Family and Education

b. c.1595, 2nd s. and h. of Thomas Hele of Flete by Bridget, da. of Sir Henry Champernowne of Modbury. educ. I. Temple 1614. m. (1) 20 Nov. 1629, Penelope (d. 7 Sept. 1630), da. and coh. of Emorb Johnson of South Petherton, Som., 1s. d.v.p.; (2) 16 July 1632, Elizabeth (bur. 14 Mar. 1646), da. of Edward Elwes, Merchant Taylor, of London, 7s. (5 d.v.p.) 2da. suc. fa. 1624; cr. Bt. 28 May 1627.1

Offices Held

J.p. Devon 1626-46, July 1660-d., sheriff Jan.-Oct. 1636, commr. of array 1642, assessment Aug. 1660-9, dep. lt. 1661-d., commr. for oyer and terminer, Western circuit 1661, corporations, Devon 1662-3.2

Col. of horse (royalist) ?1642-6.3

Biography

Hele’s ancestors had held land in Devon since at least the reign of Edward I, and had first sat for Plympton in 1355. Hele’s elder brother was disinherited, and he succeeded to an estate not overvalued at £1,165 p.a. A ship-money sheriff, he was a Royalist in the Civil War. He took part in the siege of Plymouth and sat in the Oxford Parliament. The fine for his delinquency was assessed under the Exeter articles at £2,834; but he seems to have escaped payment by settling three rectories, worth £280 p.a., on their parishes. He was mentioned in the confession of a royalist agent under the Commonwealth, but he was not an active conspirator. He put up his son for Plympton in 1661, and was himself returned for Okehampton, probably on the Mohun interest. He was named to only four committees in the Cavalier Parliament, including those on the bills for restoring rectories (6 July 1661), in which he was personally concerned, and for the regulation of printing (19 Oct. 1665). He was absent from a call of the House in 1666 and was sent for in custody. He died on 7 Nov. 1670 and was buried at Holbeton. The baronetcy became extinct in 1677, but a great-nephew, who succeeded to the estate, was returned for Plympton in 1701.4

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Authors: J. S. Crossette / John. P. Ferris

Notes

• 1. Vis. Devon, ed. Vivian, 466; Som. and Dorset N. and Q. ii. 232; VCH Northants. Fams. 64-65; Trans. Devon Assoc. lxiv. 488, 490.
• 2. Keeler, Long Parl. 210; Exeter City Lib. DD63122, f. 356.
• 3. E. Warburton, Mems. of Prince Rupert, iii. 14.
• 4. Keeler, 210-11; Cal. Comm. Comp. 1239; Cal. Comm. Adv. Money, 699; HMC Portland, i. 584; CJ, viii. 663; Trans. Devon Assoc. lxiv. 488.