on the 22nd of September, 1548, alienated the fee, described as the Prebend of Hayes and Manor of Hayes in Cowick, and of Clistmoys (Cliston Hayes, in Broadclist Parish) to Robert Kelweye, Esq., his heirs and assigns; and this alienation was ratified, approved and confirmed on the 30th of November next ensuing, under the hands and seals of Edward, Duke of Somerset, "the verye and indubitate Patrone thereof," and of John Veysey, "Byshope of Exeter." On 1st of April, 1550, Robert Kelweye conveyed this estate to King Edward VI., who granted it at Greenwich on the 8th of the same month to Nicholas Wadham, Esq., to hold it of the Crown in capite, by the service of the fortieth part of a Knight's Fee. From Nicholas Wadham it passed to his only sister, Jane, who married John Foster, Esq., of Baddesley, in Hampshire. The above-mentioned Anthony Harvey, on the 12th of January, 1557, disposed of the residue of his term to the said John Foster for 166l. 13s. 4d., who, with his son and heir-apparent, Andrew Foster, on the 1st of October, 1563, covenanted to sell the whole Prebend and Manor of Hayes to John Petre, Esq., of Exeter, younger brother of Sir William Petre, Knt. In the conveyance dated 5th of November, 1563, the purchase-money is stated to be 800l. The Fosters had previously sold to the same purchaser Clistmoys, in Broadclist, which had produced the yearly rent of 13l. 16s. In Hilary Term, 6 Elizabeth, 1564, a chirograph of a fine was made at the Castle of Hertford, between John Petre, Esq., Plaintiff, and John Foster, Esq., and Jane his wife, and Andrew Foster, son of said John and Jane, Deforciants, of the "Manor and late Prebend of Hayes with the appurtenances, and of 4 messuages, 4 gardens, 100 acres of land, 60 acres of meadow, 100 acres of pasture, and 8l. rent, with the appurtenances in Hayes within the Castle of Exeter (infra Castrum Exon.), Stoken-Tynhed, Okehampton, Ken, Cutton, Aysshe-Clyste, and in the Parish of St. Thomas the Apostle, without the west gate of the City of Exon."
The whole estate descended to the purchaser's nephew, William Petre, Esq., of Tor-Newton in Tor-Brian, whose son, Sir George Petre, Knt., sold Hayes to William Gould, Esq., of Exeter, and by the marriage of Elizabeth Gould, in August, 1739, with James Buller, Esq., of Shillingham, it passed into that family, and is now in the possession of James Wentworth Buller, Esq., of Downes.
