Sir Edmund Prideaux, 1st Baronet of Netherton

Sir Edmund Prideaux, 1st Baronet (d.1628), of Netherton, detail from his effigy in St Michael's Church, Farway
Arms of Prideaux: Argent, a chevron sable in chief a label of three points gules[1]
heraldic escutcheon on monument to Sir Edmund Prideaux, 1st Baronet (d.1628) in St Michael's Church, Farway

Sir Edmund Prideaux, 1st Baronet (1554-1628), of Netherton in the parish of Farway, Devon, was a Councellor at Law and Double Reader of the Inner Temple and was created a baronet on 17 July 1622.[2] He purchased the estate of Netherton where in 1607 he built a new mansion house,[3] known today as Netherton Hall, a grade II listed building. He was one of John Prince's Worthies of Devon.[4]

Origins

He was the second son of Roger Prideaux (d.1582) of Soldon in the parish of Holsworthy,[5] Devon, by his wife Phillippa Yorke (d.1597), daughter of Richard (or Roger) Yorke, Serjeant-at-Law, and widow of Richard Parker.

The Prideaux family is believed to be of Norman origin and to have first settled in England at some time after the Norman Conquest of 1066 at Prideaux Castle, near Fowey, in Cornwall. It abandoned that seat and moved to Devon, where it spread out in various branches, most notably at Orcharton, Modbury; Adeston, Holbeton; Thuborough, Sutcombe; Solden, Holsworthy; Netherton, Farway; Ashburton; Nutwell, Woodbury and Ford Abbey, Thorncombe.[6] Another branch built Prideaux Place in Cornwall in 1592, where it survives today. It was one of the most widespread and successful of all the gentry families of Devon, and as remarked upon by Swete (d.1821), exceptionally most of the expansion was performed by younger sons, who by the custom of primogeniture were expected to make their own fortunes.[7]

Career

Few records concerning his career have survived, and even his principal biographer John Prince (d.1723) remarked:[8]

"What the particular vertues and accidents of his life were it is pitty history hath not handed down to posterity; but the extraordinary parts and accomplishments of this gentleman, with his eminent skill and learning in the law, may be inferr'd if from nothing else, from his raising a family in this county, both for title and estate, much greater than most of his ancestors".

Prince added:[9]

"All I shall farther add is only this upon the whole, that for one to mount from the condition of a younger brother in a private family, to the degree of a baronet, and leave so fair an estate and so high a title to his name and posterity, is an argument of pregnant parts and an extraordinary blessing of Providence".

It is known however that as a younger son he chose as his career the Law and for that purpose entered the Inner Temple in London. In 1598 he was appointed Autumn Reader and in 1608 became Treasurer. In 1615 he was Double Reader, the next step to the degree of Serjeant-at-Law. He was created a baronet by King James I on 17 July 1622, which title in 1810, held by his descendant the 7th Baronet, was the premier baronetcy in Devonshire.[10]

Marriages & progeny

He married thrice:

Left: Netherton Hall painted in 1795, built in 1607 by Sir Edmund Prideaux, 1st Baronet and his 3rd wife Mary Reynell; Right: Ford House, Wolborough, built in about 1610 by Sir Edmund Prideaux's brother-in-law Sir Richard Reynell (d.1633), three years after the completion of Netherton House

Death, burial & monument

Monument to Sir Edmund Prideaux, 1st Baronet (d.1628), St Michael's Church, Farway

He was buried in St Michael's Church, Farway, where survives his monument showing under a recessed arch his recumbent effigy dressed in lawyer's robes, with hands together in prayer above his chest. A semi-recumbent effigy of his son is below, shown fully dressed in armour with his bare head resting on a plumed helm,[13] seemingly keeping watch and in the act of drawing his sword from its scabbard. Above Sir Edmund's effigy is a tablet inscribed:

In memorie of Sr Edmond Prideaux Barronette who dyed ye 28th day of March Anno Domini 1628 aetatis suae 74

On top of the monument is a sculpted escutcheon of arms with nine quarters, above which is the crest of Prideaux.

References

  1. Vivian, Heraldic Visitations of Devon, p. 616
  2. Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.621
  3. Risdon, Tristram (d.1640), Survey of Devon, 1811 edition, London, 1811, with 1810 Additions, p.35
  4. Prince, John, (1643–1723) The Worthies of Devon, 1810 edition, London, pp.650-3, Prideaux, Sir Edmond, Baronet
  5. Pevsner, Nikolaus & Cherry, Bridget, The Buildings of England: Devon, London, 2004, p.493
  6. Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, pp.616-25, pedigree of Prideaux
  7. Gray, Todd & Rowe, Margery (Eds.), Travels in Georgian Devon: The Illustrated Journals of The Reverend John Swete, 1789-1800, 4 vols., Tiverton, 1999, vol.2, p.107
  8. Prince, p.651
  9. Prince, p.652
  10. Prince, 1810n edition, note 3, p.653
  11. Vivian, pp.173-4, pedigree of Chichester
  12. Vivian, p.370, pedigree of Fowell; p.643, pedigree of Reynell
  13. Pevsner, p.447; images at
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