John Swete of Trayne

Circa 1540- Inherited Trayne or Traine in Modbury, Devonshire, England. The family had resided in that area since 1438.

In the Chancery Proceedings and those of the Star Chamber, Johane Scoos, as widow of John Scoos of Upton in South Milton, who died without issue, says she has divers Deeds concerning tenements called Brownston, Brownswell, Treyne, and six messuages in ye borough of Modbury now claimed by John Swete, as Plaintiff against her, because of his descent from William Scoos and Isett his wife, who died about 1541. This was proved, with Agnes, widow of John Scoos of Trewen (aged 70), as witness that their daughter Johane was married to John Swete of Upton in South Milton, from whom the Complainant, John Swete, was descended, and who now recovered Traine, Brownston, and Brownswell, as heir of John Scoos of Mylton who died about 1520.î [Hooppell]

Thus, John Swete, born about 1531 son of John Swete and Johane Scoos, inherited Traine through his mother. William Scoos and John Scoos of Milton must have been brothers, sons of John Scoos of Traine whose widow Agnes (aged 70) testified that John Swete of Upton married [her granddaughter] Johane Scoos, daughter of William and Isett Scoos. The decision of the Court apparently was that Traine passed from John Scoos of Traine to his son John Scoos of Milton who died without issue about 1520; then back to his other son William Scoos who died about 1541, and then via Williamís daughter Johane to Williamís grandson John Swete, as the only surviving male heir. The comment that John Swete ìrecoveredî Traine suggests the writer knew Traine had been owned by someone named Swete, but it does not prove that John Swete descended from Guy Swete.

It is difficult to prove descent from the John Swete born in 1531 who inherited Traine in 1550. I have seen many claims and genealogies that say he married Mary Periam, daughter of John Periam the Mayor of Exeter, about 1555, and they had three sons: John (1557), Adrian (1559) and Robert (1561), but none of these secondary sources provide verifiable documentation.

However, research among primary sources has cast some light on this problem. John Periam, Sr., was born about 1507 in Exeter, Devon, son of William Periam. He married Elizabeth Hone of Ottery-Saint-Mary, Devon, about 1532. He was a zealous Protestant and assisted Lord Russell during the Catholic Rebellion of 1549. Sheriff of Exeter in 1553. As a consequence of his Protestant activities, he spent five years abroad during the reign of Queen Mary (1553-1558) as a governor of English merchants in Antwerp. On returning to England he settled at Shobrooke (a village near Exeter). He was the Mayor of Exeter in 1563 and 1572. His will dated 1 November 1572 and proved 23 November 1573 gives a bequest to ìmy second daughter Margery & John Swete her husband.î [Westcountry Studies Library. Research by Stephen Coombes of Chudleigh, Devon, 2002]

Thus, it was MARGERY Periam who married John Swete. She was born about 1538 in Exeter, Devon. They probably were married about 1556 and had children born in the next 10-15 years, including John (1557), Adrian (1559), and Robert (1561). She apparently died before 1599 which is the earliest date in the extant Modbury parish records.

http://swett-genealogy.com/07Arms.html