HISTORY OF MOUNT BOONE HOUSE, DARTMOUTH, DEVON:
1200 - by this time,William Fitz
Stephen is lord of the manors of
Tunstal and Norton, as he grants the Tunstal church to the chapter of
the new Abbey of Torre
1228 - The Doomsday manor of Dunestal (Tunstal) appears to have been
divided into two portions, for convenience; one-third called Tunstal or
Dertemue, and the northern two-thirds called Norton;
though it appears
that in 1241, both portions were in the possession of the Fitz
Stephen
family. (Russell, 1950, pg.29)
1235 - A deed makes reference to the chapel of St. Clarus,
which existed
very close to the site now known of the Mount Boone House. ** Could the
chapel in the earliest painting be St Clere ?? Little else is shown on
that hillside, and the chapel should have existed at the time of this
painting (roughly 1630 or later, by costumes of people in lower left)
1346 - By this time the Norton lordship is held by the Courtnays,
who
had acquired it by marriage with Emmeline Dawnay, daughter of Sir John
Dawnay, whose name serves to distinguish the lordship
in later centuries
(Norton Dawnay). More than once, Norton Dawnay was in the hands of the
crown, and there was no resident lord who made any impression on the
life of the adjoining borough until Thomas Boone acquired the estate
about 1635. (Russell, 1950, pg. 29-30, drawn from J.J.Alexander,
1936-7
Devon Notes and Queries, pg.250)
1619 - Townsend's "New Platte of the Town", 1619, shows a label on
the
north-most roadway, "to Mt galpin and Mt
Boon" (Russell, 1950, pg.36)
1634 - In the Ship Money list for 1634, Norton Dawnay
is charged as
being held by Richard Culme, Walter Wotton, John Neile and Thomas
Luscombe at 200-pounds. It seems to Russell
that the parties named were
trustees for Thomas Boone, who came of-age in 1635,
implying that it
belonged to someone who "willed" it to Thomas, prior to that date.
(Russell, 1950, pg. 108)
1636 - Thomas Bownde and Dorothy Upton of Lupton are
married (St. Mary,
Brixham Parish Records)
1642 - Thomas Boone was evidently in occupation of the manor of Norton
Dawney by this time, as the old walled enclosure
formerly known as
"Place" was known as Mount Boone in the accounts of the siege of
1643.
1646 - Thomas Boone was available in
Roger Matthews, who was too ill to attend Parliament.
1657 - Dorothy Upton Boone dies. She is buried in St. Clement Church.
1657-59 - Thomas Boone served as Ambassador to
with the portrait of King Gustav, diamonds and stones that is mentioned in his
will of 1679.
1679 --
Thomas. (ref. Will of Thomas Boone of
1684 -
brother John. (ref. Will of John Boone of
1689 - Charles Boone dies on 12 August 1689. (reference
in Journal of
Commons, as Charles Boone was a member of that group) No will yet found
for Charles, to identify how he passed the property.
1689 - Assumption is that property passes to female descendant who
marries into Harris family.
(John Harris, who apparently owned a
From Will of John Harris of
(Found online at the PRO, the following is summary info on
family members)
Wife Mary; no children mentioned.
Property mentioned: my manor and lordship capital messuage
Barton Farms; Norton Dawnay; Townstal Hills; the ¼
part of all that capital messuage wherin
I now live called mountboon with the gardens and
lands thereto belonging; all my lands in the parish of Townstal or the borough
of Clifton Dartmouth Hardness and all my quarter-part of the manor of Cornworthy and all my heriditaments
in the parish of Cornworthy; and all my messuages farms and demesne lands called Knighton being within the several parishes of East Allington and Burtland Touthaints; all my messuages
being within the parish of Crediton; all my lordship
and royalty of the hundred of Coleridge and all
courts priviledges and advantages thereunto; and all
lying within the city of Exon.
Brother Timothy Harris who owes him a lot of money.
My sister Mary Q?uidger / Widger
?, her late husband deceased (( additional info from
IGI -- this may be Mary Harris who married Richard Wiger
at Crediton, 22 December 1682; 3 children are shown
in IGI, but not the three shown below (Thomazin,
Frances and Elizabeth), so they perhaps moved elsewhere or joined a new church.
. .))
My neice Frances Spury?
My neice Mary Wills, widow; William Evans, son of
Mary under 21; Mary Evans daughter of Mary;
My neice Sarah Balster;
Cousin Mary Evans. John Evans son of Mary under 21. Mary Evans daughter of Mary under 21. Timothy
Evans son of Mary under 21.
Thomazin Q?uidger,
Frances Q?uidger and Elizabeth Q?uidger,
my nieces.
Mr Samuel Moubley, one moyden
of gold to buy a ring.
Witness will: William Prichard? Flows. Richard
and John Penfound
Witness Codicil: William Pichard, Flouko?, Richard and John Peufound?
John Bettesworth, attorney at probate.
1724 -
Seale, not yet of-age. Believed female of Boone lined married into
Harris of Cornworthy family, and wife survived
husband. (Russell, 1950,
pg. 148)(Seale papers, online
1750 -
(Russell, 1950, pg. 125) Descriptions are that house acquired by Seale
family was of medieval design, but that Seale family systematically
modified home during their residence.
1826 - Mount Boone House shown from above, towards Dartmouth Castle, in
lithograph of George Rowe, shown on page 6 of Russell's book; dated from
art index of Rowe's work found online This view appears to show much
modification from 1750 home, but not as complete as outline in 1880
Ordinance Survey of site..
1873 - Manor of
Newton Dawnay is sold by Henry Paul Seale to the
executors of Mr.
E.W.W.Raleigh, surgeon of
Col Seale resided at his secondary home of Norton Park.
House was never again occupied after 1873. (*Russell, 1950, pg.155)
1880 - Outline of Mount Boone House and roadways to home are clearly
identified on 1880 Ordinance Survey. (online,
Dartmouth Website!)
1899 -
development. One of these lots is the current (1950) vicarage. (*
Russell, 1950, pg.155)
1905 - Photos in Dartmouth Museum indicate that the actual Mount Boone
House was not dismantled until 1905, as the photos show the ruins marked
with lot-numbers, as if each section of the building will be auctioned
for building materials, to be transported elsewhere. (photos,