Family and Education

s. of David Milemead of Tavistock by his w. Sibyl. m. Joan, ?da. of John Scatford.

Offices Held

Tax collector, Devon Dec. 1414, Nov. 1415.

Biography

Walter’s family took its name from a place situated a mile out from Tavistock along the Launceston road. David Milemead, who had been portreeve of Tavistock in 1340-1, died before September 1388 when Walter and his mother, Sibyl, obtained from Bishop Brantingham of Exeter a licence to have masses celebrated in the chapel of St. James at Milemead. His lands in Milemead and Inswell Down, which he held by knight-service of Tavistock abbey, were then divided between Walter and Thomas Milemead, the former’s share consisting of lands at ‘Trepecrosse’ (near Billingsbear Wood), Inswell Down and Artiscombe. He also had some property at ‘Brittestawe’ of which, however, he lost possession in 1407; and for some time before 1416 he and his wife received the issues from substantial holdings in Tavistock and Yarnscombe, which John Scatford had previously held of the Fitzwaryns.1

Otherwise, only disconnected events of Milemead’s career are recorded: in 1402 he had been paid £4 13s.4d. for a new missal supplied for Tavistock parish church; in 1405 he was a feoffee of lands in Bratton and Sampford Courtenay; and in 1423 he attended the shire elections held at Exeter castle.2

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Author: L. S. Woodger

Notes

• 1. Reg. Brantingham ed. Hingeston-Randolph, 675; Trans. Devon Assoc. lxxix. 149; Devon RO, Bedford mss, D10/1, D84/22, 29 mm. 14, 15; JUST 1/1519 m. 53d; CCR, 1413-19, p. 334.
• 2. Tavistock Parish Recs. ed. Worth, 6; C25(1)45/72/65; C219/13/2.