Bernard Smith (d. 1591)

Arms of Smith of Totnes, as seen impaled by Wrey on monument to John I Wrey (d. 1597) in Tawstock Church, Devon. Wrey's son John II Wrey was the 3rd husband of Smith's daughter Eleanor Smith: Barry undé of sixteen argent and azure on a chief gules three barnacles or. Pole (d. 1635) gives the arms as: Barry undé of six argent and azure on a chief gules three barnacles or[1]

Bernard Smith (c. 1522 – 1591) of Totnes in Devon was MP for Totnes in 1558. He was mayor of Totnes in 1549–50 and c. 1565–6, and was escheator of Devon and Cornwall in 1567–8.[2]

Origins

He was the son of Walter Smith (d.1555), a merchant of Totnes, whose Easter Sepulchre type monument survives in the south chancel aisle of St Mary's Church, Totnes.[3] At the Dissolution of the Monasteries Walter had purchased Totnes Priory and some of its lands which in 1544 he conveyed to feoffees for the uses of himself and his son Bernard.[4] Bernard's sister Alice Smith was the wife firstly of John Hurst (d. 1555) (son of William Hurst (d. 1568), merchant of Exeter, thrice MP for Exeter)[5] and secondly of John II Petre (d. 1581) of Exeter and Bowhay, MP for Exeter in 1554 and governor of the Exeter Merchant Adventurers.[6]

Career

One of the earliest surviving recorded events of his career was his seizure in 1545 of a Spanish ship and its cargo which resulted in his censure by the Privy Council and an order for him to restore both to their owner. In several ventures he was a business partner of Christoper Savery MP and his brother Richard Savery MP, whom he later accused in the Star Chamber of assault and theft.[7]

Lands held

He purchased further lands near to those formerly belonging to Totnes Priory inherited from his father, and was subjected to a lawsuit due to his having cut-off the water supply to the mills of Totnes Castle.[8]

Marriage & progeny

The name of Bernard Smith's wife, whom he had married by 1547,[9] is not known, but by her he left a daughter and sole heiress:

Death & succession

Bernard Smith died in Totnes on 16 July 1591. He was succeeded by his daughter and sole heiress Eleanor Smith, then the wife of John Wrey. His will has not survived.[19]

Sources

References

  1. Pole, Sir William (d. 1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.502
  2. Hawkyard
  3. Pevsner, Nikolaus & Cherry, Bridget, The Buildings of England: Devon, London, 2004, p.869
  4. Hawkyard
  5. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/hurst-william-1484-1568
  6. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/member/petre-john-ii-1517-81
  7. Hawkyard
  8. Hawkyard
  9. Hawkyard
  10. Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitation of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.168, pedigree of Charles of Tavistock; Risdon, Tristram (d.1640), Survey of Devon, 1811 edition, London, 1811, with 1810 Additions, pp. 129-130, manor of Moretonhampstead
  11. Regnal years 5 Mary & 19 Elizabeth, per Vivian p.379
  12. Vivian, p.168
  13. Betham, William, The Baronetage of England, Vol.1, pp.320-323, Wrey Baronets
  14. Pevsner, p.790, Tawstock
  15. Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, London, 1791, p.502, blazoned as Barry unde of six argent and azure on a chief gules three barnacles or. Shown at Tawstock as Barry unde of sixteen argent and azure on a chief gules three barnacles or
  16. Vivian, p.379, pedigree of Fulford
  17. Vivian, p.71, pedigree of Bellot. Location of Downton, Devon unknown, per his HoP biography
  18. http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/bellott-ambrose-1561-1637
  19. Hawkyard
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