Heavitree Genealogical Records
Heavitree Birth & Baptism Records
An index to births registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of birth certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.
Digital images of baptism registers, searchable by a name index, essentially recording births, but may include residence, father's occupation and more.
A searchable database of 2,225,292 records, linked to original images of baptism registers. The records provide proof of parentage, occupations, residence and other details.
Transcriptions of over 360,000 baptisms from most parishes in the county. Records include parents name and abode.
Over 60,000 transcripts of personal entries in various types of records, including vaccination registers, apprenticeship records, occupational records, poor law records, marriage notice books, returns of deaths, infirmary registers, debtor lists, workhouse birth registers, bastardy records and more.
Heavitree Marriage & Divorce Records
An index to marriages registered throughout England & Wales. This is the only national marriage index that allows you to search by both spouse's names. Provides a reference to order copies of marriage certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.
Banns registers record details of those who wished to marry. They sometimes contain information not listed in marriage registers, notably the bride and groom's parish of residence. Banns also record marriages that were intended that did not go ahead and serve as a filler when a marriage register has been lost or damaged.
Digital images of marriage registers, searchable by a name index. They typically record marital status and residence. Details may also be given on a party's parents, age and parish of origin.
A searchable database of 1,871,561 records, linked to original images of marriage registers. The records may include fathers' names, age, residence, occupations and more.
Transcriptions of over 270,000 marriages from most parishes in the county.
Heavitree Death & Burial Records
An index to deaths registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of death certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.
Digital images of burial registers, searchable by a name index. They may include the deceased's name, residence and age. Some records may contain the names of relations, cause of death and more.
A searchable database of 1,666,144 records, linked to original images of burial registers. The records may include date of burial and/or death, residence, age and other details.
Transcriptions of over 225,000 burials from most parishes in the county. Induces the deceased's age.
Over 60,000 transcripts of personal entries in various types of records, including vaccination registers, apprenticeship records, occupational records, poor law records, marriage notice books, returns of deaths, infirmary registers, debtor lists, workhouse birth registers, bastardy records and more.
Heavitree Census & Population Lists
An index to and digital images of records that detail 40 million civilians in England and Wales. Records list name, date of birth, address, marital status, occupation and details of trade or profession.
The 1911 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.
A list of those eligible to vote, including their address and qualification to vote.
A list of Devon property-owners who were required to contribute towards sustaining the militia.
A transcription of the Lady Day hearth tax for 1674 for the county of Devon.
Newspapers Covering Heavitree
A conservative newspaper covering business, family, legal and other news in the Exeter district.
A politically independent newspaper, covering the affairs of Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. It includes family notices.
A short regional paper covering local occurrences, business news, family notices and more.
A liberal newspaper covering the counties of Cornwall, Devon and Dorset. It includes family notices.
Original images of a regional newspaper, searchable via a full text index. Includes news from the Devon area, business notices, obituaries, family announcements and more.
Heavitree Wills & Probate Records
Searchable index and original images of over 12.5 million probates and administrations granted by civil registries. Entries usually include the testator's name, date of death, date of probate and registry. Names of relations may be given.
An index to 295,609 wills of people who lived in or were connected to Devon. The wills they reference can contain a great deal of genealogical information.
An index to estate administrations performed by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The index covers the southern two thirds of England & Wales, but may also contain entries for northerners.
An index to thousands of probates and administrations granted by the Diocese and Archdeaconry of Exeter, covering parts of Devon & Cornwall.
An index to over 300,000 Devon wills, admons and inventories from 550 sources. Index contains name, abode, occupation, type of document, year of probate, court, notes and document reference.
Heavitree Immigration & Travel Records
A detailed investigation into motivations for Devonians choosing to stay or migrate from the county, with particular attention to labour, religion and family ties.
A lengthy article detailing the practice of moving the needy poor between parishes. Contains examples of settlements, removals and examinations.
The story of a ship heading to Quebec from Plymouth that sank off the coast of Cornwall, killing 194 passengers. Includes information on the crew, passengers and others connected with the event.
An overview of emigration from north Devon to the Americas, with particulars of some who made the journey.
A calendar of prisoners brought before the quarter sessions, with details of their crime and punishment. Contains entries for individuals who were transported.
Heavitree Military Records
Various military lists published in the Exeter Flying Post, particularly lists of deserters, which may list age and physical description.
A list of Devon property-owners who were required to contribute towards sustaining the militia.
A list of names found on World War One monuments in Devon, with some service details.
A list of names found on World War Two monuments in Devon, with some service details.
Names from a presumably predominately Devonian war memorial in the former Bible Christian church at Swansea.
Heavitree Court & Legal Records
A list of those eligible to vote, including their address and qualification to vote.
An index of around 300,000 names in local tax records. The index is connected to digital images of the rate books, which record, land owner and occupier, description of property, address and details of the tax.
Transcriptions of documents listing those who swore loyalty to King George I after the Jacobite Atterbury Plot.
A calendar of cases to be heard before the quarter session that are indictable by nature,.
Two calendars, one of those licensed to carry out trade and the other those brought before the session for cursing.
Heavitree Taxation Records
An index of around 300,000 names in local tax records. The index is connected to digital images of the rate books, which record, land owner and occupier, description of property, address and details of the tax.
Transcriptions of documents listing land, their owner or occupier acreage and name or description.
A list of Devon property-owners who were required to contribute towards sustaining the militia.
A transcription of the Lady Day hearth tax for 1674 for the county of Devon.
An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.
Heavitree Land & Property Records
A list of those eligible to vote, including their address and qualification to vote.
Maps delineating fields in Devon, which are referenced to documents recording field names, land owners, occupiers, land use and land size.
An index of around 300,000 names in local tax records. The index is connected to digital images of the rate books, which record, land owner and occupier, description of property, address and details of the tax.
Transcriptions of documents listing land, their owner or occupier acreage and name or description.
A list of Devon property-owners who were required to contribute towards sustaining the militia.
Heavitree Directories & Gazetteers
A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.
A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key contemporary and historical facts. Each place has a list of residents and businesses. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions.
A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key historical and contemporary facts. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions. Also contains a list of residents and businesses for each place.
A comprehensive place-by-place gazetteer, listing key historical and contemporary facts. Contains details on local schools, churches, government and other institutions. Also contains a list of residents and businesses for each place.
A directory of residents and businesses; with a description of each settlement, containing details on its history, public institutions, churches, postal services, governance and more.
Heavitree Cemeteries
Photographs and descriptions of Devon's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.
Memorials of a select number of headstones in Devon.
Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.
Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.
Profiles of several hundred mausolea found in the British Isles.
Heavitree Obituaries
The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.
A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.
A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.
This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.
A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.
Heavitree Histories & Books
A detailed investigation into motivations for Devonians choosing to stay or migrate from the county, with particular attention to labour, religion and family ties.
A history of Catholicism in South West England with biographies of noted Catholics. Contains details of the Dominican, Benedictine, and Franciscan orders.
A general and parochial history of the county, with sections for each parish.
Numerous articles covering the history of the country, its principle settlements, notable persons, castles and more.
A detailed overview of Devon in 1850, extracted from a directory of that year.
Heavitree School & Education Records
A name index connected to digital images of registers recording millions of children educated in schools operated by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. Records contain a variety of information including genealogical details, education history, illnesses, exam result, fathers occupation and more.
A name index linked to original images of registers recording the education and careers of teachers in England & Wales.
A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.
A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.
A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.
Heavitree Occupation & Business Records
Background information on women employed by the mining industry in Devon & Cornwall. Includes a database of over 25,000 women and oral histories.
Lists of gamekeepers from the North Devon Journal.
Lists of gamekeepers from the The Western Times.
A series of newspaper articles listing gamekeepers in Devon.
Transcripts of newspaper articles listing the particulars of apprentices who absconded from their master.
Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Heavitree
Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.
A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.
A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.
A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.
A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.
Heavitree Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records
Three works compiled from 16th and 17th century sources that record Devon families who had the right to bear a coat of arms.
A list of men found by William Camden to have unsubstantiated claims to coats of arms.
Photographs and descriptions of Devon's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.
Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.
A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.
Heavitree Church Records
A history of Catholicism in South West England with biographies of noted Catholics. Contains details of the Dominican, Benedictine, and Franciscan orders.
Prior to civil registration in 1837, the parish registers of Devon are the most common place to turn for details on births, marriages and deaths.
A series of questionnaires detailing the ecclesiastical predicament of around 250 parishes in Devon.
A transcript of documents recording those who contributed to the rebuilding of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
A history of the Bible Christians, a denomination of Methodists, in Devon and Cornwall.
Biographical Directories Covering Heavitree
A series of folk tales and detailed biographies of Devonshire men and women.
Biographies of notable Devonians from the Norman period up to the end of the 17th century.
A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.
A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.
A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.
Heavitree Maps
Maps delineating fields in Devon, which are referenced to documents recording field names, land owners, occupiers, land use and land size.
Maps delineating fields, forests and other land plots in east Devon. Apportionments not included.
Transcriptions of documents listing land, their owner or occupier acreage and name or description.
A collection of digitalised maps covering the county.
Detailed maps covering much of the UK. They depict forests, mountains, larger farms, roads, railroads, towns, and more.
Heavitree Reference Works
A series of articles on Devon surnames, including a dictionary of Devon surname definitions.
A guide to locating Devon wills in light of losses incurred during World War II.
A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in England.
Compiled in 1831, this book details the coverage and condition of parish registers in England & Wales.
A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.
Civil & Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction
Historical Description
HEAVITREE, in Domesday “Hevetrove” (hive-tree), is a populous parish and suburb on the east of Exeter, and partly within the parliamentary borough, in the North Eastern division of the county, hundred and petty sessional division of Wonford, St. Thomas union, Exeter county court district, in the rural deanery of Christianity, and archdeaconry and diocese of Exeter.
Under the provisions of the “Local Government Act, 1894’' (56 and 57 Vict. c. 73), the parish is governed by an Urban District Council of fifteen members.
The church of St. Michael, erected in 1845, is a large building of stone, in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave of six bays, aisles with galleries on each side, south and west porches and a western tower with pinnacles, erected in 1889—90 at a cost of £3,155, in commemoration of H.M. the Queen’s Jubilee: the pulpit is of stone and there is an oak eagle lectern: on the north side of the chancel is a handsome canopied monument with brass effigy to the Rev. Arthur Atherley, 36 years vicar of Heavitree, erected by the parishioners in 1857; and a little to the left of this hangs a list of the vicars of Heavitree from the year 1280 to the present time: there are inscribed stones to John Vener, ob. 17 July, 1527; John Legh, priest, vicar here at the beginning of the 16th century, and to Hugh Legh, ob. 2 August, 1536: on the floor facing the chancel is a slab, inscribed to Thomas Gorges esq. of Heavitree, and his wife, dated 1670, with arms, and the following curious inscription:
“The Iovinge turtell havinge mist her mate
Beg’d shee might enter ’ere they shut the Gate.
Their dust here lies whose soules to heaven are Gonne
And waite till Angells rowle away the stone.”
In the south gallery is a marble monument, with various dates, to members of the Raleigh family; and in the south aisle a memorial to Stephen Shute, 13 years a member of the choir, erected by his fellow workmen and master in 1880; there are three stained windows in the chancel, three in the north aisle, and in the south aisle six; the stained west window is a memorial to the Rev. Reginald Henry Barnes M.A. vicar here 1869—86. In the church are many armorial shields, and some remains exist of ancient screens: and there are sittings for 1,208 persons. The church was restored in 1895 at an estimated cost of £3,700, when a new chancel with aisles, organ chamber and vestries were added. In 1895 the eastern end of the church was extended and rebuilt, providing a new chancel, and in 1898 the east window was filled with stained glass, and oak choir seats were provided as a memorial to the late Rev. S. H. Berkeley, vicar 1886—1897. A new peal of eight bells (tenor, 26 cwt.) was placed in the tower in 1897 as the Diamond Jubilee memorial to Her late Majesty Queen Victoria.
The registers, dating from the year 1653, and in a remarkably good state of preservation, commence with Latin inscription, of which the following translation is appended:
“The swadling cloaths, the wedding and the winding sheete
The cradle, bed and grave within this Booke do meete.”
The living is a vicarage, with Whipton annexed, average net yearly value £450, with residence and 6 acres of glebe, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, and held since 1897 by the Rev. Theophilus John Ponting M.A. of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
The Artillery Barracks, on the Topsham road, are partly in the parish of Heavitree.
The Exeter City Asylum (Digby’s), in this parish and 2 miles from Exeter, is an edifice of red brick with terra cotta dressings, in the Renaissance style, from designs by R. Stark Wilkinson esq. F.R.I.B.A, of Exeter, and was opened 29 Sept. 1886, at a cost of £100,000: the present, building will hold 378 patients, 178 males and 200 females, but has been designed so as to allow of extension for 500 patients: there are now (1901) 360 patients, some being received from neighbouring boroughs: there is a chapel and farm attached. The electric light is in use here on the storage system.
Wonford House Hospital, a registered asylum for insane private patients only of the upper and middle classes, is situated on elevated ground, in the parish of Heavitree, about one mile from the city of Exeter: the institution was first established at Bowhill in 1801, but the building having become old and inadequate, it was removed to its present situation in 1869: the front of the building commands extensive views of Haldon and the estuary of the Exe; the east wing overlooks the village of Wonford, and the west the Cathedral and the suburbs of the city. Large open ornamental grounds, from which the views are both extensive and very beautiful, surround the house, and afford every convenience both for amusement and exercise. A nine hole golf course has recently been laid out. The building, constructed of Westleigh stone with Bath stone dressings, is in the Tudor style, and has a length of 480 feet; the interior is well furnished, and includes several suites of private rooms. In 1883 the governors purchased a residence at Dawlish, for the purpose of affording patients the benefits of change and sea air: the house, known as “Plantation House,” stands in its own grounds, and is provided with all modern sanitary improvements; arrangements can be made for the permanent reception there of patients whose friends may prefer a private residence to an asylum.
There are charities of about £190 yearly value, including the parish lands, viz.: Serle’s gift of £131 18s. 10d. stock in the public funds, producing a yearly income of £3 19s.; Nutt’s, of £50 New 3 per Cents, yielding £1 10s. yearly; Spicer’s, of £427 11s. 5d. Consols, producing £12 16s. 6d. yearly; Collingwoods, of £217 1s. 11d. Consols, producing £6 10s. 2d. yearly; Warren’s, of £54 1s. 2d. Consols, producing £1 10s. 6d. yearly; Furlong’s, of £52 6s. 11d. Reduced 3 per Cents, producing £1 11s. 4d. yearly. There are also 17 acres of charity lands, vested in certain trustees, who appoint the inmates of the almshouses and dispense the income arising from the estates. One-third of a tan yard and one-quarter of a moor (in the parish of Sowton) are now represented by £2,106 18s. 2d. Consols, producing a yearly income of £63 4s. dating from 1882. The above charities are distributed to the poor in food, coals and wearing apparel: the charitable foundation, called “Liverydole,” founded by Sir Robert Dennis, A.D. 1591, and finished by Sir Thomas Dennis, his brother, in 1594, consists of eleven almshouses, with a chapel attached, rebuilt about 1853; the almshouses were rebuilt about 1865 and the charity has an income of £45. The Rev. W. Everitt B.A. rector of St. Lawrence’s, is chaplain.
Ducke’s almshouses, founded in 1589, were rebuilt in 1853, and are for eight single persons, appointed by the trustees of the Heavitree charity lands. St. Loye’s almshouses, also founded in 1589, were rebuilt in 1824, and are for four married couples. Both sets of almshouses are supported from the rents of the parish lands. Near St. Loye’s is the ancient chapel of St. Loye’s or Eligius, now a farm building. In this parish are also the remains of the Benedictine Priory of Polleshoe or Polsloe, founded in 1169 by William, lord Briwere, and dedicated to St. Catherine: the convent was surrendered by Eleanor Sydnam, 12th prioress, 19 Feb. 1538, when there were 13 nuns, and revenues estimated at £164. Of the buildings, a part of one of the main walls, with its buttresses, the entrance arch, and some other fragments, remain. The arms were: “gu. a sword between 3 Catherine wheels, arg.”
A remarkably large quarry here, yielding a peculiar red stone, called “Heavitree stone,” is still worked.
Lord Poltimore P.C. who is lord of the manor, Lady Morley, Edward Andrew Sanders esq. Winslow Jones esq. and J. B. Short esq. are the chief landowners.
The soil is of a strong red loam; subsoil, gravel, near Liverydole. The chief crops are those of market gardeners, with a considerable acreage of wheat and meadow land. The acreage is 3,469; rateable value, £38,257 15s.; the population in 1871 was 3,660; in 1881, 4,548; in 1891, 6,271, and in 1901, 7,531, including the officials and inmates of Wonford House Lunatic Asyllm, 406 in the City of Exeter Lunatic Asylum and 440 in the Artillery Barracks.
Divine service is held in the school chapel, erected in 1879 at a cost of £800.
Sexton, John Geary Anstey.
SCHOOLS
There are five National schools, supported partly by the trustees of the Heavitree charity lands, but mainly by subscriptions.
Boys & Girls’, built in 1871 & enlarged in 1875 & 1899; it will now hold 560 children; average attendance, 220 boys & 185 girls.
Fore street (infants), built in 1517, on land given by Thomas Kelly esq. & rebuilt in 1840, for 140 children; average attend. 150.
Whipton (mixed), built in 1874, for 40 children; average attendance, 26.
School chapel, South Wonford, erected in 1879, for 60 children; average attend. 44.