Trewman's Exeter Flying Post/1899/Charles Worthy

Death of a Devonshire Historian.

Mr. Charles Worthy, of Heavitree.

The death has taken place at St. Clarus, Heavitree, at the age of 58 years, of Mr. Charles Worthy, late of the 82nd Regiment, the well-known Devonshire historian, who from time to time under the no de plume of "Rouge Rose," and in other ways has contributed articles to our columns. He was the eldest son of the late Rev. Charles Worthy, B.A., Queen's College, Oxford, and for many years Vicar of Ashburton with Buckland, who died in 1879, and of Elizabeth, his wife, first cousin of the late Charles Richardson, LL.D., the lexicographer. He was born at Snayde Tower, Exeter, December 28th, 1840; educated at Exeter Grammar School, and susquently by his father and private tutors. He was appointed to a commission in the 82nd Regiment in 1858, and proceeded to India in the following year. His health failing him Mr. Worthy retired from the service in 1864, and turned his attention to the history and antiquities of Devonshire,

his native county

Since 1871 he has been a constant contributor of periodical articles on general antiquarian, historical , and genealogical matters, to magazines and newspapers. From 1876 to 1886 he was a member of the council of the Devonshire Association, and the author of many papers in its "Transactions." Prior to 1879 he was for some time honorary local secretary at Ashburton under the Science and Art Department, He received the thanks of the lords of the committee of Council "for valuable assistance rendered," in 1884. He has also twice received the thanks fo the Chapter of the College of Arms, 1882-1884; those of the trustees of the British Museum in the latter year; and the thanks of the Society Antiquaries under their great seal, 1873 and 1879 In 1875

he published

"Ashburton and its neighbourhood," "The Antiquities and history of fourteen parishes in the borders of Dartmoor," feap. 4to.; "The Manor of Winkleigh, the ancient seat of the honour of Gloucester," 8vo, 1876; "Local guide to Ashburton and Dartmoor, 1879; "Memoir of Walter Stapleton, Bishop of Exeter (1308);" "Notes on Bideford and the House of Granville]]" (reprinted from transactions of the Devonshire Association, 1876 and 1884). He was coadjuator to the late Stephen Tucker, "Somerset Herald" 1879-1882. His first volume of "Devonshire parishes," "The antiquities, heraldry, and family history of twenty-eight parishes in the Archdeaconry of Totness," appeared in 1887. In the following year he published an epitome of English armoury under the title of "Practical heraldry;" volume 2 of "Devonshire parishes" appeared in 1889. He

also revised

the last edition of Murray's "Hand-book for Devonshire," 1887; and printed a pamphlet on "The life of Lord Iddesleigh, with a genealogical history of the Northcote family," January, 1887, which ran to a second edition within three days. In 1889 he revised portions of White's "Devonshire," for which he had previously written in 1879, "An analysis of the Exeter Domesday," and the "History of the restored Cathedral of Exeter," In 1892 he revised and edited Messrs. A. & C. Black's Devonshire guide book." In 1893 he published the "History of the suburbs of Exeter," with "A digression on the noble houses of Redvers and of Courtenay, Earls of Devon;" and, during the same year, he rewrote and edited the twelfth edition of Black's "guide to Kent," His recent works included "Devonshire wills," with historical notices of several West of England families, and "Folk tales of the West."