Ashbury, Devon

Arms of Woollcombe: Argent, three bars gules[6]

In 1685[7] Elizabeth Walter, heiress of Ashbury, married Henry Woollcombe (d. 1692)[6] a younger son of the Woollcombe family of Pitton in the parish of Yealmpton, Devon. Although the marriage was without progeny, Ashbury descended to Henry's nephew John Woollcombe (d. 1713) of Pitton, a Member of Parliament for Plymouth (1702-5)[8] and Sheriff of Devon in 1712. He also died without progeny when Ashbury descended to his younger brother William Woollcombe (d.1718) who also died without progeny, when it descended to his nephew John Woollcombe (1720-1788) of Ashbury, Sheriff of Devon in 1751, who married Mary Morth, daughter and heiress of Jeffery Morth of Talland.[6] His son was John Morth Woollcombe I (1747-1802) of Ashbury, whose son John Morth Woollcombe II (1783-1866), Sheriff of Devon in 1832,[6] was the owner in 1822[9] who died without progeny in 1866. His younger brother was Henry Woollcombe (1784-1861), Rector of Ashbury, Highampton and Pilland,[10] whose son was Henry Woollcombe (1813-1885), Canon Residentiary of Exeter Cathedral and Archdeacon of Barnstaple.[10] The manor house, known as Ashbury House, burned down in 1877, together with all the parish registers which had been taken there by the rector for safekeeping.[11] The house was finally demolished in 1934.[12] In the parish church are monuments of the families of Walter and Woollcombe.[9]