Feet Of Fines For The County Of Devonshire 1196-1272

Feet Of Fines For The County Of Devonshire 1196-1272: A Genealogical Treasure

Unlock the secrets of your Devonshire ancestors with this meticulously compiled collection of Feet of Fines from 1196-1272. These medieval legal documents provide an unparalleled window into the lives, property transactions, and family relationships of people living in Devon during the turbulent reigns of Richard the Lionheart, King John, and Henry III.

What Are Feet Of Fines?
Feet of Fines were the official records of property transfers and dispute resolutions in medieval England. Created through a sophisticated legal process called "final concord," these documents preserved the details of land transactions that would otherwise be lost to time. For genealogists, they are invaluable as they frequently mention:

Family relationships and inheritance patterns
Property holdings and their locations
Social connections between families
Status and wealth indicators
Landmarks and place names that help identify ancestral homes
Why This Collection Is Essential For Devonshire Research
This comprehensive collection covers a pivotal 76-year period in Devon's history, spanning from the Third Crusade era through the signing of the Magna Carta and into the early years of Edward I's reign. The documents in this collection have been:

Carefully transcribed from the original Latin
Meticulously indexed by personal names and place names
Annotated with historical context
Cross-referenced with other contemporary records
Notable Devonshire Figures Mentioned
Among the hundreds of individuals documented in these records, researchers will find references to several historically significant Devonshire residents:

William de Briwere (c. 1145-1226): A powerful royal administrator who served as Chief Justiciar under King John and founded Torre Abbey. His extensive property transactions appear throughout the collection.

Baldwin de Redvers (c. 1160-1216): The 3rd Earl of Devon, whose family holdings dominated the county. His land dealings and family arrangements are documented in multiple entries.

Robert de Courtenay (d. 1242): Ancestor of the famous Courtenay Earls of Devon, whose property transfers reveal the early accumulation of what would become one of Devon's most powerful dynasties.

Henry de Tracy (d. 1274): Lord of Barnstaple, whose feudal transactions provide insight into medieval Devon's power structures.

William Brewer (the younger): Son of William de Briwere, whose inheritance and subsequent land dealings illustrate patterns of wealth transfer in noble families.

Whether you're tracing a specific Devonshire lineage or conducting broader historical research, this collection offers:

Direct evidence of your ancestors' property holdings
Proof of family relationships when traditional records are scarce
Context for understanding your ancestors' social standing
Connections between families that may explain migration patterns
Place names that help locate ancestral homelands