Knowstone

R.N. Worth. (1895). A History of Devonshire. London: Elliot Stock, p. 99

Transcribed by Michael Steer

Wadham in Knowstone parish, the original residence of the Wadhams, is one of the few Devon manors noticed in 'Domesday', as continuing in the same saxon hands from the reign of the Confessor, and the Lysonses suggest it as not impossible that the holder, Ulf, may have been the ancestor of the Wadham family. There is at any rate nothing to militate against this hypothesis. Knowstone gave Devon a worthy in Sir John Berry, an eminent naval officer and sometime Governor of Deal (1635-91), born here while his father was vicar. He was a younger branch of the Berrys of Berry Narbor. His father, through adherence to Charles I, died in great poverty, and the son was at first apprenticed to a tradesman at Plymouth. His master failing, he walked to London, and obtained employment in a small vessel. By dint of ability and pluck, he speedily rose to the rank of captain in the navy. He served with the greatest distinction and success against both French and Dutch, and at length reached the highest honours of his profession, valued alike by the second Charles and James, and by William.