The Loosemore name in history
The obvious place to start the history of any family is with the current family name. This section deals with the history of the Loosemore name and the other sections look at the history of the families who have joined with us over time.
The following information has been gleaned from various websites dedicated to Loosemore history and by reproducing it here I recognise the serious study undertaken by Ronald Loosemore and also the unstinting efforts of Victor Loosemore.
The Loosemore family was probably formed from part ot the Jutes, Saxons and Angles who invaded Britain in the 6th century. Although we first discover them in North Devon they would probably have arrived there from their base in Dorchester as they drove the indigenous Celts westwards to Devon
In the two centuries following this move the family would have lived in the Oakford area of North Devon. It is believed that the family lived on a smallholding known at the time as Hlose-mor. This translates as 'the pigsty on the moor'. The family would eventually take this as their name and over time it has changed into Loosemore and its many variant spellings.
The Loosemore family name was first mentioned in 1232/3 and again in 1249. Walter Losmer amongst others were claiming possession of land which Robert de Sicca Villa, an established land owner claimed as his own. Walter took part in the kidnap of Robert, and imprisoned him in Oakford. For this offence Walter with four others paid a fine of 1 mark (6s8d)...By 1249, however Walter stood surety for one Roger de Horton, indicating that he had become a 'prosperous freeholder of some local status'.
From that first mention until 1333 the names of the following are mentioned:
Peter de Losmore C1260, as a witness to a deed
Robertus de Losmore and Amflis de Losmore in a Lay Subsidy Return 1327 and
John de Losemore and again Robert de Losemore 1333 as witness to a deed
From then the record is silent until the 15th century during which period the country was plagued by virulent diseases - the Black Death - which decimated the population. Squabbles between powerful Lords meant that ownership of the Loosemore homeland changed hands and not until 1508 and again in 1512, do we find mention of an holding listed by name as being in 'Losmore'
At some time during this period the estate was divided into East and West Losemore, the former being part of the Oakford Manor while West Losemore became part of the Courtenay estates... A record made by William Fortescue, a local receiver to the estates of Edward Courtenay, 8th Earl of Devon
Losemore, and of 3s 4d received of William Losemore, tenant there for the year, of the issue of the same tenancy, as above in previous accounts
In another place the holding is listed as one messuage and 13 acres in 'Losemore' worth 3s 4d. This modest holding must have made existence precarious and no wonder during that period branches of the family left to establish themselves elsewhere but still within a few miles of the family home; in Tiverton to the South, in Creacombe, Bishopsnympton and Crwys Morchard to the South West and one family moved to Langport (Somerset) to the East.
Until the Oakford Parish Registers were started in 1568, we can trace the family remaining only by their tenancy of the holding.
William Losemore in 1512; Richard Losemore in 1523 and then William (possibly son), in 1526 and annually until 1553
However, the Lay Subsidy Returns for 1542/3 and 1545/6 include a John Losmore and John Losmore Jnr. both assessed for tax on goods but owning no land. John Lowsemore, senior, is mentioned as appointed by William Southcombe, gentlemen, to act for him in the lease of property. He must have been a man of some integrity and status.
The churchwardens' accounts for Morebath Church, just 4 miles from Oakford, mention John Lowsemore, father and son.
1537 John Lowsemore is paid 7d for squaring of ye stoke yn ye court wode, 4p for their meat and drink (original)
9d to Lowsemore again for his wages making the stair of the church house and for planking of the church house and a man to help him make a coffer.
1551 3s for taking away the side altars and the rood loft. 1552 12d for mending the pulpit
The Oakford Parish records started in 1568 record only the following burials: 26 March 1573 Johan (Joan) the wife of John Lowsmore
18 November 1584 Marye, the wife of John Lowsemore
16 January 1587/8 John Loosmore
We know that John Loosmore, the younger, farmed the holding in West Losemore until his death - his burial 16th January 1587/8 - when the tenancy passed to his only child, Wilmot, who married Richard Eastment in 1569/70. So the property passed out of the Loosemore name. The places East and West Loosemoor were still mentioned on the O.S. map of 1800 but the present map shows only East Loosemoor existing.
The Loosemore family was probably formed from part ot the Jutes, Saxons and Angles who invaded Britain in the 6th century. Although we first discover them in North Devon they would probably have arrived there from their base in Dorchester as they drove the indigenous Celts westwards to Devon
In the two centuries following this move the family would have lived in the Oakford area of North Devon. It is believed that the family lived on a smallholding known at the time as Hlose-mor. This translates as 'the pigsty on the moor'. The family would eventually take this as their name and over time it has changed into Loosemore and its many variant spellings.
The Loosemore family name was first mentioned in 1232/3 and again in 1249. Walter Losmer amongst others were claiming possession of land which Robert de Sicca Villa, an established land owner claimed as his own. Walter took part in the kidnap of Robert, and imprisoned him in Oakford. For this offence Walter with four others paid a fine of 1 mark (6s8d)...By 1249, however Walter stood surety for one Roger de Horton, indicating that he had become a 'prosperous freeholder of some local status'.
From that first mention until 1333 the names of the following are mentioned:
Peter de Losmore C1260, as a witness to a deed
Robertus de Losmore and Amflis de Losmore in a Lay Subsidy Return 1327 and
John de Losemore and again Robert de Losemore 1333 as witness to a deed
From then the record is silent until the 15th century during which period the country was plagued by virulent diseases - the Black Death - which decimated the population. Squabbles between powerful Lords meant that ownership of the Loosemore homeland changed hands and not until 1508 and again in 1512, do we find mention of an holding listed by name as being in 'Losmore'
At some time during this period the estate was divided into East and West Losemore, the former being part of the Oakford Manor while West Losemore became part of the Courtenay estates... A record made by William Fortescue, a local receiver to the estates of Edward Courtenay, 8th Earl of Devon
Losemore, and of 3s 4d received of William Losemore, tenant there for the year, of the issue of the same tenancy, as above in previous accounts
In another place the holding is listed as one messuage and 13 acres in 'Losemore' worth 3s 4d. This modest holding must have made existence precarious and no wonder during that period branches of the family left to establish themselves elsewhere but still within a few miles of the family home; in Tiverton to the South, in Creacombe, Bishopsnympton and Crwys Morchard to the South West and one family moved to Langport (Somerset) to the East.
Until the Oakford Parish Registers were started in 1568, we can trace the family remaining only by their tenancy of the holding.
William Losemore in 1512; Richard Losemore in 1523 and then William (possibly son), in 1526 and annually until 1553
However, the Lay Subsidy Returns for 1542/3 and 1545/6 include a John Losmore and John Losmore Jnr. both assessed for tax on goods but owning no land. John Lowsemore, senior, is mentioned as appointed by William Southcombe, gentlemen, to act for him in the lease of property. He must have been a man of some integrity and status.
The churchwardens' accounts for Morebath Church, just 4 miles from Oakford, mention John Lowsemore, father and son.
1537 John Lowsemore is paid 7d for squaring of ye stoke yn ye court wode, 4p for their meat and drink (original)
9d to Lowsemore again for his wages making the stair of the church house and for planking of the church house and a man to help him make a coffer.
1551 3s for taking away the side altars and the rood loft. 1552 12d for mending the pulpit
The Oakford Parish records started in 1568 record only the following burials: 26 March 1573 Johan (Joan) the wife of John Lowsmore
18 November 1584 Marye, the wife of John Lowsemore
16 January 1587/8 John Loosmore
We know that John Loosmore, the younger, farmed the holding in West Losemore until his death - his burial 16th January 1587/8 - when the tenancy passed to his only child, Wilmot, who married Richard Eastment in 1569/70. So the property passed out of the Loosemore name. The places East and West Loosemoor were still mentioned on the O.S. map of 1800 but the present map shows only East Loosemoor existing.