Sir William de Widworthy (fl. 1240–1272) was a knight during the reign of Edward I of England, based in Widworthy in the Colyton Hundred, Devon. He was the earliest lord of the manor recorded by the Devon historian Sir William Pole (died 1635).[1]
In 1240, William was one of a dozen knights bound by oath to the Sheriff of Devon who set out to settle a land boundary dispute between Richard of Cornwall and four local knights. The party journeyed from Okehampton Castle across Dartmoor, including Cawsand Beacon, Hound Tor and all the way to Dartmeet.[2]
In 1246, de Widworthy was witness to a deed for a transfer of land relating to Buckfast Abbey.[3]
de Widworthy's holdings included the 1272 acquisition of the village of Lustleigh, which stayed in the de Widworthy family until 1413.[4]
He was also noted as the holder of Culm Davy in the 13th century Book of Fees.[5]
William's heir was Hugh de Whitworthy, and his daughter and heir was Alice.[6]
The family married with Sir William Prouz of Gidleigh Castle.[7]