ELLIOT, Richard (c.1546-1609), of Cuddenbeak and Port Eliot, St. Germans, Cornw.

Eliot was returned for St. Germans by his uncle, the lord of the manor, to whose estates in Devon and Cornwall he succeeded, amounting to at least £300 p.a. Port Eliot reverted to him on the death of his uncle’s widow, and in about 1598 he moved there from Cuddenbeak. He devoted his later years to securing the estate in cdcd cpthe event of his death, and to arranging the wardship of his son John. To this end he encouraged Richard Gedy, a friend and neighbour, to purchase for £80 the claim to the wardship from Sir William Waad, who presumably held it in reversion or on promise from the court of wards. It was also agreed that John should marry Radigund, Gedy’s daughter, and the marriage took place shortly before Eliot’s death. John, in consequence, became the ward of his father-in-law.

Eliot died 22 June 1609 and was buried at St. Germans. By his will, dated 16 Mar. 1603, proved 6 Feb. 1610, he left two-thirds of his property in the hands of four neighbours, including Gedy and Richard Trefusis, as trustees until his son came of age. The other third, consisting of lands in Devonshire, he left to his wife. His son John, aged 17 at Eliot’s death, is remembered for his opposition to Charles I.1Misc. Gen. et Her. ii. 40, 42; H. Hulme, Sir John Eliot, 17-24; Vivian, Vis. Cornw. 147; C142/176/13, 311/97; Carew, Surv. Cornw. ed. Halliday, 178; PCC 9 Langley, 18 Wingfield.