Canonsleigh Abbey - Culme Family

Culme Family

Canons Leigh Barton (or "Canonsleigh") was in the 16th. and 17th. centuries a residence of the family of Culme (or "Columb", "Culem" etc.), which may have derived its name from some ancient landholding in the area of the River Culm, perhaps at Uffculme or Collumpton. The family was also of Great Champson (or "Chamston"), the manor house of Molland-Champson manor, a subdivision of the manor of Molland, Devon. The family is generally said to have died out in the male line on the death of Richard II Culme in 1658, although the Rev. John Culme, vicar of Knowstone-cum-Molland, to which the Culme family held the presentation, died later in 1691, and to whom a mural monument exists in Knowstone church and whose funeral sermon exists in transcript. Hugh Culme was admitted for his legal education to the Inner Temple in London in 1621 and married Amy Ayshford, a daughter of Henry Ayshford Esq. of Ayshford, Burlescombe Parish. Hugh Culme was the eldest son and heir of Richard Culme(c.1571-1649), who himself had been admitted to the Inner Temple in 1591. He served as Sheriff of Devon and married Lydia Courtenay, a daughter of Philip Courtenay(1547–1611) of Molland by Joane Boyes. Richard's younger brother was Benjamin Culme(d.1657), BA(1602) St Alban's Hall, Oxford, Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, Ireland, who died at Lydiard St John's, Wiltshire in 1657 aged 76, having escaped from political disturbances in Ireland. Their father was Hugh Culme(c.1543-1618) of Canons-Leigh, who married at Exeter in 1568 Mary Fortescue, a daughter of Richard Fortescue Esq. of Filleigh, Devon. He received a grant of letters patent from King James I. His father Hugh Culme of Weycroft, Axminster had been granted armorials in 1564 by William Hervy, Clarenceux King of Arms as follows: Azure, a chevron ermine between 3 pelicans vulning their breast or, with a crest: On a wreath a lion leaning to a pillar argent (given alternatively as: A lion sejant proper supporting a corinthian column). Hugh Culme had exercised his power of presentation to Knowstone-cum-Molland in 1548 when he had appointed a new vicar. He was the son of John Culme by Alice Walter, daughter and heiress of John Walter of Combe and Collacot, in the parish of Winkleigh, Devon. John was the son of Hugh Culme(d.pre-1544) of "Chamston", Molland, by Alice Tracy, daughter of William Tracy of Gloucestershire, who appeared on the Pardon Roll of Henry VIII between 1509–1514, and who presented to Molland Church in 1532. Hugh's father may have been John Culme, living in 1469, possibly the son of John Culme of Winkleigh.