[Illustration] Rashleigh in the parish of Wemworthy, in Devonshire,
gave name this ancient family, the elder line of which became
extinct in the reign of Henry VII.
John Rashleigh, a merchant of Fowey, was the first who settled in
Cornwall, and was in fact the founder of the present family. He is
thus mentioned by Carew, writing in 1602, "I may not passe in
silence the commendable deserts of Master Rashleigh the elder,
descended from a younger brother of an ancient house in Devon,
for his industrious judgement and adventuring in trade of
merchandize first opened a light and way to the townsmen newe
thriveing, and left his sonne large wealth and possessions, who,
with a dayly bettering his estate, converteth the same to
hospitality, and other actions fitting a gentleman well affected to
his God, Prince, and Country."
See Carew, p. 136 a; Gilbert's Survey, ii. 244; Lysons, pp. cxiii.
316.
ARMS.--_Sable, a cross or between, in the first quarter, a Cornish
chough argent, beaked and legged gules, in the second a text T, in
the third and fourth a crescent, all argent_. The Cornish chough and
crescents were added on removing into Cornwall; the elder branch
bore only two text T's in chief with the cross S.
Present Representative, William Rashleigh, Esq.