There are three dynastic families in this category. That is, three families with a long and recorded connection with Lundy.
These are, the families of Marisco, Grenville and Heaven.
Tony Langham gives full coverage of the Marisco family in 2 chapters of his book, The Island of Lundy.
He details their connection with the island between the years 1155 and 1331 illustrated with the pedigree of the family from William I in 1024 to Stephen in 1373.
Spelled variously as Grenville, Greynvile, Grenvile and Grenville, the
dynasty begins with Roger Grenville born in 1499 and died in 1545 in the
sinking of the Mary Rose. Mary St Leger married Sir Richard Greynville,
his son who in turn died in the Revenge off the Azores. Mary's father Sir
John St Leger, who inherited Lundy, transferred it in "fee simple"
to Sir Richard's son Barnard Grenvile in return for him paying off an
outstanding debt of £200.
Barnard in turn settled the family home of Stow, the Manors of Kilkhampton and Bideford and Lundy to his son Bevil at the time of his marriage.
In 1631, Bevil began improving Lundy with the building of a pier and fortifications against pirates. This was timely as in 1633, the Spanish landed 80 men, killed Bevil's friend Mark Pollard and pillaged the island. He later mortgaged Lundy to raise money to fund his men to fight in the battles of the English Civil War against the monarchy. The island was forfeited as a consequence and only restored after the Restoration and stayed with the family until the early years of the 18th Century.
William Hudson Heaven bought the island in 1834 for £9,870 and the
family finally relinquished it in 1917. The island owes much to this
family. They built Millcombe house and the Church of St Helena and leased
the rights to Quarry granite and left a legacy of records of their
activities.
Myrtle Langham furnished a family tree showing the descendants of William Hudson Heaven who was born in 1799 down to Eileen, who died in 1983.
The Island of Lundy
A F Langham Alan Sutton 1994
A Lundy Album
Myrtle Langham Privately Published 1980, Landmark Trust 1987
The Arms of the Grenville Family
Gules, three lance rests or
Copyright © 1997, Alan Rowland, Last Updated - 01/06/98 20:57:17
alan_rowland@morwenstow.freeserve.co.uk