The surname Southcott is first recorded by
Michael de Suthcot, Lord of Suthcot in the 13th century, and later recorded by Sir Nicholas Southcott Jr of Southcott and
Chudleigh (1450–1512) in the 15th century. According to the
Survey of Devon by Tristram Risdon (b.1580), "Michael de Southcott Lord of Southcott was from whom issued divers families. For he was the original of a great kindred in this country". Micheal was originally from
Bodmin moor and gained the Southcott estate from the Oliver De Chambernon in 1242, whose family had been granted the estate after the
Norman Conquest. Sir Nicholas's son,
John Southcott Esq of
Bovey Tracey (1481–1556), in 1544, following the
Dissolution of the Monasteries, was granted Indio. At the time he was steward to
Thomas Cromwell which led to him obtaining several monastic holdings in Devonshire on favourable terms. A document in connection with the Dissolution accounts refers to "Rent of a messuage in Yondyeo leased on 15 July 1531 to John Southcote, his wife Joan and Johns's heirs for ever, 26s 8d". He was also made
Clerk of the Peace for Devon. Sir Nicholas's second son William Southcott Esq of Chudleigh (b.1485) had a son also called
John, of Witham (1510–1585). He became a senior English judge and politician, becoming later Lord of the Manor of
Witham, in Essex. He was noted to be a proud
Catholic and supporter of his uncle's involvement in the Prayer Book Rebellion and later resigned his office rather than condemn a Catholic priest publicly. Another descendant of Sir Nicholas Southcott was Capt.
Philip Southcote (1698–1758) who married the widowed
1st Duchess of Southampton,
Anne Fitzroy. During the
Civil War,
Captain Thomas Southcote was the
garrison commander of
Calstock as a prominent officer of the
Royalists in Cornwall; the garrison consisted of roughly 1,200 Cornishmen and was quartered at
Cotehele and
Harewood House. During the war, the
Parliamentarians attacked
Gunnislake New Bridge, which was defended by
Sir Richard Grenville and
Captain Southcote with men from his garrison at
Calstock. At the cost of 240 men the bridge was lost to the Parliamentarian forces, but they failed to advance further into Cornwall. == Lords of the Manor of Southcott (1242–1565) ==