Elize Hele
Encyclopedia
Elize Hele or Elizeus Hele (1560–1635) was an English lawyer and philanthropist. In 1632, Hele transferred his lands into a trust that was intended for "pious uses". The trustees included his wife, John Hele and a number of trusted friends. The trust was used to create a number of schools in Devon including Hele's School.
of Brixton
near Plympton
, Devon
. His uncle, John Hele, was the Recorder of Exeter in
1592, and M.P. for the same city 1593-1601.
Hele was a lawyer of the Inner Temple
in London
. He was called to the bar in 1590 and to the bench in 1603. He was the treasurer to James I
. He was a major landowner in south and west Devon
. After his only child, Walter, died at the age of eleven, Hele decided to bequeath a number of his estates for “some godly purposes and charitable uses”.
A deed was signed on 9 January 1632 between Elize Hele, John Maynard
, later Sir John Maynard, John Hele and Elize Stert in which Elize Hele dedicated his estate to charitable and godly use. Elize Hele included the manors of Fardel, Dinnaton, Brixton Reigny, Cofleet, Halwill
, Teignharvey, Clyst St Lawrence
and Clyst Gerrard and Woolvington rectory and St Giles in the Heath.
He died in 1635 and was buried in St. Andrew's Chapel in Exeter Cathedral
as was his wife when she died on the 20 June 1636.
However his will took some time to settle. Twenty years later, his will was challenged in the House of Commons
because his brother, Nicolo's, granddaughter, Joane, who had recently married Captain Edmond Lister, petitioned the court to allow funds from the will to be redirected to her. Hele's executor, Sir John Maynard
, was neutral to the outcome and Sir Edward Rhodes ruled that funds should be given to his great niece but the charitable causes should not be abandoned.
In 1649 John Maynard and Elize Stert, as surviving trustees of the estate, granted the lands and the profits of them to be enjoyed by the governors, assistants and wardens of the Hospital of the Poors Portion, Plymouth
, for the education of poor children.
John Maynard and Elize Stert had also purchased an estate in 1656 at Lower Creeson, Mary Tavy, out of the funds of the Hele Charity. Yearly accounts were complied each November and money was to be used to build a schoolhouse at Plympton St Maurice and to buy lands at Brixton to support the preaching minister.
In 1656 his trustees, Sir John Maynard
and Elize Stert apportioned money for the foundation of the Blue Maid's Hospital (later renamed The Maynard School
) and, in 1658 for the establishment of Hele's School in Plympton.
An indenture of 17–18 December 1658 between the Hele Charity trustees and the city of Exeter and governors of St John's Foundlings Hospital, Exeter, granted the profits of the manor of Clyst St Lawrence, Clyst St Gerrard and Teignharvey, as well as Torre House, Newton Ferrers to the hospital for the maintenance of the poor children.
The heirs of Sir John Maynard were the Earl of Ancram
, Lady Suffield, Viscount Valletort and Viscountess Castlereagh.
Sir John Maynard's descendants received the remaining income from the bequest and distributed it to charities as they decided for the next two centuries Legal proceedings resulted in depriving the descendant of Sir J. Maynard, who was the surviving trustee, of all control over the funds, which were thereupon vested in the Crown.
Biography
Hele was the elder of two sons of Walter Hele, and he was born in 1560 at Winston Manor in the parishCivil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Brixton
Brixton, Devon
Brixton is a village near Plymouth in England. It is located on the A379 Plymouth to Kingsbridge road and is about from Plymouth. Its population is 1207.It has views of the River Yealm. The church is 15th century, with a tower arch 200 years older.**...
near Plympton
Plympton
Plympton, or Plympton Maurice or Plympton St Maurice or Plympton St Mary or Plympton Erle, in south-western Devon, England is an ancient stannary town: an important trading centre in the past for locally mined tin, and a former seaport...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. His uncle, John Hele, was the Recorder of Exeter in
1592, and M.P. for the same city 1593-1601.
Hele was a lawyer of the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was called to the bar in 1590 and to the bench in 1603. He was the treasurer to James I
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
. He was a major landowner in south and west Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. After his only child, Walter, died at the age of eleven, Hele decided to bequeath a number of his estates for “some godly purposes and charitable uses”.
A deed was signed on 9 January 1632 between Elize Hele, John Maynard
John Maynard (MP)
Sir John Maynard KS was an English lawyer and politician, prominent under the reigns of Charles I, the Commonwealth, Charles II, James II and William III.-Origins and education:...
, later Sir John Maynard, John Hele and Elize Stert in which Elize Hele dedicated his estate to charitable and godly use. Elize Hele included the manors of Fardel, Dinnaton, Brixton Reigny, Cofleet, Halwill
Halwill
Halwill is a village in Devon, England just off the A3079 Okehampton to Holsworthy road. About a mile away on the main road is another settlement called Halwill Junction....
, Teignharvey, Clyst St Lawrence
Clyst St Lawrence
Clyst St Lawrence is a village near Clyst Hydon, in the East Devon district, in the county of Devon, England. Historically it formed part of Cliston Hundred. It has a church called St Lawrence....
and Clyst Gerrard and Woolvington rectory and St Giles in the Heath.
He died in 1635 and was buried in St. Andrew's Chapel in Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
as was his wife when she died on the 20 June 1636.
However his will took some time to settle. Twenty years later, his will was challenged in the House of Commons
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
because his brother, Nicolo's, granddaughter, Joane, who had recently married Captain Edmond Lister, petitioned the court to allow funds from the will to be redirected to her. Hele's executor, Sir John Maynard
John Maynard (MP)
Sir John Maynard KS was an English lawyer and politician, prominent under the reigns of Charles I, the Commonwealth, Charles II, James II and William III.-Origins and education:...
, was neutral to the outcome and Sir Edward Rhodes ruled that funds should be given to his great niece but the charitable causes should not be abandoned.
In 1649 John Maynard and Elize Stert, as surviving trustees of the estate, granted the lands and the profits of them to be enjoyed by the governors, assistants and wardens of the Hospital of the Poors Portion, Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
, for the education of poor children.
John Maynard and Elize Stert had also purchased an estate in 1656 at Lower Creeson, Mary Tavy, out of the funds of the Hele Charity. Yearly accounts were complied each November and money was to be used to build a schoolhouse at Plympton St Maurice and to buy lands at Brixton to support the preaching minister.
In 1656 his trustees, Sir John Maynard
John Maynard (MP)
Sir John Maynard KS was an English lawyer and politician, prominent under the reigns of Charles I, the Commonwealth, Charles II, James II and William III.-Origins and education:...
and Elize Stert apportioned money for the foundation of the Blue Maid's Hospital (later renamed The Maynard School
The Maynard School
The Maynard School is an independent and selective day school for girls aged 7–18 in the city of Exeter in Devon. It is one of the leading girls day schools in the UK, with an excellent academic reputation in both public exams and university entrance. Currently, there are approximately 420 day...
) and, in 1658 for the establishment of Hele's School in Plympton.
An indenture of 17–18 December 1658 between the Hele Charity trustees and the city of Exeter and governors of St John's Foundlings Hospital, Exeter, granted the profits of the manor of Clyst St Lawrence, Clyst St Gerrard and Teignharvey, as well as Torre House, Newton Ferrers to the hospital for the maintenance of the poor children.
The heirs of Sir John Maynard were the Earl of Ancram
John Kerr, 7th Marquess of Lothian
John William Robert Kerr, 7th Marquess of Lothian PC , styled Lord Newbottle until 1815 and Earl of Ancram from 1815 to 1824, was a Scottish Tory politician...
, Lady Suffield, Viscount Valletort and Viscountess Castlereagh.
Sir John Maynard's descendants received the remaining income from the bequest and distributed it to charities as they decided for the next two centuries Legal proceedings resulted in depriving the descendant of Sir J. Maynard, who was the surviving trustee, of all control over the funds, which were thereupon vested in the Crown.