*OKEHAMPTON, (Devon) or OCKINGTON, 20 m. from Exeter, l60 cm. 193 mm. from London, on the r. Oke, 2 m. from its p.-Ch.
which stands alone on a hill, by the small ruins of a castle there in the R. of Will. the Conq. is an ancient Bor. and
barony, governed by a mayor, 8 capital burgesses, and as many assistants, a recorder, a justice, and a T.-clerk. It was
incorporated by K. Ja. I. Here is a mean T.-hall, and as mean a chapel of ease; to which, in the R. of K. Ja. I. one of
the Trelawneys added a neat little tower, to give it the form of a Ch. The chief mf. here is serges; but its best support
is from the road bet. Launceston and Crediton, here being very good inns. The manor of this Bor. viz. its Mt. on S. with
its Fairs (on the 2d Th. in March, May 3, 2d W. after Midsummer, July 7 and 15, 1st Tu. in Sept. and 1st W. in Oct.) is
vested in the 8 principal members of the corp. The manor came by marriage, from the Redvers family to the Courtenays; of
whom, Robert, in the R. of K. John, gave 500 l. and 5 palfreys, to have livery of the honor of Okehampton. His posterity
enjoyed it, till Edw. IV. seized it for his descendants adherence to the house of Lancaster, and granted the honor,
castle, manor, and Bor. to Sir John Dynham; who also soon after forfeited them, and K. Hen. VII. restored them to the
Courtenays; one of whom being also attainted in the R. of K. Hen. VIII. that K. dismantled the castle, destroyed the park,
&c. but Q. Mary revoked his attainder, and restored the honor and manor to his son, Edw. Courtenay. But the manor came
afterwards to Chris. Harris, who married a daughter of the first Ld. Mohun, who was created Baron of Okehampton by K. Cha.
I. and whose descendant (the last who had the title) was killed in a duel with D. Hamilton in 1712. It had sent burgesses
to Pt. only once in the R. of Ed. I. and once in that of Edw. II. but K. Cha. I. restored it to that privilege.