COURTENAY OF POWDERHAM

Several 20th century deeds and papers relating to property in the parish of Abbotskerswell.

<p>For the initial deposit from these sources, see D1508M. For other additional deposits received from Devon sources, see collections D1508M-1 to D1508M-14. The fifth, seventh and thirteenth additional deposits remain un-catalogued. For records received from the family's London solicitors, see collection L1508M.</p>

The Courtenay records have come to Devon Record Office from two sources. Collection D1508M-10, which is the tenth of a number of additional deposits, was received from Powderham Castle, or from the Estate Office at the castle gates, in Devon.

The Courtenays crossed from France to England with Eleanor, wife of Henry II, in 1152, and immediately established themselves among the most eminent families in Devon through the acquisition by marriage and descent of extensive properties in the county. The family, in the person of Hugh Courtenay, were granted the earldom of Devon in 1335. Their fortunes suffered in the Wars of the Roses with the forfeiture of the earldom, together with their estates, in 1461 and the extinguishment of the main line. However, Henry VII restored the earldom and all the former lands and honours to the next heir, Edward Courtenay of Boconnoc, in Cornwall, whose son, William, married Catherine, daughter of Edward IV. His son, Henry, a cousin of Henry VIII, created Marquis of Exeter, suffered from this relationship by attainder and execution in 1539 as a result of his opposition to Henry's dispute with the Pope over the control of the English Church, and the great estates of the elder branch of the Courtenays were lost for ever. His son was recreated earl in 1553 but died without issue. Powderham, which came to the family through marriage in the late 14th century with another eminent Devon family, the Bohuns, and was settled on a younger son of the 2nd Earl, now became the principal home of what became the main branch of the Courtenays. This family acquired a baronetcy in 1644, a viscounty in 1762, and in 1831, in the person of the 3rd Viscount, William Courtenay, the earldom of Devon was revived with him as the 9th Earl. Only the 11th Earl (1807-1888) achieved national political office, in the Poor Law Board and as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Otherwise, these Courtenays were prominent in local government and local affairs and occasionally as MPs. In 1873 the family had the third largest Devon based estate.