Sir William Courtenay, 2nd Baronet

Sir William Courtenay, 2nd Baronet (11 March 1676 – 6 October 1735) of Powderham, Devon, was an English landowner and a leading member of the Devonshire gentry.

Origins

He was the son of Col. Francis Courtenay (d.1699) (who predeceased his own father Sir William Courtenay, 1st Baronet), MP for Devonshire 1689-99, by his wife Mary Boevey, daughter of William Boevey (d.1661), of Netherlandish Huguenot descent, of Flaxley Abbey, Gloucestershire. Mary's brother was John Boevey (d.1706) who refers to himself in his will dated 6 March 1703 [1] as "John Boevey of Powderham Castle". He directed his body to be buried in the north aisle of Powderham Church "near the monument there erected". He further derired "my executor (who was his nephew William Courtenay (d.1735) of Powderham)...to bestow and lay out the summe of fifty pounds in erecting a monument near the place of interrment in such manner as my executor shall think fit". No such monument survives. He left £10 each to his nieces Elizabeth, Mary, Lucy and Isabella Courtenay for mourning clothes. He also bequeathed them each the sum of £30 to buy a diamond ring each to be worn in his memory. He bequeathed to Sir William Courtenay his nephew the sum of £100 and also made him his residuary beneficiary.

Career

He succeeded his grandfather in the baronetcy in 1702. He represented Devonshire in the House of Commons from 1701 to 1710 and was Lord Lieutenant of Devon from 1714 to 1716.

Marriage & progeny

He married Lady Anne Bertie, daughter of James Bertie, 1st Earl of Abingdon, and their children included:

Retrospectively Earl of Devon

In 1831 he was recognised as having been de jure 6th Earl of Devon.

References

  1. National Archives prob 11/492
  2. Heanton Punchardon burials record buried 14/9/1765
Parliament of England
Preceded by
Thomas Drewe
Samuel Rolle
Member of Parliament for Devon
1701–1707
With: Samuel Rolle 1701
Sir John Pole 1701–1702
Robert Rolle 1702–1707
Succeeded by
Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by
Parliament of England
Member of Parliament for Devon
1707–1710
With: Robert Rolle
Succeeded by
Sir William Pole
John Rolle
Preceded by
Sir William Pole
John Rolle
Member of Parliament for Devon
1712–1735
With: John Rolle 1712–1713, 1727–1730
Sir Coplestone Bampfylde 1713–1727
Henry Rolle 1730–1735
Succeeded by
Henry Rolle
John Bampfylde
Preceded by
Sir William Drake
James Sheppard
Member of Parliament for Honiton
1715–1716
With: Sir William Yonge
Succeeded by
Sir William Yonge
Sir William Pole
Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Earl Poulett
Lord Lieutenant of Devon
1714–1716
Succeeded by
The Lord Carteret
Peerage of England
Preceded by
Sir William Courtenay, Bt
Earl of Devon
de jure

1702–1735
Succeeded by
William Courtenay
Baronet
(of Powderham)
1702–1735