Martin White

On record as holding the manor of Fiddleford in the time of King Charles I (c. 1631).

About 1355 the manor of Fiddleford came to William Latimer (probably the fourth son of Sir John Latimer of Duntish) through his marriage with Margaret, daughter and heir of John Maury. (fn. 5) Latimer was a subsidy commissioner for Dorset in 1371 and sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in 1374 and 1380, (fn. 6) and there can be little doubt that the late 14th-century Great Hall and Solar, which still stand, were built for him. In the 16th century the house belonged to the White family (Hutchins IV, 341) and the ornamental initials T, A and W which appear in several places are presumably those of Thomas White (d. 1555) and his wife Ann (Williams); they were married probably c. 1515 since their son Thomas was 39 at the time of his father's death. [The author apparently thinks that Thomas White of Poole (1488-1556) was the husband of Ann Williams, rather than his son Thomas White of Fittleford (c. 1517-1590) - but it was Thomas White of Fittleford who was granted arms in 1559]. Their grandson Thomas White married Frances Martyn of Athelhampton (Coker, 100), and in the time of Charles I the manor was held by Martin White. After the Restoration the property was bought by Sir Thomas Freke and it still belongs to his descendants, the PittRivers family. The 14th-century part of the building is in the guardianship of the Ministry of Public Building and Works under the provisions of the Ancient Monuments Acts. http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=127878

NB: the implication here is that the Fiddleford branch of the family was extinguished or impoverished by c. 1660. (The emigrant branch seems to have done fairly well.)