John Tuckfield facts for kids

Arms of Tuckfield: Argent, three lozenges in fess sable. This is from a stained-glass window in Holy Cross Church, Crediton.

John Tuckfield was an important merchant and leader in the city of Exeter, England, around the year 1550. He was an Alderman (a senior member of the city council) and part of the Company of Merchant Adventurers of Exeter, a group of traders. He served as the Sheriff of Exeter in 1547 and later became the Mayor of Exeter from 1549 to 1550.

John Tuckfield's Marriage

Joan Tuckfield (1506–1573), wife of John Tuckfield. This portrait from 1573 is one of the oldest paintings at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter.

John Tuckfield was married to a woman named Joan (1506–1573). Her portrait is still kept today at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter, and it's one of the oldest paintings they have!

Joan was known for her kindness and generosity. In her will, which is like a legal document stating what happens to her belongings after she dies, she left a lot of money and gifts for good causes.

Joan's Charitable Work

Joan Tuckfield also helped to enclose a place in Exeter called Ringwell. This area was used for important public events. A stone tablet from 1635 describes her involvement:

"5^to Marcii 1557. This place was bless'd by the Lord Bishop, given by Mr John Peter, then Mayor, inclos'd by the honest matron Joan Tuckfield, whose soule Lorde pardon". This shows she was a respected woman who contributed to her community.

John Tuckfield's Family

The Tuckfield Monument inside Crediton Church.

While some people have thought that John Tuckfield had a son named John (1555–1630), records only show that he had two daughters. One daughter was named Katherine, who was the widow of Rykard and later married William Waye. It seems he had another daughter, also named Katherine, who married John Robyns.

The John Tuckfield (1555–1630) who lived in Tedburn St Mary and Little Fulford was actually the son of a different John Tuckfield (c. 1530–1586/89) from Crediton. This other John was the son of William Tuckfield, a cloth maker from Crediton.

The Tuckfield Monument

A sculpted bust (a statue of a person's head and shoulders) of John Tuckfield (1555–1630) can be seen on the left side of the "Tuckfield Monument." This monument was put up by his son Thomas in the Holy Cross Church, Crediton. A black stone tablet below the bust has an inscription that praises him:

"To the memorie of John Tuckfeild of Teadbourne & Fullford, Esq., whose pietie towards God, fidelitie to his friends, bounty to his tenants, charitie to the poore, honestie & courtesie to all men made his lyfe venerable, his death peaceable. Aeta LXXV A^o D^o 1630".

This John Tuckfield (1555–1630) bought the Little Fulford estate from the daughters of Sir William Peryam, who was a very important judge. In 1630, he also bought the advowson (the right to choose the priest) for the church in Morchard Bishop. He gave this right to his younger son, Walter Tuckfield (d.1639), who then became the rector (the head priest) there.