ATWILLs in Weare Giffard

c1557 birth of Thomas ATWILL


1572 Thomas ATWILL of Devon, pleb Hart Hall, matric entry under date 1572 aged 15; BA 11 Feb 1576/7, rector of Weare Gifford, Devon, 1587 ( Alumni Oxiensis)
From Wikipedia "In the latter half of the 16th century, Hart Hall became known as a refuge for Catholic recusants, particularly under Philip Randell as principal (1548–1599). Because of its connection with Exeter College and that college's increasing puritanism, a number of Exeter's tutors and scholars migrated to Hart Hall. The hall attracted an increasing number of Catholics from further afield, including the Jesuit tutor Richard Holtby in 1574, who was instrumental in the conversion of his student, and later Jesuit martyr and saint, Alexander Briant to Catholicism. Coming from a Catholic family, the English poet John Donne came up to Hart Hall in 1584.[3]:pp. 18–21"

1576 Thomas ATWILL admitted, this gent. was related to the ATWILLs of Roxford in Crediton Parish (Vicar of Bishop's Tawton)


2 Sep 1576 Thomas ATWILL ordained Deacon at Newton Ferrers Parish Church (CCEd)

2 Sep 1576 appointed perpetual vicar of Tawton Epi - 1 June 1587 (CCEd)


2 June 1577 Thomas ATWILL ordained Priest at Lanzante (Lezant) Parish Church (CCEd)


7 Jan 1577 ATWILL John of Roxford, Crediton's will mentions Thomas ATWILL clerk & vicar of Tawton Epi (Bishops's Tawton) to whom he leaves his roan colt.


4 Apr 1587 appointed rector of Weare Giffard (CCEd)


pre 1589 - marriage of Thomas ATWILL to Joane ???


1 June 1589 Samuell sonne of Thomas ATWILL minister, baptised (not traced, probably not alive by 1631)


25 June 1592 John sonn of Thomas ATTWILL minister, baptised (became the next rector)


18 Aug 1598 Thomas sonne of Thomas ATWILL minister baptsied, born 16th Aug a little after 3 o'clock


13 Feb 1600 Nathaniell son of Thomas ATTWILL minister baptised


13 Jan 1619 John ATWILL married to Jane YEO - children's baptisms?


22 Jan 1629 Nathaniel ATWILL sonne of Thomas ATWILL, rector married to Agnes GARRA 


3 June 1631 Joane wife of Thomas ATWILL, rector of Weare Gifford buried


13 Feb 1631 Complainants in Bill over dispute of Will of William ATWILL (brother of Thomas, rector) included John, Thomas & Nathaniel.


16 March 1637 death of Thomas ATTWILL, rector Of Weare Gifford (age about 80) (CCEd)


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20 March 1637 John, son of Thomas ATTWILL suceeds father in the rectory of Wear Giffard (CCEd)


1641 Protestation

John ATTWILL rector ibid

John ATTWILL junior

Nathaniel ATTWILL
Philip SOUTHCOTT


23 Sep 1646 Johan ATWILL married to Henry POPE


1654 Mary ATWILL married to Arthur DENIS at Frithelstock


17 Dec 1661 Death of John ATWILL rector of Weare Giffard


1662 Will of John ATWILL, the elder, rector/minister of Weare Giffard mentions sons John A (eldest), Thomas A, daughters Mary DENIS, Joanne SOUTHCOTT, Jacquet CABBEL and Martha COOKE having a young child and being sickly, cousin John POPE


5 Feb 1662/3 Mary ATWELL married to  Robert THOMAS


18 Oct 1669 Nathaniel ATWILL, Gent, buried


17 Sep 1673 Margaret ATWILL married to  John TOOKER at Bideford (Boyd's indexes has Weare Giffard)



NOTE: There are gaps in the surving registers for Weare Giffard pre 1700.

According to the Society of Genealogist's National Index:

Original Registers at North Devon RO
C 1583-1617
M 1584-1587, 1616-1667
B 1583-1631

Bishops Transcripts at Devon RO
CMB 1607-08, 1610-12, 1614, 1644, 1668, 1672, 1674, 1678-79, 1682-83, 1688-91, 1695-97


Although the film of the Original Registers on family search (917553) has indexed baptisms 1583-1617, AND 1667-1700, and marriages for 1615, and 1668-1700, so, it would appear that the information in the SoG NIPR is incorrect, though of course the family search indexing may well be incorrect!