Poderidge, or Potheridge, presents itself to your view, an ascendand seat, upon a ridge of a hill, which for many ages, has been the mansion of the ancient family of Le Moigue, commonly Monk, being the first I find to have dwelt at Poderidge, quasi upon the ridge, whose park is in a manner insulated by the river’s winding retches. This family has enjoyed the same some fifteen descents, and are allied to many eminent houses, and long since they matched with one of the co-heirs of Arthur Plantagenet, viscount Lisle, which land, by so long race of worthy ancestors, is descended to Thomas Monk, esq. who married the daughter of Arscott.
Speccot which has given name to a family formerly called Fitz-Bernard, who held the same many generations, where Nicholas Speccot lived in the time of King Henry the second. From whom issued sir Richard Speccot, knight, who married Maude, the eldest co-heir of sir Baldwin Belston. This barton has been inherited by that name some sixteen descents; and sir John Speccot, knight, is lord of this his ancestors’ ancient place, bearing his name, who married the daughter of sir Peter Edgcombe, knight. His second wife was the daughter of sir John Mallet, knight
Huish. Another fountain that feedeth this meer maketh way by Huish, in old evidences Hewisch, that had long since lords so sirnamed; where Philip Huish held lands, in the reign of King Henry the second, which hereditarily desecended in that name, unto the latter end of king Edward the third, divers of them being of knightly rank. Emma, the daughter of the last of this line, was wife, first of sir Robert Tresilian, chief justice of England, and secondly, of sir John Coleshill, knight. This land was purchased by Leonard Yeo, a flourishing branch of Heanton-house, who married Arminell, the daughter of Chrisopher Bereford, of London, and built here a proper house for his posterity, who prosper well. The present possessor, whose name is likewise Leonard, married the daughter of Fortescue, of Wear; his father, the co-heir of Smith; his son the daughter of sir Robert Basset, knight. In the same parish you have Lovelston, the lands of Robert Lovell, the twentieth of king Henry the third; and Robert Lovell held the same in reigns of King Edward the first and second, the inheritance whereof was lately belonging to the name Leigh.
From Risdon’s survey of Devon 1811
An early domestic chapel was at Dinsbear in Merton in 1310, first domestic chapels
were only started from 1308 so one can assume the family at Dinsbear were very
wealthy. By the end of the 14th century many houses of any consequence in Devon
had a private chapel or oratory. These were of course Catholic as was the faith
at the time, history and the protestant faith perhaps assisted in burying all
knowledge of the earlier faith which was so abruptly broken off.
From Hoskins chapter on Ecclesiastical History
Also ‘The hundreds of Devon’ by Reichel
Place names
Merton has been recorded with a variety of names:
Merton(a) in the 1086 doomsday book
Mereton 1175 and 1196
Marton 1428
Martyn 1535
Merton – commonly Martin
Denesberga 1086
Denysbeare 1388
Dynesbere 1242
Dinnesbere 1244
Dynnesbere 1296
Dynsbere 1329
Probably ‘Dynni’s wood’
Porriga 1086
Poderigge 1303
Podrige 1375
Puderigge 1183
Puderugge 1240
Puderigge 1248
Potherugge 1303
Spececota 1086
Speccote 1185
Spekcoth 1242
Spekkecot
Spekecote 1256
Now Speccott may have originated from old English name for brushwood ‘spaec’
and and hence ‘cot(e) by the brushwood’
Coombe probably home of Robert de la Cumbe 1285
Greatwood probably home of Thomas atte Wode 1330
Moorhill probably home of Adam ate More 1333
Northdown probably home of Adam Bynorthedoune ‘north of the down’
1330
Yendamore probably home of William Beyundemyre ‘beyond the mire’
1333
From Place Names of Devon part 1 Gover,Mawer & Steaton 1931