DARTE, John (d.1576), of Barnstaple, Devon.

Darte was a merchant, active by about 1549, apparently the first member of his family to become prominent in the town. Connected with the Courtenays and the Strodes, Darte probably shared their protestant views. His one return to Parliament left no trace upon the records. He died in October 1576, leaving £1,500 and property in Barnstaple, Fremington, Chittlehampton and Tawton Episcopi to his son Lewis, who became the ward of a brother-in-law, George Wyatt. His daughters and grandchildren received varying sums, and his widow was executrix.1Trans. Dev. Assoc. xxxviii. 172; Vis. Cornw.(Harl. Soc. ix), 279; J. B. Gribble, Mems. Barnstaple, 201; Barnstaple Recs. i. 157-8, 191, 192, 239; ii. 180; CPR, 1555-7, pp. 391-2; 1560-3, p. 152; 1563-6, p. 5; Vivian, Vis. Devon, 251, 632, 718, 808, 823; PCC 31 Carew.