Richard and Robert Duke were the two oldest sons of Richard and Margaret Duke and both were baptised at Otterton and both matriculated at Exeter College, Oxford, and were admitted to the Inner Temple in 1618 and 1619 respectively. Both looked destined for life within the country gentry circle with Richard being the heir to the Otterton Estates at some future date. But then it all went wrong for him.

In January 1622 Richard married Dorothy, daughter of Richard Milford, at South Tawton, Devon but without his father’s consent and was thus disinherited. After this he and his wife travelled with the first pilgrims [220 settlers, Protestants as well as Catholics, under the leadership of Leonard Calvert] in Father White's Party to Maryland [via the West Indies] in the ship ARK. The ship was delayed from sailing from London on 19th October 1632 because the Captain had not taken the Oath of Allegiance, but was licensed to proceed with another ship, the DOVE, some 11 days later. The voyage began at Cowes, Isle of Wight, on November 22nd 1633 and ended at St. Clements Island, in the Potomac River, on March 25th 1634. Richard was a Redemptioner [an indentured servant in service to another person who had paid the passage and who could claim land rights from the Governor] but after working out his service he became a citizen in his own right and raised a family there.  In later years he returned to Otterton and was buried there in 1653. 

So after his brother Richard had departed from Otterton, Robert became the heir and settled into helping and managing the estates with his father. In 1626 he married Sarah, daughter and co-heiress of Richard Reynell of Creedy-Widger, Devon, and their marriage produced nine children of which the first-born son was christened Richard in May 1627 at Otterton. [The third born son was christened Thomas and in later years as the estate inheritance became desperate due to the lack of male heirs, he plays a role in the final act].  Robert inherited the estates from his father in 1641 and the following year he joined the East Devon Bench of JP's and served as Sheriff of Devon for 1658/9.  In 1661, a pardon was granted to him and son Richard, for taking up arms against the King.  His JP duties took him around East Devon and many references appear in Parish Registers as to his work in those places.  He died in May 1665 and was buried at Otterton, and his son Richard inherited the estates.  [So the line was back on track with the name Richard].

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Compiled and researched © Harry Lane, 2009

Reference Documents

1. Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica. Pedigree of the Devonshire Branch of the Family of Duke to Illustrate the Descent of Poerhayes and Otterton Estate.

2. Devonshire Men at the Inner Temple. TDA source.

3. Correspondence with member of: The Society of The Ark and The Dove. 1998.

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