Sir Richard Reynell (Ford House, Devon)
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Reynell was the third son of Richard Reynell
(1519–1585) of East Ogwell in Devon
, England. In 1593 he was probably Member of Parliament for the Cornish rotten borough
of Mitchell
together with Walter Raleigh
. In the same year he was a clerk in the office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer
and rose to the rank of senior sworn clerk, known as the "secondary".
He married Lucy, daughter of goldsmith and City of London official Robert Brandon, in 1600 and around the same time bought Forde House in the parish of Wolborough, at Newton Abbot
and immediately set about enlarging it. Lucy was the subject of a book The Life and Death of the Religious and Virtuous Lady, the Lady Lucie Reynell of Ford by her nephew Edward Reynell (published in 1654) which recorded that Richard Reynell had amassed a scholarly library, befitting a man notable for "depth of learning and tongues". The book also recorded his wife's strict manners, but also her charitable works, including her almshouse
s of 1640, the successors to which still exist in Newton Abbot.
Richard followed his two older brothers, Thomas and Josias into the Middle Temple
and in 1617 he was a barrister and Autumn Reader there. On 25 July 1622 he was knighted at Theobalds House
. In the same year his only child, Jane, married Sir William Waller
.
Forde House was visited by King Charles I
in 1625 both on his way to and on his return from viewing the fleet at Plymouth
. According to John Prince
's The Worthies of Devon:
Sir Richard died in 1634 and was buried on 25 January at Wolborough. He was survived by his wife who lived until 1652. His lands were inherited by Margaret (born 1633), the only surviving child of Jane, who married Sir William Courtenay, 5th Earl of Devon, 1st Baronet (1628–1702) and had 19 children.
Portraits of Sir Richard, and his lady, hang in the wall of West Ogwell house and his arms are on one of the windows of Middle Temple Hall.
Richard Reynell (East Ogwell)
Richard Reynell of East Ogwell, Devon, was an English Member of Parliament. An account of him and his sons is given by John Prince in his Worthies of Devon.-Life:...
(1519–1585) of East Ogwell in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, England. In 1593 he was probably Member of Parliament for the Cornish rotten borough
Rotten borough
A "rotten", "decayed" or pocket borough was a parliamentary borough or constituency in the United Kingdom that had a very small electorate and could be used by a patron to gain undue and unrepresentative influence within Parliament....
of Mitchell
Mitchell (UK Parliament constituency)
Mitchell, or St Michael was a rotten borough consisting of the town of Mitchell, Cornwall. From the first Parliament of Edward VI, in 1547, it elected two members to the Unreformed House of Commons.-History:The borough encompassed parts of two parishes, Newlyn East and St Enoder...
together with Walter Raleigh
Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and explorer. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England....
. In the same year he was a clerk in the office of the Lord Treasurer's Remembrancer
Remembrancer
The Remembrancer was originally one of certain subordinate officers of the English Exchequer. The office itself is of great antiquity, the holder having been termed remembrancer, memorator, rememorator, registrar, keeper of the register, despatcher of business...
and rose to the rank of senior sworn clerk, known as the "secondary".
He married Lucy, daughter of goldsmith and City of London official Robert Brandon, in 1600 and around the same time bought Forde House in the parish of Wolborough, at Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot is a market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge District of Devon, England on the River Teign, with a population of 23,580....
and immediately set about enlarging it. Lucy was the subject of a book The Life and Death of the Religious and Virtuous Lady, the Lady Lucie Reynell of Ford by her nephew Edward Reynell (published in 1654) which recorded that Richard Reynell had amassed a scholarly library, befitting a man notable for "depth of learning and tongues". The book also recorded his wife's strict manners, but also her charitable works, including her almshouse
Almshouse
Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people to live in a particular community...
s of 1640, the successors to which still exist in Newton Abbot.
Richard followed his two older brothers, Thomas and Josias into the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
and in 1617 he was a barrister and Autumn Reader there. On 25 July 1622 he was knighted at Theobalds House
Theobalds House
Theobalds House , located in Theobalds Park, just outside Cheshunt in the English county of Hertfordshire, was a prominent stately home and royal palace of the 16th and early 17th centuries.- Early history :...
. In the same year his only child, Jane, married Sir William Waller
William Waller
Sir William Waller was an English soldier during the English Civil War. He received his education at Magdalen Hall, Oxford, and served in the Venetian army and in the Thirty Years' War...
.
Forde House was visited by King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in 1625 both on his way to and on his return from viewing the fleet at Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
. According to John Prince
John Prince (Totnes)
John Prince was vicar of Totnes and Berry Pomeroy in Devon, England, and was a biographer of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. He is notable for his major work, The Worthies of Devon...
's The Worthies of Devon:
"Unto this house, King Charles I, of gracious memory, came, attended on by the Duke of Buckingham, and other great lords, September, 15th 1625, and was pleased to take up his lodging there. The next day his majesty conferred the honour of knighthood in the dining room of that house, on Richard Reynell, of West Ogwell, and on Thomas Reynell, his brother, who at the time, was his majesty's servant, and sewer in ordinary, to his person, in presence of their wives and divers lords and ladies saying to them, "God give you joy!"
Sir Richard died in 1634 and was buried on 25 January at Wolborough. He was survived by his wife who lived until 1652. His lands were inherited by Margaret (born 1633), the only surviving child of Jane, who married Sir William Courtenay, 5th Earl of Devon, 1st Baronet (1628–1702) and had 19 children.
Portraits of Sir Richard, and his lady, hang in the wall of West Ogwell house and his arms are on one of the windows of Middle Temple Hall.