The Whiddon Heritage

In April 1557 Thomas Stafford led a rebellion and captured Scarborough Castle. The insurrection was put down by the Earl of Westmoreland and the rebels taken prisoner. Judge John Whiddon was sent by Queen Mary to Yorkshire to conduct the trial of the prisoners. He was given the commission of general, providing him the authority to raise forces to quell any further rebellion. The situation was so dangerous that Judge Whiddon sat at the bench in armor. As a reward for his service the Queen gave Judge Whiddon an addition to his coat of arms. It was a golden-billed black swan sitting in a crown and the motto Rara avis in terris, nigroque simillima Cygno, meaning “a rare bird on earth and very like a black swan”.

Judge Whiddon’s appointment as judge of the King’s Bench was reaffirmed by Queen Elizabeth when she assumed the throne. Judge Whiddon took part in the procession into the Chapel Royal when Elizabeth opened Parliament in 1563. He continued in this position the remainder of his life. He served as a serjeant-at-law for 46 years and as judge for 22 years.

Sir John Whiddon was married twice. His first wife was Anne Hollis, daughter of Sir John Hollis, Lord Mayor of London, with whom he had one daughter, Johanne. The second marriage was to Elizabeth Shilston, daughter and coheiress of William Shilston, Esquire. John and Elizabeth had six sons and seven daughters.

At the time of his death Sir John Whiddon was a substantial land holder with considerable tin mining interests. He owned the manors of Chagford and Teigncombe, leased the manor of North Bovey and leased other properties in South Tawton and Chagford. He also owned the Church House. The granite structure was originally built by the churchwardens in the early 16^th century and was purchased by Sir John Whiddon in mid century. It served as a town house for the Whiddon family. After it passed out of the Whiddon family it became a tavern named the Black Swan Inn. Today, the restored mansion holds a significant place in Chagford as the Three Crowns Hotel.

Sir John Whiddon is buried in the chancel of St. Michael’s Church in an imposing canopied alabaster chest tomb. It is the most impressive tomb to be seen in any of the high moorland churches. This splendid tomb bears the inscription, “Here lieth Sir John Whiddon, Kt., one of the Justices of the King’s Bench, who ended this life the 27^th January 1575”. Sir John Whiddon’s estate went to his six sons.