Page:Devon and Cornwall Queries Vol 9 1917.djvu/139

 Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries. 105 an only child, Alice, on whom half of Throwleigh was settled before Fulk de Ferrers married again, and although she is not mentioned by name in the Fine of 1254 (No. 543), this judicial record was doubtless the confirmation of his wife's marriage grant which William le Pruz sought in Court at the hands of Fulk de Ferrers and of his second wife who is specially mentioned. The interesting point is that Ferrers never held Ashton, but that the manor passed direct from Robert de Helion, who held in 1244, to his cousin Alice (de Ferrers), who was then married to William le Pruz, and whose niece Thomasine (the daughter of Richard le Pruz) brought the manor to John, son of John Chudleigh of Chudleigh, about the year 1320. Thus for 677 years the manor of Ashton was only held by three families, of which that of le Pruz was in possession only for one generation, de Helion holding for 186 years (1068-1254), and Chudleigh for 425 years (1320-1745). Connection between Ashton and Cockington. — In the third window (second upper light) in the north wall of Ashton Church, repeated on the second of twenty-four shields record- ing the descent of the Chudleighs, and emblazoned on the wooden memorial tablet to the memory of Sir George Chudleigh, Bart., who died 15th January, 1657, is the follow- ing heraldic composition interpreted by Mr. Maxwell Adams as Chudleigh impaling quarterly — (i and 4) Arg. a chev. sa. between 3 cocks sa. (Cockworthy) ; (2 and 3) Sa. a chev. ^-^ p. ly/ ermine between 3 barnacle birds arg. (Wyke). I suggest that the arms quarterly are those of de Cockington (i and 4) Arg. a chevron azure between 3 cocks gules [Western Armory, f. 80), and de Compton of Compton Castle (2 and 3) Sa. a chevron ermine between 3 shovellers arg. [Lysons, f. clxiv). This combination explains the parentage of John, son of John Chudleigh, who married Thomasine the heiress of Ashton. The record of Visitations of the County of Devon (f. 189), only gives the father as John Chidlegh, but omits whom he married. Lysons state that heiresses of the family of Compton of Compton Castle married temp. Edw. III. Gilbert and Chiderlegh. The birds as represented are more like ducks than geese, and I suggest that this heraldry in