Heavitree, Devon Family History Guide

Heavitree is an Ancient Parish in the county of Devon.

Other places in the parish include: South Wonford, Whipton, and East Wonford.

Alternative names: Exeter St Michael and All Angels, Wowford, Wonford

Parish church:

Parish registers begin:

  • Parish registers: 1556
  • Bishop’s Transcripts: 1610

Nonconformists include: Wesleyan Methodist

Adjacent Parishes

Parish History

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

HEAVITREE, a village, a parish, and a sub-district in St. Thomas district, Devon.

The village is suburban to Exeter, on the E side; was anciently called Wowford, afterwards Wonford, from a streamlet which runs through it; became for some time the place of execution for Exeter, and took thence the name of Heavy-Tree, which passed into Heavitree; and now contains many good and neat houses.

The parish includes also the hamlets of Whipton, East Wonford, and South Wonford; and is partly within the borough of Exeter. Acres, 3,469. Real property, £21,104; of which £37 are in quarries. Pop., 3,133. Houses, 651. Pop. of the part within Exeter borough, 2,757. Houses, 572. The property is much subdivided.

The manor was given, by Henry I., to Geoffrey de Mandeville; and passed to the Fitzjohns, the Montacutes, the Courtenays, and the Kellys. Heavitree House is the seat of the Ford family; and was the place where Richard Ford wrote his “Handbook for Spain.” A priory stood at Whipton.

The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Exeter. Value, £641. Patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Exeter. The church, with the exception of the tower, was rebuilt in 1845; consists of nave, aisles, and chancel, with S porch; and has an imposing interior. A chapel of ease was erected in Whipton in 1862.

There are national schools, two suites of alms houses, and a few charities. Hooker, the author of “Ecclesiastical Polity,” and Duck, the author of “De Auctoritate Juris Civilis, “ were natives.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].

Parish Records

FamilySearch

Census

Census returns for Heavitree, 1841-1891

Church Records

England, Devon, Heavitree, bishop’s transcripts Author: Devon Record Office (Exeter)

England, Devon, Heavitree, bishop’s transcripts, 1610-1812 Author: Church of England. Parish Church of Heavitree (Devonshire); Devon Record Office (Exeter)

England, Devon, Heavitree, parish registers, 1556-1910 Author: Church of England. Parish Church of Heavitree (Devonshire); Devon Record Office (Exeter)

Heavitree baptisms, 1813-1839 Author: Devon Family History Society

Heavitree burial registers, 1813-1837 Author: Devon Family History Society

Heavitree marriage registers, 1813-1837 Author: Devon Family History Society

Marriage index for Exeter, Heavitree, St. Thomas Author: Fursdon, A. A.

Parish register transcripts, 1653-1837 Author: Church of England. Parish Church of Heavitree (Devonshire)

Parish register printouts of Heavitree, Devon, England ; christenings, 1555-1653 Author: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Department

Parish register printouts of Heavitree, Devon, England ; christenings, 1653-1837 Author: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Department

Parish register printouts of Heavitree, Devon, England ; marriages, 1653-1837 Author: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Genealogical Department

Court records

Land tax assessment for Heavitree, 1780-1832 Author: Great Britain. Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace (Devonshire)

Taxation

Land tax assessment for Heavitree, 1780-1832 Author: Great Britain. Court of Quarter Sessions of the Peace (Devonshire)

Maps

Vision of Britain historical maps

Administration

  • County: Devon
  • Civil Registration District: St Thomas
  • Probate Court: Court of the Peculiars of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter
  • Diocese: Exeter
  • Rural Deanery: Pre-1848 – None, Post-1847 – Christianity
  • Poor Law Union: St Thomas
  • Hundred: Wonford
  • Province: Canterbury