George Pinsent: xxxx – 1598 DRO0012
1) Julianna Bonfessor: xxxx – 1591
Married: 1570, Bovey Tracey, Devon
Children by Julianna Bonfessor:
Richard Pinsent: 1571 – 1571
Johanna Pinsent: 1573 – 1573
Gilbert Pinsent: 1577 – xxxx
Robert Pinsent: 1579 – 1631 (Married Wilmot xxxx; Rector of Cotleigh)
Elizabeth Pinsent: 1582 – xxxx
Anne Pinsent: 1584 – xxxx
George Pinsent: 1586 – 1632 (Married Alice xxxx; Constable of Topsham)
2) Mary Unknown: xxxx – xxxx
Married: xxxx: xxxx, xxxx
Judith Pinsent: 1592 – xxxx
John Pinsent: 1594 – 1654 (Married Alice Stidston, 1619; Yeoman of Bere Ferrers)
Family Branch: Combe
PinsentID: DRO0012
George was the fourth son of John and Johanna Pinsent of Combe, in Bovey Tracey. His father was a wealthy farmer and businessman who likely had an interest in a local tin mine. Perhaps it was on his land. John set his eldest son, another John, up in business in Chudleigh, and ensured that his second son, Hugh, acquiring a farm in Ilsington through marriage. He arranged for his son Walter to be appointed “Reeve” of the Manor of Teigngrace, and saw to it that George married into a well-connected family in Exminster. I do not know what happened to the youngest son, Thomas. He may have died young.
I have yet to find George’s birth record; but if the Johanna “daughter of John Pinsent” who married John Ball of Bridgeland in 1573 was daughter of John and Johanna of Combe – which seems likely, then George must be one of his sons as he refers to the same John Ball of Bridgeland as being his brother-in-law in his will in 1598.
George married Julianna Bonfessor in 1570 and he moved to Exminster a few years later. The couple seem to have had eight children baptized, in either Bovey Tracey or Exminster in the years that followed. There were four boys (Richard, Gilbert, Robert and George) and four girls (Johanna, (Johanna), Elizabeth and Anne). Richard died in infancy and Gilbert probably also died young. Robert and George, however, lived to maturity and their lives are discussed elsewhere. The two Johanna’s were born and died on the same day so they were probably still-borne twins. Alternatively, there may have been a double entry made in the register. The other two girls probably married but I do not have the details.
Although George Pinsent lived in Exminster, he may have held land in Bovey Tracey as a Charter (#1608) among the Topsham Deeds in the Exeter City Library dated 1573 refers to a plot of land defined by other plots including: “lands of George Pynsent and of William Gilbert “imparcell” and the said lane called Hensteete Lane on the East.” It should be noted that his nephew Jonas owned a large property called “Henstreete” in Bovey Tracey in the early 1600s. It may be the same parcel of land.
George likely married into a well-off merchant family that had good financial backing as, when George Drake brought an action against “George Pynsent of Exminster” in the Court of Chancery in 1574 over the copyhold of some premises in the Manor of Exminster it was for a bond worth £100 (C3/267/7). George was clearly well-off, and he was rated at G7 in the Devon Subsidy Rolls in 1581.
Julianna died in 1591, and Mr. George married Mary xxxx, in Exminster, the following year. They had two children, a son (John) and a daughter (Judith), before he died in 1598. George left Mary with their own two children and at least four teenage stepchildren (Robert, Elizabeth, Anne and George) to look after.
George only claimed the status of a “yeoman;” however, his “last will and testament” which was filed in the Prerogative Court in Canterbury (PCC Wills Lewyen V92 #66) in 1598 shows that he had some financial standing. It was proved by his eldest son, Robert. George gave £110 to his son George, and he gave £30 and £10 respectively to Elizabeth and Anne, his daughters from his first marriage. He also gave them an interest in the tenement in Loddiswell – the parish where his brother Hugh lived.
He gave Mary, his second wife, “20 marks” – which seems a token; presumably it was in addition to her legal widow’s dower rights. George gave Judith, his young daughter from his second marriage, “100 marks” (a mark is 13s 4d) and her infant brother, John, £10, – as well as his lease on a house in East Allington. He asked his wife to hold the money he gave to her two children until they should come off age, and she was to see to their upbringing and education. George realized that any one of his children might die before they came off-age, so he further stipulated that if that should happen their portion should be evenly split between the remaining children.
The rest of George’s estate went to his eldest son, Robert. He was nineteen years-old when his father died, so although George had appointing him as his executor, he had asked that his brothers-in-law, John Ball of Bridgeland, Hugh Hole, Mr. William Baker of Kingsbridge and one Mr. John Dollyut of Pitt to serve as trustees.
Family Tree
Parents
Father: John Pinsent: xxxx – 1575
Mother: Johanna Unknown: xxxx – 1570
Male Siblings
John Pynsent: 1532 – 1615
George Pinsent: xxxx – 1598
Thomas Pinsent: xxxx – xxxx
Hugh Pinsent: 1540 – 1626
Walter Pinsent: 1544 – xxxx
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