Richard Bond, of Erth Barton

Richard burial is recorded at St. Stephen's in Saltash. This is the first date of the family found in records there. The parishes were not required to keep records until 1840. The first known reference of a "Bond" in the UK was "Mertz Erin bonde" yr. 568 AD. The indications are that he was a "Norse" or "Viking". It is recorded that Bond Street in London was named for him. It is the oldest known Street in present day London. The "Barton" (a large Medieval Farm or Estate) of "Earth" or "Erth, "and one of the ancient Bond Dwellings and Barton of the Bonds is 3 miles South East of Saltash on a peninsula on the Lyner (or St. German) river, a little West of Plymouth. The antiquity of Erth and its curious name, "Erth" (pronounced "Earth") suggest it is ancient, and may have been there before the Conquest, and long before the time of Henry de Erth. Erth was described as a Manor House in a survey of Buildings in Cornwall in 1610. There have been many improvements to the original building. Erth house is described by a Mr. Carew as a 'very ancient building,' and since his time, four hundred years have increased its antiquity. Erth did not have fireplaces or chimneys when it was first built. Fires were first built on the floors and smoke went out open covered holes in the roof. This inspection stated that the building was the oldest in Cornwall, even older that any of the Castles in Cornwall. Some of the walls were 36 to 42 inches thick. The Chapel, which is no longer used for the purposes of religion, and many of the old apartments, are in a tolerable state of preservation. The manor house at Erth passed from the De Erth family to the Bond family by a marriage in the 14th Century AD. After the Battle of Berwick, which was fought and won for King James III in 1333, Henry de Erth became the Constable at Trematon, and Goffery de Erth was awarded a Knights share of 1080 Acres and became the owner of Erth Barton. This was recorded in British records in 1337. When Goffery de Erth died the next owner of Erth Barton was Robert Bond who had married his daughter Elizabeth de Erth. Some think Robert Bond may be the son of John Bonde who also was recorded as owning Land nearby in Cornwall in 1337. Robert Bond became the first Bond owner of Erth Barton. His eldest son, Richard Bond, married Elizabeth Maynard of Irish decent and they became the 2nd Bond owners of Erth Barton about 1400 after Robert Bond died. Richard married, in 1434, Agnes Maynard, a lady of noble lineage. The next recorded owner, a Bond descendant, Richard Bond, became the 3rd known Bond owner of Erth Barton. William Bondwho died in 1529 was at Erth Barton. Next, Sir Richard Bond was the owner of Erth Barton. He married another noblewoman, Elizabeth Coriton. Their second son, Thomas, acquired the nearby manor of Holwood, starting the line of Bonds of Erth and Holwood In 1610 Erth Barton was reported to be vacant, but the building was reported to be in moderate condition. Then, in 1630 William Bond was reported to be the owner of, Erth Barton. A black and white photo from the late 1800's shows Erth Barton was again vacant.. Small bushes and wood picket fences were around the buildings in the photo. Dotted over Cornwall, are strange stone pillars, and stone circles. Some may be the work of Phoenicians who around 1500-700 BC mined tin from Cornish mines. The "very" ancient ruin at "Erth", a Phoenician word, is built in a large circumference with great stones heaped one upon another without mortar. It is also possible "Norse" settled there. The first known reference of a "Bond" in the UK was "Mertz Erin Bonde" in the year 568 AD. He may have been a "Norse".

There may also be a son Richard (Ric) born about 1535. Ric Bond had a daughter, Anne, Christened 28 May 1558 at St Martin Ludgate, London. Richard's sons, John and Roger had several children Christened there.