Biography of William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon 1553-1630

On 28th November 1545 [his father] William Courtenay 2nd Earl Devon (age 16) and [his mother] Elizabeth Paulett Countess Devon were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] John Paulet 2nd Marquess Winchester (age 35) and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Willoughby. They were fourth cousin once removed.

In 1553 William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon was born to [his father] William Courtenay 2nd Earl Devon (age 24) and [his mother] Elizabeth Paulett Countess Devon.

On 3rd September 1553 Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon (age 26) was created 1st Earl Devon. The Earldom was created with a special remainder i.e. to his heirs male forever, rather than to the heirs male of his body, so that on his death in 1556 he was succeeded by his fourth cousin [his father] William Courtenay 2nd Earl Devon (age 24) who was not a descendant of his. The position was not made clear, however, until 1831, when the 9th Earl, William "Kitty" Courtenay 9th Earl Devon claimed the Earldom and became the de facto Earl of Devon.

On 18th September 1556 Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon (age 29) died. His fourth cousin [his father] William (age 27) de jure 2nd Earl Devon. [his mother] Elizabeth Paulett Countess Devon by marriage Countess Devon. John Trelawny of Poole in Cornwall (age 52) was one of his co-heirs.

On 29th September 1557 [his father] William Courtenay 2nd Earl Devon (age 28) died. His son William (age 4) de jure 3rd Earl Devon.

Around 1572 William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon (age 19) and Elizabeth Manners (age 19) were married. She the daughter of Henry Manners 2nd Earl of Rutland and Margaret Neville Countess Rutland. He the son of William Courtenay 2nd Earl Devon and Elizabeth Paulett Countess Devon. They were fourth cousins.

On 6th June 1573 [his brother-in-law] Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland (age 23) and Isabel Holcroft Countess Rutland (age 23) were married. She by marriage Countess of Rutland, Baroness Ros Helmsley. He the son of Henry Manners 2nd Earl of Rutland and Margaret Neville Countess Rutland.

In 1574 [his brother-in-law] Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland (age 24) was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire.

In 1576 [his son] Francis Courtenay 4th Earl Devon was born to William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon (age 23) and [his wife] Elizabeth Manners (age 23). He married (1) 7th November 1606 Mary Pole and had issue (2) before 1628 Elizabeth Seymour Countess Devon, daughter of Edward Seymour 2nd Baronet and Dorothy Killigrew Baroness Seymour.

Before 4th November 1576 [his step-father] Henry Ughtred (age 43) and [his mother] Elizabeth Paulett Countess Devon were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] John Paulet 2nd Marquess Winchester (age 66) and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Willoughby. They were sixth cousins.

On 4th November 1576 [his mother] Elizabeth Paulett Countess Devon died.

In 1584 [his brother-in-law] Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland (age 34) was appointed 366th Knight of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland (age 50).

On 14th June 1585 [his brother-in-law] Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland (age 35) was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire.

On 14th April 1587 [his brother-in-law] Edward Manners 3rd Earl of Rutland (age 37) died at his home Ivy Bridge on the Strand [Map] or at Puddle Wharf aka Dock [Map]. He was buried at St Mary the Virgin Church, Bottesford, Leicestershire [Map]. His daughter Elizabeth (age 12) succeeded 15th Baroness Ros Helmsley. His brother [his brother-in-law] John (age 36) succeeded 4th Earl of Rutland. Elizabeth Charlton Countess Rutland (age 34) by marriage Countess of Rutland. He would be Earl for ten months only dying on 24 Feb 1588.

Robert Constable (age 65) was one of the principal mourners at his funeral.

On 24th February 1588 [his brother-in-law] John Manners 4th Earl of Rutland (age 37) died. His son Roger (age 11) succeeded 5th Earl of Rutland.

Around 1590 [his wife] Elizabeth Manners (age 37) died.

On 25th August 1595 William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon (age 42) and Elizabeth Sydenham were married. He the son of William Courtenay 2nd Earl Devon and Elizabeth Paulett Countess Devon.

After 25th August 1595 William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon (age 42) and Jane Hill Countess Devon (age 30) were married. She by marriage Countess Devon. He the son of William Courtenay 2nd Earl Devon and Elizabeth Paulett Countess Devon.

On 7th November 1606 [his son] Francis Courtenay 4th Earl Devon (age 30) and [his daughter-in-law] Mary Pole (age 20) were married. He the son of William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon (age 53) and [his former wife] Elizabeth Manners.

Before 18th September 1615 [his wife] Jane Hill Countess Devon (age 50) died.

Before 1628 [his son] Francis Courtenay 4th Earl Devon (age 51) and [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Seymour Countess Devon (age 20) were married. The difference in their ages was 31 years. He the son of William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon (age 74) and [his former wife] Elizabeth Manners.

Before 23rd June 1630 [his son] William Courtenay died.

On 23rd June 1630 William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon (age 77) died at London. He was buried at Powderham Church Powderham, Devon. His son Francis (age 54) de jure 4th Earl Devon. [his daughter-in-law] Elizabeth Seymour Countess Devon (age 23) by marriage Countess Devon.

[his daughter] Margaret Courtenay was born to William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon and Elizabeth Manners.

[his son] Edward Courtenay was born to William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon and Elizabeth Manners.

[his son] Alexander Courtenay was born to William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon and Elizabeth Manners.

[his daughter] Bridget Courtenay was born to William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon and Elizabeth Manners.

[his daughter] Elizabeth Courtenay was born to William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon and Elizabeth Manners. She married William Wrey 1st Baronet and had issue.

[his son] William Courtenay was born to William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon and Elizabeth Manners.

[his son] George Courtenay was born to William Courtenay 3rd Earl Devon and Elizabeth Manners.