299.
More Resources:
Worthy, Charles, Devonshire Wills a Collection of Annotated Testamentary Extracts, 1896
Additionally, other publications have been produced showing wills that may no longer be in existence, but will give the researcher the flavor of the people who populated the area. It is also important to remember, some parts of Devon were formerly part of Dorset. Stockland, Membury, Yarcombe, Dalwood and Wambrook were all part of Dorset before the mid 19th century. The National Archives still holds many of the original wills and administrations that were not destroyed during the bombing of Exeter. What follows is an incomplete list showing the Newberry/Newbery people who wrote wills, or for whom administrations were produced upon their deaths.
Calendars of wills and administrations relating to the counties of Devon and Cornwall : proved in the Court of the Principal Registry of the Bishop of Exeter, 1559-1799 and of Devon only, proved in the Court of the Archdeaconry of Exeter, 1540-1799 : all now preserved in the Probate Registry at Exeter by Edw Alex Fry;
DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF CALENDARS AT THE DISTRICT
PROBATE REGISTRY AT EXETER
1. Earliest Will 1553
Principal Registry of the Bishop of Exeter - Persons dying within the Diocese
of Exeter
2. Earliest will 1532
Consistory Court of the Bishop - Over all persons dying within thirty-seven
parishes. which were Peculiars of the Bishop in Devon and Cornwall
3. Earliest will 1547
Consistory court of the Dean and Chapter - Over all persons dying within
twenty-eight parishes, which were Peculiars of the Dean and Chapter in
Devon and Cornwall
4. Earliest will 1632
Peculiar Court of the Dean - The Close of the Cathedral Church of Exeter
and the parish of Braunton, Devon
5. Earliest will 1633
Peculiar Court of the Custos and College of Vicars Choral of the Cathedral -
Parish of Woodbury, Devon
6. Earliest will 1540
Consistorial Archidiaconal Court of Exeter - throughout the archdeaconry
with the exception of the above named Peculiars of the Bishop Dean and
Chapter, Dean, Vicars Choral and Prebendary for Uffculme
7. Earliest will 1563
Consistorial Archidiaconal Court of Barnstaple - throughout the
archdeaconry, with the exception of the above-named Peculiars of the
Bishop an Dean.
8. Earliest will 1600+
Consistorial Archidiaconal Court of Totnes - throughout the archdeaconry,
with the exception of the above-named Peculiars of the Bishop and Dean and Chapter.
DEVONSHIRE WILLS AND ADMINISTRATIONS
IN THE PRINCIPAL REGISTRY OF THE BISHOP OF EXETER
p. 132 (NOTE: All permutations are considered in these lists)
1603 Newberry George, Membury
1608 Newberry, John, Membury
1649 Newberry, William, Bridgrule
1696 Newberry, Samuel, Southmolton
1705 Turner als. Newberry, Grace, Axminster
1725 Newborough, Henry, Clerk, Virginstow
1740 Newborough, Henry, Clerk, Virginstowe
1742 Newborough, Henry, clerk, Virginstowe
1771 Newbery, Mary Chudleigh
1771 Newbery, Betty Otherwise Elizabeth Combrawleigh
1780 Newbury, James Chudleigh
1786 Newbery, James Chudleigh
1791 Newbery, Hann., Clist Honiton
1792 Newbery, James Chudleigh
COURT OF THE ARCHDEACONRY OF EXETER
p. 216
1588 Joane Neweberie, Membury
1595 John Newberie, ____
1603 George Newberry, Membury
1608 John Newbery, Membury
1618 Anstace Newberry, Upawtrey
1630 William Newberry, Membury
1632 Christian Newberry, Axminster
1640 Henry Newberry, Axminster
1643 Richard Newberry, Broadcliste
1646 John Newberry, Upottery
1649 William Newberry, Bridgrule
1672 Susanna, Newberry, Axmister
1674 John Newberrey, Membury
1685 Agnes Newbery, Axmister
1690 John Newberry, Membury
1697 Samuel Newberry, Yarcombe
1698 Henry, Newberry, Broadclist
1699, William Newberry, Okehampton
1706 Grace Newberry als. Turner, Axminster
1710 Richard Newberry, Tiverton
1716 Richard Newbury, Membury
1718 Samuel Newberry, Yarcombe
1719 Edward Newberry, Membury
1721 Joseph Newberry, South Tawton
1723 Jane Newberry, South Tawton
1725 Joane Newberry, Upottery
1729 Samuel Newberry, Yarcombe
1731 John Newberry, Exeter
1731 Richard Newberry, Broad Clyst
1733 Richard Newberry, Cotleigh
1734 Joseph Newberry, South Tawton
1736 John Newberry, Membury
1736 Richard Newberry, Northleigh
1739 Grace Newberry, Widowrthy
1740 Mary Newberry, Membury
1741 Isiah Newberry, Ottery
1742 Henry, Newborough, Exeter
1742 Henry, Newborough, Exeter
1752 John Newborough, Exeter
1754 Grace Newberry, Yarcombe
1755 William Newberry, Exeter
1757 Elias Newberry, Honiton
1763 Samuel Newbery, Axmouth
1764 John Newberry, Kilmington
1766 John Newberry, Huxham
1767 Samuel, Newberry, Honiton
1769 Richard Newberry, Whimple
1770 Sarah Newberry, Axminster
1773 Giles, Newberry, Pinhoe
1774 Susanna Newberry, Whimple
1780 Benjamin Newberry, South Tawton
1781 William Newberry, Southleigh
1782 Elizabeth Newberry, Axmouth
1783 Mary Newborough, Exeter
1785 Robert Newberry, Yarcombe
1792 Joseph Newbery, South Tawnton
1794 Robert Newberry, Comb Rawleigh
1797 Zenobianna, Newborough, Exeter
Many of the early emigrants to New England came from this area, and it is believed that they are descendants of the Newburghs of Dorset, probably via John Newburgh Esq. of Turnerspuddle and his descendants who are thought to have been seated at Warmwell and Upper Styll moving on to the cluster of villages on the western border of Dorset. (Stockland, Membury, Yarcombe, Dalwood and Wambrook). Milton Abbey was important for this area, and was supported by the 13th century Newburgh family, when Ambrose Newburgh granted lands around Cattistock to the abbey in 1299.
More Resources:
Worthy, Charles, Devonshire Wills a Collection of Annotated Testamentary Extracts, 1896
