SPRYE, John

The Spryes came from the hamlet of Sprytown in the parish of Stowford to the north of Tavistock. In 1428, John Sprye held property there, and he also owned land in neighbouring Arracott, which in the summer of 1450 he was forced to defend against the encroachments of his lesser neighbours.1 CP40/758, rot. 283d; Trans. Devon Assoc. lxix. 269. Even by the fifteenth century, the family had established several branches in western Devon,2 CP40/730, rot. 370; C139/116/41; CPR, 1446-52, p. 392; Plymouth and W. Devon RO, Marystow parish recs., 890/51. but it is not certain in what degree the MP was related to Robert Sprye of Hatherleigh, a minor lawyer associated professionally with more prominent members of his profession such as John Copplestone*, Nicholas Radford*, John Jaybien† and Henry Fortescue†.3 Devon RO, Hole of Parke mss, 312M/TY232, 237, 258; Plymouth and W. Devon RO, Woolcombe mss, 710/49, 50; C139/80/25; 105/3; 106/14; 111/55; 136/39; 147/30; 170/41.

The Sprytown branch of the family apparently came to an end with another (younger) John Sprye, who in 1498-9 entailed his property on his daughter Beatrice, the wife of William Gregory, and their descendants.4 C2/Eliz/G14/40. Like many west Devon families, the Spryes maintained contacts across the border in Cornwall, and by the reign of Henry VII had established themselves in that county. A member of the Cornish branch of the family (resident at Place in the parish of St. Anthony), twice represented St. Mawes in Parliament after the Restoration.5 The Commons 1660-90, iii. 470-1.