• Born: 1234, Hartland, Devon, England
• Married: Bef 24 Jan 1276-1277
• Died: 26 Feb 1298/9, Nutwell Manor, Woodbury, Devon, England
• Buried: Church of Black Friars, Exeter, Devon, England

  Research Notes:

Constable of Exeter & Taunton Castles.

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BARONY of DINHAM or DINAUNT (I) 1295

SIR OLIVER DE DINHAM, or DE DINAUNT, of Hartland, Nutwell, and Ilsington, Devon, Buckland Denham, Somerset, and Cardinham, Cornwall, son and heir of Sir Geoffrey DE DINHAM, of Hartland, &c. (who died shortly before 26 December 1258). He was aged 24 at his father's death. The King took his homage, and he had livery of his father's lands 13 january 1258/9. He was pardoned for non-observance of the Provisions of Oxford, 28 March 1264. Constable of Exeter Castle, 24 September to 12 November 1264. In 1265 he supported the King's cause in the West against the adherents of Simon de Montfort. Constable of Taunton Castle, 2 April to 23 June 1267. He took possession of the Abbey of Hartland during a voidance about 1272, when the Bishop of Exeter was absent abroad, and extorted large sums of money from the canons. He was Keeper of Lundy Island from before November 1272 till 28 May 1275, and was again appointed, 9 July 1275. He bought the manors of Nutwell and Harpford from thc Abbey of Marmoutier in 1272/3. He was in the Army of Wales in 1277 and 1282. He was summoned for Military Service from 12 December 1276 to 21 October 1297, to attend the King at Shrewsbury, 28 June 1283, to a Military Council, 15 October 1294, to attend the King at Salisbury, 26 January 1296/7, and to Parliament from 24 June 1295 to 26 August 1296, by writs directed Olivera de Dynham or Dynaunt, whereby he is held to have become LORD DINHAM. On account of his debility and for his good services to Henry Ill and Edward I, he obtained licence, 5 April 1297, to nominate his attorney for life.

He married, 1stly,[-----]. He married, 2ndly, before 24 January 1276/7 (royal lic. 18 or 19 May 1280 for a fine of £100), Isabel, widow of Sir John DE CURTENAY or COURTENAY, of Okehampton, Devon (who died 3 May 1274, and was buried in the Abbey of Ford], and daughter of Hugh (DE VEER), EARL OF OXFORD, by Hawise, daughter of Saier (DE QUENCY), EARL OF WINCHESTER. He died 26 February 1298/9, and was buried in the Church of the Black Friars at Exeter. His widow, who survived him for some years, died 11 August ????, and was buried in that Church. ¹

NOTE: Although Oliver was the 1st Baron, apparently the title wasn't recognized as hereditary because the next Dinham who was recognized as a Baron was John, dsps. 28 Jan 1500/1. Apparently, according to CP, a committee in 1914 found that the barony did not exist from 1299 to 1466/7 when John was created the next Baron, although CP thinks that the claimant's legal representative mishandled the case.