WOODLEY ESTATES

A collection of documents, mainly title deeds, concerning the estates of the Harris, and Woodley families

• <famname>Harris family of Devon</famname>
• <famname>Woodley family of Devon</famname>

The Woodley estates were an amalgam of various properties, located throughout Devon and all passing through other families before ending up in the possession of the Woodleys.

In the late 17th century the Harris family owned the manors and estates of Upcott in Broadwoodwidger, Wortham in Lifton, Bradworthy (in Bradworthy) and Pickwell and Ham in Georgeham.

At around the middle of the 18th century the Buck family held the manors of Ham and Buckland Dinham in Georgeham. The latter they sold to the Harrises in 1774; from the Harrises it passed first to the Mackenzie family and then the Woodleys. Further Buck property was dismembered eventually between John Harris, Philip Webber (whose family owned land at Croyde) and others.

A will left by Honor Harris of Pickwell in 1787 left property to Anna Maria Harrop (later Anna Maria Middleditch). Anna Maria's marriage settlement in 1793 includes Pickwell, Ham and other property. J. Lubbock and J.A. Clarke acted as trustees for the settlement. Middleditch surveys in 1793 exist for Upcott, Wortham, Georgeham, Croyde, Dinham, Pickwell, etc.. In the early 19th century the terms of Honor Harris's will were disputed by, among others, John Mangles and John Lubbock.

Anna Maria Middleditch's second marriage was to General Alexander Mackenzie. Her will c1821 left land originally passed to her through Honor Harris's will for the benefit of Frances Anna Maria Woodley.

The marriage settlement between Frances Anna Maria Woodley and the Rev'd. Frederic Webber in 1827 involved Upcott, Wortham, land in Georgeham, Braunton, West Down, St. Giles in the Heath, etc..

In 1832 Pickwell was bought by Earl Fortescue.