Sir Edmund Fowell, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir Edmund Fowell, 1st Baronet (born 1593 – died October 1674) was an important person from Devon, England. He lived at a place called Fowelscombe. He was a Member of Parliament for Ashburton from 1640 to 1648. This meant he helped make laws for the country.
Family Background
Sir Edmund was the third son of Arthur Fowell. His mother was Maria Reynell. Her father, Richard Reynell, was a Sheriff of Devon in 1585. A sheriff was a very important official in the county.
His Life and Work
Sir Edmund became the owner of his family's land after his older brother, Arthur, died in an accident in 1612. He was given the title of "Sir" (knighted) in 1619.
In November 1640, he was chosen to be a Member of Parliament for Ashburton. This was during a time known as the Long Parliament. He did not continue to be a Member of Parliament after 1648.
During the English Civil War, Sir Edmund was part of a special group called the Committee for Sequestration. This group managed property that was taken from people who were against the Parliament. In 1661, he was given a special title and became a Baronet.
His Family
Sir Edmund Fowell married Margaret Poulett. Her father, Sir Anthony Poulett, was the Governor of Jersey and a Captain of the Guard for Queen Elizabeth I. Margaret was also the sister of John Poulett, 1st Baron Poulett.
Sir Edmund and Margaret had four sons and six daughters. Here are some of their children:
- Sir John Fowell, 2nd Baronet (1623–1677) was their oldest son and took over the family's land.
- Anthony Fowell (1636-1636) and Thomas Fowell (1638-1639) both died when they were babies.
- Edmond Fowell (1637-1632) lived near Fowelscombe. He married Bridget Browne but did not have any sons.
- Elizabeth Fowell (1622-after 1671) married Richard Cabell. He was known as "Dirty Dick." Some people believe he was the inspiration for a character in the famous book The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle. This book is about a scary hound and a family curse. Cabell's tomb can still be seen in the village of Buckfastleigh.
His Death
Sir Edmund Fowell passed away in 1674 when he was 81 years old. He was buried in Ugborough Church.
