John Crocker Bulteel

John Crocker Bulteel (1793–1843) was a British politician and landowner associated with South Devon. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for South Devon from 1832 to 1834 and held the position of Sheriff of Devon in 1841. Additionally, Bulteel was involved in hunting activities; he was the Master of the Dartmoor Foxhounds and was known for breeding a prominent pack of hounds in England.

Origins and Family Background:

John Crocker Bulteel was the son and heir of John II Bulteel (1763–1837) of Flete Estate in the parish of Holbeton and Lyneham in the parish of Yealmpton, both located in Devon. His mother was Elizabeth Perring (d.1835), daughter of Thomas Perring (1732–1791), a merchant based in Modbury, Devon, and London. Elizabeth Perring’s monument is preserved in All Saints Church, Holbeton. Thomas Perring’s brother was Peter Perring of Membland, a member of the Madras Council who amassed a fortune through the East India Company and purchased Membland from John I Bulteel (1733–1801), the father of John II Bulteel.

The Bulteel family traced its origins to Samuel Bulteel (d.1682), a Huguenot refugee from France who settled in Tavistock, Devon. His son James Bulteel (1676–1757) was a Member of Parliament for Tavistock and married Mary Crocker, heiress of the Crocker family of Lyneham. James inherited the estate of Fleet through the will of Richard Hele (d.1709), despite no blood relation. John Bulteel (1733–1801), son of James Bulteel, purchased the estate of Membland in 1757.

Education and Career:

John Crocker Bulteel attended Plympton Grammar School, notable for its alumnus Sir Joshua Reynolds. His contemporaries included Jack Russell (1795–1883), founder of the Russell breed of terriers. Bulteel and Russell once fought over a school incident, resulting in Bulteel receiving a black eye, but they later maintained a friendship based on their shared interest in hunting.

During his lifetime, Bulteel resided at Lyneham while his father resided at Fleet. Around 1835, Bulteel remodeled Fleet House into a castellated Gothic-style residence. His political career included serving as MP for South Devon (1832–1834) and as Sheriff of Devon in 1841.

Hunting Activities:

Bulteel originated the Lyneham Pack of foxhounds, which gained fame under later mastership. He also served as Master of the Dartmoor Foxhounds. A poem published in 1828 in the Sporting Magazine describes Bulteel's hunting pursuits, emphasizing his skill and dedication.

Marriage and Children:

In 1826, Bulteel married Lady Elizabeth Grey (d.1880), daughter of Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey, who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Their children included:

- John Bulteel (1827–1897): He inherited the estate of Fleet, sold it in 1863 to an Australian sheep farmer, and moved to Pamflete in Holbeton. Fleet was later repurchased by his brother-in-law Henry Bingham Mildmay.

- Mary Elizabeth Bulteel (1832–1916): She served as Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria and married Sir Henry Ponsonby, Queen Victoria’s private secretary.

- Georgiana Bulteel (1834–1899): She married Henry Bingham Mildmay of Shoreham Place, Kent. Their son, Francis Bingham Mildmay, became the 1st Baron Mildmay of Flete.

- Louisa Emily Charlotte Bulteel (1839–1892): She married Edward Baring, 1st Baron Revelstoke, a senior partner of Barings Bank. Their descendants included Margaret Baring, wife of Charles Spencer, 6th Earl Spencer.

Property Transactions:

The Bulteel family estate of Membland was initially purchased in 1757 by John I Bulteel, then sold following economic difficulties to Peter Perring. It was later acquired by the Baring family, and Edward Baring, Bulteel’s son-in-law, was created Baron Revelstoke in 1885.

Heraldry:

The arms of Bulteel of Fleet were described as "Argent a bend between 14 billets Gules" with a crest featuring wings emerging from a ducal crown. Alternative heraldic representations include "Azure, three bull's heads couped argent," with a crest of a bull's head gules between wings.

References:

Sources include Burke’s genealogical publications and the Catalogue of the Christie's sale of Old Master and British drawings.

Further reading:

Vivien Allen’s "The Bulteels: The Story of a Huguenot Family" provides an in-depth historical account.

External Links:

Media related to John Crocker Bulteel (1793–1843) is available at Wikimedia Commons.