Thomas Westcote
Thomas Westcote (1567?–1637?) was an English historian and topographer of Devon.
Life
Baptised at Shobrooke in Devon on 17 June 1567, he was the third son of Philip Westcote of West Raddon in the parish of Shobrooke, by his wife Katharine, daughter of George Waltham of Brenton in the parish of Exminster, Devon. In his youth he was a soldier, traveller, and courtier, but in middle age he retired to a country life, probably living at West Raddon with his eldest brother, Robert. In 1624 he held a lease of Thorn Park in the parish of Holcombe Burnell.
Westcote was buried at Shobrooke, but the date of his death is uncertain, as the register of burials between May 1639 and July 1644 is missing. He was married to Mary (d. 1666), eldest daughter and coheiress of Richard Roberts of Combe Martin, Devon. By her he had one son, Philip (d. 1641), and four surviving daughters.
Works
Westcote interested himself in local antiquities, encouraged by his friendships with the historians Sir William Pole (1561–1635) and Tristram Risdon (1580–1640). He aimed at a description of Devon, similar to that for Cornwall by Richard Carew. He was encouraged in his project by Edward Bourchier, 4th Earl of Bath, and compiled two collections: ‘A View of Devonshire,’ in which, after a general dissertation on the history of the county, he gave a topographical account of its condition about 1630; and the ‘Pedigrees of most of our Devonshire Families,’ an inaccurate compilation of genealogical information. The two manuscripts were published at Exeter in 1845, under the editorship of George Oliver and Pitman Jones.
References
"Westcote, Thomas". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Westcote, Thomas". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.