Sir John Davie, MP, 2nd Baronet

Family and Education bap. 6 Dec. 1612, 1st s. of Sir John Davie†, 1st Bt., of Sandford by Juliana, da. of Sir William Strode† of Newnham. educ. Exeter, Oxf. 1631; I. Temple 1631. m. (1) Eleanor, da. of Sir John Acland, 1st Bt., of Columbjohn, s.p.; (2) by 1645, Triphena (bur. 1 Feb. 1659), da. and coh. of Richard Reynell of Creedy, wid. of Nicholas Hunt of Chudleigh, 1s. d.v.p. 1da.; (3) 17 Apr. 1661, Margaret (d. 25 Apr. 1670), da. of Sir Francis Glanville† of Kilworthy, nr. Tavistock, wid. of William Kelly of Kelly, s.p.; (4) lic. 3 Oct. 1671, Amy, da. of Edmund Parker of Burrington, wid. of Walter Hele of South Poole, s.p. suc. fa. Oct. 1654.1

Offices Held

J.p. Devon 1656-65, commr. for assessment 1657, Jan. 1660-d., militia Mar. 1660, dep. lt. Aug. 1660-?65, 1676-?d.2

Biography Davie’s grandfather, a merchant, was three times mayor of Exeter. His father sat for Tiverton in 1621, was created a baronet by Charles I and was later appointed to the Devon commission of array. His estates were sequestrated in 1649 on a charge of lending the King £400 and assisting him with horses, but the sequestration was taken off in the following year. Davie himself, though a Presbyterian, held local office during the Interregnum. But at the Restoration he was proposed for the order of the Royal Oak with an annual income of £2,000. At the general election of 1661 he challenged the Russell interest in Tavistock, and was returned by the portreeve on the broader franchise of ‘the freeholders generally’. There was a double return, but he was allowed to take his seat on the merits of the return. He was appointed to no committees in the Cavalier Parliament, however, and was unseated by the Hon. William Russell seven months later, when the House declared in favour of confining the franchise to the ‘freeholders of inheritance only’.3

Davie kept a Presbyterian chaplain, and in 1663 headed the list of Devon justices who were ‘arrant Presbyterians’. According to the bishop of Exeter his mansion at Creedy was their ‘chief place of resort’. He was removed from local office, though he later acted as deputy lieutenant. He was buried at Sandford on 31 July 1678. His widow married Sir Nicholas Slanning.4

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690 Author: J. S. Crossette Notes 1. Vivian, Vis. Devon, 270, 412, 462, 645, 712, 719. 2. CSP Dom. 1675-6, p. 498. 3. Trans. Dev. Assoc. lxvii. 320; Cal. Comm. Adv. Money, 1127. 4. D. R. Lacey, Dissent and Parl. Pols. 388; PCC 109 Reeve; Devon and Cornw. N. and Q. xxi. 284.

Will: Sir John Davie of Creedy in Devon, Baronet, 31 January 1677, proved 19 October 1678. To be buried in the vault or burying place which I made in the chancel of the church or chapel of the parish or hamlet of Sandford at or upon my father's death. The poor of Crediton and of Sandford and the other poor of Upton Hellions. To Dame Amy, my dear, loving and faithful wife, all the jewels, plate and books, cabinets and trunks which now are or were hers at the time of her marriage with me (and other property). My two nephews, John Davie and Nathaniel his brother, sons of my late brother Robert deceased. My nephew William Davie, second son of my late brother William Davie of Dyra Esq. deceased. The study at Creedy Widger (in Upton Hellions) which was my father Reynells. My nephew John Copplestone, son and heir of my cousin John Copplestone of Bowden Esq. My niece Mary Copplestone, eldest daughter to my brother in law Arthur Copplestone of Bowdon Esq. My sister and their children, Charles Quicke, son of John Quick jun"" of Newton S' Cyers (now St. Cyres) Esq. my kinsman. Provision for a workliouse in Crediton and for an English schoolmaster in Sandford. Sir Walter Yonge of Coleton, Baronet, Thomas Reynell of Ogwells. Richard Beavis of Clist- house. my nephew, and .John Copplestone of Bowdon Esquire, my near and dear relations. Richard Beavis of Clisthouse, Devon, Esq. my well beloved brother in law.

Reeve, 109.