Vital Statistics
Robert Pinsent: 1624 – 1671 GRO1751
Urith Woolcombe: xxxx – 1692
Married: 1650: Chudleigh
Children by Urith Woolcombe:
Julian Pinsent: 1651 – xxxx (Married George Snellinge, 1673)
Robert Pinsent: 1654 – 1686 (Married Mary Hamlyn, 1677)
Elizabeth Pinsent: 1658 – xxxx
Marie Pinsent: 1660 – xxxx
Thomas Pinsent: 1663 – xxxx
Ellen Pinsent: 1667 – xxxx (Married John Chapell, 1695)
Family Branch: Devonport
PinsentID: GRO1751
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Robert Pinsent was the eldest son of Thomas Pinsent of “Huxbeare”, “Cressida Down” and “Knighton” by his wife, Julian. He was born in Hennock in 1624 and married Urith Woolcombe of Chudleigh in 1650. She was, doubtless, related to the local vicar, Reverend Robert Woolcombe. They had two sons (Robert Pinsent and Thomas Pinsent) and four daughters, (Julian Pinsent, Elizabeth Pinsent, Marie Pinsent and Ellen Pinsent) – all of whom were baptized in Robert’s home parish of Hennock. When he died in 1649, Robert’s father divided this estate between his sons and Robert, as the eldest, inherited “Huxbeare Barton.”
The Reverend gentleman probably thought him a good catch – even if he was a “Pinsent” and not a “Pynsent.” The first baronet, Sir William Pynsent’s uncle, Humphrey Pynsent had been one of the “seven citizens” tasked with handling Chudleigh’s affairs during the Civil War, and he was Church Warden in 1647. Robert and Urith both lived to see Humphrey’s brother endow Chudleigh with a “Free School” in 1668 and Urith witnessed its construction a few years later (“The Pynsent Baronetcy: The Trials and Tribulations of a Litigious Family: 1687 -1765”).
Robert and Urith eldest son was still a teenager when his father died in 1671 at the age of 46 years and the farm at “Huxbeare” had to be held for him in trust until he came of age (21). Although Robert “junior” would have worked on the farm, it fell to his mother, Urith, to pay the parish rates until 1676 – when Robert was ready to marry and take control. Robert married Mary Hamlyn in 1677. Their lives are discussed elsewhere. Urith remained in residence until the death of the “widow of Huxbeare” was reported in 1692. She outlived her husband by over twenty years.
Urith’s second son, Thomas Pinsent is unaccounted for. It is not clear whether he died early or left the parish. Many years later, in 1843, a Thomas Pynsent of nearby “Pitt Farm” speculated that this particular Thomas married Ann Waters and established the HENNOCK family line (see elsewhere). However, as the marriage took place in 1678, Thomas would have been only fifteen years old. It seems an unlikely match. He may be right but I have looked elsewhere.
Two of Robert and Urith’s daughters seem to have married although, given the number of eligible women of the same name in the district at that time, it is difficult to know for certain. “Exeter Marriage Licenses” show that a Julian Pinsent married George Snellinge “gent” in Hennock, in 1673. This looks a likely match. Hennock parish records tell us that Elnor (Ellen?) Pinsent married John Chapell in 1695. This too would work. The girl’s sisters, Elizabeth and Mary, must either have died or married out of the parish.
Family Tree
Grandparents
Grandfather: Robert Pinsent: 1562 – 1626
Grandmother: Dorothy Carpenter: 1565 – 1643
Parents
Father: Thomas Pinsent: 1597 – 1649
Mother: Julian Sidstone: xxxx – 1663
Father’s Siblings (Aunts, Uncles)
Simon Pinsent: 1587 – xxxx
Robert Pinsent: 1589 – 1650
Dorothy Pinsent: xxxx – 1590
William Pinsent: 1591 – 1591
Helen Pinsent: 1592 – xxxx
Thomas Pinsent: 1597 – 1649 ✔️
George Pinsent: 1599 – xxxx
John Pinsent: xxxx – 1600
Male Siblings (Brothers)
Robert Pinsent: 1624 – 1671 ✔️
John Pinsent: 1626 – 1663
Thomas Pinsent: 1633 – 1701
William Pinsent: 1638 – xxxx
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