Walter Gervais

Career

Founds Exe Bridge

Builds St Loye's Chapel

Marriage and children

• Nicholas Gervais, son and heir, who at the start of the reign of King Henry III was granted by Robert de Maundevill the estate of Ringswell in the parish of Heavitree, outside the eastern city walls of Exeter, "on the north side of the way where the gallowes stands". He was the father of:
• *Sir Walter Gervais, last in the male line, whose daughter and heiress Alice Gervais married Sir William Speke of Heywood in the parish of Wembworthy in Devon. Her descendant was Sir John Speke of Heywood and of Bramford Speke both in Devon, and of Whitelackington in Somerset, Sheriff of Devon in 1517 and a Member of Parliament whose monument is the Speke Chantry in Exeter Cathedral in which survives his recumbent effigy. With Alice's consent Sir William Speke granted Ringswell it to Sir John Wiger.

  Gervais family

• Thomas Gervais, a Citizen of Exeter, who in the late 13th. century purchased the manors of Houndtor and Little Maneton from Thomas Langdon and his grandmother Mabil. Both were subsequently sold by William Gervais, son of Thomas Gervais, to Walter Dymock of Lincolnshire, who was involved in tin mining in Devon.
• Nicholas Gervais, who in 1301 held the manor of Milford from William Speke, son of William Speke. In 1325 Milford was held by Thomas Gervais. A certain Thomas Gervais was Mayor of Exeter in 1337.