I will preface this by saying that I make no claims as to the accuracy of this information. The original info from the plate was added to by someone, hence the reference to dates later than 1641 near the end of the manuscript. This is presented as a historical find only. -JG
CHICHESTER FAMILY
(Creation August 4th, 1641)
This manuscript is a true copy of an original plate now in the possession of Rebecca N. Chichester, wife of Edward P. Chichester, who was the son of Samuel Chichester, who married Susan (Andrus) Chichester:
This family seems anciently to have borne the name of Cirencester, and was one of the most eminent in the county of Devon for its antiquity estate, employments and alliances, having flourished for several generations at South Poole, not far from Kings Bridge, where their most ancient habitation was, and a full representation of their dignity is manifested by that ancient anuiquary, Sir William Pole, in his M.S. survey of Devenshire; who assures us that they have the right to quarter the arms of the Ralighs, the Beauments, the Willingtons,and many other noble families.
The first on record is Walleran de Cirencester (thought to be so demeninated from Cirencester of Gloucestershire) said to be descended from a brother of Robert of Cirencester, alias Chichester, dean of Salisbury and consecrated in 1128 Bishop of Exoter.
John, his son, succeeded and was the father of Sir John de Cirencester, whose son, Sir Thomas, was Lord of the maner of St. Mary Church (an eminent seamark on the east side of Torbay) by his marriage with Alicia de Rotomage in the time of Henry III, from the beginning of whose reign in 1216, he sustained many honorable employments. He had one son, William, the father of Sir John Cirencester, whose son Richard, having the name of Cirencester fixed upon Chichester which has continued the surname of the family.
John de Chichester, his son 34, 45, and 46 Edw. III was a member of Parliment for Melcomb Regis in Dorsetshire, as he was also in 1381; and was succeeded by his son Sir John De Cirencester, who in 1433 was returned one of the principal gentry in the county of Devon by the King's Commissioners, and marring Thomasine daughter and heiress of Sir WilliiamA Raleigh of near Barnstople in Devonshire, acquired that inheritance and was the father of John of Raleigh who was sheriff of the county and Edw. IV and left issue., Richard Chichester Esq. who in the 8th and 14th of that reign served the same office, marring Alice, daughter of John Wotton or Watton of Widworthy, that estate accrued there by to the family. By her, besides other children, he had John, his heir, and Richard, his third son, who married Thomasine, daughter and heiress of Simon Hall
in Bishop's Tawton, and his posterity matched into the eminent house of Gough of Aldercomb in Cornwall, celand of Aceland, Manwood of Westcott, Bassett of Umbeirleigh, Strode of Newham, Pollard, Carew and others.
John Chichester, the eldest son, married Margaret, daughter and heiress Hush Beaumont of youlston in Devonshire, with whom he had that seat. By her he had Edward, his heir and by his second wife, Joan, daughter of Robert Brett of Whitstauton in Somerstshire and Pollard in Devonshire. He had two sons, John Chichester of Widworthy in the east and Amia of Arlinston in the north parts of Devonshire, whose posterity flourshes at both places.
Edward Chichester Esq. (by his first wife) lived in the reign of Henry VIII and married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John Bourcher, Lord Fits-Waribe and Earl of Bath (by Cecilis, his wife, daughter of Gyles Lord D'Aubeny and sister and heir of Henry D'Aubeny, Earl of Bridgewater, who died April 1547 without issue) by whom he was father of Sir John Chichester, Knt. who was in 1552 and 1578, high-sheriff for the county of
Devon, which in 1553 and 1562, he reprsented, in Parliment. He married Gertrude, daughter of Sir william Courtunay of Powerham Castle in Devonshire, Knt. , ancester of the Lord Viscount Courtnay by whom he had five sons and eight daughters; I. Sir John of whom we later hear; 2. Arthur, whose abilities and service raised: him to the peerage of Ireland, had married Lettice, daughter of Sir John Perrot, Lord Deputy of Ireland, and
had no issue by her, and made his brother-3. Sir Edward Chichester Knt. his son and heir, whose son Arthur was created Earl of Donnegal, ancester to the present Marquis; 4. Sir John Chichester, the younger who, while his brother Arthur was in France sought glory in Ireland,. where his services were rewarded with the post of Serg. Major in the army and the honor of knighthood, so that he came to be distinguished from his elder brother; by the same name and degree by the title of Sir John Chichester the younger. (It was not an unuasual thing for parents in former times to give a favorite name to more of their children than one living at the same time.) He was governor of Carricfergus and lost his life Nov. 4, 1597, being taken prisoner in a fight and later being beheaded. 5, Sir Thomas, to whom the king, in 1607, granted a lease for 21 years of divers lands in the county of Donnefal.
Sir John Chichester, the eldest son, married Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Dennis of Helcomb, Knt. and being killed with the judge of assize and others by an infectious smell from the prisoners at the Lent assizes in Exter Castle 1585- left issue, Sir Robert Chichester of Raleigh K.B. who married Frances, younger brother John, Lord Harrington, (who died with out issue at Keu in Surrey, Aug. 27, 1613, three days after his father had deceased at Worms, Germany, on his return from attending the Princess Elizabeth, King James daughter, to the Palatinate agter her marriage with Frederick, Count Palatinate of which Princess he had the tuition and by her he had an only daughter, Anne, the wife of Thomas Kinless, by whom she was mother of Robert, Earl of Aylesbury. She died March 20, 1627, and was buried at the Exin Church in Rutlandshire under a curious monument of marble. Sir Robert Married-secondly, Mary, daughter of ---- Hill of Shelson Esq. and dying in 1626, had issued by her who remarried with Sir Ralph Sydenham, Knt.
John Chichester of Raleigh, advanced to the dignity of baronet by King Charles I. He married Elizabeth, eldest daughter of John Ramney (?) of Wrotham in Kent Bart. by whom he had three sons, Sir John, Sir Arthur, and Henry, who married the widow of Sir John Chichester of Hall Esq. and dying in 1667, was succeeded in dignity and estate by his eldest son, Sir John Chichester the second Bart., who in Nov. 1679 married----, daughter of Sir Charles Bickerstaff of Sele in Kent Knt. They both died in Sept. 1680, and were buried in the Sele Church in Kent.
He aged 22 years 3 months, she 21 years 3 months, and having no male issue, the honor and estate came to his brother, Sir Arthur Chichester the third Bart. who married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Drewe of Grange in Devonshire Esq., by whom he had Sir John, his successor, and six daughters. Sir Arthur was elected to the Parliment for Barnstable in the county of Devon in the reigns of King James II and King William III, Queen Anne, and King George I, but dying in 1717 was succeeded in dignity and estate by his eldest son, Sir John Chichester the 4th Bart., member for Barnstaple in Cenon shire. He married Anne, daughter of John Leigh of Newport in the Isle of Wight Esq. by whom he left his two sons. Sir John and William, rector of Ham in Devonshire, who married Miss Bellarmin of Devonshire and left sons and daughters. Sir John died in Aug. 1740, and was succeeded in dignity and estate by his eldest son, Sir John Chichester the 5th Bart. who served high sheriff for the County of Devon in 1753, married Frances, second daughter. and one of the four co-heirs of Sir George Chuadleigh of Haldon in Devonshire. He died in Dec. 18, 1754 and was succeeded in title and estate by his only child, Sir John Chichester, the sixth Bart. who was high Sheriff for Devonshire in 1788 an is unmarried.