Sir Richard Reynell (died before 1213) (alias Reinell,[1] Reynolds, etc), of Pitney (anciently Pyttney, Peteneya, eyc) in the county of Somerset, Sheriff of Devon in 1191-4,[2] was a knight who lived during the successive reigns of Kings Henry II (1154-1189), Richard I (1189-1199) and John (1199-1216).

Career

During the absence of King Richard I on crusade in the Holy Land, in 1191 he was given the custody of the royal fortresses of Exeter Castle in Devon and of Launceston Castle in Cornwall.[3] These castles he stoutly defended against John, Count of Mortain, the king's younger brother, who in the monarch's absence endeavoured to usurp the sovereign power.[4] He served as Sheriff of Devon from 1191-4.[5] Following the death of King Richard I in 1199, the throne was inherited by his younger brother King John (1199-1216), who remembered the opposition he had received from Richard Reynell and deprived him of his estates at Pitney.

Marriage and children

He was succeeded by his son:

Arms of Reynell, adopted at the start of the age of heraldry (circa 1200-1215): Argent, masonry sable a chief indented of the second[6]
  • Sir Richard II Reynell of Pitney, whose lands were restored to him by King John in 1213, for services rendered.[7] Richard II's grandson was Walter Reynell, who married Maude de Trumpington, daughter and heiress of Everard de Trumpington of Trumpington in Cambridgeshire, and their son was John Reynell (d.1363/4)[8] of Trumpington, a Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire in 1351/2, who in 1328 was granted by King Edward III freewarren in his lands in Warwickshire.[9] John Reynell's grandson was Walter Reynell who married Margaret Stighull, daughter and heiress of William Stighull of Malston[10] in the parish of Sherford and of East Ogwell in Devonshire.[11] His descendants settled at East Ogwell and at adjoining West Ogwell in Devon. A junior branch of the family became the Reynell Baronets of Laleham.

References

  1. ↑ Vivian, p.643
  2. ↑ Vivian, p.643
  3. ↑ Vivian, p.643
  4. ↑ Burke, John, Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 4, London, 1838, p.446
  5. ↑ Vivian, p.643
  6. ↑ Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, pp.643-5, pedigree of Reynell, p.643
  7. ↑ Vivian, p.643
  8. ↑ Vivian, p.643, regnal date 37 Edward III
  9. ↑ Vivian, p.643
  10. ↑ Vivian, p.643
  11. ↑ Prince, John, (1643–1723) The Worthies of Devon, 1810 edition, London, p.695; Risdon, Tristram (d.1640), Survey of Devon, 1811 edition, London, 1811, with 1810 Additions, pp.172,382; Pole, Sir William (d.1635), Collections Towards a Description of the County of Devon, Sir John-William de la Pole (ed.), London, 1791, p.251
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