General Notes

[blott.ged]

The exact details of the birth of Richard Northmore is not known but it is thought to be about 1766 at Sheepstor and was the son of Walter Narramore (the name Narramore gradually changed to Northmore) and Richord Warren. Nothing is known about his early life until he married Mary Whitbourn 5 Sep 1724 at Sampford Spiney, Devon. They had seven children, Richard (1725), George (1727), Mary (1730), Barbara (1734) Agness (1737) Joan (1740) and Walter (c1743?).
In 1898 the Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould recounted a story, concerning Richard, for the Devonshire Association Folklore Committee that had been told to him ' by an old woman at Sheepstor' which was written in dialect.......

"There was once an old squire called Northmore lived there (in Sheepstor). He had an eldest son as were a bit totte:  and the old gentleman he thought 'twould be a purty job if the property were to come to this silly chap, so he sent word and had'n pressed for sea. The press gang came as they was all haymakin' and thay nabbed the young chap and carried'n off just as he were tossin' hay. He went to sea. He was away a long time. In those days them as went to sea didn't often return.  But this young Northmore he sims to ha' tould his shipmates what he was and they let out as how his father had contrived it all. So he war nigh mad and when he came to Plymouth he made up a party and they went to Sheepstor: they was to sarve the old chap out and ransack the house and carry off the title deeds. Well, I reck'n they broke in at night and they turned everything upside down and if the old squire hadn't hidden atween the seiling and the hellens they'd a done for he and they carried away the papers and everything they could lay hands on. But after that the young Northmore were never heard on no more. Whether he died at sea, whether he were killed in war, or whether he were so soft he got rid o' the papers, I can't say. However, I'll tell'y what comed o' the old man.  He took to drinking and he'd ride home from the public house that tipsy, he'd ride right into his kitchen and tumble off his hoss and he'd get out a bottle o' gin and sit in his settle and make the 'oss stand there too for good company and he'd drink to the 'oss and when the ou''d 'oss nodded his 'ead, Squire Northmore'd say, "Same to you sir: I drinks to'y again. But all went bad after that and the family couldn't bide there. You see they'd lost the papers and things went agin 'em. I reck'n no gude niver comes o' doin' a wrang action, does it?

There have been other versions of this story. Whether the son, Richard was pressed ganged or was ever in the navy is not possible to prove but that he was never heard of again is certainly not true as parish records show that he had two more children after the robbery and was living in one of his father's propertys up to 1774.   The robbery is well documented.  The 'Exeter Flying Post' 19 April 1765 says..."On Friday night last the house of Mr Richard  Northmore, at Sheepstor near Plymouth was broke open by six sailors and robbed of a silver watch, rwo silver spoons and upwards of £700in money and some plate. He pursued them to Plymouth, where three of them were secured and being carried before a Magistrate, confessed the whole and were last night committed to High Gaol in order to take their trials at the next Assizes. Their three accomplices are said to be now in custody at Plymoouth."
Further reports show that Thomas Vogwell was later tried and hanged. There was no mention of papers being taken although no family papers seem to have survived. Whether the son was implicated was obviiosly never proved as there is no record of any case against him. However, there must have been some ill feelingl between him and his father as one section of the old man's will says that if his son Richard, after his death, should prosecute, sue, molest or give any trouble to the trustees then any gifts to him would be revoked.  Richard was given just £15 a year for the term of his lifetime and the properties that he would normally have inherited were given to his sons. Why he was disinherited cannot be known for sure. Maybe it was because he was a 'bit totte' as the story says or it could be because Richard fathered an illigitimate son and the father only wanted his property to pass to ligitimate heirs?
The date of Richards  (Senior) will was 23 June 1764 and the parish register of Sheepstor shows his burial was on 4 Feb 1766.