family and household

William Courtenay: disambiguation

This site features five men from the Powderham branch of the Courtenay family who shared the name William. ‘William‘ as a name on its own always refers to William Courtenay (1768-1835).

  • William Courtenay (1709-1762): William’s grandfather. He married lady Frances Finch and became the first viscount Courtenay in 1762.
  • William Courtenay (1738-1783): eldest son of William’s great-uncle Henry Reginald Courtenay. He married Anne Downes and in 1774 became rector of Kenn (Devon, England). He was also a domestic chaplain to the second viscount and probably William’s tutor.
  • William Courtenay (1742-1788): William’s father. He married Frances Clack and became the second viscount Courtenay in 1762.
  • William Courtenay (1768-1835): ‘William‘. He became the third viscount Courtenay in 1788 and earl of Devon in 1831.
  • William Courtenay (1777-1859): William’s second cousin, grandson of William’s great-uncle Henry Reginald Courtenay and nephew of William Courtenay (1738-1783) He married twice (firstly Harriet Leslie Pepys then Elizabeth Scott) and became earl of Devon in 1835.

‘Lord Courtenay‘ indicates one of the three viscounts from 1762 to 1835. (This peerage became extinct when William died without leaving a son but ‘lord Courtenay’ has survived since 1835 as a ‘courtesy title’ for the eldest son of the current earl of Devon.)

‘Lord Devon‘ indicates one of the eleven earls from William in 1831 to the current earl, Charlie Courtenay (William’s second cousin six times removed) who succeeded his father as earl in 2015. Charlie lives at Powderham-castle which has continued to be the family home.

Pages

  • Sisters
  • Nieces and nephews
  • Aunts and uncles
  • Cousins
  • George Smith retires
  • George Smith’s coachcrash
  • French household members
  • French household: records
  • Lady Honywood’s Memorial
  • Captain Gawler’s dismission
  • Valentia v. Valentia
  • ‘Marie Courtenay’: a Romance with a new Afterword

Posts

  • Buffaloes, Toxophylites and Volunteers
  • Charlotte and the calash bonnet
  • Isabella Courtenay and her niece

Images from the top

“Albion rose from where he labourd at the Mill with Slaves / Giving himself for the Nations he danc’d the dance of Eternal Death”.

Page history

  • 2023 March 10: first published online.
  • 2023 March 16&17: disambiguation of the name ‘William Courtenay’ added.