INTRODUCTION

HU:\IPHREY GILBERTwasthesecondsonofOtho (or Otes) Gilbert of Compton and Greenway, Devon-shire, and Katherine Champernoun, daughter of Sir Philip Champernoun of Modbury, Kent. He was probably born at Greenway, 'in the Parish of Brixham, a pleasant and commodious Seat, of long continuance in his family; standing on the East-side of the Dart upon a rising Ground, a little mile above the Town of Dartmouth in this County. It hath a delightful Prospect of that River, and views the Boats & Barges as they pass & re-pass upon it; a large scope of Lands, and the Royalties of Fishing and Fowling are belonging to it'2 • Otho Gilbert was a land-owner of some importance, but his will, dated 16 May I 54 53, does not refer to the main part of his properties, which were apparently entailed to his eldest son John. The will disposes of various properties to his wife4, his children Humphrey, Adrian, Otho and Katherine, and others. Humphrey was left the manor of Hanford, and lands in Reinge, Borington and

Offewell in Devonshire. Otho Gilbert died on 18 February 1547 and the inquisition post mortem, held on 13 October 1547, gave the age of his eldest son as eleven and three-quarter years and showed that he was born in January or February 15361• His will was proved on 16 June 1547 and by it Humphrey and Adrian were left, until the age of twenty-one, under the guardianship of Philip Penkevell, one of the executors of the will. Penkevell is described in the will as 'brother' of Otho Gilbert and in the inquisition as his brother and steward. He may have been a foster-brother or half-brother. In any case he was a man of some substance and, at his death in I 562, held considerable property, including the manor of Padstow2 • John Gilbert was a ward of the Crown and on 6 February I 552 Philip Penkevell obtained the custody of part of his lands in Devonshire during his minorityJ.