30 years ago I was scrutinising a photocopy of a hand-drawn chart of the Witheridge and Northam branch of the Melhuish family when I spotted a tiny entry: Robert of Bilbao, merchant. I just had to investigate further.....READ MORE
My GGGG-grandfather is John Melhuish. On 5 June 1753 he married Catharine Middleton in Bampton parish church. The parish register reads simply: John Melhuish of Morebath and Catherine Middleton Kings Brompton June 5.....READ MORE
The story of the Appledore Estate goes back to the mid-18th century when Roger Melhuish Esq owned Northam Manor and a great deal of land around Northam and Witheridge. In order to raise money, Roger disposed of Northam Manor and a great deal of other property on a lease to run for 200 years from the death of his son William.....READ MORE
Melhuish is a toponymic surname, meaning it derives from a certain place. In our case that is Melhuish Manor, now Melhuish Barton, near Tedburn St Mary in Devon. The village of Melhuish is recorded in the Domesday Book.....READ MORE