Southcott family

The surname Southcott is first recorded by Michael de Southcott, Lord of Southcott (b.1202) in the 13th century, and later recorded by Sir Nicholas Southcott Jr of Southcott and Chudleigh (1450–1512) in the 15th century.[1] According to the Survey of Devon by Tristram Risdon (b.1580), "Michael de Southcott Lord of Southcott was from whom issued divers families. For he was the original of a great kindred in this country". Michael de Southcott is attributed to being the formal founder of the Southcott family in 1202.[2]

Sir Nicholas's son, John Southcott Esq of Bovey Tracey (1481–1556), in 1544, following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, was granted Indio. At the time he was steward to Thomas Cromwell which led to him obtaining several monastic holdings in Devonshire on favourable terms.[3] A document in connection with the Dissolution accounts refers to "Rent of a messuage in Yondyeo leased on 15 July 1531 to John Southcote, his wife Joan and Johns’s heirs for ever, 26s 8d". He was also made Clerk of the Peace for Devon.[4][5][1] In 1547 he was elected as MP of Lostwithiel, making him a prominent politician in Cornwall. During Edward VI's reforms to religion in Cornwall, part of the English Reformation and the Tudors' deconstruction of Cornish national identity, he was a participant and supporter of the Prayer Book Rebellion in Cornwall and Devon. After the rebellion was crushed by Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset's army, John Southcote was not hanged and a few years later he was granted a general pardon by Edward VI and continued to sit in Parliament.[6]

Sir Nicholas's second son William Southcott Esq of Chudleigh (b.1485) had a son also called John, of Witham (1510–1585). He became a senior English judge and politician, becoming later Lord of the Manor of Witham, in Essex. He was noted to be a proud Catholic and supporter of his uncle's involvement in the Prayer Book Rebellion and later resigned his office rather than condemn a Catholic priest publicly.[7][8]

Another descendant of Sir Nicholas Southcott was Capt. Philip Southcote (1698–1758) who married the widowed 1st Duchess of Southampton, Anne Fitzroy.

During the Civil War, Captain Thomas Southcote was the garrison commander of Calstock as a prominent officer of the Royalists in Cornwall; the garrison consisted of roughly 1,200 Cornishmen and was quartered at Cotehele and Harewood House. During the war, the Parliamentarians attacked Gunnislake New Bridge, which was defended by Sir Richard Grenville and Captain Southcote with men from his garrison at Calstock. At the cost of 240 men the bridge was lost to the Parliamentarian forces, but they failed to advance further into Cornwall.[9][10]

• Michael Southcot Esq of Southcot (b.c1202)
• William Southcott Esq of Southcot (b.c1233)
• Michael Southcott Esq of Winkleigh (b.c1258)
• William Southcott Esq of Southcott
• Michael Southcotte Esq of Southcotte (b.c1325)
• William Southcote Esq of Southcote (b.c1360)
• William Southcote Esq of Southcote (b.c1390)
• Nicholas Southcote Esq of Southcote and Chudleigh (b.c1419)
• Sir Nicholas Southcott of Southcott and Chudleigh (1450–1512)
• Thomas Southcot Esq of Southcot (b.c1483)
• John Southcott Esq of Southcot (b.c1510)
• John Southcot Esq of Southcot
• Phillip Southcott Esq of Southcott (1527–1587)
• Stephen Southcott Esq of Southcott (1562–1619)
• Nevill Southcott Esq of Southcott (b.1593)

Indio House the manor house of Bovey Tracey, former seat of the Southcott Family

• John Southcote MP of Bovey Tracey, (1481–1556)
• Thomas Southcote MP of Bovey Tracey and of Mohuns Ottery, (1528–1600) [11]
• George Southcot of Bovey Tracey and of Mohuns Ottery, (born 1560)
• Thomas Southcote of Bovey Tracey and of Mohuns Ottery (d.1678) [12]
• Sir Popham Southcote Kt of Bovey Tracey and of Mohuns Ottery, (1603–1643) [12]

• Thomas Southcote MP of Bovey Tracey and of Mohuns Ottery, (1528–1600)
• George Southcot of Bovey Tracey and of Mohuns Ottery, (born 1560)
• Thomas Southcote of Bovey Tracey and of Mohuns Ottery (d.1678)
• Sir Popham Southcote Kt of Bovey Tracey and of Mohuns Ottery, (1603–1643)

• Sir George Southcote MP of Blyborough, Shillingford, Stoke Fleming and Withycombe (1572–1638)
• George Southcote of Stoke Fleming and Blyborough
• Thomas Southcote MP DL JP of Stoke Fleming and Blyborough (1622–1664)
• Sir George Southcote, 1st Baronet of Blyborough (1629–1663)
• Sir George Southcote, 2nd Baronet and Governor of Dartmouth Castle (1664–1691)

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